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

Prelude

This handbook applies to students starting the course in Michaelmas term 2025. The information in this handbook may be different for students starting in other years. This handbook is intended as a guide and reference for you throughout your Mathematics and Philosophy course at Oxford. Please keep it as a handy reference guide. A separate handbook is available for Part C students.

The Examination Regulations relating to this course are available at https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk. If there is a conflict between information in this handbook and the Examination Regulations then you should follow the Examination Regulations. If you have any concerns please contact the Undergraduate Studies Officer in the Mathematical Institute (academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk).

The information in this handbook is accurate as at October 2025, however it may be necessary for changes to be made in certain circumstances, as explained at www.ox.ac.uk/coursechanges. If such changes are made the department will publish a new version of this handbook together with a list of the changes and students will be informed.

Welcome from the Chair of the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy

Welcome to Oxford and what we hope is a memorable time studying Mathematics and Philosophy. You may reasonably expect the next three or four years of study to be unlike any others in your lifetime and we hope you make the most of the opportunity that they represent. If embraced, the challenges the study of Mathematics and Philosophy offer will mean a fruitful and enjoyable time at the University and you will be able to look back appreciatively at how far you have progressed in your technical and analytical skills, your presentation and argumentation. 

Oxford only offers joint degrees involving subjects that lend reflection to one another in a beneficial, complementary manner. Logic and Set Theory are obvious examples where this is a natural overlap of mathematical and philosophical interest. You may see this overlap extend into algebra, geometry, analysis, probability, physics and beyond, depending on your choices, and hopefully you will come to more generally appreciate the benefits of studying both disciplines alongside one another. 

A final word on learning at University: a student's attitude is the key component to success. Lecturers and tutors, books and libraries, and of course, fellow students, all have their parts to play, but it is a student's engagement with a degree's challenges that means most. Tutors will be supportive and help address your uncertainties and questions, but for the tutorial system to work well a student needs both to have spent time, effort and reflection identifying and wrestling with problems, and also then needs to discuss their thoughts in tutorials in seeking to take their understanding further. It is in the acts of seeking out questions for yourself and refining your understanding by answering them that you will progress most. 

With that we very much hope you enjoy your time at Oxford, and flourish taking on the challenges it offers. 

Prof. Jochen Koenigsmann
Chair of Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy

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.

2. Your First Weeks at Oxford University

Many of you will already have read ‘How do Undergraduates do Mathematics?’ originally prepared by Professor Charles Batty with the assistance of Professor Nick Woodhouse with more recent updates by Dr Richard Earl, Prof Frances Kirwan and Dr Vicky Neale. If you have not done so, then it is available online at https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/study_public_0.pdf and you are strongly recommended to read it as part of the induction to your course.

The Department Induction session will this year be held at 2pm on Friday Week 0 in L1, Mathematical Institute. You will be provided with important information for your course.

Further useful information can be found on the department's website:

• Information for Prelims Students: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/prelims-students
• Fridays@2: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/fridays2

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. 

4. First Year

4.1 Preliminary Examination in Mathematics & Philosophy

In Mathematics & Philosophy the First Public Examination consists of a five-paper Preliminary Examination sat at the end of the first year. 

The course for the Preliminary Examination comprises five sections, corresponding to the five papers of the examination:

• Section 1: Mathematics I
• Section 2: Mathematics II
• Section 3: Mathematics III (P)
• Section 4: Philosophical Topics in Logic and Probability
• Section 5: Introduction to Philosophy

All five sections are compulsory. Sections 1 and 2 are each examined in a 2.5-hour paper, Section 3 in a 2-hour paper, and Sections 4 and 5 in a 3-hour paper. 

Mathematics I, covering mainly Algebra, and Mathematics II, covering mainly Analysis, and Mathematics III(P), covering Introductory Calculus and Probability, are the same or similar to corresponding papers for the Preliminary Examinations in Mathematics. Syllabi are set out in the Mathematics & Philosophy Supplement. 

 Section 4, Philosophical Topics in Logic and Probability, is designed specifically for Prelims in Mathematics & Philosophy, Physics & Philosophy and Computer Science & Philosophy, and the examination includes questions of a more mathematical nature. 

Section 5, Introduction to Philosophy, covers General Philosophy, a topic-based introduction to key topics in epistemology, meta-physics, ethics and philosophy of mind, and Gottlob Frege's Foundations of Arithmetic. 

Details of the syllabuses for Sections 4 and 5 can be found in the Examination Regulations. 

4.2 Important Dates

Below is a summary of important dates in the first year:

Michaelmas Term

Monday 13th October (week 1) - Michaelmas term lectures begin

Friday 5th December (week 8) - Michaelmas term lectures end

Hilary Term

Monday 19th January (week 1) - Hilary term lectures begin

Friday 13th March (week 8) - Hilary term lectures end

Trinity Term

Monday 27th April (week 1) - Trinity term lectures begin

Friday 22nd May (week 4) - Mathematics Institute Part B/C Options Fair

Monday 22nd June (week 9) - Provisional start date for the examinations

5. After First Year

5.1 Overview

The examinations for the Final Honour School of Mathematics and Philosophy are divided into three parts:

• Part A, taken at the end of the second year;
• Part B, taken at the end of the third year;

and, for those taking the MMathPhil, also

• Part C, taken at the end of the fourth year. 

In the Part A examination you are examined on the second-year Mathematics courses only. Although study of Philosophy continues during the second year of the course, no Philosophy subjects are examined in Part A. In Part B you are examined on all of your work in the second and third years, except for the Mathematics courses already examined in Part A. 

In Parts A and B together, you will take roughly equal proportions of Mathematics and of Philosophy, with logic as a compulsory bridge subject. In Part B, as indicated below, there is some limited scope to choose to take a greater or lesser proportion of Mathematics and correspondingly a lesser or greater proportion of Philosophy. In Part C you may opt to take only Mathematics, only Philosophy, or continue to study both. 

5.2 Progression

At the end of Part A you will receive a University Standardised Mark (USM), between 0 and 100, for each of the papers you take, but will not be classified (i.e. assigned a class: 1, 2.1, 2.2 etc.). After Part B you receive a classification on the basis of Parts A and B together. There is no minimum standard to be achieved in Part A in order to progress to Part B. 

If you leave after successfully completing Parts A and B you may supplicate for a BA in Mathematics & Philosophy with the classification obtained at the end of Part B. 

The Part C examination covers the work done in the fourth year and is separately classified. A candidate achieving Honours in Part C, that is, achieving an average USM ≥ 40, may supplicate for the degree MMathPhil. Note that a successful candidate may supplicate for one degree only - either a BA or an MMathPhil. The MMathPhil is doubly classified but a candidate will not be awarded a BA degree and an MMathPhil degree. You will need to achieve a 2.1 or better in your second and third year exams to progress to Part C. 

