MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing Handbook (2025-26 Entry)
7. Student Life and Support
7.1 Who to Contact for Help
You are encouraged to talk about any problems you may have while on the course. Within the department, the Course Director and your supervisor may be in the best position to help. Within your college, your college advisor, tutor for graduates or senior tutor may be able to help. Each college has their own systems of support for students, please refer to your college handbook or website for more information on who to contact and what support is available through your college.
Details of the wide range of sources of support which are available more widely in the University are available from the Oxford students welfare and wellbeing website. This includes information in relation to mental and physical health and disability.
If you are having difficulties with the academic side of the course, you should approach either your supervisor or the Course Director who will be able to arrange extra help.
7.1.1 Financial Support
Your offer of a place on the course will have been made subject to you proving that you can support yourself throughout your time in Oxford but it is appreciated that occasionally financial problems can occur. The hardship funding website has advice in such situations but initially you should discuss this with your college as they often have hardship funds. The M.Sc. course also has limited funds available, so if your college is unable to help you should discuss any financial problems with the Course Director.
7.1.2 Illness
It is appreciated that most people will be ill occasionally during the course of the year and this should not adversely affect your studies. Since all lectures will be recorded, you should be able to catch up, provided you are not ill for long. If you will miss a class, it is appropriate to inform the class tutor who will make a note in the attendance log. Similarly, it is helpful to contact the class tutor if you will not be able to submit solutions to a problem sheet because of illness.
If you are ill on the day of a written examination, you should contact your college doctor or nurse who will be able to write a note for you to submit as part of a mitigating circumstances notice to examiners as described in problems completing your assessment section of the Oxford students website.
If you are able to sit the examination then this note will be taken into account when your final result is decided. More details of how such a note will be used are given in the Examination Conventions which can be found on the MMSC course website.
If you are ill on the day of a written examination and unable to sit the examination then your college should apply to the Proctors on your behalf for you to be exempt from the examination — there will not be an opportunity to sit the examination at a later date.
If you are ill or suffer a bereavement in the time when you are revising or preparing reports for special topics, case studies or the dissertation, you should again approach your college and they can apply to the Proctors for an extension of the deadline (written reports only) or for your circumstances to be taken into account.
If you are ill for a significant period of time during the year, you should discuss this with the Course Director as it may be appropriate for you to suspend your status to allow you to recover, then return to complete the course the following academic year.
7.2 Complaints and Appeals within the Mathematical Institute
The University, the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS) and the Mathematical Institute all hope that provision made for students at all stages of their course of study will result in no need for complaints (about that provision) or appeals (against the outcomes of any form of assessment).
Where such a need arises, an informal discussion with the person immediately responsible for the issue that you wish to complain about (and who may not be one of the individuals identified below) is often the simplest way to achieve a satisfactory resolution.
Many sources of advice are available from colleges, faculties/departments and bodies like the Counselling Service or the OUSU Student Advice Service, which have extensive experience in advising students. You may wish to take advice from one of those sources before pursuing your complaint.
General areas of concern about provision affecting students as a whole should be raised through Joint Consultative Committees or via student representation on the faculty/department’s committees.
7.2.1 Complaints
If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by the department, then you should raise it with the Director of Graduate Studies (Prof. Christoph Reisinger) or with the Associate Head of Department (Education) (Prof. Dan Ciubotaru), as appropriate. Complaints about departmental facilities should be made to the Director of IT and Physical Resources (Dr Keith Gillow). If you feel unable to approach one of those individuals, you may contact the Head of Department (Prof. Jon Chapman). The officer concerned will attempt to resolve your concern/complaint informally.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you may take your concern further by making a formal complaint to the Proctors under the University Student Complaints Procedure (see the complaints and appeals webpage).
If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by your college, you should raise it either with your tutor or with one of the college officers, Senior Tutor, Tutor for Graduates (as appropriate). Your college will also be able to explain how to take your complaint further if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of its consideration.
7.2.2 Academic Appeals
An academic appeal is an appeal against the decision of an academic body (e.g. boards of examiners, transfer and confirmation decisions etc.), on grounds such as procedural error or evidence of bias. There is no right of appeal against academic judgement.
If you have any concerns about your assessment process or outcome it is advisable to discuss these first informally with your college tutor, Senior Tutor, Course Director, Director of Studies, supervisor or college or departmental administrator as appropriate. They will be able to explain the assessment process that was undertaken and may be able to address your concerns. Queries must not be raised directly with the examiners.
If you still have concerns you can make a formal appeal to the Proctors who will consider appeals under the University Academic Appeals Procedure (see the complaints and academic appeals webpage).
7.3 Policies and Regulations
The University has a wide range of policies and regulations that apply to students. These are easily accessible through the A–Z of University regulations, codes of conduct and policies available on the Oxford students website. This includes the educational recordings policy.
In addition, the Mathematical Institute has a set of policies for its members. Further information about some of these policies is given below.
7.3.1 Code on Harassment
The Mathematical Institute has appointed a group of staff who may be consulted in connection with the University’s Code on Harassment. The anti-bullying and harassment guidance provides details of the departmental harassment advisors and the university’s policy on harassment and bullying.
7.3.2 Mathematical Institute Disability Statement
The Institute will do everything within its power to make available its teaching and other resources to students and others with disabilities to ensure that they are not at a disadvantage. In some cases, this may require significant adjustments to the building and to teaching methods. Those with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their needs with the Disability Coordinator (email academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk) and/or Safety Officer (email safety-officer@maths.ox.ac.uk) at the earliest possible opportunity.
The University has produced an access guide for the Mathematical Institute’s Andrew Wiles Building.
The Executive Committee is responsible for the department’s disability policy.
Further information is also available from the University Equality and Diversity Unit page.
7.3.3 Safety
You are urged to act responsibly at all times, and with a proper care for your own safety and that of others. Departmental statements of safety policy are posted on noticeboards, and you must comply with them. Students should note that they (and others entering onto departmental premises or who are involved in departmental activities) are responsible for exercising care in relation to themselves and others who may be affected by their actions.
Within the Mathematical Institute, accidents should be reported immediately. This should be done by ensuring that the accident is recorded in the Accident/Incident Book located in the main reception area and held by the receptionists. The report will then be sent to the Safety Office. There is a First Aid room located on the ground floor of the South wing. If you require access to this room please report to reception. First aid boxes are located in every stair core (cores 1, 2, 3, and 5) on every level and are clearly signed.
Each lecture theatre has its own regulations for procedures to be followed in the case of fire or other emergency; you are urged to familiarise yourself with the proper escape routes. The assembly point is in the courtyard outside the Humanities Building adjacent to Woodstock Road.
More information about health and safety in the Mathematical Institute is available.
7.4 Consent Matters — Part of the Oxford Against Sexual Violence Campaign
Consent matters. That is why we are asking all students to complete a new online consent programme to develop your understanding, communication and respect as a student in Oxford’s community. In the short interactive course, you will learn how to recognise and ask for sexual consent, look out for others, and where to find support if you need it.
You can access the course remotely now, via https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice/consent-matters, and we encourage you to complete the training before arriving in Oxford for the start of term.
Consent Matters forms part of Oxford Against Sexual Violence, the University’s campaign that exists to send a clear message that sexual harassment and violence of any form is unacceptable.
Free, independent support and advice is available to any student who has been affected by sexual harassment or violence through the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice).