Mathematical Sciences Undergraduate Study 2018
maths.qmul.ac.uk
Dr Shabnam Beheshti with students in the School’s study space
Any section of this publication is available in large print upon request. If you require this publication in a different accessible format we will endeavour to provide this where possible. For further information and assistance, please contact: hr-equality@qmul.ac.uk; +44 (0)20 “There is 7882 a true5585. culture of
collaboration between staff and students, making life here really rewarding” Dr Shabnam Beheshti, Director of Undergraduate Studies 2 maths.qmul.ac.uk
Contents
Welcome to the School of Mathematical Sciences
4
Our new facilities
6
Why choose QMUL?
8
Mathematical Sciences at QMUL
10
Degree programmes
12
The Professional Placement year
18
Teaching and learning
20
Entry requirements and contact information
22
Finance, Scholarships and Bursaries
25
Careers for mathematics graduates
27
Careers support
29
The Mathematics Society
30
Study Abroad
32
Living in London
34
Student life
37
Our accommodation
39
Cover image: The Hopf fibration of the threesphere; the manifold of interest in the construction of de Sitter-like solutions to the Einstein constraint equations. Created by Jarrod Williams, PhD student in the Geometry and Analysis Research Group within the School of Mathematical Sciences
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Welcome to the School of Mathematical Sciences The School of Mathematical Sciences at Queen Mary is renowned for its excellent research and supportive teaching. Our diverse range of single-honours and joint-honours programmes are taught by staff who are experts in their field, and offer undergraduates the choice to follow a degree that closely fits their interests. When you join QMUL, you will be welcomed into a diverse and supportive family of staff and students from all over the world, with a wide variety of life experience. The School of Mathematical Sciences hosts leading researchers specialising in topics such as algebra, combinatorics, topology, probability and logic. This makes QMUL a place of academic and personal self-discovery, and studying with us an exciting – often life changing – experience. By providing a supportive environment that caters to the needs of students we aim to make your studies fun and rewarding. Our priority is to provide our students with every opportunity to build the knowledge and experience that you require for future success, whether in further study or the world of work. From your first day with us you’ll be assigned an Academic Adviser who you can go to with any queries, as well as meeting our Student Support Officer who can assist you with any non-academic issues. Why study mathematics? If you enjoy solving puzzles and being able to prove you are right, then mathematics is for you. It permeates our daily lives and is used to describe quantity, shape, space and change. Patterns we encounter can be understood and explained using 4 maths.qmul.ac.uk
mathematics, inspiring new technologies and allowing us to make informed decisions. Mathematics is for people who can think logically and creatively and then explain their thoughts precisely. It is a demanding discipline, but identifying the correct answer to a difficult problem is very rewarding. At university you will discover a new world of advanced mathematical concepts and ideas. You will encounter unfamiliar kinds of mathematical objects and investigate their common features and abstract natures. But it is not all abstract: our statistics and finance modules are very much about the real world – you will use mathematical skills to extract information from data and draw conclusions. As well as being an interesting subject to study, mathematics is also opens doors to a wide range of exciting, rewarding and wellpaid careers. Our graduates have the skills and expertise needed to pursue careers in a range of fields including business, finance, information technology, teaching, engineering, social media development, marketing, accountancy and academic research.
“Mathematics is a challenging subject, but there’s a sense of achievement I get when I finally solve a problem - there is nothing better than that!” Jared Newman, BSc Mathematics, 2018
“In the School of Mathematical Sciences we welcome intellectually curious students. We will nurture both your passion for mathematics and your drive to succeed in your chosen career path� Professor Boris Khoruzhenko, Head of School
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Our new facilities
Within the School of Mathematical Sciences, we are investing approximately ÂŁ19m in a transformative project to create an inspiring, collaborative space for our community of students and staff.
You can find out more about this exciting development, and follow the progress of the Mathematical Sciences Building project via our dedicated website, at maths.qmul.ac.uk/ ournewbuilding The Mathematics Lecture Theatre
The images on these pages show our architects’ designs for the space. As well as high-quality teaching rooms there will be a range of private and group study areas throughout the building (including dedicated undergraduate study space), and a new social hub to give all members of the School of Mathematical Sciences a welcoming space to meet and relax.
