We have been working with the Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS) and the Heads of Department of Mathematical Sciences (HoDoMS) to investigate patterns and trends in recruitment and graduate outcomes in maths across the higher education landscape. The brief required us to conduct a detailed data analysis in response to a key research question: how do career outcomes vary among mathematical sciences graduates from HE institutions with different entry requirements, and how does this relate to diversity? Data was commissioned from UCAS and HESA to support the analysis.
Both CMS and HoDoMS have published the report on their website, here and here.
And on 1st March 2024, Times Higher Education carried an article (registration required) which cited our report, picking up on the key finding that “universities in the quintile with the lowest entry requirements have seen student numbers fall by 52 per cent since 2017”. This finding has generated concerns that despite evidence that the number of job opportunities requiring advanced maths skills is growing, we are at the same time witnessing cuts and closures to maths provision, particularly at well-established but lower-tariff higher education institutions.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the report, the underlying analysis or our work in education and skills research and analysis.