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

3. The Mathematics and Philosophy Course

3.1 Background

3.1.1 The University

The University is a federation of departments and faculties, and at the same time a federation of Colleges. The departments and faculties of the University are grouped into four Divisions: the Humanities Division, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, Medical Sciences Division, and Social Sciences Division. Science subjects, including Mathematics, are generally organised as departments, and Humanities subjects, including Philosophy, are generally organised as Faculties. 

Teaching is provided by both the University (lectures) and the Colleges (tutorials). The Colleges provide accommodation, meals, pastoral care, and an academic community within which undergraduates can thrive and develop. 

The University organises examinations for each degree course, and awards degrees on the basis of examination results in these Public Examinations. 

The Mathematical Institute is responsible for courses in Mathematics as a single subject, and cooperates with the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Statistics to deliver joint courses in Mathematics & Computer Science and Mathematics & Statistics. The existence of a large single-subject course in Mathematics implies that, on the mathematics side, much of the content in the Mathematics Course Handbook is also applicable to Mathematics & Philosophy. 

By contrast, Philosophy at undergraduate level in Oxford is always studied in conjunction with some other subject: in addition to Mathematics, there are joint courses with Modern Languages, Physics, Computer Science and Theology. In addition, Philosophy forms a component in the degrees in Classics, PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and PPL (Philosophy, Psychology and Linguistics). 

3.1.2 Administration of the Mathematics and Philosophy Course

A standing Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy (JCMP) administers the course and makes regulations for it. The members of this committee are the three holders of University posts in Mathematical Logic and in Philosophy of Mathematics plus two representatives appointed by the Philosophy Faculty Board and two appointed by the Teaching Committee of the Mathematical Institute. An undergraduate representative reading Mathematics & Philosophy attends meetings. The Committee normally meets once a term, Tuesday afternoon of fifteh week. Matters for consideration by JCMP should be addressed to the Chair of JCMP, c/o Academic Administration, via academic.administration@maths.ox.ac.uk. 

3.2 Overview of the Course

The University of Oxford provides two degrees in Mathematics & Philosophy:

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics and Philosophy (3-year course)
  • Master of Mathematics and Philosophy (MMathPhil) (4-year course)

Candidates for both degrees follow the same path for the first three years and all receive a classification at the end of the third year on a First, Upper Second, Lower Second, Third, Pass, Fail, basis. Those proceeding to the MMathPhil take a further examination (Part C) at the end of the fourth year, for which a separate classification is awarded on a Distinction, Merit, Pass, Fail basis, but the degree of MMathPhil is awarded for the whole four year course. Those who take the degree of MMathPhil do not receive the degree of BA in Mathematics and Philosophy, and a candidate who takes the degree of BA in Mathematics and Philosophy for the three year course cannot later take the degree of MMathPhil. 

The joint courses in Mathematics & Philosophy provide the opportunity to attain high levels of two quite different kinds of widely applicable skills. Mathematical knowledge and the ability to use it is a key element in tackling quantifiable problems and the most highly developed means of obtaining knowledge through purely abstract thinking, while philosophical training encourages the ability to analyse issues, often by questioning received assumptions, and to articulate that analysis clearly. Historically, there have been strong links between mathematics and philosophy. Philosophy of mathematics bridges the two subjects and has been of great importance to major philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein) and to major mathematicians (Pythagoras, Bolzano, Cantor, Poincaré, Hilbert, Weyl, Brouwer). There are some (Descartes and Leibniz, notably) who are both major philosophers and major mathematicians. Logic, the systemic study of reasoning, is also the bridge between the two subjects. It has been a branch of philosophy since Aristotle and a branch of mathematics since the nineteenth century. 

The Oxford degrees in Mathematics & Philosophy provide a strong background from which to pursue diverse careers or professional trainings on completion of either the MMathPhil or the BA, including graduate study in either mathematics or philosophy. 

3.3 Programme Specification

The MMathPhil and the BA in Mathematics and Philosophy may be compared to national standards for higher education qualifications through the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). The University awards framework (UAF) maps the awards of the University against the levels of the FHEQ. The FHEQ level for the MMathPhil is 7 and for the BA is 6. The relevant subject benchmark statement for the course, which sets out expectations about standards of degrees in a given subject area, is Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research (QAA 2015) and Philosophy (2015). 

The aims and intended learning outcomes for the Mathematics & Philosophy degree programme and the Aims and Objects for Philosophy in all undergraduate courses with Philosophy in Oxford can be found in Appendix A. 

3.4 The framework of University Examinations

The examinations for each undergraduate degree course in Oxford consist of a First Public Examination and a Final Honour School (FHS). The Final Honour School is often referred to as Finals, and may, as for the FHS of Mathematics & Philosophy, consist of Parts taken in different years.