Maths the way

Usha Albuquerque

There are many students who enjoy the study of maths but only associate it with science and engineering. Maths is not just a subject on its own, but a set of tools or a way of thinking. Mathematics is about pattern and structure; it is about logical analysis, deduction, calculation within these patterns and structures. Therefore, in today’s data-driven world, maths is a vital part of computing and there are new application areas for mathematics being discovered every day and established techniques being applied in new ways and in emerging fields. So if you are fond of maths and good with computers, you can study mathematics to get into so many different jobs and careers. 

Banks, insurance companies, investment and securities firms and financial services have come to rely on applied mathematics and computational science for the development of quantitative techniques and computational models used in the financial industry. Algorithms for computer animation rely heavily on techniques from scientific computation, statistics, signal processing, linear algebra, control theory, and computational geometry. But it is in the field of computer science that the study of mathematics plays a critical role — computational knowledge tools like differential equations, probability, combinatorics, applied algebra and matrices, as well as the art of abstraction and advanced computing and programming skills are increasingly being applied to digital technologies and to solve real-life problems.

In this era of data analytics, a career in Mathematics and Computing (MnC) plays a critical role in shaping your future, especially if you want to have an in-depth theoretical background and practical training in computer science, numerical computing and mathematical finance. In other words, it is the ideal programme if you wish to pursue a career in banking, finance, taxation, insurance or in computer science. The mathematics in this branch covers topics like algebra, calculus, probability and discrete mathematics, which finds a direct application in computer science, i.e. computational mathematics, implying solving mathematical problems by computer simulation as opposed to analytic methods of applied mathematics, while the computing component deals with subjects like data structures, analysis of algorithms and computer architecture.

While many students tend to go for BTech in mathematics and computing, it is useful to know that if you are not interested in an engineering degree, you can take up BSc in mathematics and computing, a three-year undergraduate programme that covers advanced computer science and computational mathematics. There is also the option of an MS in mathematics and computing after a BSc in mathematics. Master of Science in mathematics and computing is a postgraduate course that emphasises on training students in various aspects of theoretical computer science, computational techniques, mathematical modelling, simulation, probabilistic and statistical tools. By the end of the programme, students acquire sound analytical and practical knowledge to formulate and solve challenging problems and are well prepared to take up jobs in software industries, research and development organisations or to pursue higher studies in mathematical and computing sciences.

The IITs and several engineering colleges, including IIT Guwahati, Dhanbad, and also BITS Kolkata, Thapar Engineering University and others, offer BTech and MS in mathematics and computing. There are many that also offer BSc in mathematics and computing, although this undergraduate programme is yet to gain popularity, most preferring to do BSc maths, followed by MS in mathematics and computing.

Most graduates of maths and computing look for software development jobs in companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and so on. They are also increasingly moving into finance, investment banking, venture funds and other “quant” related jobs. Finance companies like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and WorldQuant tend to look for MnC (maths and computing) graduates who can work on developing algorithms for investment strategies, using Machine Learning and Data Mining tools to work on Big Data and analytics, etc.

Financial Engineering is another field that is attracting MnC students as it applies mathematical frameworks to decisions about saving, investing, borrowing, lending and managing risk in the fields of investment management in general. Financial engineers work with global investment banks, hedge funds, proprietary trading companies and asset management firms using quantitative software and systems, quantitative analytics and modelling, algorithms and so on. A solid understanding of both applied mathematics and investment models is therefore absolutely necessary for a financial engineer.

So if maths is your forte and you love computers and coding, here is a readymade course with matching careers that have a lot to offer in terms of securing high quality, challenging jobs.