Academic life

One thing students will quickly notice once they start at College is how different learning is at university.  Most course information is given through lectures, in the form of about three lectures per module per week, with great emphasis placed on independent work. 

In lectures students will need to be taking good notes so that they can review these later, and although there are usually opportunities at the end to ask questions, most of students “work” and asking of questions will need to be done outside of lectures in their own time.  Many lecturers will use the College's VLE Blackboard Learn to display module information (eg. notes, problem sheets, recommended reading), but some will use separate websites. Lecturers will often give recommended reading lists and online notes to support you with your learning, in addition to the notes taken in class. Problems Classes take place to support the students with the problem solving process. A number of modules are recorded through an online system to allow students to watch lectures again and revise at home. Lecturers also set aside certain times each week for office hours when they are available to help students.

Much of your term is not timetabled. You should allocate some of it to studying your lecture notes and books, revising and especially solving problems, in addition to enjoying the social life of the College and of London. You will need to plan your work and you will need some determination.

FIRST YEAR PROGRAMME

In the First Year, all students take the same core modules, with lectures and problems classes. These compulsory modules develop a strong foundation in mathematics for all students in Pure and Applied Mathematics and Statistics and Probability. Students also take a computional module, with a weekly lecture and tutorial, learning the progamming tools Maple and Python. The Year ends with an independent research project. 

In the First and Second Years,  students on the G104 Mathematics with a Year Abroad programme also take an appropriate language module in addition to the mathematics modules.  However, students who are especially well prepared in the language for their proposed year of study away may exceptionally have the language module requirements waived. 

All students throughout their degree programme may also take not-for-credit Imperial Horizons modules to complement their learning.  The Imperial Horizons programme allows students to take a non-maths module from over 80 different options, past modules have included topics as varied as: Introduction to Management, Sound Technology and Korean. The programme has been designed to broaden students’ education and enhance their career prospects. 

SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR PROGRAMMES

In the Second, Third and Fourth Year programmes, as with the First Year programme, with very few exceptions, each module has nominally lectures together with support classes.

The Second Year programme extends and enhances major themes that feature in the First Year programme of study.  Students take core and optional modules. The limited optional modules available at Second Year level should be regarded as an opportunity to familiarise yourself with areas of special interests. You can read more about the current Second Year Programme and modules in Year 2 Guide to Optional Modules‌  (please note that the Department is currently undergoing Curriculum Review and the Module Guides and information will change for students entering from 2019 onwards). The Second Year ends with a group research project.

Third Year students take eight modules from over 40 of selections from within the Department and from certain modules elsewhere. In the Fourth Year (only for MSci students), students choose six modules made available to them in the Department and from certain modules elsewhere and complete a M4R project equivalent to two lecture modules.  The great variety of modules in the Third and Fourth Years allows students to specialise in the area they are most interested in. Read more about the current Year 3 Guide to Optional Modules and Year 4 Guide to Optional Modules‌ (please note that the Department is undergoing Curriculum review and some of the detail of the modules will change for students entering from 2019 onwards).

Computation

In order to be able to work with large data and challenging computations, students are currently taught Maple and Python in their first year. In the third year optional modules have included other programming languages, to further students computational abilities and professional skills. LaTeX typesetting skills are taught in the first year as part of the first year independent project at the end of the year.

Every compulsory module in the First and Second Year also holds regular Problems Classes. The main purpose of the classes is to discuss the lecture material and to sort out any difficulties arising from problems sheets set by the lecturers.  Students are given regular sheets of problems to tackle. It is very important to spend adequate time on these. Students will probably have found Mathematics relatively easy at school or college and should not find it surprising if they find that they need to work much harder at Mathematics at university, where the subject is more about problem solving and rigorous proof than about tackling routine exercises and calculations.

To help students with the transition from school to university level Mathematics, the Department tries to give students as much support as possible in the first year. In addition to the problems classes, lecturers have office hours and students will have two small tutorials—one with our Personal Tutor, an academic, and one with a fourth year peer tutor, in which to go over problems in more depth. The best way to get the most out of these sessions is to have done a good deal of independent work before coming to these tutorials in order to be able to get the help you need, and know what questions to ask.  

Problems Classes also take place for Third and Fourth Year modules, but are not timetabled with separate times. They form part of the cohesive lecture series. Individual lectures will set the pace for the modules and problems classes will be held appropriately.

Office hours continue to provide extra support for Second through Fourth Year modules just as in the First Year. Students should feel they have the support, place and time to ask questions from their lecturers.

Year Level Guides

• 2nd Year Maths Guide 2018-19
• 3rd Year Maths Guide 2018-19
• 4th Year Maths Guide 2018-19

Joint Maths and Computing (JMC) 

• JMC Course Information 

Programme Specifications 2018-2019

The Programme Specifications for 2018-2019 can be found on the College pages.

There are many articles and books that introduce you to advanced topics in mathematics in a friendly way. The Scientific American articles written by Martin Gardner and Ian Stewart are particularly recommended. These articles have been collected together in a number of books, some of which can usually be found in your local bookshops and libraries.

"What is Mathematics?", by R Courant and H Robbins, Oxford University Press, 1996 is perhaps still the best book to convey an overall impression of the nature of university mathematics. It covers many topics from sets to soap-bubbles and has become a classic.

A big difference between pre-university and university Mathematics lies in the idea of a "proof", that is, an argument that shows that a conclusion is correct, rather than simply plausible. The texts "Numbers and Proof", by R B J T Allenby, Edward Arnold, 1997, "Elementary Number Theory", by GA & J M Jones, Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series, 1998, give a nice introduction to proofs by considering some elementary problems in number theory.

Another approach is based on an investigation of elementary set theory and logic. This viewpoint can be found in "Elements of Logic via Sets and Numbers" by D L Johnson and "Introductory Mathematics: Algebra and Analysis" by G Smith, both in the Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series.

Two other excellent books, which will help you to prepare for the different style of mathematics that you will study here, are "A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics" by Martin Liebeck and "How to Think Like a Mathematician: A Companion to Undergraduate Mathematics" by Kevin Houston.

You may also consider Lara Alcock's book "How to Study for a Mathematics Degree", a practical book discussing the differences between school and university mathematics.

The following more technical texts are among those recommended for our first-year courses. They will give you more insight into the nature of university mathematics, but you may find them a bit heavy if you read them before coming to university. There is no need to purchase any of them before you arrive at college!

"For all Practical Purposes", various authors, COMAP, W H Freeman, 1988
"Mathematical Analysis", K G Binmore, Cambridge University Press, 1977
"Linear Algebra", R B J T Allenby, Edward Arnold, 1995
"Rings, Fields and Groups", R B J T Allenby, Edward Arnold, 1991
"A First Course in Probability", Sheldon Ross, Collier Macmillan, 1988
"Analytical Mechanics", G R Fowles, Saunders College, 1993

If you are taking a gap year, it is imperative to keep in practice by studying one or more of these books, or by revising your A-level texts.

Through the mathematics programme, students will develop strong logical problem solving, data analysis and numeracy skills.  To prepare students for today's competitive employment marketplace, our degree programme provides opportunities to learn other transferable skills: leadership, networking, logical thinking, written and verbal communication skills, experience with presentations and team work.

• Communication and oral presentation skills are developed through the Year 1 and 2 end-of-year projects.
• Year 3 optional research project and year 4 full year project also teach many different aspects of scientific writing whilst providing training in proper referencing, searching the technical literature, critical thinking and review and the avoidance of plagiarism.
• Team work is developed through the Year 2 group project and students are encouraged to create study groups to help with the understanding of their lecture material. 
• Programming skills are taught to all Year 1 students through the use of Matlab and Python and LaTeX mathematical typesetting workshops are also offered, providing students with invaluable technical skills. Year 3 and 4 students can further their programming skills through optional modules.

Our graduates enter a variety of fields of work after their degree. Holding a Mathematics degree from Imperial College London demonstrates that you are numerate, that you can master intellectually difficult material, that you have the organisation and self-motivation to complete a demanding programme, and that you are able to solve complex problems.

The top three industries students have entered in the last three years are Finance, IT and Telecommunications, and Accounting but our graduates are headhunted by organisations in many different sectors including media, sports, and transportation companies, for example.

Many students continue with their studies after graduation either here at Imperial or at some of the world’s other top universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, Harvard and Princeton. Some take one-year taught masters courses (MSc, MBA, MA) that complement their mathematical skills with expertise in another area, such as Computing or Finance, while others embark on research degrees that lead to an MPhil or a PhD. Some take one-year teacher training courses leading to a Postgraduate Certificate of Education or join other training programmes. 

SUPPORT

Successful career planning starts early - researching the options available to you, thinking about the types of jobs you might be interested in, considering the type of life you want to lead - understanding yourself is the first step to thinking about your future career.

The Departmental Careers Adviser

Each Department in College has a member of academic staff as a departmental careers adviser who liaises closely with colleagues in the Careers Service. The Mathematics Department careers adviser is: Dr Shahid Mughal

The Careers Service

The Careers Service is a team of professional Careers Advisers provide a wide range of services to all undergraduate and postgraduate students in the College.

Events

• The Careers Advisors run regular talks in the Department to cover the job seeking cycle, from helping with the initial research, to creating a CV to applications and practice interviews. These talks are advertised to current students via email
• The Department organises an annual Mathematics Careers Speed Dating event (for UG Years 2-4 and MSc)
• Careers events organised by the Central Careers Service can be found in JobsLive
• CV checks/cover letter review individual appointment sessions are additionally held in the Department and run by the Careers service. Emails will be sent out to students to book sessions.

Mathematics Careers Speed Dating

The Mathematics Careers Speed Dating is an annual careers event in October/early November open to 2nd - 4th year undergraduate and MSc students. Students in small groups meet with representatives from various industries in a speed dating fashion, enabling both companies and students to see a number of people in a short period of time. After the rounds of “dating”, the room is opened up for free networking, so that students can follow up with more questions or meet with representatives they were unable to see in the rounds.

The hope is that the visiting industry representatives are former mathematics graduates and Imperial alumni, enabling students to gain a better understanding of possible career paths in mathematics and truly understand how mathematics is used in different organisations.

Current students will receive sign up information via email at the start of the new academic year. 

Companies interested in attending future mathematics careers events, please email: mathscareers@imperial.ac.uk

Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries offers exemptions from some professional actuarial exams based on performance on select modules. Actuaries are experts in risk management and you will receive different exemptions from taking professional actuarial exams depending on module choice and degree classification. That means you might be able to gain professional qualifications with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries without taking all of the exams, as some of the work will have been covered in your degree. Current students can read more about the exemptions under the Blackboard page MathsCentral.