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BA/MMath in Mathematics Handbook (2025-26 Entry)

B. Recommended Patterns of Teaching 2025-26

Prelims (Year 1)

Course structure: There are 14 compulsory courses plus two introductory courses. Students also complete a compulsory practical course in computational mathematics.

Paper Term Department College Comments
Lectures Classes Tutorials Classes
Introduction to University Mathematics (MI) MT 8   2   Weeks 1-2
Introduction to Complex Numbers (MII) MT 2   0   Week 1 only
Linear Algebra I (MI) MT 14   4    
Analysis I (MII) MT 15   4    
Introductory Calculus (MIII) MT 16   4    
Probability (MIII) MT 16   4   Lectured by Dept. of Statistics.
Geometry (MIV) MT 15   4    
Computational Mathematics MT 2 6     The practical classes take place in weeks 3–8, and each student will attend a two-hour session fortnightly.
HT 10 2 2   The practical classes take place in weeks 1–2, and each student will attend one two-hour session. Drop-in sessions are held in weeks
3–8 and students may attend any of these to
work on their projects. 8 hours of lectures.
Linear Algebra II (MI) HT 8   2    
Groups and Group Actions (MI) HT 8   2    
TT 8   2    
Analysis II (MII) HT 16   4    
Dynamics (MIV) HT 16   4    
Multivariable Calculus (MV) HT 16   4    
Fourier Series and PDEs (MV) HT 16   4    
Analysis III (MII) TT 8   2    
Statistics and Data Analysis (MIII) TT 16   4   Lectured by Dept. of Statistics.

Notes:
All first year lecture courses are supported by tutorials organised by colleges. The normal expectation is that a 16-hour lecture course is supported by 4 one-hour tutorials or the equivalent in small classes. It may be the case that a tutorial or class addresses several lecture courses, rather than being solely dedicated to a single lecture course.

Part A (Year 2)

Course structure: There are 3 compulsory core courses (A0-A2), 10 long options courses (A3-A13) from which students choose 5 or 6, and 6 short options (ASO) from which students usually study 2 courses. 

Paper Term Department College Comments
Lectures Classes Tutorials Classes
A0 Linear Algebra MT 16   4    
A1 Differential Equations 1 MT 16   4    
A2 Metric Spaces and Complex Analysis MT 32   8    
A3 Rings and Modules HT 16   4    
A4 Integration HT 16   4    
A5 Topology HT 16   4    
A6 Differential Equations 2 HT 16   4    
A7 Numerical Analysis HT 16   4    
A8 Probability MT 16   4   Lectured by Dept. of Statistics. 
A9 Statistics HT 16   4   Lectured by Dept. of Statistics.
A10 Fluids and Waves HT 16   4    
A11 Quantum Theory MT 16   4    
A13 Geometry HT 16   4    
ASO Number Theory TT 8   2   Weeks 1-3
ASO Group Theory TT 8   2   Weeks 1-3
ASO Integral Transforms HT 8   2   Weeks 1-4
ASO Graph Theory TT 8   2   Weeks 1-3
ASO Calculus of Variations TT 8   2   Weeks 1-3
ASO Mathematical Modelling in Biology TT 8   2   Weeks 1-3

Notes: All second year lecture courses are supported by tutorials organised by colleges. The normal expectation is that a 16-hour lecture courses is supported by 4 one-hour tutorials or the equivalent in small classes. 

Part B (Year 3)

Course structure: Students take the equivalent of 8 units at Part B. The schedule of Part B units is divided into Mathematics units, Statistics units, Computer Science units and Other units. Students must offer at least four Mathematics units and may offer up to four units from the remaining schedules but with no more than two from each category (Statistics, Computer Science, Other). Students cannot offer both an Other Mathematical Extended Essay (BOE) and a Structured Project (BSP). 

Paper Term Department College Comments
Lectures Classes Tutorials Classes
Mathematical Units
B1.1 - B8.5  MT/HT 16 6      
SB3.1 Applied Probability MT 16 6     Taught by Dept. of Statistics
BSP Structured Projects *  MT/HT 1   6   The balance of tutorials between MT and HT is agreed between the student and supervisor. 
Statistics Units
SB1.1 Applied and Computational Statistics MT 13 4     Taught by Dept. of Statistics. In addition to the classes, students attend 4.5 hours of practical sessions. 
HT 13 4     Taught by Dept. of Statistics. In addition to the classes, students attend 3 hours of practical sessions.
SB1.2, SB2.1, SB2.2, SB3.2 MT/HT 16 6     Taught by Dept. of Statistics
Computer Science Units
Lambda Calculus and Types HT 16 7     Taught by Dept. of Computer Science
Computational Complexity HT 16 6     Taught by Dept. of Computer Science
Other Units
BO1.1 History of Mathematics * MT 16 6      
HT 12       Reading course consisting of 8 seminars
BOE Other Mathematical Extended Essay MT/HT 2   6   The balance of tutorials between MT and HT is agreed between the student and supervisor. 
101 Early Modern Philosophy * MT 8-16   8   Lectured by Faculty of Philosophy
102 Knowledge and Reality * MT 8-16   8   Lectured by Faculty of Philosophy
122 Philosophy of Mathematics * MT 8-16   8   Lectured by Faculty of Philosophy
127 Philosophical Logic * HT 8-16   8   Lectured by Faculty of Philosophy

Notes: In Part B, intercollegiate classes are arranged in place of college tutorials for the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science lecture courses. For some lecture courses, there may not be sufficient students to run an intercollegiate class and tutorials will be arranged instead. It is recommended that 4 hours of tutorials are provided for a 16-hour lecture course. Colleges may decide to opt out of the intercollegiate class scheme and teach their students in tutorials for a particular course. In addition to those classes, drop-in consultation sessions are arranged in Trinity term by way of revision for those lecture courses assessed by written examination. Please note that courses marked with * are double units. 

Please note that in the case of teaching provided by colleges, these figures are the departmental recommendations only and individual colleges may provide different amounts of types of teaching than those states above for a variety of reasons (e.g. individual student needs or differing number of contact hours depending on tutorial group size).