Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences) at Curtin University is a research-focused master's degree designed for students who want to develop advanced mathematical knowledge and conduct substantial original research. The program suits students interested in Applied Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Operations Research or Statistics, with research topics selected around significant mathematical problems that can also connect with industry and government needs.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by defining and developing a substantial research project in consultation with their supervisor, building the theoretical knowledge and research capability needed to investigate a mathematical problem. Rather than following a conventional set of taught subjects, the degree is structured primarily around independent research and a thesis, allowing the research direction to align with areas such as Applied Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Operations Research and Statistics.

Year 2: Students progress their independent investigation, analyse and synthesise complex information, and develop an original contribution to Mathematical Sciences. The program culminates in a research thesis for examination, with students expected to communicate their research findings to academic and broader audiences and demonstrate research that meets international standards.

Important: Curtin's current official course page does not list fixed coursework units or modules for this Master of Philosophy. As a research degree, the specific research program is determined in consultation with the relevant supervisor/postgraduate coordinator, so named coursework units should not be added as though they were compulsory subjects.

Focus areas: Applied Mathematics; Discrete Mathematics; Numerical Analysis; Operations Research; Statistics.

Learning outcomes: Master advanced theoretical knowledge in Mathematical Sciences; critically investigate, analyse and synthesise complex problems; conduct systematic research; generate new knowledge; design, implement and analyse research; develop and communicate a sustained research argument; and produce an original investigation that contributes to knowledge or professional practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation): This is an AQF Level 9 Master of Philosophy by research, rather than a professionally accredited coursework qualification. Its strongest professional value comes from advanced research capability, independent investigation and the ability to apply mathematical research to problems relevant to industry and government.

Reputation (employability rankings): Curtin reports that it is ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2025. The university also reports that, according to the 2024 QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey, employers' overall satisfaction with Curtin graduates was #1 among Western Australian universities, supporting Curtin's broader reputation for graduate employability.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences) at Curtin University is a research-focused degree, so the practical experience centres on conducting an independent research project under academic supervision rather than conventional classroom-based projects. Students develop advanced research capabilities by investigating a mathematical-sciences problem and using Curtin’s research infrastructure, computational resources and specialist software to support analysis, modelling and data-driven research.

Students can also access Curtin’s broader eResearch environment, including mathematical and statistical computing tools, research databases, cloud-based analysis and supercomputing resources. This makes the program particularly attractive if you want to build practical research skills in areas such as applied mathematics, statistics, numerical and computational mathematics.

Key practical and research opportunities include:

Independent research project: The MPhil is structured as a Master by research, allowing students to undertake an individual research project with academic supervision and develop advanced research skills.
MATLAB and Simulink: Curtin provides students with campus-wide access to MATLAB, Simulink and additional MathWorks products, with free self-paced training available through MathWorks. These tools are particularly useful for mathematical modelling, numerical analysis and computational research.
Python: Curtin supports Python for research and computational work, with the Curtin Institute for Computation collaborating with Software Carpentry to provide introductory Python workshops.
R statistical computing: Researchers can access R, a software environment specifically designed for statistical computing and graphics, making it relevant to mathematical statistics and data-focused research.
SAS and JMP: Curtin provides access to SAS and JMP on university computers and eligible personal devices for educational and research purposes, supporting statistical analysis and data management.
Pawsey Supercomputing Centre: Curtin researchers can access the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, which provides supercomputing, cloud services, data and visualisation capabilities, as well as training and expert advice.
SWAN and Jupyter Notebooks: SWAN provides browser-based Jupyter Notebooks for interactive data analysis using cloud computing, allowing researchers to work without installing software locally.
Research databases: Students have access to research resources including Scopus and Web of Science, supporting literature reviews, citation analysis and identification of current research in mathematical sciences.
Research skills development: Curtin’s Graduate Research Advanced Skills Program (GRASP) provides higher-degree research students with workshops, seminars, writing groups and online resources covering critical thinking, reading, researching and academic writing.
Library research support: Curtin Library offers workshops covering research and academic writing, numeracy and statistics, digital skills and software training, giving research students additional support for their projects.
Research output and dissemination: espace, Curtin’s institutional repository, provides an open-access platform for Curtin research outputs, including theses, journal articles and conference papers.
Secure research infrastructure: SeRP@Curtin provides a secure environment for managing, storing, sharing and analysing sensitive research data, with analytical tools including R and SAS.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences) at Curtin University Perth is a research-focused qualification designed for students who want to develop advanced expertise and make an original contribution to mathematical sciences. Research areas include applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, numerical analysis, operations research and statistics, with thesis topics connected to significant problems arising in local industry and government.

The degree can prepare graduates for research-intensive and analytical careers across mathematics, statistics, data and optimisation, while also providing a strong foundation for doctoral study. Related Curtin mathematics career pathways include Data Analyst, Statistical Analyst, Logistician and Financial Analyst, with mathematics graduates also working in banking and finance, defence, transport and information technology.

Career pathways and professional opportunities include:

Data Analyst — apply advanced mathematical and statistical techniques to analyse complex datasets and support organisational decision-making.
Statistical Analyst — use statistical modelling and analysis to solve problems across business, technology and research environments.
Logistician — apply mathematical modelling and optimisation to logistics, transportation and supply-chain problems.
Financial Analyst — use quantitative and analytical skills in financial and business environments.

Curtin provides several pathways to strengthen employability and connect research skills with professional opportunities:

Curtin Careers: Students can access personalised career advice covering career pathways, experience-building, networking, job-search strategies and employability. Curtin Careers also provides resume feedback, job-application support and leadership development workshops.
UniHub: Curtin's online employment platform provides a jobs board, discipline-specific career guides, job-application workbooks, career resources, workshops, presentations and employer events such as the Curtin Careers Fair.
Graduate employment outcomes: Curtin reports that 86% of its postgraduate coursework graduates were in full-time employment according to the Good Universities Guide 2025. This is a university-wide postgraduate figure rather than a specific outcome for the Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences).
Salary outcomes: Curtin reported a $70,000 median full-time undergraduate graduate salary in the 2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey. This is a university-wide figure and should not be interpreted as the expected salary specifically for Mathematical Sciences MPhil graduates.
Industry and government connections: The program's research is specifically linked to local industry and government problems, while Curtin describes its broader research model as being underpinned by partnerships with industry, business and government.
Mathematics-industry collaboration: Curtin's mathematical research has been applied to agriculture, mining and oil and gas, with researchers collaborating with companies including Woodside Energy, Linkforce and Vekta Automation on optimisation, artificial intelligence and robotics-related problems.
Research-industry ecosystem: Curtin's research partnerships include organisations such as CSIRO, BHP, Alcoa and Roy Hill, with mathematics and statistics expertise contributing to data-science research for Australia's resources sector.
Long-term professional value: The research nature of the qualification develops capabilities in critical investigation, analysis, synthesis, original research and communicating research findings to professional and international research communities. These skills can support progression into research, specialist analytical and innovation-oriented careers.
Professional recognition: Curtin's mathematics graduates can pursue membership with professional bodies such as the Australian Mathematical Society and the Australian Society for Operations Research, providing a useful professional connection for careers in mathematical and operations-research fields.

Further Academic Progression: The strongest academic pathway after the Master of Philosophy (Mathematical Sciences) is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Curtin states that completion of a master by research may allow graduates to apply for consideration for PhD entry, making this MPhil particularly suitable for students who want to continue into advanced mathematical research, university academia or research careers.