Mathematics and Music
Mathematics and Music might seem like an unlikely pairing, but the relationship between the two disciplines is ancient and deep. Since Pythagoras first explored the numerical ratios underlying musical harmony, mathematics and music have influenced and informed each other through questions about proportion, pattern, structure and abstraction. Both disciplines are concerned with the creation, analysis and appreciation of abstract patterns, and the analytical habits of mind that each develops, whether you are proving a theorem or interpreting a musical score, strengthen and complement each other in practice.
At Royal Holloway this three-year full-time degree divides equally between the two subjects, allowing you to pursue your mathematical and musical interests with full commitment to both. On the mathematics side you will explore the true breadth of mathematical ideas and methods, developing rigour, abstraction and problem-solving skill across a range of pure and applied areas. On the music side you will study composition, performance and musicology, developing both practical ability and critical understanding of music in its cultural and historical contexts.
The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial opportunity to develop professional and international experience alongside your studies.
Graduates from Mathematics and Music degrees bring an unusual combination of analytical rigour and creative sensitivity that is valued in a range of fields. Many find careers in music teaching, music technology, composition, performance and arts administration. Others use their mathematical training in finance, technology, data analysis or research.
The combination is also well suited to areas where the two fields converge more directly, including acoustics, audio technology, computational musicology and music information retrieval. Postgraduate study in mathematics, music, music technology or related fields is a natural continuation for those wishing to develop their expertise.