Our bright new social space
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All images are artist impressions Credit: Kendall Kingscott Ltd
The transformed Mathematical Sciences Building shown from Godward Square. All images are artist impressions. Credit: Kendall Kingscott Ltd
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Why choose Queen Mary University of London? n World-class university
Queen Mary is a world-class university. We are a member of the Russell Group and attract some of the very brightest minds to study, teach and undertake research here.
n Career success
We are focused on providing the support you need to succeed in your future careers. We’re close to the financial hubs of Canary Wharf and the City, where many of our students find graduate employment and our regular careers and networking events give you the opportunity to meet potential employers and develop your skills.
n Friendly campus lifestyle
We are the only university in London able to offer a completely self-contained residential campus at our Mile End home. You will be able to enjoy all the benefits of a campus lifestyle including safety, convenience and a friendly atmosphere while being just minutes from central London.
n High-quality teaching
Our teaching is inspired by our world-leading research (we came 9th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework - REF - 2014), and you will be taught by academics who are leaders in their field. Our academics embrace innovative teaching methods and receive national awards as a result.
n Exceptional facilities
We have spent more than £250m on new facilities over the past 15 years. Within the School of Mathematical Sciences, we are investing approximately £19m in a transformative project to create an inspiring, collaborative space for our community of students and staff. 8 maths.qmul.ac.uk
n Great location
We are a short walk from fashionable Brick Lane and Shoreditch and close to the City, Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park. Set beside Regent’s Canal, the campus is tranquil and green, while excellent public transport links mean that the West End is only minutes away.
n A range of support
From over 1,500 computers around campus, to our language courses, advice and counselling services and provisions for those with disabilities or dyslexia, we offer a huge range of support to help you achieve your full potential.
n Generous financial support
We started out in 1887 as the People’s Palace, a philanthropic centre bringing education and culture to east London. We remain true to these roots and offer a generous package of bursaries and scholarships that benefit around 50 per cent of our undergraduate intake. This ensures the brightest students receive a first-class education, regardless of their background. See page 25 for more information
n International outlook
Our students and staff come to Queen Mary from more than 155 different countries and we rank in the top 25 most internationally diverse universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2016). This helps to make our university a welcoming environment to students coming from overseas and gives you the opportunity to meet other students and staff from around the world.
• See page XX
15mins TO THE GALLERY SPACES AND CAFÉS OF HACKNEY WICK
14mins TO THE BARS OF HOXTON SQUARE
11mins TO SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET
10mins TO QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK
4mins TO BEAUTIFUL VICTORIA PARK
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Mathematical Why choose Queen Sciences Maryat QMUL University of London? • Excellent employment potential, with 90% of our graduates in work or further study within 6 months (DLHE 2015).
• A dedicated Careers Consultant and an Internships Co-ordinator to help develop employability throughout your studies. See page 29 • Opportunity to undertake a Professional Placement year across many of our programmes. See page 18
• Extensive support provision, including a dedicated Student Support Officer within the School and an Academic Adviser assigned to every student
• Networking opportunities through links with our alumni, associated institutions and leading employers, including Citigroup, Moody’s Analytics, Bank of England • Flexible programmes with a selection of optional modules to tailor your degree. See pages 12-17 • Joint programmes with the School of Economics & Finance and the School of Business & Management allow you to study complementary subjects and benefit from diverse academic expertise. See pages 13-15 10 maths.qmul.ac.uk
Welcome to the School of Economics and Finance • Opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities. See page 32
• Campus location close to London’s main financial districts: the City of London and Canary Wharf • A large mathematics department with over 60 members of academic staff. We offer high-quality teaching from academics who are experts across a variety of fields and are regularly published in top mathematical journals
Nearby Canary Wharf, one of the world’s financial centres
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Degree programmes
Mathematics
G100 BSc (three years), G101 BSc (four years with Professional Placement) A-level: AAB, including grade A in mathematics IB: 34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies You will study a wide range of topics covering pure, discrete, decision and modern applied mathematics, probability and statistics. The first year covers essential fundamentals, while in the second and final years you will be able to choose from the exceptionally wide range of modules that reflect our research strengths. Whether you want to specialise in statistics, finance, pure or applied mathematics, our module options will provide you with the opportunity to do so. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Algebraic Structures • Chaos and Fractals • Combinatorics • Communicating and Teaching Mathematics • Computing and Data Analysis with Excel* • Complex Networks • Cryptography • Financial Mathematics • Knots and Surfaces • Relativity • Statistical Modelling For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G100
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Pure Mathematics