Any candidate who fails to obtain Honours in Part C, i.e. achieves an average USM < 40, may, so long as they have not taken the BA, enter again for Part C on at most one subsequent occasion or may supplicate for the BA in Mathematics & Philosophy. 

The University's rules concerning withdrawal from, or failure to complete, an examination are summarised in Section 7 of the University Student Handbook and set out in full in Part 14 of the Examination Regulations. 

5.3 Part A

In your second year you will study roughly one half of the syllabus for the Honour School of Mathematics. There are two compulsory core papers, Linear Algebra and Metric Space and Complex Analysis. The former is covered by 16 lectures, the latter by 32, both in Michaelmas term. You then choose from a menu of second-year Long and Short Options; see Appendix B or the Mathematics & Philosophy Part A Supplement. 

You may also, if you have the support of your Mathematics tutor, apply to the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy for approval of other options from the list of those available in Mathematics Part A. 

5.4 Parts B and C

5.4.1 Mathematics in Parts B and C

The Mathematics subjects in Parts B and C are published in the Mathematics & Philosophy Part B and Mathematics & Philosophy Part C Supplements to the Course Handbook. 

Courses are designated as being at either H-level (Honours) or M-level (Masters). Usually Part B courses are designed as H-level and Part C courses M-level. 

Most units in Mathematics will be assessed through written examination papers of 1 3/4 hours for a single unit, through some may be assessed in whole or in part by submitted coursework. The two units B1.1 Logic and B1.2 Set Theory are compulsory in Mathematics and Philosophy Part B. 

5.4.2 Philosophy in Parts B and C

Subjects in Philosophy are specified in the Examination Regulations, in the section entitled Philosophy in all Honour Schools Including Philosophy. 

For the FHS of Mathematics & Philosophy, the subjects are drawn from 101-118, 120, 122, 124, 125, 127-129, 137-140, 198 and 199 (Thesis). 

Please note 121: Advanced Philosophy of Physics, is unavailable, as it requires substantial background in Physics, so is only available in the Honour Schools of Physics, and Physics and Philosophy. 

A 3-hour examination paper is set on each Philosophy subject other than a Thesis. 

As indicated above, Philosophy subjects in both Part B and Part C are drawn from the same list. But in Part C, a Philosophy subject is studied at greater depth than in Part B (that is, at M-level rather than H-level). A Philosophy unit in Part C other than a Thesis consists of a Philosophy subject together with an essay of up to 5,000 words. The same subject may not be offered in both Part B and Part C. 

You are permitted to offer a Philosophy Thesis in each of Parts B and C provided the topics do not overlap (The Examination Regulations require that no parts of a Part C Thesis may include work submitted for the same or another degree). 

6. Choices

6.1 Exit Points

We hope, and expect, that you will enjoy studying Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford and will successfully complete your degree. A high proportion of those admitted to read Mathematics & Philosophy elect to stay for 4 years to complete the MMathPhil; of the remainder, almost all obtain the B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy after 3 years. Some students may opt to switch to another Oxford course or, exceptionally, to a course at another university.

6.1.1 Three Years or Four Years?

The choice of which degree you take will be based on your interests and aptitudes, your performance in the first three years and your career intentions. You may wish to discuss your decision with your college tutors, who will be able to advise you on which course is more appropriate for you.

You will need to achieve overall a 2.1 or better in your second and third year exams to progress to Part C.

By default, all students are registered for the MMathPhil. If you subsequently decide to take the BA option you must inform your college office who will in turn inform the central administration and the departments. Around the time that you enter for your Part B examinations you will be asked to confirm whether or not you intend to stay for the fourth year. The decision you declare at this point is not immutable, but should be final if at all possible, and you are strongly advised to take a final decision before the start of your Part B examinations. Please ensure that you have consulted your college tutor(s) before making your decision. It is important that your college knows your intentions as early as possible in order to plan for the following year.

It could happen that, having embarked upon your fourth year, you are for whatever reason unable to complete the Part C course, or decide that you do not wish to do so. In these circumstances you are advised to discuss your situation with your college’s Senior Tutor at the earliest opportunity. Students who withdraw partway through Part C will graduate with a BA degree.

6.1.2 Changing Course

We very much hope, and in the great majority of cases can confidently expect, that you will do well in this course and benefit from your studies. At the same time, you should not feel that your original choice is irrevocable if it is not turning out as you had anticipated. In any degree course, a very few who embark upon it may come to feel it is not the right course for them. Mathematics & Philosophy is no exception and a few students doing the course change to another (and a few doing some other course change to Mathematics & Philosophy).

If you feel that you should change course, the best thing to do is to be patient at first. You may be finding the course difficult or overwhelming but this is perfectly natural and your tutors are there to help and support you. You should seek their advice, and maybe share your feelings with your fellow students: you may not be alone in your feelings, and they may be able to help. You are not in competition with them, and it is good to get into the habit of helping and being helped. Despite this, you may decide that the course is not right for you. 

If you are considering changing from Mathematics & Philosophy to another Oxford course, the possibilities are to change to Mathematics, to some other course involving Philosophy, or to an entirely different course. The latter is the most radical and its feasibility depends on particular interests, background and circumstances. The first two are generally more feasible. You will find it helpful to talk to fellow students on the course or courses to which you might like to change and to consult the University Prospectus and course documentation available on the web. Normally your college will have admitted you to read for a specific undergraduate degree (consisting of the sequence of First Public Examination followed by Final Honour School). If you wish to explore the possibility of changing course, first talk to one of your current tutors or, if you prefer, to the Senior Tutor or to someone else in your college with responsibility for academic welfare of students. After that, talk to tutors in the subject to which you wish to change.

If you have already made a substantial start on your course then it is likely that your tutors will advise you to stay with it until you have completed your First Public Examination. By proceeding in this way you may be able to change course without losing a year, since you must pass a First Public Examination in some course or other before you can proceed to any Final Honour School and any First Public Examination counts as a qualification for any Final Honour School.

Changing to Mathematics, or another course joint with Mathematics

If you are considering changing to Mathematics (or to Mathematics & Statistics) before Prelims, then you need to be aware that besides catching up on course work in applied mathematics that you will have missed, you may also need to work through the Computational Mathematics course and submit the required Computational Mathematics projects (see the Mathematics Course Handbook for details).

To change to single-subject Mathematics after Prelims will involve studying over the summer some of the material examined in the two Applied Mathematics papers of Prelims in Mathematics. Your tutors will advise you what to concentrate on. 

