Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Bachelor of Commerce in Mathematical Sciences

The Bachelor of Commerce in Mathematical Sciences in Mathematics is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Bachelor of Commerce in Mathematical Sciences offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

This programme has a sharp focus on Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. These two subjects are compulsory in both the first and the second year. In the third year you must include at least one of the following subjects: Computer Science, Financial Risk Management, Mathematical Statistics, or Operations Research. Students who are interested in becoming financial risk managers or portfolio managers, or who wish to acquire the abilities necessary for finding quantitative solutions to management problems should register for this programme.

The focal area that you choose will largely determine your eventual career. See below for more on the focal areas offered by this programme and the different lines of work for which they prepare you. To see the curricula in our Calendar of the various focal areas, just follow the links.

Computer Science

Compulsory subject from first year: Computer Science and Mathematics

This focal area trains you as a graduate with a broad knowledge of computer science and of the business world. You will be equipped to make a success of a career as programmer in any environment. Applying information technology in the business world is crucial to managing organisations effectively and productively.

Financial Risk Management

Compulsory subject from first year: Mathematics

Persons with training in Financial Risk Management, Mathematical Statistics and Financial Mathematics are appointed by large financial institutions as financial and quantitative analysts, financial risk managers, portfolio managers and financial traders.

Mathematical Statistics

Compulsory subject from first year: Mathematics

As a result of the information explosion, decisions are increasingly based on large volumes of data. This has led to a great demand in national and international corporate, research and public sectors for persons with training in mathematical-statistical theory and procedures, and the accompanying computer skills. They are appointed among others as statisticians, data mining experts, data managers and statistical analysts in the marketing, information and management divisions of these sectors.

Operations Research

Compulsory subject from first year: Mathematics

Operations Research answers questions such as: How should I, as factory floor manager, manage inventory levels in my storage area so as to be able to satisfy uncertain demand on average without spending an excessive amount of money on on-hand inventory? Where should I, as city planner, consider placing new facilities (such as schools, post offices and libraries) in a town so that it is within an acceptable distance from most inhabitants? How can I, as floor manager, design an efficient production schedule for a factory? How can I, as financial portfolio manager, construct a portfolio of investments that maximises expected return, while managing risk at acceptable levels?

The slogan of operations research is "The Science of Better". An operations researcher suggests methods of improving practical situations such as the above, based on thorough mathematical, statistical and computational analyses of the underlying real-world problems.

Our former students work for banks and insurance companies (such as ABSA or Sanlam), at production plants, such as factories, saw mills or depots), at chain stores (such as Pep stores, Checkers or Woolworths), at government departments and parastatals (such as the Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry, or members of the Transnet group), at research institutions such as the CSIR, or as private consultants.