6. Teaching and Learning

6.1 Organisation of Teaching

Teaching for the course will be provided by the Mathematical Institute through lectures and classes. In addition, you will have regular supervision meetings with your supervisor.

6.2 Supervisors

General Supervisors are appointed at the start of the MSc and will be available for consultation for the first two terms of the MSc. Your supervisor can act as a point of contact for advice on any academic matter and can also provide feedback on an initial draft of your first project (provided that you submit it to them in good time - at least a week before the deadline). On a day-to-day basis you will receive academic guidance from Class Tutors and the Course Director.

During Hilary Term you will be sent a list of possible Dissertation projects suggested by potential Supervisors. This list may include a few ‘external’ projects - which will be based in external financial institutions. You are also encouraged to suggest your own ideas for a project, and are encouraged to discuss this with your General Supervisor or the Course Director. For any project you suggest, it will be necessary to find a faculty member able to supervise it. Please be aware that individual supervisors have limited capacity, so you may have to be flexible. You will indicate your preference for dissertation projects and the Course Director will assign students to project supervisors. Project and supervisor allocation will be finalised by the end of Hilary Term.

Once projects and supervisors are determined it is important that you work to make good progress on your Dissertation in order to submit it by the deadline at the end of Trinity Term. You can expect to have up to
1-hour contact time per week with your supervisor to discuss your Dissertation. We strongly recommend discussing the draft of your dissertation with your supervisor, a reasonable time in advance of submission.

Students doing their dissertations as part of an industrial internship will have a dissertation supervisor in the internship company. An internal supervisor will oversee progress, receiving progress reports from the dissertation supervisor.

6.3 Lectures

The lecture timetable will be available on the course website
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/postgraduate-courses/msc-mathematical-and-computational-finance

6.4 Course Materials

Course material, such as lecture notes and problem sheets, will be published on the Mathematical Institute’s Moodle pages, https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/.

6.5 Classes

Lecture courses will normally be accompanied by problem sets and fortnightly problem classes. For core courses, 2 sets of classes are run, so the cohort is split into 2 smaller groups. For elective courses, only one class will run for the whole group.

Before each class you will need to submit your problem sheet to the class teaching assistant for marking. A subset of key questions (approximately two) on each sheet will be marked. The class will cover all questions.

You should always submit your problem sheet before the stated deadline.

6.6 Advice on Teaching and Learning Matters

There are a number of people you can consult for advice on teaching and learning matters. Supervisors will be appointed for MSc students at the start of the course and will be available for consultation on any academic matter. All students will receive academic guidance from the Course Director.

If you have any issues with teaching or supervision please raise these as soon as possible so that they can be addressed promptly. Details of who to contact are provided in Section 11.

6.7 Skills and Learning Development Expectations of Study

You are responsible for your own academic progress. Therefore, in addition to the formal teaching you receive through lectures, classes and dissertation tutorials, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed, independent study both during term time and in the vacations. You are advised to read the University’s guidance on undertaking paid work at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/experience.

6.7.1 Termly Reporting

Students are required to submit a reflective report on their progress each term. This should follow on from a supervision meeting where you have discussed your progress and next steps with your supervisor. Your supervisor is also expected to submit a termly report on your academic progress. Your reflective report should be submitted through the online Graduate Supervision Reporting (GSR)
https://academic.admin.ox.ac.uk/graduate-supervision-reporting-gsr.
This captures information reported by both student and supervisor(s), with details relevant to each student being available to his or her supervisory team and the Director of Graduate Studies. Your college advisor and University and college graduate studies administrators with designated access will also be able to view the report. It is recognised that students in different situations will have differing needs and concerns.

If you are concerned about your academic progress please contact your college tutor, supervisor or the Director of Graduate Studies. For MSc students, it is also mandatory to complete a self-assessment report via GSR for every reporting period.
You can access GSR via the following link: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/selfservice. Students will be sent a GSR automated email notification with details of how to log in at the start of each reporting window, and who to contact with queries.

Completing the self-assessment will provide the opportunity to:
• Review and comment on your academic progress during the current reporting period

• Measure your progress against the timetable and requirements of your programme of study 

• Identify skills developed and training undertaken or required

• List your engagement with the academic community

• Raise concerns or issues regarding your academic progress to your Academic Advisor

• Outline your plans for the next term (where applicable).

If you have any difficulty completing this you must speak to your supervisor or Director of Graduate Studies. Your self-assessment report will be used by your supervisor as a basis to complete a report on your performance this reporting period, for identifying areas where further work may be required, and for reviewing your progress against agreed timetables and plans for the term ahead. GSR will alert you by email when your supervisor has completed your report and it is available for you to view.

6.8 University Lectures and Departmental Seminars

University lectures in all subjects are open to all students. A consolidated lecture list is available on the University website at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/lectures.

Seminars and colloquia given in the Mathematical Institute, often by mathematicians of international repute, are announced on the departmental notice boards you are encouraged to attend any which interest you -
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/events/list.

6.9 Study Skills

Much of the advice and training in study skills will come in the regular class teaching you receive. 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 skill and academic writing - through the Oxford Student website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills

6.10 Key Teaching Links

Lecture and Class Timetable:
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/postgraduate-courses/msc-mathematical-and- computational-finance

Course materials (Moodle): https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/course/