In August 2006 the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) approved funding for a £3.3 million pilot programme of activity designed to increase and widen participation within the mathematical sciences. The moremathsgrads proposal was developed by the Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences (HoDoMS) the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) the London Mathematical Society (LMS) the Maths Stats & OR Network and the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and followed a period of community-wide consultation [1]. Many national organisations have given their support to the Project and to date 22 individual HEIs have expressed a desire to be directly involved in its activities.
Within this paper we will present evidence gathered during the development of the project proposal thereby providing an overview of the current situation in the mathematical sciences; we will review the aims and objectives of the project; and conclude by outlining the activities that will take place throughout the pilot phase of activity.