G110 BSc (three years) A-level: AAB, including grade A in mathematics IB: 34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies Through this degree programme you will come to appreciate the intrinsic beauty of pure mathematics rather than focus solely on applications. You will concentrate on algebra, geometry and analysis, building on A-level core and decision mathematics. For over 50 years Queen Mary has been renowned for research in algebra, combinatorics and logic, and we are one of the few higher education institutions to offer a programme in pure mathematics. You may benefit from our European research links, which provide the possibility of studying for a year in another European country (Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland or the Netherlands). Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Algebraic Structures* • Chaos and Fractals • Combinatorics • Complex Variables* • Convergence and Continuity* • Geometry • Knots and Surfaces • Metric Spaces and Topology • Number Theory • Probability Models For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G110
Mathematics and Statistics
GG31 BSc (three years), GG32 BSc (four years with Professional Placement)
Mathematics with Finance and Accounting
A-level: AAB, including grade A in mathematics
G1N4 BSc (three years), G1N6 BSc (four years with Professional Placement)
IB: 34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6
A-level: AAB, including grade A in mathematics
Excluded subject: General studies
IB: 34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6
You will have the opportunity to specialise in statistics, building statistical theory and methodology on mathematical foundations, especially probability theory. Probabilistic modelling has applications in genetics, quantum physics and risk analysis, and is increasingly used in the financial sector. You can study applications of probability and statistics, notably design of experiments, financial time series and actuarial mathematics. This programme is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and final-year students receive free membership of the RSS. In addition, graduates who achieve a first- or second-class degree, and who have completed enough statistics modules, can attain Graduate Statistician status. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Advanced Statistics Project • Algebraic Structures • Bayesian Statistics • Combinatorics • Communicating and Teaching Mathematics • Computational Statistics • Knots and Surfaces • Statistical Modelling* • Statistics for Insurance
Excluded subject: General studies You will incorporate mathematical and statistical training with finance and accounting, including general financial theory and its applications to business and commerce. The first year consists of six modules of mathematics and statistics and two modules of finance and accounting, and there are two finance and accounting modules in the second year. Overall, about two-thirds of your modules will be in mathematics and statistics and the other third in finance and accounting. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Actuarial Mathematics • Computational Statistics • Economics for Business* • Financial Accounting* • Financial Mathematics* • Financial Management* • Managerial Accounting* • Probability Models • Statistical Modelling* For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G1N4
For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/GG31 maths.qmul.ac.uk 13
Degree programmes
Mathematics with Management
BSc (three years), BSc (four years with Professional Placement) *Please note this programme is pending approval for 2018 entry
A-level: AAB, including grade A in mathematics IB: 34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies This programme is designed for mathematically strong students with ambitions to be the future leaders of major organisations such as financial institutions, technology companies, and multinational corporations. This is a joint programme, taught in collaboration with the School of Business and Management. The business modules are designed specifically for this programme and you will be taught alongside other mathematicians and scientists. In this way you will combine both the excellent numerical and analytical skills and rigour, developed through a mathematics degree, with strong business acumen and an in-depth understanding of the corporate environment. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Business Analytics* • Economics for Business* • Entrepreneurship* • Financial Accounting* • Financial Mathematics • Fundamentals of Management* • Project Management* • Strategy* • Statistical Modelling* Further information about this programme will be made available on our website.
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Mathematics, Statistics and Financial Economics
GL11 BSc (three years), GL12 BSc (four years with Professional Placement) A-level: AAA, including mathematics IB: 36 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies This is a joint programme with the School of Economics and Finance. The first year consists of six modules of mathematics and statistics and two modules of economics; the second year provides four modules of mathematics and statistics and four modules of economics; and the final year includes at least three modules of mathematics and statistics and three modules of economics. Mathematics and economics are complementary subjects and during the course of your studies you will discover and be able to exploit the many links between them. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Capital Markets* • Corporate Finance* • Financial Mathematics • Futures and Options • Games and Strategies* • Macroeconomics* • Microeconomics* • Probability Models* • Statistical Methods* • Time Series* For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/GL11
Mathematics with Actuarial Science G1N3 BSc (three years), G1N5 BSc (four years with Professional Placement) A-level: AAA-AAB, including grade A in mathematics IB: 36-34 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies Actuaries deal with uncertainties of future events, drawing on their mathematical skills, in particular in probability and statistics. This degree is accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and provides solid technical skills in mathematics and actuarial science, as well as economics and financial reporting, to prepare for a career as an actuary or a related career in the financial sector. Successful students will be able to obtain up to eight exemptions from Core Technical Examinations from the IFoA.
Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Actuarial Professional Development* • Actuarial Mathematics* • Computing and Data Analysis with Excel* • Corporate Financial Reporting* •E conomics for Business Management •F inancial Mathematics* • Innovation and Entrepreneurship • Probability Models* • Statistics for Insurance* • Survival Models* For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G1N3
Alongside your academic studies, you will follow a Professional Development Programme, focusing on core competencies for a successful career. Learning will include vital technical skills, industry knowledge and preparation for successful job applications. You will have the option to extend your degree to a four-year sandwich programme, including a one year paid Professional Placement (in the third year). This is an excellent opportunity to develop your business skills and gain hands-on experience of the actuarial profession.
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Degree programmes
Mathematics
G102 MSci (four years) A-level: AAA, including mathematics IB: 36 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies This flagship four-year Mathematics programme, broadly equivalent to an MSc, is designed to prepare the student for the most demanding postgraduate work: PhD programmes or employment requiring advanced mathematics. It is an extension of both our three-year Mathematics BSc and Pure Mathematics BSc, incorporating a huge range of classical and contemporary topics. The fourth year allows you to follow advanced courses and undertake a major project. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Chaos and Fractals • Combinatorics • Cryptography • Dynamical Systems • Group Theory • Knots and Surfaces • Linear Algebra* • Relativity • Research Methods* • Statistical Modelling • Topics in Scientific Computing For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G102
Financial Mathematics
GN1H MSci (four years), GN2H MSci (five years with Professional Placement) A-level: AAA, including mathematics IB: 36 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies Suited to students planning a career in the more quantitative areas of finance and banking or those wishing to undertake academic research, this programme covers key areas of pure and applied mathematics, together with more specialist knowledge of financial mathematics, numerical methods and computing. You will have the chance to complete a final-year project in an area of contemporary mathematical finance of your choice. Projects are closely supervised by the School’s academics, many of whom have commercial or research experience in mathematical finance. Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Actuarial Mathematics • Advanced Computing in Finance* • Economics for Business* • Financial Derivatives Pricing and Risk Management* • Financial Mathematics • Numerical Computing with C and C++* • Partial Differential Equations* • Probability Models* • Statistical Methods* • Time Series For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/GN1H
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Mathematics with Statistics G1G3 MSci (four years)
A-level: AAA, including mathematics IB: 36 points overall, including mathematics higher level grade 6 Excluded subject: General studies As with G102, this programme offers you the opportunity to complete a final year involving a project and advanced modules from the School of Mathematical Sciences’ MSc Mathematics programme. This programme is an extension of GG31 (BSc Mathematics and Statistics) and is similarly accredited by the Royal Statistical Society. It may be preferable for you to choose the MSci qualification if you are interested in using your mathematical skills at a high level in your career, or perhaps if you are looking to progress into a research career on graduation.
“Lecturers are exceptionally passionate about their subjects; their enthusiasm makes learning engaging and interesting” Rassecah Jayashanker, BSc Mathematics with Finance and Accounting, 2019
Some examples of compulsory* and elective modules: • Algebraic Structures* • Bayesian Statistics • Combinatorics • Complex Variables • Computational Statistics • Design of Experiments* • Measure Theory and Probability • Probability Models* • Research Methods* • Statistical Modelling* For further details including a full list of modules, visit: qmul.ac.uk/G1G3
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The Professional Placement year We are introducing the option to extend your degree to include a Professional Placement year (often referred to as a ‘sandwich’ programme). This would take the form of a one-year work placement within a relevant organisation, throughout which you are supported by the university and complete a report on your experience and achievements. Why choose a Professional Placement? A professional placement is an excellent opportunity to develop your business skills and gain hands-on experience. As well as helping you to secure graduate employment, this can support your academic achievement by providing additional context to your studies. If you’re not sure what career path you want to follow after your degree, a placement year can be an excellent way to help you understand your options and make decisions about your future. Where would I be working? You will be working in a paid role within a relevant organisation but will still receive support from the university throughout your placement year.
