Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding - William Paul Thurston.
In education systems across the globe, from primary to higher education learning institutions, there is one constant subject, a language universally spoken: mathematics.
Maths is in our daily lives, from everyday tasks such as counting and shopping to more mathematical problems such as interpreting data.
Studying maths at the university level most likely means you love maths as a subject. Mathematics is a subject students in Nigeria study from their primary to secondary level of education. It is a compulsory subject that a student must have a credit in alongside the English language.
Before studying mathematics at the university level in Nigeria, you must be good at the subject. If not, you may struggle to pass it in school. However, if you enjoy the challenge of solving mathematical problems and want to improve your analytical skills, studying maths at university could be an option.
In a maths degree, you will learn lots of maths, sometimes as a continuation of secondary school maths and in new areas.
Mathematics is not a subject you learn by watching; you must DO mathematics to LEARN mathematics. Almost all universities in Nigeria offer mathematics as a degree. Over 120 Nigerian universities offer this degree course.
Maths is one of those subjects where there are jobs available for graduates. You can practically work in any industry with a degree in mathematics.
Being a mathematician will increase your employability. The skills learnt from a math major are universally desired by employers.
Do you love maths so much that you want to study it at university? Would you like to get a degree in it?
Well, here is everything you need to know about studying it at the university level in Nigeria.
Requirements For A Maths Degree In Nigeria
Students who study mathematics are the ones who have loved it right from their primary to secondary school. Getting a degree in mathematics is not a problem if you love the subject. The problem is gaining admission to the university of your choice in Nigeria.
There are requirements to be met. You have to pass mathematics, English language and three other subjects. As for these requirements, most universities will require at least a C Level in maths.
Firstly, a student has to pass some subjects in the secondary school examinations in Nigeria. In WAEC, NECO or GCE, students register for a maximum of nine subjects in school for a Mathematics degree.
However, you must have at least five credit passes amongst the nine subjects listed below before you get admission into any Nigerian university to study for a Mathematics degree.
You should also note that each university has its requirements. For a degree like mathematics, English and maths are usually compulsory for a student to pass. A student has to read through each university's requirements to know the core subjects for the five credits.
Your JAMB score and your POST UTME score will determine the cumulative score that a university will use to decide your candidacy for admission. The 4 JAMB subject combination for Mathematics are:
- English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
Mathematics is a four-year degree course in Nigeria. It is a three years course if a student gains admission through direct entry. Mathematics is under the Faculty of Science but may also be under a different faculty in some universities in Nigeria.
Mathematics is a pure science course, and students who did science subjects at the secondary level in Nigeria are eligible to study mathematics at the university level.
What Areas Does A Maths Degree Cover?
Studying mathematics as a degree will cover areas that will help students be analytical. The subject areas covered in mathematics will differ from one university to the other. However, it will include similar modules and skills.
Modules covered are usually:
- Calculus
- Vectors
- Computational maths.
- Algebra
- Statistics
- Applied mathematics
- Geometry
- Probability
- Quantum mechanics
- Trigonometry
- Data analysis
- Algorithms and applications
- Differential calculus
- Problem-solving methods
Skills learnt are usually under areas like:
- Financial analysis
- Using mathematic techniques to solve problems
- Data analysis
- Designing and analysing models
- Risk assessment
- Analysing trends
Here is an example of what a student will study on a university maths course in year one, taken from the University of Ibadan, one of the best universities in Nigeria.
| Course Code | Course Title | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| MAT 111 | Algebra | 4 |
| MAT 121 | Calculus and Trigonometry | 4 |
| MAT 141 | Analytic Geometry and Mechanics | 4 |
| MAT 142 | Introduction to Actuarial Mathematics | 4 |
The first year of study includes algebra, analysis, probability and statistics, geometry and dynamics, and multivariate calculus and mathematical models. Students will go through a combination of exams and projects. You can get more information from year two to year four on their website.
Most universities will include the majority of these modules. Each course has its number of units. If a course is a faculty course, a student must pass it. If not, a student would have to resit for the exams.
How To Apply To Study Mathematics
To get onto a degree course with a state or federal university, you'll have to do so through JAMB. A student will fill out two degrees they want to study at the university level while filling out their JAMB form. You can add mathematics as a first choice and another course as a second choice.
This second option is for a situation when a student does not meet the cut-off mark for their first choice. A student has to choose four institutions. You can check the JAMB website for an explanation on selecting institutions.
A student must have at least five credits on the required WAEC subject combination to study Mathematics in Nigerian universities. The required WAEC subject combination (O level requirement) for Mathematics must include:
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Further Mathematics (At least three of any)
- A trade subject
As discussed earlier in this article, the four JAMB subject combination for Mathematics are: English, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
You also have to check each university for the entry requirements for their courses.
Careers For Maths Graduates
There are several job opportunities for math graduates in Nigeria. You can work with a local or international company. Asides from the job opportunities in the corporate world, graduates can go into the teaching profession.
There is a demand for maths teachers in Nigeria. If you are passionate about impacting knowledge, you can teach at the primary, secondary or university level of education in Nigeria with your degree.
Students can earn an associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree in mathematics, depending on their career goals.
Math careers typically involve using math, statistics, and financial theories to assess risk or solve complex problems. Generally, most maths graduates tend towards opportunities in finance, information technology, accounting, or banking.
You will need more professional qualifications after your degree to pursue career opportunities, for example, becoming a chartered accountant, but the maths degree is the first step.
Some Jobs you can get with a maths degree are:
- Market Research Analyst
- Economist
- Data Scientist
- Quality assurance manager.
- Software developer.
- Investment banking analyst.
- Management consultant.
- Tax consultant
- Accountant
- Computer scientist
- Actuary
- Budget Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Quantitative Analyst
Mathematics is challenging, rewarding and fun. If you need help with maths at school or to pursue your degree in maths, you can consider getting help from one of the many talented and experienced tutors on Superprof. You can get several maths tutors on the platform from any state in Nigeria.
Most of the tutors offer the first hour of their lessons free. You can get a tutor in maths between 1000 NGN - 5,000 NGN per hour.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