Changing to another course joint with Philosophy

Philosophy is studied at Undergraduate level in Oxford only in combination with other subjects. You will need to look at these other combinations to decide which would be best for you in terms of your interest and background. The Undergraduate Prospectus, and the Handbooks for each course available on the Philosophy website, will give you basic information. 

Changing to another Oxford course: the formalities 

If you decide you do want to change course, there are three bodies that must approve: your college, the University, and those who are paying for you. Permission from your college will be needed for change to another course. This is liable to be refused if the receiving tutors think you unsuited to their course, or don’t have room. The University is unlikely to be a problem, as it accepts for any examination all candidates who are suitably qualified and supported by their colleges. However, a few departments do have quotas for acceptance on to the courses taught in them; so it always best to speak to your college about changing to another course in the first instance. See below as regards financial issues in connection with a change of course.

Moving to another university

The most occasional change is to decide to study at another university, either because the course you realise you want to do isn’t offered at Oxford, or because you feel that you will do better somewhere else. Before deciding to pursue such a step be sure to get lots of advice, both from tutors and from family and friends. If in the end this is the right choice for you, you should be able to ask your college to support your application for a place at another university.

6.1.3 Financial Issues

Please be aware that any change to your choice of degree may impact on your level of maintenance funding and the time taken to receive your student loan. You are advised to contact Student Finance, https://www.gov.uk/student-financefor further enquiries. If you have financial support for your studies from an award, scholarship, or sponsorship, this is likely to be on the basis of the specific course you are pursuing, in which case permission from your funding body to change course, even within Oxford, will be required if this support is to continue. You will need to ask your Senior Tutor to write to your funding body to certify that you have been given permission to change course.

The MMathPhil is recognized as a masters-level qualification. For students not classified as Overseas, there may be adverse financial consequences in taking the MMathPhil (rather than the BA) if they wish thereafter to take another masters-level taught course. This arises because of ELQ (Equivalent or Lower Qualifications) fee liabilities: universities do not receive any government funding for ELQ students and consequently adopt a special ELQ fees rate, which is likely to be roughly double that of the standard fee for graduate taught courses. Information can be found at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/fees-funding/fees/elq.

7. Teaching and Learning

7.1 Tutors

Each student in Mathematics & Philosophy has a College Tutor in Mathematics and a College Tutor in Philosophy who oversees their academic progress in the two sides of the school. The College Tutors arrange College teaching (tutorials and classes), advise on general academic matters such as choice of options, oversee library provision of relevant texts in the College library, arrange College Collections, provide career advice (when requested) and references. 

Anybody to whom you to go for tutorials or College classes counts as one of your tutors. For the Mathematics & Philosophy course you are bound to have at least two of them, and there are likely to be several more over the yeas. Some will be tutorial fellows or lecturers of your own College, some may be of other Colleges, or research fellows, or graduate students. The overall responsibility for giving or arranging your tuition will lie with tutorial fellows or lecturers of your own College, probably one in each of Mathematics and Philosophy.

7.2 The framework of lectures, tutorials and classes

Students are responsible for their own academic progress. You will be expected to attend lectures, or learn the material from recommended or equivalent texts, and are required to attend or watch tutorials, and probably at various stages also classes, in both Mathematics and Philosophy. You will be required to do pre-assigned work (in the form of essays for Philosophy and problem sheets for Mathematics), for most tutorials and classes. The way lectures support your learning varies on the two sides of the School. Broadly, tutorials are the primary medium of instruction in Philosophy whereas lectures for the backbone of Mathematics teaching supported by tutorials and classes, with problem sheets provided by the lecturers available for most courses. A table setting out the recommended patterns of teaching for each year of the coruse is included in Appendix B.

7.2.1 Lectures

Each subject specified for examination in the Examination Regulations or in the Supplements to the Mathematics Course Handbook has, with very few exceptions, lectures which cover the official syllabus specified for that subject. A Lecture list is produced each term for Mathematics and for Philosophy. These list the courses on which lectures are to be given that term, in the form of a timetable. The Mathematics list contains a section for the Mathematics & Philosophy course which lists the lectures both in Mathematics and in Philosophy for subjects that are compulsory or particularly relevant for that examination. Synopses of Mathematics courses, amplifying the syllabuses, are given in the Supplements to the Mathematics Course Handbook. 

The Philosophy Lecture list and Prospectus for each term is available at: https://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/lectures and the Mathematics Lecture list is available at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/lecture-lists

Philosophy

Lectures are vital for some Philosophy subjects, less so for others, and their role depends on individual differences; get advice from your tutors and fellow students. Learn to take notes at lectures; they will be useful to you later, when you can fit them into a wider picture. Although in Oxford's system, lecturers do not necessarily set or mark the University examinations, they are consulted by those who do, and the lecture prospectuses inform examiners as well as students about the content of lecturers. 

Mathematics

You are likely to be advised that you should attend all lectures for the Mathematics courses you are taking. Undergraduates are given a lot of advice at the start of their course on how to get the best out of mathematics lectures and on note taking, and guidance is also given in the Mathematics Course Handbook. 

7.3 Tutorials and classes

For the most part you will find you are sharing tuition in Mathematics with those who are reading Mathematics, and tuition in Philosophy with those who are reading some other subject that involves Philosophy. There are a few subjects that are special to this joint school, principally in the philosophy of mathematics, but usually you are not on your own. It is, however, desirable that your tutorials in Logic in Michaelmas Term of your first year are conducted at a more mathematically sophisticated level that would be the case if you were paired with a student from another joint School. There is a list of tutors willing to give such tutorials, possibly pairing you with a Mathematics & Philosophy student from another College, and your own College tutor should be aware of this. Get to know those who are reading the same subject as you, and talk to them about your work (as well as other things). 

Styles of tutorials differ, depending on how many students are sharing the tutorial, the nature of the topic, and above all the habit and personality of your tutorial. You must not expect uniformity, and will gain most if you adapt to differences. 

If you feel strongly you are not getting on with one of your tutors, and that a change of tutor would be helpful, then say so to the tutor concerned, or approach one of the people in your College designated to help in such circumstances (Senior Tutor, Head of College, or one of those responsible for academic or personal welfare). 

7.3.1 Philosophy

You are expected to bring knowledge of the readings you have been set and almost always an essay in which you address some aspect of the topic covered by the reading, to the tutorial. 

You will learn a lot if you share and discuss ideas with your fellow students, and if you chance your arm in tutorials. Bear in mind that tutorials are not designed as a substitute for lectures, or for accumulating information, but to develop the capacity to think on the spot and to articulate your thinking clearly in response to issues raised about ideas in the essay you or a tutorial partner are presenting. Producing essays for philosophy tutorials gives excellent training in writing, and particularly in writing to a deadline. 