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As a maths student, you could be working in a wide range of places, including: banks and insurance companies, accountants, consultancy firms, industrial firms and manufacturers, retailers, technology companies, and governmental and public sector organisations (such as the Civil Service, NHS and GCHQ). Who can take a Professional Placement? We offer the Professional Placement option across the majority of our undergraduate programmes. See the course listing on pages 12 to 17 to for more information. If you choose to take this opportunity, our dedicated Placement Officer will support you in identifying and applying for a suitable placement role. How is the Professional Placement assessed? Your placement year will be assessed through written coursework, a short presentation and employer feedback. Whilst this will not count towards your final degree ‘score’, after successful completion it will appear on your transcript in the title of your qualification, as e.g. “BSc Mathematics with Professional Placement”. For more information about the Professional Placement year, including FAQs, see our website: maths.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/ professional-placement
“Professional placements add value to my business and enable students to develop business skills as well as real experience� Eamonn McMurrough, Senior Partner, Strategic Risk Consulting, Willis Towers Watson
Example: BSc Mathematics course structure BSc Mathematics (3 years)
Sc Mathematics with B Professional Placement (4 years) Year 1 studies at QMUL Year 2 studies at QMUL
Final year studies at QMUL
Professional Placement year Final year studies at QMUL
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Teaching and learning
In the most recent national assessment of research quality, we were placed ninth in the UK (REF 2014) among multi-faculty universities. This means that our teaching is directly inspired by the world-leading research of our academics. Teaching Each year you will normally take eight modules. The majority of modules are delivered via a combination of lectures and exercise classes. Some modules, such as Introduction to Statistics, have a practical element and are presented in one of our computer labs. Lectures are usually delivered to large groups of students and are used to teach new content. Each lecturer has a different style, for example some will use slides and a projector or whiteboard, whilst others will primarily talk. Exercise classes support your lectures and give you the opportunity to work on problems, discuss ideas and ask any questions you may have. Academics or PhD students will lead the exercise class and provide guidance. Assessment The majority of modules are assessed by an examination counting for at least 90 per cent of your marks; the remaining ten per cent comes from a test or coursework. A final-year project is compulsory for an MSci programme but not for a BSc programme. Our flexible programmes Our range of expertise is reflected in our degree programmes. For all of our students there are a number of core modules designed to develop 20 maths.qmul.ac.uk
The QMUL Model is part of all of our degree programmes. This innovative new approach to study creates additional opportunities for personal development as part of your degree. In your first year, you will benefit from modules which will help you to develop your communication skills as well as capabilities in data analysis and Excel. As you move through your degree programme, you will have further scope to build on these and other skills. your strengths in key areas of mathematics. Across many of our degrees you will be able to choose from a range of elective modules in order to tailor your programme to your interests. Most students take at least one module with a computational component and make use of access to excellent computing facilities. Our students enjoy the flexibility of our degree programmes and the opportunity to discover new areas of mathematics. Student Support You will be assigned an Academic Adviser when you begin your time at QMUL who will usually stay with you throughout your studies. Your Adviser can help to guide you through any academic issues, such as choosing which modules to study. In addition, the School of Mathematical Sciences has a dedicated Student Support Officer to provide you with advice and guidance on any issues that are not primarily academic. The Student Support Officer oversees the i2 - Keepin’ It Real initiative which exists to promote and support a positive student experience and is also able to direct you to appropriate QMUL support services.
Dr Matthew Fayers works through a mathematical problem during a tutorial
“For me, a hallmark of really understanding a piece of mathematics is the immediate impetus to show it to someone else. So loving mathematics necessarily involves loving to teach it.� Dr Matthew Fayers, Reader in Pure Mathematics
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Entry requirements and contact information For all full-time higher education programmes at universities and colleges in the UK, students must apply online at: ucas.com You will find full instructions on how to complete your online application, plus help text where appropriate. UCAS also has a comprehensive guide which can be downloaded from their website. Our own stepby-step guide to applying can be found at: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply Entry requirements Our normal entry requirement is AAB including an A in mathematics (or 34 points for International Baccalaureate students, including Higher Level mathematics), but we require higher grades for some of our undergraduate programmes. For specific entry requirements please see individual programme descriptions. We accept a wide range of other qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate, Access and Foundation Programmes and overseas qualifications. For full details of our entry requirements and overseas equivalencies can be found on our website: maths.qmul. ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements
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English language qualifications We expect all students to have a good level of English in order to be successful on our degree programmes. Our minimum English language requirement is GCSE grade C or 4. For international students we require a score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections (excluding GL11 for which we require IELTS 6.5). A number of accepted equivalent qualifications are listed on the QMUL website: qmul.ac.uk/ eng-lang-reqs Contact us For undergraduate admissions enquiries: Email: maths-ug-admissions@qmul.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)20 7882 5470 maths.qmul.ac.uk
The Queens’ Building, Mile End has a proud association with not one, but four queens: Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (wife of King George V); Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; and our patron, Queen Elizabeth II
Meet us The best way to get a feel for life in the School of Mathematical Sciences is to come and meet us. Open Days for 2018 entry will be on: • Friday 23 June 2017 • Saturday 24 June 2017 • Saturday 7 October 2017 For more information and to book your place, go to qmul.ac.uk/visitus If you are successful in gaining an offer to study with us, you will also be invited to one of our dedicated Offer-holder Days. At these events you can explore our campus, meet our academics, support staff and students, experience a taster lecture and get a feel for what studying maths at QMUL is like. We also have representatives in many countries and staff who regularly travel overseas to meet future QMUL students. For more information including visit dates, go to qmul.ac.uk/international maths.qmul.ac.uk 23
Maths student Rachel catching up with friends in Ground cafe on campus
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Finance, Scholarships and Bursaries Science and Engineering Excellence Scholarships These scholarships are for Home/EU students on our single-honours undergraduate programmes. They are worth up to £3,000 per year of study, paid directly to you. To be eligible you must achieve grades AAA at A-Level (or equivalent).
