Mathematics

with a Foundation Year

This tailored module on explanatory and predictive modelling in context will help you unlock the essence of data-driven decision-making. You’ll learn about regression, the cornerstone of versatile statistical analysis, mastering diagnostics, model specification, selection, and interpretation.

Through hands-on activities and real data analysis, you’ll gain the skills to extract actionable insights and forecast future trends confidently. The module is designed to equip you with the necessary tools to navigate complex datasets across different areas of application and practice.

Having experience of genuine data science challenges will set you apart when you enter the employment market. This module is designed to simulate real-world work experiences, where you will work in groups on open-ended projects requiring a combination of diverse skills and knowledge.

You’ll collaborate with others within set time frames to tackle authentic mathematical and data science challenges using real-world data sets, honing your ability to learn new material, combine your skills, and work effectively as a team. The data sets involved will relate to current industry, societal or scientific challenges, preparing you for the complexities of working with authentic data.

You’ll present your findings in a variety of formats including presentations, posters, blog posts, and reports, allowing you to develop skills essential for your future career.

Mathematical statistics provides the theoretical framework for statistical techniques. Understanding these mathematical underpinnings allows statisticians to develop and justify various statistical methods, ensuring their validity and reliability. Mathematical statistics enables practitioners to extract valuable insights from data, make informed decisions, and drive progress in various fields of knowledge and application.

You’ll learn advanced techniques in probability and statistics, including maximum likelihood estimation, advanced hypothesis testing, moments and moment-generating functions. You’ll also discover bivariate and multivariate discrete and continuous distributions.

By the end of the module, you’ll have a solid foundation in mathematical statistics, enabling you to confidently apply and further develop advanced skills in data analysis.

Multivariable and vector calculus provide powerful tools for understanding and analysing functions and phenomena in multiple dimensions. Mastery of these concepts is essential for numerous fields and applications, providing deeper insights into complex systems and problems.

Multivariable calculus extends the concepts of calculus to functions of several variables. Vector calculus focuses on the algebraic and geometric aspects of vectors and vector-valued functions. Both are crucial for understanding and solving problems in fields such as physics, engineering, economics, and computing.

In the module, you'll learn how to differentiate and integrate functions of several variables and how to work with curves, surfaces and volumes. You’ll also examine core concepts including partial derivatives, gradients, multiple integrals, line and surface integrals, vector algebra, and vector fields.

You’ll see analogues of core theorems of calculus in the setting of multivariable functions and learn how to use vector algebra and vector calculus to analyse and solve problems in multiple dimensions. In addition, you’ll gain an understanding of how the methods and concepts of multivariable and vector calculus can be applied in other fields.

Numbers are one of the most fundamental concepts in mathematics and indeed in everyday life. Their study dates back thousands of years to Chinese, Babylonian, Greek, Indian, and Persian thinkers. In the second half of the twentieth century, amazing and far-reaching applications were found in the emerging information technology industry. Nowadays their theory provides the basis for all security on the internet and other communication channels, keeping things such as your messages and bank details safe. Surprising new applications are constantly being discovered.

In the first half of the module, you’ll learn the core results of number theory such as the Chinese Remainder Theorem and Fermat’s Little Theorem and gain technical skills in working with prime numbers, modular arithmetic, and Diophantine equations.

In the second half of the module, you’ll see how these core results and techniques are applied in cryptography, the science of protecting information. More specifically, you’ll learn about classical cryptosystems and their weak point, the ‘key distribution problem’, public key ciphers and computational security, and the challenge coming from quantum computing.

Understanding numerical methods and differential equations is essential for modelling real-world phenomena. Knowledge of these subjects equips you with the capability to forecast system behaviours, design control strategies, and contribute to technological advancements across diverse fields.

You’ll learn to use analytical and numerical tools for resolving differential equations, which is essential explicit solutions of differential equations are often not known. You’ll explore numerical approximation methods, such as Euler's method and Runge-Kutta's method, and learn about stability analysis and error estimation to gauge the reliability of these techniques.

The module also covers a spectrum of topics including methods for solving ordinary differential equations (ODE), linear ODE systems, and qualitative techniques for nonlinear ODE systems such as linearisation, examination of stationary points and their stability, as well as phase portraits. The curriculum integrates hands-on exercises aimed at developing proficient numerical programming skills, enhancing comprehension, and practical application.