7.3.2 Mathematics

Tutorials (Prelims and Part A)

To support lectures in the first and second years, colleges arrange tutorials and classes for their students. How these are organised vary from college to college. For example, you might have two (one-hour) tutorials each week, with one or two other students. Consequently, it is a highly individual and flexible way of teaching and tutorial groups are usually arranged to include students that work well together, and perhaps, who are progressing academically at the same rate. 

You will be set some work for each tutorial and in the tutorial you will discuss the work and be able to ask about any difficulties you have experienced. In order to get the best out of a tutorial, it is important that you are well prepared and also that you see the tutorial as an opportunity to get resolved all the problems you encountered that week. A tutorial is, after all, an hour with an expert in that area. Your tutor is highly unlikely to give up the answer to your question immediately and may respond with hints or questions of their own, but this is all towards improving your understanding of the material and showing you how you might have made further progress with the problem yourself. 

Classes (Part B)

Each 16-hour lecture unit in Part B will be supported by classes run under the Intercollegiate Class Scheme. Students generally attend four 1.5 hour classes (or equivalent) for each Part B unit. In Michaelmas term 2025-26, all classes will run face-to-face. Each class usually has between five and twelve students (although classes for more popular subjects may contain up to thirty students) from a number of different colleges and is run by a class tutor and a teaching assistant. The course lecturer provides problem sheets, and also specimen solutions for the class tutors and teaching assistants. Students hand in their solutions in advance and these are marked by the teaching assistants; at each class, some of the problems are discussed in detail, and there is an opportunity to ask the class tutor and teaching assistant about any particular difficulties. The class tutors report to colleges through the intercollegiate class database on your performance throughout the term. If you are ill and unable to attend the class, please inform the class tutor in advance of the class. 

Consultation sessions to help with revision are run during Trinity term. 

7.4 Scheduling your work

7.4.1 Prelims

Philosophy

Details on lectures provided in first year can be found in Appendix B. Tutorial and class teaching in philosophy is organised by College and different Colleges may structure your teaching in different ways. 

One standard model is to have tutorials or classes on Introduction to Logic in Michaelmas Term, Philosophical Topics in Logic and Probability, and General Philosophy in Hilary Term, and Frege in Trinity Term. Michaelmas Term is busy on the mathematics side; you can expect to have around 80% of the mathematics workload of a single honours mathematics student in Michaelmas. This goes down to approximately 40% in Hilary. 

Mathematics

Details on lectures and tutorials for Mathematics can be found in Appendix B. The first year course is run as a joint venture with the Statistics Department. 

7.4.1 Part A and Part B

Mathematics

Mathematics courses taken in the second year are examined at the end of that year whereas all examining of second and third year work in Philosophy takes place at the end of the third year. Further information on Mathematics teaching for Part A and Part B can be found in Appendix B. 

Philosophy

You will continue with your study of Philosophy during your second year, though you will not sit University examinations on this until the end of your third year. During second and third year, you study 3 or 4 Philosophy papers (which must include 122 Philosophy of Mathematics and at least one of 101 Early Modern Philosophy or 102 Knowledge and Reality). 

The preparation for the Philosophy subjects is covered by lectures throughout the year. Students will normally cover the material of each subject in eight tutorials, perhaps with later revision. As a general rule, on the more central and popular subjects (including 101 and 102) there will always be at least 16 lectures so undergraduates may choose according to their own interests; and most subjects will have at least 8 lectures. You cannot guarantee that Philosophy tutorials can always be arranged to coincide with lectures in the same subject, and you must be prepared to attend lectures in advance of tutorials or the other way around. 

It is obviously desirable that your work over your second and third years should be, as far as possible, distributed evenly. How best to achieve this will vary from one College to another, depending on the different teaching patterns favoured by a College's tutors, on students' choices of Mathematics options and Philosophy subjects, and on the timing of teaching for B1. 

Illustrative course schedule

For the purposes of illustration, here is one possible pathway, which may be adapted to your individual circumstances: 

This is, of course, just one pathway through Part A and Part B. There are many others, which may call for you to distribute your workload differently.

In all cases, it's worth planning ahead and speaking with your College tutors as early as possible when planning your pathway through the degree. In adapting the example above, a useful rule of thumb is that one Philosophy paper is broadly comparable in workload to two 16-lecture Mathematics courses. Bear in mind that teaching arrangements are often made one or more terms in advance. 

7.4.2 Part C

There are no compulsory subjects in Part C, and you may choose to study entirely Mathematics (a minimum of 8 units), entirely Philosophy (3 subjects), or combinations of the two (a minimum of 6 units of Mathematics and one Philosophy subject, or a minimum of 3 units of Mathematics and two Philosophy subjects). You may choose to take additional units in Mathematics as follows:

Additional units will count towards the final USM, as described in the examination conventions. All primary study of your choice should be completely by the end of Hilary Term, and the last deadline for work submitted for examination is for Philosophy essays of up to 5000 words, the M-level component of the study of a Philosophy subject in Part C, which are due by noon on Friday of 1st week of Trinity Term. It is clearly desirable to organise one's work in Part C so the amount of work in Michaelmas Term is as near as possible equal to the amount in Hilary Term. If you're doing all Mathematics, this means aiming to do four or five subjects in each term. The MI facilitates such equal distribution by scheduling related subjects that are likely to be chosen together in different terms. Depending on when the exams of your chosen subjects are scheduled, you'll then have the first four to six weeks of Trinity Term for revision classes and individual study. 

7.4.3 Study during Vacations

You should expect to spend some time in the vacations consolidating and revising the material covered in the preceding term. You may also have one or two problem sheets to complete during the vacation or some pre-reading or work in preparation for the next term. In some vacations you will need to revise for examinations (which may be college collections or University examinations). 

7.5 Choosing options

Prelims

All subjects in the five papers in Prelims are compulsory. There is an element of choice in the Introduction to Philosophy paper between the two parts of the paper, General Philosophy and Frege's Foundations of Arithmetic, in that you may choose to answer one question from one part and three from the other. 

Part A

Besides the options in Pure Mathematics approved for Part A for Mathematics & Philosophy, you may also, with the support of your Mathematics tutor, apply to the JCMP for approval of one or more other options available for Mathematics Part A and listed in the Mathematics Part A supplement. It is also possible to apply for special permission to take options in Statistics and Computer Science. The application procedure is the same as for options in Mathematics. Details can be found in section 8.10. Such applications tend to be uncommon and require some further work of the undergraduate. 

