Education · 1 of 5

The path

A degree gets you an applied job. Research and teaching at a university need a doctorate.

  1. 1

    High school

    Grades 11 and 12

    Take every math course offered, plus computer science. Math contests are worth doing because some universities use them in admission and scholarships.

  2. 2

    Bachelor's degree in mathematics

    4 years

    Pure math, applied math, or a combined math and computer science program. Choose co-op if the school offers it.

  3. 3

    First job, or graduate school

    Decision point

    Many graduates stop here and work as analysts, modellers or developers. Others carry on.

  4. 4

    Master's degree

    1 to 2 years

    A year or two. Course-based master's programs in financial or industrial mathematics are aimed straight at industry jobs.

  5. 5

    Doctorate

    4 to 5 years

    Original research and a thesis. Required to teach and run research at a university.