Tuition fees The British government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in English universities beginning September 2018 will pay the same fees as UK students for the duration of their course. It has also been confirmed that both UK and EU students will be eligible for student loans from the government.
International Mathematical Sciences Excellence Scholarships In recognition of the important investment that you are making in your education, we are pleased to offer scholarships worth £2,250 per year for overseas (non-EU) students. These apply to all of our undergraduate programmes, including single- and joint-honours degrees within the School of Mathematical Sciences. To be eligible you must achieve the equivalent of grades AAA at A-Level.
As a guide, the 2017/18 fee for UK/EU students was £9,250 and this is expected to change in line with inflation each year. For more information including our up to date tuition fees for UK/EU and Overseas students, please see: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/ feesandfunding
Bursaries for QMUL students There is a wide range of generous bursaries available at QMUL, in order to ensure that the best and brightest students are able to study with us and minimise barriers to learning. These include the QMUL Bursary and a number of alumni and partner awards. Full details of all of our scholarships and bursaries, including eligibility criteria, are available on our website: qmul.ac.uk/ scholarships
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“Maths is full of such transferable skills. At Queen Mary you get to study maths that is relevant to the industry. The mathematical theorems we learnt are similar to the financial concepts in my work - they are complex but if you can get your head around them you’ll do well. ” Aahnaf Hossain, BSc Mathematics 2015, now working in Financial Markets at ING 26 maths.qmul.ac.uk
Alumnus Aahnaf Hossain talks to us about his graduate role
Careers for mathematics graduates
The study of mathematics has the potential to open up many different career paths, as demonstrated by our alumni who work across a wide variety of sectors.
The broad range of skills gained through our degrees, coupled with opportunities for extracurricular activities and work experience, has enabled our recent graduates to move into varied roles, including:
Career prospects The study of mathematics has the potential to open up many different career paths and graduates from the School of Mathematical Sciences go on to work in a wide range of careers.
• Audit Associate
Many of our alumni apply their degree knowledge directly, working in finance, accountancy or actuarial professions. Others translate their skills and knowledge across broader industries such as management consultancy, marketing, engineering, teaching and the public sector.
• Trader
The national 2015 destination survey confirmed that 90% of our students were in work or further study within six months of graduating from the School of Mathematical Sciences (DLHE 2015). What our graduates do next Our mathematics students have successfully secured graduate roles with major employers, including: KPMG, Lloyds Banking Group, PwC, Deloitte, National Audit Office, Société Générale, EY and Legal & General.
90% of our graduates are in work or further study within 6 months (DLHE 2015)
• Actuary • Statistical Officer • Graduate Project Manager • Software Engineer • Insurance Underwriter • Risk Analytics Consultant A number of our graduates have also set up their own businesses upon graduation, making the most of the funding and support available from our Careers Service for student entrepreneurs. Further study Following your undergraduate degree you may choose to study for a Masters, begin an academic research career with a PhD, or undertake additional certification for your future career, such as an Actuarial or Accounting qualification, or a PGCE. In recent years our graduates have gone on to further study in areas such as Mathematical Finance, Machine Learning, Investment Management, Network Science and Business Analytics, either remaining at QMUL or moving on to other leading institutions across the UK and overseas.
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Rehab-Al in the new Graduate Centre foyer
“Through the Careers Taster Scheme I have visited a range of companies, including Barclays, MediaCom and Liberty Mutual. As a first year student those Insight Days have given me a broad perspective on what careers are available and how to market myself.� Rehab-Al Mohsin, BSc Mathematics with Actuarial Science, 2019 28 maths.qmul.ac.uk
Careers support
How we support you Alongside the central Careers and Enterprise service at QMUL, in the School of Mathematical Sciences we have a dedicated Careers Consultant and an Internships Coordinator who each have expert knowledge of the job market and the skills you need for a successful future career. Some examples of the support they can provide include: • One-to-one careers appointments • CV-checking and mock interviews • Tailored employability workshops • Opportunities to meet employers through events (such as Insight Days) • Guidance for internships, part-time jobs and work placements Enterprise Students and graduates across QMUL start new business and social ventures each year. Some make money, others make a positive social impact; some do both. Such projects help you to demonstrate the enterprise skills sought by employers and potentially to create your own career path. We provide support in the form of funding, one-to-one advice, workshops, workspace, and access to experts and valuable networks.