Parts B and C

It's important to pay attention to prerequisites. In the case of Philosophy options, it is also worth bearing in mind that for two Philosophy subjects, one you study in Part B and the other in Part C, it will be sensible to leave the one that interests you more deeply to Part C. 

The Part C courses in logic and set theory are natural choices for MMathPhil students. Otherwise, prerequisites are a particular issue in Mathematics. It should be noted that you may choose a course even though you have not done the background courses, but the lecturers and examiners will lecture and examine on the hypothesis that you have the background. You should consult one of your College tutors on appropriae background reading. 

There are Options Fairs in the Mathematical Institute in Trinity Term of your second and third years, where representatives from the different subject groups will discuss the individual Mathematics options and be available to answer any questions you may have. 

Similarly to Part A, you may also, with the support of your Mathematics tutor, apply to the JCMP for approval of one or more other options available for Mathematics Part B and C and listed in the Mathematics Part B and C supplement. It is also possible to apply for special permission to take options in Statistics and Computer Science. The application procedure is the same as for options in Mathematics. Details can be found in section 8.10. Such applications tend to be uncommon and require some further work of the undergraduate. 

7.5.1 Registering for Mathematics Courses in Parts B and C

Students taking Part B and Part C will be asked to register online for the departmentally-organised classes on Mathematics courses. Initial course registration is required by the end of week 10 of Trinity Term in the academic year preceeding the examination. Details of the procedure are given in the Mathematics & Philosophy Part B Supplement. You will need to nominate an alternative choice if you register for any course which has a quota. You are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances, to attend classes for the same Part B course in both your second and your third year. 

8. Assessment and Examinations

9. Study Skills and Resources

9.1 Study Skills

Much of the advice and training in study skills will come in the regular tutorial and class teaching your college arranges for you. In these sessions, and in preparation for them, you will develop your powers of expression and argument. 

A wide range of information and training materials are available to help you develop your academic skills, including time management, research and library skills, referencing, revision skills and academic writing, through the Oxford Students website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills

9.2 Resources

9.2.1 Books

A complete set of lecture notes should not be viewed as your sole source of information for a course. If you have found the course relatively straightforward then they may prove sufficient, though that is not to say you couldn't benefit from other texts and further reading, but if the course has gone less well then you would certainly be wise to consult other texts from the college library or internet for more examples and other treatments of the material. Access to other mathematical texts and sources will help in clarifying points made in lectures, completing arguments given partially, doing things in different ways, and so on. 

Reading lists are issued alongside the lecture synopses and are revised annually. They contain a range of suggestions, including alternatives and suggestions for further reading. It is often advantageous to have your own copy of some books - often you will be able to buy useful texts from your predecessors in college, or through second-hand bookstalls run by MURC.

9.2.2 Libraries

Mathematics & Philosophy students will need to use a variety of libraries during their time in Oxford. Your College library will have a good selection of books which can be borrowed. Each library is equipped with computers for searching databases and catalogues, and for checking emails and printing. 

Your University card is required to enter and/or to borrow books or order items from closed stacks. There will be an induction for Mathematics & Philosophy students during 0th week, teaching you how to use SOLO, a search and discovery tool for the Oxford Libraries' collection of resources. To find books featured on your reading lists, you can use SOLO. Ask library staff for assistance if you can't find the books you need. You can recommend new purchases via the library's website. 

Once you have found the books or journal articles you wish to read, you may be able to borrow the item from a lending library or you can read a reference copy in a Bodleian Library Reading Room. In addition your College library will often have lending copies of items on reading lists.

Mathematics and Philosophy students will most likely use the following three libraries:

• BOD Philosophy Reading Room (Philosophy)
• Philosophy Faculty Library (Philosophy)
• Radcliffe Science Library (Mathematics - Science and Medicine)

9.2.3 IT

The University is committed to making available computer facilities sufficient to cover the coursework requirements of undergraduates. Your computing requirements will be supported primarily by departmental and college IT staff. 

All students will be automatically allocated a University email account and may register for further services with IT Services. IT Services are located at 13 Banbury Road and offer facilities, training and advice to members of the University in all aspects of academic computing. You can find more information at: https://www.it.ox.ac.uk/

Colleges have PCs (and in some cases Macs), mostly networked, for the use of junior members. Many college students' rooms are wired with ethernet points to enable students to connect their own PCs to the network. There are concerns around computer security and anyone opening an account must agree to abide by the University's rules. At Oxford there is a University disciplinary procedure for enforcing the rules, and breaches of the will involve the Proctors with all the sanctions and penalties available to them. 

Some University webpages are NOT available outside the Oxford network. If you are regularly using a computer outside the Oxford network, you need to set up VPN. Instructions on how to do this can be found at: https://help.it.ox.ac.uk/vpn

9.2.4 Andrew Wiles Building

The mezzanine teaching floor of the Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, contains three lecture theatres (L1-L3), three smaller lecture rooms (L4-L6) and six classrooms (C1-C6). 

The area also contains an undergraduate study room with desk space for approximately 40 people, along with sockets for person laptop use. There is WiFi throughout the building. 

The mezzanine also hosts a cafe with seating and tables for 100 people, serving drinks, meals and snacks. 

The building is accessible to undergraduates during the opening hours of 8am-6pm, although Health and Safety advice will need to be followed. Please check the Mathematical Institute website for the latest guidance on how to use the building. 

9.2.5 The Faculty of Philosophy

From the start of the 2025-26 academic year, the Philosophy Faculty will be located in the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter. The Philosophy Hub at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities contains the following facilities:
•    the offices of the Faculty’s administrative staff and the Chair of the Faculty Board;
•    the offices of some academic members of the Faculty of Philosophy, although most are based in colleges;
•    the Institute for Ethics in AI;
•    a Philosophy-specific study space;
•    a small kitchenette and a communal area, for use by staff, faculty members and graduate students; and
•    a Harvard-style lecture theatre, a large seminar room (“The Ryle Room”), and several smaller meeting rooms. 

The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities also contains:
•    hubs for six other faculties and the Oxford Internet Institute
•    the Humanities Divisional office
•    the Bodleian Humanities Library
•    graduate study areas
•    catering outlets
•    additional lecture theatres and performance venues
•    cycle storage for students and staff
The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities is normally open from 07:00-22:00. Library opening hours differ. To access to the building and many of the rooms within it you will be required to swipe your University card, so you should ensure you have this with you at all times. For any problems relating to access, please contact one of the building’s receptionists at reception@humanities.ox.ac.uk. Further information on Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, including guidance on accessibility, can be found at https://www.accessguide.ox.ac.uk/schwarzman-centre-for-the-humanities.

Wireless access to the OWL network and Eduroam is available throughout the building, including in the graduate spaces.

9.2.6 The Language Centre

The Language Centre provides resources for members of the University who need foreign language skills for their study, research or personal interests, and also to improve English language skills. 

More information can be found here: https://www.lang.ox.ac.uk/

Mathematics and Mathematics & Philosophy students may take a language course in any of their second, third or fourth years. This will not count towards your degree classification but you will receive a certificate upon passing a course. Students reading Mathematics have priority in registering for these classes, but if there are vacancies, places are offered to those reading for joint schools, and Mathematics & Philosophy students are invited to apply. 

9.2.7 Careers and Employability

Careers guidance is provided by the Careers Service, and at a personal level by college tutors. Careers advisers carry out guidance interviews with students, discussing their skills and aspirations with them. They also provide training in writing applications, interview technique and analysis of transferable skills. The Careers Service provides information about occupations and employers, and advertises work experience opportunities. 

Members of the Faculty who have taught you are usually willing to provide support and references. The Careers Service provides a link person, who has expertise in areas where mathematicians (including students of Mathematis & Philosophy) are often in demand, for example in finance careers. College tutors are regularly updated on Careers Service activities. 

In addition to its general programme, the Careers Service runs an annual 'Jobs for Mathematicians' half-day, in collaboration with the Mathematical Institute. At this event, there are talks from alumni currently working in jobs suitable for mathematicians. The event also helps students consider their transferable skills. You can find more information at: https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/

A significant proportion of students continue onto further study after completing their undergraduate degree. A talk on postgraduate study is included in the annual 'Jobs for Mathematicians' event and further information about postgraduate study opportunities at the Mathematical Institute can be found at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate-study

If you are considering graduate work in philosophy, and in particular if you are considering taking Oxford's flagship 2-year taught graduate course in philosophy, the BPhil, then your attention is drawn to 6.1.3 concerning the financial implications of choices you may wish to make. 

10. Undergraduate Representation and Societies

10.1 Feedback

There is plenty of opportunity, both formal and informal, for you to comment on the mathematics course. The informal ways are through the members of the Faculty who teach you in classes, lectures and tutorials, and also through your personal tutors in college. Feedback is formally sought through surveys conducted by the Mathematical Institute, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the University, and also the National Student Survey. All input from undergraduates about the course content, structure and facilities generally is welcomed by the department and taken seriously. 

Questionnaires on classes and lectures are distributed termly. All questionnaires can be completed online. 

Once the termly questionnaire results are processed, each course lecturer receives the comments and statistical analysis from their own course and in addition consolidated information is made available to relevant committees for discussion, and where necessary, action. One of the key committees to consider this information is the Joint Consultative Committee for Undergraduates (JCCU). The statistical feedback from the questionnaires is sent to a designated undergraduate member of the Mathematics Undergraduate Representation Committee (MURC Questionnaire Representative) for consideration by MURC and a report brought to JCCU. Any action taken as a result of questionnaire comments is made known to your MURC representative through JCCU. 

Students on full-time and part-time matriculated courses are surveyed once per year on all aspects of their course (learning, living, pastoral support, college) through the Student Barometer. Previous results can be viewed by students, staff and the general public at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/student-engagement. 

Final year undergraduates are surveyed instead through the National Student Survey. Results from previous NSS can be found at https://discoveruni.gov.uk/

The results of both of these surveys are discussed by the Teaching Committee and appropriate action agreed as necessary.

10.1.1 JCMP

The course is administered by the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy, or JCMP (see 3.1.2). An undergraduate reading Mathematics & Philosophy serves as a representative on JCMP, which administers the course. 

10.1.2 MURC

The Mathematics Undergraduate Representation Committee (MURC) is composed of students who represent the interests of Mathematics and joint school students, including Mathematics & Philosophy. It consists of an elected representative from each college. It holds regular meetings to discuss issues connected with academic organisation of the course such as lectures, examinations and syllabus content. It is the forum which allows undergraduates, through their representatives, to raise issues connected with their courses. It is important for colleges to have a representative to the committee. The views of this committee are channelled to the faculties and departments through the Joint Consultative Committee with Undergraduates

Further information on MURC can be found on the MURC webpage: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/undergraduate-representation/murc

10.1.3 JCCU

The Joint Consultative Committee with Undergraduates (JCCU) meets regularly once a term and discusses any matters that the MURC representatives wish to raise; in addition, it considers matters relating to the synopses and proposed changes of syllabus, and as mentioned above the statistical feedback from questionnaires. 

The membership of the JCCU consists of fourteen members of MURC appointed by MURC and representatives of the Department of Mathematics and of Statistics. The committee is usually chaired by an academic and the Secretary is a member of the Academic Administration team. This committee is available for consultation by the departments and by the divisional board on any matter which relates to the undergraduate courses. Minutes of the JCCU meetings taken by your student representatives, reports and feedback on student requests can also be found at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/undergraduate-representation/jccu. 

The MURC President may also attend meetings of the Mathematics Teaching Committee. 

10.1.4 UJCC

The Philosophy Department's Undergraduate Joint Consultative Committee (UJCC) is a committee which seeks to consult with undergraduates on matters relating to their course. UJCC has at least one undergraduate reading Mathematics & Philosophy on the committee. 

10.1.5 UJCF

The MPLS Division runs a divisional Undergraduate Joint Consultative Forum which is chaired by the senior MPLS Academic who is responsible for that area across the division. An undergraduate representative from each department within MPLS Division attends the forum. In addition, an undergraduate representative attends the meetings of the Divisional Board and the MPLS Academic Committee. Student representatives sitting on the Divisional Board are selected through a process organised by the Oxford Student Union. Details can be found on the Oxford SU website along with information about student representation at the University level: https://www.oxfordsu.org. 

10.2 Student Societies

There are a number of Mathematics and Philosophy student societies which you may like to join. Details of the main societies are given below. In addition there are over 200 clubs and societies covering a wide range of interests which you may join or attend. A full list is available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs/list

10.2.1 Invariants Society

The Oxford University Invariant Society is the undergraduate mathematical society. Its primary aim is to host weekly talks by notable speakers, on a wide variety of mathematical subjects. The Invariants also host social events, a Christmas party, and an annual formal dinner. Titles of talks previously given include: Mathematics, Magic and Electric Guitars; Juggling: theory and practice; Bells and Change Ringing. There are opportunities for members to give their own talks. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 8pm in the Mathematical Institute. Anyone interested should come to the first meeting (for free) to find out more. More details are available at: https://invariants.org.uk/.

