Mathematics Durham University

Overview

Course Summary

The Mathematics BSc course offered by Durham University will prepare you for many graduate jobs as well as for further study including the PGCE and many MSc courses in mathematics or related subjects.

 Our degree covers pure, applied, statistics and probability. You will cover the background to all areas in the first year, while in the second year you can begin to specialise if you want, allowing you to choose to fully specialise in one area, or to choose a broader range of modules in the third year. In your final year, you will develop your research and communication skills in the module Project III. Specific module availability may change slightly but currently the structure is as follows.

Most of the teaching in mathematics consists of 50-minute lectures (12 per week on average) in which lecturers will derive theorems and work through examples, constructing arguments piece by piece and in real time, developing strategies and motivation. The best way to learn Maths is to actually do it by working through problems in tutorials and assignments, so in the first two years lectures are supplemented by tutorials, which are held in groups of about 12 in the first year and 16 in the second. They are informal and provide an opportunity to raise any questions you may have. You will have at least three per week during each of the first two years. Problems are set in lectures on a weekly basis, and your marked solutions may form the topic of discussion in a tutorial or problem class. You will be encouraged to work with other students, and to make use of the University's library and computing resources.

We aim to encourage you to develop independence and self-motivation. For that reason we concentrate our tutorial support in the first two years and in the project module, however, help and advice is always available from lecturers. You will also have an advisor assigned to you throughout your time with us who can be relied on for help, in particular in choosing your path through the many modules available.