There is also plenty of opportunity to work part time during your studies, should you wish. On campus, you may choose to undertake paid work in the Library, in one of catering or retail outlets, to name a few examples. In addition to paid work, the Students’ Union offers a whole host of volunteering opportunities. Work as a Maths Ambassador We train and employ a group of students to carry out paid outreach work representing the School as Maths Ambassadors. They support a range of engaging activities and events on campus, in local schools and with our outreach partner organisations; a great way to build valuable skills. Information library and online information You can use the information library in the Careers Centre or online via the Careers website, Jobs Blog and social media channels (which includes online practice psychometric tests). This assists you with developing work experience, identifying opportunities for jobs or further study and understanding how to make strong job applications. For more information about our careers support, visit: careers.qmul.ac.uk
Work experience Queen Mary students benefit from access to our work experience scheme, QProjects, which won the Guardian Employability Award in 2014. This scheme, and its successor QConsult, allow students to build valuable transferrable skills by working with local charities and businesses. maths.qmul.ac.uk 29
The Mathematics Society
Clubs and societies form an important and valuable part of the student experience. One of many such communities you will have the opportunity to join at QMUL is the Mathematics Society. We are proud of this fantastic addition to the School of Mathematical Sciences; a society run entirely by students and supported by School staff and funding. Whilst any QMUL student can become a member (for a nominal fee), Maths students have the opportunity to develop valuable experience and transferrable skills by joining the Mathematics Society committee or helping to organise events.
“The Maths Society is run by students for students. We want to make sure that you get the most valuable, well-rounded experience during your time at QMUL” Emily Hodgson, Mathematics Society President and BSc Mathematics student
What does the Mathematics Society do? The Mathematics Society organises a wide variety of activities and events, as shown in some of our favourite photographs on the opposite page! These include: • Social events help to reinforce the sense of community. Regular social activities include a range of monthly lunches, pub quizzes, laser tag, Pi Day celebrations and the Spring Ball. They are a fantastic way to meet other Maths students outside of your lectures. • Residential trips range from visiting the Mathematikum museum in Germany to camping in Wales! • Academic events include specially arranged talks from academics on a range of mathematical topics not necessarily seen in lectures. Past guest speakers have included Matt Parker and Peter Cameron. • Careers events are an opportunity for you to meet major employers on campus and find out more about your career options. This includes our annual Maths Impact Day, organised in collaboration with the Careers department. Through these activities, the Mathematics Society helps foster our fantastic, friendly community. It also gives you a chance to explore your love of maths, increase your knowledge and skills and enhance your employability. Recent awards won by the Mathematics Society: •B ronze Societies Excellence Award 2017 • Academic Society of the Year 2015 & 2016
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Photos of some of our recent Mathematics Society trips and events
Study Abroad
There are several exciting opportunities available to you if you wish to spend one semester or a year studying similar mathematics modules in a university abroad during your second year. International Exchange Programme Our International Exchange Programme gives you the opportunity to spend a year or autumn semester at one of our prestigious partner universities in Australia, Canada, the USA, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, South Korea or Japan. Your international studies will form part of your degree and will not increase the length of your course. The International Exchange Programme is a highly competitive programme, and to apply you must have joined QMUL with at least three grade Bs at A-level or equivalent. All applicants will need to demonstrate that the partner programme they have chosen is academically compatible with their studies in the School of Mathematical Sciences. To find out more, visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/exchange Erasmus+ Exchange Programme Funded by the European Union, the Erasmus+ Programme is the largest programme of its kind in the world, and gives many students their first chance to study or work abroad. This programme allows you to spend the autumn semester of your second year studying in one of our partner universities in Europe. To find out more, visit qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/Erasmus
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64% of employers think international experience is important for recruitment
Source: European Commission study
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Living in London
As one of the world’s most exciting and culturally rich cities, London is a great place to live and study: you’ll never run out of things to see and explore. With nearly 400,000 students studying here, it’s a fantastic place to be a student. There’s always something going on, with attendance at many events free. Your student card will also get you reduced entry to a surprising number of places, as well as discounts on clothes and food. You will have access to…
• Exceptional music and nightlife • Over 300 museums and galleries • One of the greenest cities on earth • Multicultural cuisine • Outstanding markets Find out more qmul.ac.uk/studentlife/social/london/
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“Being in London means a great lifestyle as there is always somewhere to visit or something new and interesting to do� Emily Finnegan, BSc Mathematics, 2019
