MSc in Mathematical Sciences and MMath in Mathematics Handbook (2025-26)

15. Appendix D - Glossary of Key Terms

A list of useful terms for those new to Oxford.

Battels: The charges made to a member of a college (student or Fellow) for accommodation, meals etc.

Canvas: The course materials website used by the Department of Statistics, containing lecture notes, problem sheets and lecture recordings.

Coming up/Going down: Arriving at Oxford at the beginning of the term/leaving at the end of term.

Consultation Sessions: Revision sessions that take place in Weeks 2-5 of Trinity Term.

Consultative Committee for Graduates (CCG): A committee consisting of postgraduate representatives from the Mathematical Institute and the department’s two DGSs.

Degree Days: Various days throughout the year on which students may graduate.

DGS: Director of Graduate Studies.

Don: A professor, a lecturer or a Fellow.

Examination Conventions: The Examination Conventions act as a supplement to the Examination Regulations. The Conventions explain how a student will be assessed for their course within the framework of the Examination Regulations.

Examination Regulations: Sometimes referred to as the "Grey Book", the Examination Regulations govern all academic matters within the University.

Examination Schools: A building located on High Street where exams often take place.

Invariants: A student-run society at the Mathematical Institute.

GSO: Graduate Studies Office, part of the central University.

GSR: Graduate Supervision Reporting. Supervisors will submit termly reports through GSR on their student’s academic progress (OMMS only).

Hilary Term: The second term of an academic year, running from January to March.

Intercollegiate Classes: Each Part C/OMMS lecture course is accompanied by a set of intercollegiate classes, where each set normally comprises four 1.5 hour classes spread over the term. These will be run by a tutor and will cover any problems that have arisen from the problem sheets.

Lecturer: Lecturers are those who have the responsibility to present lectures.

LGBTI∧3: A group of students aiming to provide a friendly environment for those LGBTQ-identifying individuals studying within the Mathematical Sciences.

Matriculation: Matriculation confers membership of the University on those students who are enrolled at the University of Oxford and following a degree-level course.

MCF: Masters in Mathematical and Computational Finance. An MSc course run at the Mathematical Institute.

MFoCS: Masters in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science. An MSc course run jointly by the Mathematical Institute and the Department of Computer Science.

Michaelmas Term: The first term of an academic year, running from October to December.

Mini-Project: Also known as a take-home exam, which is to be completed within a specified amount of time.

Mirzakhani Society: A society at the Mathematical Institute for female and non-binary students.

MMSC: Masters in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing. An MSc course run at the Mathematical Institute.

Moodle: The Mathematical Institute’s course materials website containing lecture notes, problem sheets and lecture recordings. The system is also used to display the class times, days, and locations. Class registration for mathematics courses will happen through this system.

MPLS: Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division.

MTP: Masters in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics. An MSc course run jointly by the Mathematical Institute and the Department of Physics.

Oxford SU: Oxford University Student Union.

Papers: Constituent parts of an examination.

Part C: The term given to the fourth year undergraduate students studying for an integrated Masters. Part C is used to describe the courses that are open to these students.

Proctors: The two Proctors (Senior and Junior) are elected each year by colleges in rotation to serve for one year. The statutes provide that they shall generally ensure that the statutes, regulations, customs, and privileges of the University are observed. They serve on the University’s main committees, and where not members of committees, may receive their papers and attend meetings but not vote. They have responsibilities under the statutes and regulations for aspects of student discipline, for ensuring the proper conduct of examinations and for dealing with complaints. They also carry out ceremonial duties, e.g. at degree ceremonies.

Student Self Service: Student Self Service allows a student to access their student record and complete other tasks such as examination entry.

Sub fusc: Formal attire worn by students and academics on formal occasions, including matriculation, examinations and graduation.

TMS: The Teaching Management System, a system used by the Department of Statistics to display the class times, days and locations. Class registration for Statistics courses will happen through this system.

Trinity Term: The third term of an academic year, running from April to June.

Vac: Abbreviation of vacation.

Week 0: The week preceding the start of each term. Week 0 is sometimes referred to as "noughth week".