BA/MMath in Mathematics & Philosophy Handbook (2025-26 Entry)
1. Introduction
1.1 Using this Handbook
This handbook is issued to all undergraduates reading Mathematics & Philosophy and gives information, advice and guidance about the course. It provides you with information to help you understand the processes and procedures of the Mathematical Institute and the Faculty of Philosophy, and the other facilities such as libraries and computers to which you have access. It gives you information on how you will be assessed and how your examinations are classified.
The handbook supplements the material in the Examination Regulations, a document containing the formal regulations of the University relating to examinations and to the structure of different programmes of study offered by the University. The Examination Regulations is always definitive.
Since there is no Oxford degree for which Philosophy is the sole subject, there is no Philosophy course handbook separate from the handbooks for the various joint degrees of which Philosophy is a component subject. The Examination Regulations themselves are therefore the primary source for the regulations concerning Philosophy, and it contains detailed examination syllabuses of the philosophy subjects you will study in your course. You are referred to the informal descriptions of all the subjects for examination in Honour Schools with Philosophy which are available online on the Faculty of Philosophy website: https://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/course-descriptions-finals
For the Mathematics component of this course only an outline of the course structure is specified in the Examination Regulations. Instead, Supplements to the course handbook are issued annually for each year of the course. These contain the formal examinable syllabuses and synopses of lecture courses. Supplements refer to the course materials pages, containing the list of mathematical courses available in all four years of the Mathematics & Philosophy degree for the current academic year which can be found at: https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/
1.2 Other Important Documents
Examination Regulations - https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk/
These govern all academic matters within the University and contain the general regulations for the conduct of University examinations, as well as specific regulations for each degree programme offered by the University.
If any information in the Examination Regulations affecting you is changed you will be informed. However, there is a convention that the syllabus cannot be changed to your disadvantage once you have started studying for the examination concerned, provided you take your examinations at the normal times.
The Examination Regulations also stipulate the content of Philosophy subjects for examination
Oxford Student Handbook - https://www.proctors.ox.ac.uk/handbook/
This contains general information and guidance about studying at the University of Oxford, and gives you formal notification and explanation of the University’s codes, regulations, policies and procedures.
Oxford Student website - https://www.ox.ac.uk/students
This website provides access to a wide range of services and resources to support you during your studies.
Synopses of Lecture Courses - https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/
At the start of each year the Mathematics Department produces the syllabi for the coming year’s examinations and synopses of lecture courses. The syllabi concisely described the content on which individual examinations may be set; the synopses give the intended content of lecture courses but lecturers may include extra details and it may be that some lecture courses have their material spread over different exam syllabi. Included with the course synopsis is the course reading list. For Prelims, a formal syllabus giving the examinable content is published. For Parts A and B the syllabi are defined by the synopses.
Lecture Timetable - https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/lecture-lists and https://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/lectures
These documents give the titles and frequency of lectures for Mathematics courses and Philosophy courses. For 2025-26, lectures will be in person, lived streamed and recorded.
1.3 Useful Contacts
A list of useful contacts is given in appendix F.
General
Please contact the Undergraduate Studies Officer with any comments or suggestions for amendments or improvements in subsequent editions of this handbook: academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk.
If you require this handbook in a different format, please contact the Undergraduate Studies Officer in the Mathematical Institute: academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk.