Who is a mathematician?
A mathematician is professional educated in mathematics or closely related field(s). Mathematics is a field of study that is concerned with shapes, quantities and numbers. The application of mathematics is useful in virtually all industries.

Mathematics or maths as fondly referred to influences our everyday lives. Mathematicians therefore use various formulas, theories and models to solve real and complex problems in engineering, agriculture, business, and health among other industries.

What is mathematician’s work environment?
Mathematicians work mostly in offices, but may also travel to attend work related conferences.

What are some mathematician’s career opportunities?
Mathematicians are employed by Government, academia, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations among other areas.

Typical employment areas include; Government ministries and agencies, accounting and finance, applied statistics, banking institutions, actuarial firms, training institutions & research, IT companies, engineering firms, medical research organizations, agricultural firms, Non-Government Organizations, meteorology institutions among many other sectors of the company.

These professionals also have got options to venture into gainful ventures/ self-employment.

How to become a mathematician in Kenya
One of the major contributing factor to ones future career is secondary school subject’s choice. It is therefore vital for young people to become aware of the various subjects combination required for various career options.

High school subject selection
To pursue a career as a mathematician for instance, you will require good performance in the following cluster subjects.

1. SUBJECT 1: MAT A,
2. SUBJECT 2: any GROUP II,
3. SUBJECT 3: any GROUP III,
4. SUBJECT 4: 2nd GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or a GROUP IV or any GROUP V (subject’s source); JAB/ Kuccps.

Education and Training Routes
If you work hard and score good grades in the above subject’s combination with an overall, KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above, you can pursue this career directly in the university (academic route).

However, if you do not qualify for direct university admission for this career option, you can still pursue it through a different route (technical route). Under the technical route, you will pursue a diploma course that can help you further your education and become a mathematician.

So what course(s) can you pursue in either route and eventually become a mathematician?

Academic route
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics or similar course(s). At least KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above.

Technical route

1. Diploma in statistics
2. Diploma in computer studies
3. Diploma in education majoring in mathematics
4. Or other related fields.

These diploma courses require at least KCSE mean grade C- (minus).

It is worthy to note that, with a diploma in any of the above fields, you can either choose to look for a job in line with your training or further your education to your desired career option.

Important skills to have
To work successfully as a mathematician, you will be required to possess important skills some of which are listed below.

1. Math skills
2. Problem-solving skills
3. Communication skills
4. Analytical skills
5. Interpersonal skills
6. Creativity skills
7. Research skills
8. Presentation skills
9. Computer skills among other skills

Throughout your education and training, these skills will be emphasized. However, it’s your responsibility to make sure before you enter the job market; you possess much of these skills.

How to Join College and or university
There are two ways you can follow to join training institution(s) in pursuit of your career of choice. The majority way is applying through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps). This is a state owned agency that admits/ places government sponsored students to colleges and universities. One of the advantages of applying through Kuccps is that, upon successful placement, you will pay subsidized fee as a government sponsored student.

To be placed through Kuccps you must have attained a certain pass mark required for various education levels for (degrees/diplomas/certificates etc.) For more details on placement criteria, visit Kuccps website. The second approach is applying directly to training institution of your choice. Students who opt to apply this way do not get government fee subsidy and are therefore self-sponsored.

How to fund your post-secondary education.
If you are a needy student, upon application, you can get education loan from Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), a state owned institution that gives education loans to students joining technical colleges and universities. You can also access education bursaries from your local Member of Parliament (MP) or the County Government among other sources.

Need more information? Talk to us and we shall provide you with additional career and education related information to meet your individual needs.