Undergraduate Prospectus 2009

Mathematics

Why mathematics?

Mathematics is core to most modern-day science, technology and business. When you turn on a computer or use a mobile phone, you are using sophisticated technology that mathematics has played a fundamental role in developing. Unravelling the human genome or modelling the financial market relies on mathematics.

As well as playing a major role in the physical and life sciences and in such disciplines as economics and psychology, mathematics has its own attraction and beauty. Mathematics is flourishing: more research has been published in the last 20 years than in the previous 200, and celebrated mathematical problems that had defeated strenuous attempts to settle them have recently been solved.

The breadth and relevance of mathematics leads to a wide choice of potential careers. Employers value numeracy, clarity of thought and the capacity for logical argument that the study of mathematics develops, so a degree in mathematics will give you great flexibility in career choice.

Why mathematics at Sussex?

• We scored 23 out of 24 in the last assessment of teaching and learning by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
• We achieved a grade 5 (recognising research of national and international excellence) in the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
• For ‘organisation and management’ and ‘overall satisfaction’ we ranked joint 1st and 4th respectively, among mathematical science departments in the 2007 National Student Survey (NSS).
• We are among the UK’s leading research centres in numerical analysis.

What sort of career could I have?

• software development
• actuarial work, financial consultancy, accountancy
• publishing and civil service
• scientific research, academia, teaching
• business research and development.

All of our degrees give you a high-level qualification for a career or further training involving mathematics. A recent survey showed that those students with a mathematical degree had the highest employment rate of any subject apart from medicine and dentistry.

How will I learn?

We recognise that new students have a range of mathematical backgrounds and that the transition from A level to university-level study can be challenging, so we have designed our first-term courses to ease this. Although university modes of teaching place more emphasis on independent learning, you will have access to a wide range of support from tutors. Student advisors are also available to offer you excellent advice on personal and financial issues.

Teaching and learning is by a combination of lectures, workshops, lab sessions and independent study. All courses are supported by small-group teaching in which you can discuss topics raised in lectures. We emphasise the ‘doing’ of mathematics as it cannot be passively learnt. Our workshops are designed to support the solution of exercises and problems.

Most courses consist of regular lectures, supported by classes for smaller groups. You receive regular feedback on your work from your tutor. If you need further help, all tutors and lecturers have weekly office hours when you can drop in for advice, individually or in groups. Most of the lecture notes, problem sheets and background material are available on the Department’s website.

Upon arrival at Sussex you will be designated an academic advisor for the period of your study. They also operate office hours and in the first year they will see you weekly. This will help you settle in quickly and offers a great opportunity to work through any academic and personal problems.

What will I achieve?

• Excellent training in problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of the structures and techniques of mathematics, including methods of proof and logical arguments.
• Written and oral communication skills.
• Organisational and time-management skills.
• An ability to make effective use of information and to evaluate numerical data.
• IT skills and computer literacy through computational and mathematical projects.
• You will learn to manage your own personal professional career development in preparation for further study, the world of work or beyond.

MMath and BSc

The MMath programmes are aimed at students who have a strong interest in pursuing a deeper study of mathematics and who wish to use it extensively in their careers where advanced mathematical skills are important, such as mathematical modelling in finance or industry, advanced-level teaching or postgraduate research.