10.2.2 Philosophy Society

Oxford Philosophy Society is a student run society which aims to build a community and a series of events to match the scale and historical importance of philosophical education in Oxford. More details are available at: https://www.oxford-philsoc.org/

10.2.3 Mirzakhani Society

The Mirzakhani Society is a society aimed at supporting women in Oxford who are studying maths. Their main event is 'Sip and Solve' which happens once a week, tea and cake are provided, and women are encouraged to come along to do problem sheets. More details are available at: https://www.mirzakhanisociety.org.uk/

10.2.4 LGBTI^3

For general enquiries, please contact: oxlgbtqubed@gmail.com

11. University Policies and Other Important Documents

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: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/regulations. Particular attention is drawn to the following University and Departmental policies. 

11.1 Intellectual Property Rights

The University in its Statutes claims ownership of certain forms of intellectual property which students create in the course of, or incidentally to, their studies. There are arrangements in the University's regulations for protecting and exploiting this property, and sharing the commercial exploitations revenues with the student originators. By accepting a place at Oxford and signing the Student Contract with the University, you agree to be legally bound by these provisions. The regulations relating to intellectual property can be found on the University website at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/intellectual-property 

11.2 Code on Harassment

The Mathematical Institute has appointed senior members who may be consulted in connection with the University's Code on Harassment. Details are posted on the Mathematical Institute webpage: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/hr/wellbeing-and-support/harassment-advisors

Consent Matters - part of the Oxford Against Sexual Violence campaign

We're asking all students to complete a new online consent programme to develop understanding, communication and respect as a student in Oxford's community. In the short interactive course, you'll 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: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice/consent-for-students. We encourage all students 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 webpage: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice

11.3 Disabilities and Equal Opportunities

The University is committed to making arrangements where appropriate to enable students with disabilities to participate fully in student life. Please see the University's Equal Opportunities Statement available at: https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/equality-policy, and the Mathematics Departmental Disability Statement in Appendix C.

11.4 Safety

You are urged at all times to act responsibly, and with a proper care for your own safety and that of others. Departmental statements of safety policy are posted in all departments, 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. 

Please note that in the Institute, accidents should be reported immediately to reception, who keep the accident book. 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. 

Each lecture theatre has its own proper escape route and you are urged to familiarise yourself with these, when this becomes necessary. Those for the Mathematical Institute lecture and seminar rooms, are set online at https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/building-information/security-safety-and-reporting-building-issues. In the case of evacuation of the lecture theatre, give heed to the instructions of the lecturer. 

11.5 AI

The Mathematical Institute's policy for students on the use of generative artificial intelligence in summatively assessed work can be found here: Departmental policy on use of AI_CR_Oct25

12. Information for International Students

This page is aimed at International students but in fact may be helpful to all students. 

12.1 Contacts

Student Immigration

Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford

email: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa

Oxford University Language Centre

email: admin@lang.ox.ac.uk

website: www.lang.ox.ac.uk

Oxford University Student Union - International Students Officer

email: international@ousu.ox.ac.uk

12.2 Language Skills

It is important, for many international students, to continue to develop English language skills, both for academic studies in Oxford and future careers. Some students, at the beginning of their time in Oxford, find they need to translate academic material into their first language before it can be digested. Some even go as far as to read translations of recommended texts. Students should aim to reach the point where they can think about their subject and solve problems directly in English, without any translation. Students are encouraged to discuss their work, even work together with other students, and we recommend that such joint work is conducted in English. 

Undergraduates may attend one of the courses organised by the Oxford University Language Centre and also use their library of independent learning materials. More generally, the mastery of English will improve with constant reading and social interaction in English. 

Appendices

A Programme Specifications

A1 Aims of the Philosophy Programme

The Faculty of Philosophy shares the University's general aims as found in its Mission Statement.

In providing teaching in Philosophy it aims, by drawing on the strengths of the University and of its constituent Colleges, to provide a high-quality education, one which enriches the student's knowledge and understanding of fundamental issues. Undergraduates may study Philosophy in Oxford as a degree subject in one of seven Joint Honours programmes. Their common aims are:

1. to offer a structured but flexible programme of studies, one which entails the demands and the benefits of studying Philosophy in tandem with another discipline, and which allows study of an interdisciplinary nature;
2. to develop in students qualities and skills of value to them in their professional and personal life;
3. to attract and select high calibre students in the context of the University's policy on equal opportunities.

For all programmes it aims to appoint research-active staff to contribute their knowledge and skills to the teaching programmes. 

A2 Objectives of the Philosophy Programme

At all levels students will enjoy a challenging education in Philosophy. They will:

1. have developed the ability to read carefully and with sensitivity to context philosophical texts of different ages and/or traditions, through following a guided programme of regular reading assignments;
2. have been required to develop and to present (usually in writing) to their tutor/supervisor their own critical understanding of the issues studied;
3. have learned to engage in critical dialogue with their tutors and peers during regular tutorials, i.e. meetings between an expert tutor and one, two or occassionally three students, at which the participants' views are discussed, and have benefitted from the oral and/or written feedback on their work for tutorials;
4. have enjoyed, through the University and their College, access to excellent library holdings and a good range of IT resources, and have learned to use libraries effectively;
5. have had the opportunity to attend lectures and/or seminars (many given by leading researchers) both within and outside their chosen options, together with a range of special lectures and Philosophy society meetings;
6. have acquired knowledge and understanding of philosophy;
7. have developed the ability to think critically, to look for underlying principles, to identify and analyse key concepts
8. have developed independence of approach, good writing skills, a facility for independent learning and investigation, and good organisational skills;
9. have had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities at College and University level to stimulate personal development;
10. have received sustained academic support from their tutors and pastoral support where appropriate from other providers;
11. have had the opportunity of appropriate careers advice. 

Undergraduate Programmes

All seven programmes are multi-disciplinary. Three of them, (Physics/Phil, Maths/Phil and Phil/Theol) require interdisciplinary study. Appropriate 'bridge subjects' are available for each of the other programmes, but are not required. For their first year examination(s) in Philosophy, students will have:

1. pursued a course which introduces them to central philosophical texts and issues, and enables them to acquire key philosophical skills and concepts. After the first examinations students work towards Finals. On completion, all will have:
2. taken an active role in planning a path through their programme, selecting subjects within each discipline and the balance between Philosophy and the other discipline(s), and will have benefitted from the simultaneous study of both disciplines at a higher level;
3. developed enhanced precision of through and expression in the analysis of problems and in the construction and marshalling of arguments;
4. received regular feedback through tutorials and regular reports, together with College examinations where considered appropriate, to enable them to assess their progress and identify strengths and weaknesses;
5. taken the Final written examinations in up to five Philosophy subjects at a time, thus enjoying the benefit of a mature understanding and possible cross-fertilisation between subjects.

