COD Dissertations on the History of Mathematics (2026-27)
Main content blocks
- Lecturer: Profile: Eamonn Gaffney
Course information
Course term: Michaelmas & Hilary
Course lecture information: 32 lectures equivalency
Course weight: 2
Course level: M
Assessment type: Written Essay
Course overview:
STUDENTS MUST OFFER A DOUBLE-UNIT CCD DISSERTATION ON A MATHEMATICAL TOPIC OR A COD DISSERTATION IN THE HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS.
Students may offer a double-unit dissertation on a topic related to the History of Mathematics for examination at Part C. A double-unit is equivalent to a 32-hour lecture course. Students will have a supervisor for their dissertation and will meet with them 4-5 times during Michaelmas and Hilary terms. The first meeting will take place in week 7 or 8 of Michaelmas term to provide them with the information needed to start work on their dissertation over the Christmas vacation and to agree the pattern of project supervision in Hilary term.
Candidates considering offering a dissertation should read the Guidance Notes on Extended Essays and Dissertations in Mathematics available at:
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations
Application
Students wishing to do a dissertation based on the History of Mathematics should contact Prof Christopher Hollings at christopher.hollings@maths.ox.ac.uk by Wednesday of week 1 with a short draft proposal. Prof Hollings will contact you to arrange a short informal interview to discuss the proposal further. All decisions made by Prof Hollings will be communicated to students by the end of week 2.
All proposals supported by Prof Hollings will then be referred to Projects Committee who meet in week 2 for final approval. With the support of Prof Hollings students must submit a COD Dissertation Proposal Form to Projects Committee. The form can be found in the Dissertation Guidance - https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations
Students whose proposal is not supported by Prof Hollings must submit a ranked list of dissertation choices via an online form by 12 noon on Friday of week 1. You will need to submit 5 choices, and will be given the opportunity to explain if there is a particular reason why you would like to do a specific topic.
Projects Committee will meet in week 2 to decide upon the allocation of dissertation topics and will seek to ensure that students receive one of their top choices as far as possible. You will be notified of which project you have been allocated by week 3
Assessment
Dissertations are independently double-marked, normally by the dissertation supervisor and one other assessor. The two marks are then reconciled to give the overall mark awarded. The reconciliation of marks is overseen by the examiners and follows the department's reconciliation procedure (see https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/teaching-staff/information-supervisors-undergraduate-projects).
Submission
An electronic copy of your dissertation should be submitted via Inspera to arrive no later than 12 noon on Tuesday of week 1, Trinity term. Further details may be found in the Dissertation Guidenotes (see https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations).
Students may offer a double-unit dissertation on a topic related to the History of Mathematics for examination at Part C. A double-unit is equivalent to a 32-hour lecture course. Students will have a supervisor for their dissertation and will meet with them 4-5 times during Michaelmas and Hilary terms. The first meeting will take place in week 7 or 8 of Michaelmas term to provide them with the information needed to start work on their dissertation over the Christmas vacation and to agree the pattern of project supervision in Hilary term.
Candidates considering offering a dissertation should read the Guidance Notes on Extended Essays and Dissertations in Mathematics available at:
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations
Application
Students wishing to do a dissertation based on the History of Mathematics should contact Prof Christopher Hollings at christopher.hollings@maths.ox.ac.uk by Wednesday of week 1 with a short draft proposal. Prof Hollings will contact you to arrange a short informal interview to discuss the proposal further. All decisions made by Prof Hollings will be communicated to students by the end of week 2.
All proposals supported by Prof Hollings will then be referred to Projects Committee who meet in week 2 for final approval. With the support of Prof Hollings students must submit a COD Dissertation Proposal Form to Projects Committee. The form can be found in the Dissertation Guidance - https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations
Students whose proposal is not supported by Prof Hollings must submit a ranked list of dissertation choices via an online form by 12 noon on Friday of week 1. You will need to submit 5 choices, and will be given the opportunity to explain if there is a particular reason why you would like to do a specific topic.
Projects Committee will meet in week 2 to decide upon the allocation of dissertation topics and will seek to ensure that students receive one of their top choices as far as possible. You will be notified of which project you have been allocated by week 3
Assessment
Dissertations are independently double-marked, normally by the dissertation supervisor and one other assessor. The two marks are then reconciled to give the overall mark awarded. The reconciliation of marks is overseen by the examiners and follows the department's reconciliation procedure (see https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/teaching-staff/information-supervisors-undergraduate-projects).
Submission
An electronic copy of your dissertation should be submitted via Inspera to arrive no later than 12 noon on Tuesday of week 1, Trinity term. Further details may be found in the Dissertation Guidenotes (see https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/part-c-students/teaching-and-learning/dissertations).