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“I already feel integrated into university life - everything is so close together and it’s easy to meet new people” Thea Paraguas, BSc Mathematics with Business Management, 2019
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Student life
Students’ Union All Queen Mary students automatically become a member of QMSU, an active and flourishing Students’ Union run by students for students. QMSU is best known for its clubs and societies, which provide a great opportunity for meeting people - especially those who are studying a different subject to you. One of the aims of QMSU is to ensure that your time at university is not just about work, but also includes socialising and personal development. To find out more, go to qmsu.org Sports and Fitness QMotion is Queen Mary’s Health and Fitness centre. Equipped with a great range of exercise machines and weights, there is also a women-only area and a number of exercise classes. There is a squash court and sports hall on campus, and a swimming pool a short distance away. Playing sports is a good way to relax after a day spent studying. Our sports teams regularly compete against other college teams, and there’s a great social scene with after-match drinks and a regular social night, Hail Mary, which is hosted by a different SU sports team each month. Find out more about Qmotion and sports teams on the QMSU website: qmsu.org
Volunteering Volunteering with charities and non-profit organisations is a brilliant way to explore what London has to offer, make a difference and really get involved in your local area. You can do anything from mentoring local school students, to volunteering in local hospitals, to becoming a helpline volunteer and managing a local sports team. See: qmsu.org/volunteering Health services Health services are provided for all students living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Students should register with the Globe Town surgery at the Student Health Centre at the beginning of term. Students living outside Tower Hamlets can be treated on campus in the event of an urgent medical situation. For more information see: studenthealth.qmul.ac.uk Advice and counselling Our advice service offers in-depth and specialist advice on a range of financial, practical and legal issues such as student finance, housing rights, immigration law and international student issues. Counselling is also available. Our Advice and Counselling service is a completely free and confidential service. For more information see: welfare.qmul.ac.uk
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A view of on-campus student residences from Regent’s canal
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Our accommodation
QMUL students come to us from across the UK and all over the world. Our campuses are communities in their own right and bring together students from many disciplines to study and socialise. Mile End campus is the home of our Student Village and this, along with our other halls, offers around 2,000 spaces for both undergraduates and postgraduates. Mile End is a self-contained residential campus. It’s fun, safe and convenient – you’ll only be a five minute walk to your lectures – so it’s perfect for those 9am starts. All of our accommodation is in self-catered flats and maisonettes. For virtual tours and full details of the accommodation options, including prices, visit: residences.qmul.ac.uk How to apply for accommodation The Admissions Office will send you full details on how to apply for a place in our housing once you have firmly accepted an offer to study here. To check for housing deadlines and eligibility, visit: residences.qmul.ac.uk/college/application
What is my accommodation likely to cost? As a guideline, here are the prices quoted for the academic year 2017/18. Rent is payable termly in advance: Mile End residences – rents for single rooms range from £129–£193 per week, including all utility costs and Wi-Fi. We review our rents annually. Current prices can be found at: residences.qmul.ac.uk/ college/fees Alternative housing options We provide specialist advice on a range of alternative housing options, including: renting a local room or flat, a room in a privately built hall of residence or choosing a homestay or short-stay option (which provides greater flexibility). Rents in the local area in shared flats and houses typically range from £110– £160 per week. There are also a number of privately run student halls in the area, with room rates from £225 upwards. The higher rents in these purpose built developments reflect their very high standards, with most rooms being selfcontained studios. For further information, guidance and prices, visit: residences.qmul.ac.uk/alternative For all accommodation queries, contact us on: Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 6474 Email: residences@qmul.ac.uk residences.qmul.ac.uk
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For further information contact:
The School of Engineering and Materials Science School of Mathematical Sciences Queen Mary University of London Mile Mile End End Road, London E1 4NS 327 Road E1 4NS 8735 Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5440 sems-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk email: maths@qmul.ac.uk maths@qmul.ac.uk @QMULMaths Further information is available at: maths.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate
Any section of this publication is available in large print upon request. If you require this publication in a different accessible format we will endeavour to provide this where possible. For further information and assistance, please contact: designandbranding@qmul.ac.uk We have endeavoured to ensure that the information contained in this booklet is both helpful and accurate at the time of going to press. There are circumstances in which we may still make changes to the programmes and services that we provide. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the website qmul.ac.uk This booklet has been printed on environmentally friendly material from well-managed sources.
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