A3 Aims of the Mathematics Programme

The programme aims:

• to provide, within the supportive and stimulating environment of the collegiate university, a mathematical education of excellent quality through a course which attracts students of the highest mathematical potential;
• to provide a learning environment which, by drawing on the expertise and talent of the staff, both encourages and challenges the students (recognising their different needs, interests and aspirations) to reach their full potential, personally and academically;
• to provide students with a systematic understanding of core areas and some advanced topics in mathematics, an appreciation of its wide-ranging applications, and to offer the students a range of ways to develop their skills and knowledge;
• to lay the foundations for a wide choice of careers and the successful long-term pursuit of them, particularly careers requiring numeracy, modelling and problem-solving abilities;
• to lay the foundations for employment as specialist mathematicians or in research through the study in depth of some of a broad range of topics offered;

and for students taking the 4-year MMath (Hons):

• to provide the foundations for graduate study through a research degree at a leading university either in the UK or overseas. 

A4 Intended Learning Outcomes

Each outcome is broadly related to the educational programme aims and associated with a learning opportunity and an assessment strategy:

B Recommended Patterns of Teaching 2025-26

Prelims (Year 1)

Course structure: The table summarises the courses taken for Prelims.

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 2 compulsory core courses (A0 and A2), 5 options courses (A3-A5, A8 and ASO) from which students choose 2. ASO comprises 6 short options from which students usually study 3 courses. These are studied alongside the Philosophy papers discussed in 3.6.

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 4 units of Mathematics from Schedule 1, two of which shall be B1.1 Logic and B1.2 Set Theory, 3 papers in Philosophy and either 2 further units in mathematics from schedules 1 and 2 combined or 1 further paper in Philosophy. The 3 or 4 Philosophy papers are studied during both second and third year. 

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. 

Part C (Year 4)

Course structure: Students take equivalent of 8 units at Part C, with the option to take an additional 1-2 units of mathematics if they wish to do so. Students shall take one of the following: 8-10 units in Mathematics; or 6-7 units in Mathematics and 1 in Philosophy; or 3-4 units in Mathematics and 2 units in Philosophy; or 3 units in Philosophy

Notes: In Part C, 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). 

C Mathematical Institute Departmental Disability Statement and Student Support

C1 Disability Statement

The Mathematical Institute is committed to making its teaching and other resources, facilities and services available to students, staff and others with disabilities as appropriate to ensure they are not at a disadvantage. In some cases, this may require reasonable adjustments to the building, facilities, services or to teaching methods. 

Those with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their needs with the Disability Coordinator (academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk) at the earliest possible opportunity. 

If you experience difficulties with your course because of a disability, you should discuss this with your college tutors. Some colleges have a specific member of staff who assists students with welfare difficulties. 

Further information about disability support in the Mathematical Institute is available online: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/policies/disability as well as information on building accessibility: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/building-information/accessibility

Specialised advice and assistance from the Disability Advisory Service is available online at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability

C2 Health and Welfare

Your College tutors in Mathematics and in Philosophy will provide you with support and guidance on your academic work. You will almost certainly be assigned a Personal Tutor or Advisor (who may be one of your college tutors) concerned with your personal welfare and to whom you can turn to for support and advice on non-academic matters. Every 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. 

In addition to the support provided by colleges, there are several central services which exist to support students during their studies, including the Student Counselling Service and the student-led Nightline.

Student Counselling Service: The University has a professionally-staffed confidential Student Counselling Service for assistance with personal, emotional, social and academic problems. The service is free to all matriculated undergraduate members of the University.

Nightline: This is a confidential anonymous listening service run by and for Oxford students, open 8am-8pm in term-time. You can phone them, or visit their offices at 16 Wellington Square. 

Further details can be found online at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare

D Complaints and Appeals

D1 Complains and academic appeals within the Mathematical Institute

The University, the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division 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. 

D2 Complaints

If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by the faculty/department, then you should raise it with the Academic Lead (Prelims and Part A) (Prof. Melanie Rupflin), the Academic Lead (Parts B and C) (Prof. Eamonn Gaffney) or the Director of Undergraduate Studies within Philosophy (Prof. Alex Kaiserman) as appropriate. If your concern relates to the course as a whole, rather than to teaching or other provision made by one of the faculties/departments, you should raise it with the chair of the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy (Prof. Jochen Koenigsmann).

Complaints about departmental facilities should be made to the Head of Administration (Rachael Sanders). 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 (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints). 

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 or Senior Tutor. Your college will also be able to explain how to take your complaint further if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of its consideration. 

D3 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 subject or 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 (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints)

E Contact Points

E1 Mathematical Institute

There are a number of people in the department who can help you with any queries or problems you may have and their contact details are given below. If you are not sure who to contact, please email academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk

Academic Lead (Prelims and Part A) - Professor Melanie Rupflin

For academic queries and concerns relating to Prelims and Part A, please email: melanie.rupflin@maths.ox.ac.uk

Academic Lead (Parts B and C) - Professor Eamonn Gaffney

For academic queries and concerns relating to Parts B and C, please email: eamonn.gaffney@maths.ox.ac.uk

Head of Academic Administration - Charlotte Turner-Smith

For queries directed to the Disability Coordinator for Mathematics, please email: charlotte.turner-smith@maths.ox.ac.uk

Undergraduate Studies Officer - Rosalind Mitchell

For queries relating to all undergraduate matters, please email: academic.administrator@maths.ox.ac.uk

Chairman of the Mathematics Projects Committee - Professor Eamonn Gaffney 

For advice on Part B extended essays and Part C dissertations, including selecting a topic and finding a supervisor, please email: director-ugrad-studies@maths.ox.ac.uk

E2 Faculty of Philosophy

Director of Undergraduate Studies - Professor Alex Kaiserman

For general academic queries and concerns, please email: alex.kaiserman@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

Education Manager - Natalie Turner

For queries relating to the lecture list and undergraduate studies, please email: natalie.turner@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

E3 General

Careers Service - reception@careers.ox.ac.uk

Disability Advisory Service - disability@admin.ox.ac.uk

Counselling Service - counselling@admin.ox.ac.uk

Proctors' Office - proctors.office@proctors.ox.ac.uk

Equal Opportunities Officer - equal.opportunities@admin.ox.ac.uk

Accessible Resources Acquisition and Creation Unit - aracu@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Oxford Student Union, Student Advice Team - advice@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk

IT Services - contact@it.ox.ac.uk

Radcliffe Science Library - enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

EnSpire Oxford - https://www.eship.ox.ac.uk/