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You’ll delve into the fascinating realm of mathematics through immersive experiences tailored to your interests and aspirations. Under the guidance of expert academics, embark on a journey of intellectual discovery, culminating in a dissertation that delves deep into the core of your chosen mathematical domain. You can forge connections and expand your horizons by doing a research internship, where you'll tackle a mathematical research challenge in a team led by one of our scholars.

Experience the rewarding path of mathematics education by venturing into teaching within our extensive network of local schools, and inspire the next generation of mathematical minds. You can broaden your perspective by applying your mathematical prowess to problems from industry.

As you navigate these challenges, you'll develop practical expertise and cultivate a deeper understanding of the role mathematics plays in shaping our modern world. You can embrace the power of communication by crafting engaging and informative content that brings mathematics to life. Whether through blog posts, video essays, podcasts, or magazine articles, you'll have the opportunity to share your passion for mathematics with diverse audiences, exploring current trends and topics with creativity and clarity.

Groups are the basic building blocks of modern algebra. They provide the abstract framework for analysing symmetry. Understanding the theory of groups yields insights not only in the abstract structures underpinning mathematics, but also into the fundamental laws of nature. Chemists, for example, study symmetry groups of molecules, while physicists use symmetry to develop theories to describe physical phenomena.

Field theory extends this to more complex algebraic structures that are foundational in modern mathematics and are used in a variety of modern technologies. For example, finite fields have sophisticated applications in error-correcting codes which are used to control errors in the transition of digital data over an unreliable communication channel.

You’ll develop a versatile toolkit in studying groups and fields, extending your ability to think abstractly and reason logically. You’ll cultivate a deep understanding of the abstract theory that allows you to see inside the algorithms and processes that underpin a variety of applications.

Complex analysis is a classic branch of mathematics with a long and rich history. It plays a role in many areas of modern mathematics, including geometry, number theory, and dynamical systems, but is also widely used in engineering and physics. Complex analysis extends the fundamental concepts of calculus to complex numbers.

You'll explore in detail the intricate relationships between the functions of a complex variable and the geometry and algebra of the complex plane. This provides many striking results including Cauchy's integral formula, Laurent's theorem, and the residue theorem.

You'll master new techniques to compute integrals of functions of a real variable using contour integration, see how complex analysis can be used to prove the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and gain an appreciation of its wide-ranging applications. By the end of the module, you will have expanded your mathematical toolkit and gained a deeper appreciation of the unity of mathematics.

Embark on an exciting journey into the world of partial differential equations (PDEs) - the backbone of applied mathematics. Discover the realm of modelling fundamental processes in physics, engineering, and finance as you learn analytical techniques for solving PDEs.

From fluid motion to heat conduction, sound waves to traffic flow and models of climate change, this module will equip you with the tools to tackle a myriad of real-world problems. Explore the art of Fourier analysis and series methods, unravel the intricacies of characteristics for quasilinear PDEs, and discover the beauty of deriving similarity solutions like travelling waves.

Get ready to sharpen your expertise in specific techniques as you examine both linear and nonlinear PDEs, gaining qualitative understanding using graphical and phase space methods.

A strong grasp of statistical modelling and optimisation principles forms the bedrock of machine learning. This module covers essential and advanced topics of machine learning and deep learning, blending theory with practical computing tools, such as R and Python.

We’ll equip you with the necessary theoretical framework to navigate through complex algorithms and methodologies. You’ll explore key concepts including classification, prediction, and regression tree-based methods through engaging real-world datasets. 

You’ll uncover the power of resampling techniques and support vector machines, and dive into the exciting realm of deep learning. With applications spanning biomedical statistics, finance, and insurance, this module offers a hands-on learning experience tailored to aspiring data scientists.

What are the commonly used models in actuarial science? How can we apply these models to tackle the complex problems faced by financial professionals in practical situations? Modelling is crucial for actuaries as it allows us to assess and manage risks in various circumstances. This module gives you the valuable practical and theoretical skills needed to navigate these critically relevant issues.

You’ll gain a strong foundation in financial economics modelling techniques and be able to apply them in quantitative risk management situations, including portfolio selection and the pricing and valuation of financial derivatives.

You’ll develop valuable skills to model economic decision making by forecasting potential future scenarios, and apply a range of financial risk measurement tools to evaluate suitable investment opportunities. In addition, you’ll explore a range of liability valuation modelling tools which can be used to estimate insurance claims. The modelling techniques that you learn in this module will provide you with the indispensable knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in insurance, finance and related fields.

You will also have the opportunity to gain valuable exemptions from subject CM2 of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA, UK).