Mathematical Biology

Mathematical biology applies the tools of mathematics, including differential equations, statistical modelling and computational simulation, to the study of living systems. Biology is full of phenomena that resist verbal description alone: how does a population grow and crash, how does a disease spread through a community, how do proteins fold, how do patterns form in embryonic development? Mathematics provides the language to express these processes precisely, to make quantitative predictions and to test them against data.

The discipline sits at the frontier of two great intellectual traditions and is one of the most active and growing areas of applied mathematics.

At the University of Dundee, this four-year programme allows you to develop substantial skills in both mathematics and biology, exploring how quantitative methods illuminate biological questions across scales from molecules to ecosystems. You will study topics in pure and applied mathematics alongside areas of biology such as ecology, genetics, physiology and developmental biology, learning to move between the formal world of equations and the messy complexity of living organisms. A year abroad is included in the programme, giving you the opportunity to experience mathematical biology research and teaching at an international institution and broaden your academic and personal horizons.

Graduates in mathematical biology are well suited to careers in bioinformatics, biomedical research, pharmaceutical research and development, public health modelling, and environmental science. Academic research is a strong pathway, with PhD programmes in mathematical biology, computational biology and related areas open to well-prepared graduates. The combination of rigorous mathematical training and biological knowledge is also valued in data science, epidemiology and health technology assessment, sectors where quantitative skills applied to biological problems are increasingly in demand.