Mathematical Sciences Project - 2025 entry

This independent research project gives you the chance to showcase the skills you have developed throughout your degree programme. It consists of a piece of work in an area of the mathematical sciences that you will choose yourself from a provided list. Using your independent learning skills, you will undertake the project individually, supervised by a member of staff. There will be a range of projects for you to choose from: some involve working on a practical problem, some involve developing or using computer programmes and packages, and others involve reviewing a theoretical area or tackling a theoretical problem.

Pre-requisite Modules: Specific to the project topic concerned

The aim is to extend the knowledge you have acquired so far on your degree programme and to strengthen your skills in research and report writing. You will be able to exercise more autonomy on this research project than in more formal modules.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. work independently and creatively on a substantial piece of work in an area of the mathematical sciences of your own particular interest

2. demonstrate a critical appreciation of your chosen specialised topic, with appropriate in-depth mathematical knowledge.

3. appreciate the inter-relationships between this area and other fields of the mathematical sciences and be able to evaluate the particular work in your project within that wider context.

4. strengthen and demonstrate skills in oral presentation, technical report writing, task management, independent research, problem formulation, use of IT and data interpretation.

Term 1: You will choose your project from a list of staff-proposed topics, ranking five preferences by the end of Week 1. A Project Forum in Week 1 will help you explore options and discuss with supervisors. Allocations will be confirmed by the start of Week 2, based on preferences and relevant prerequisites.

Term 1 and Term 2: You will research and write your project, supported by regular meetings with your supervisor and weekly entries in a student-supervisor logbook. A seminar series will develop your research and presentation skills. You will submit a 1-page project skeleton at the end of Term 1 and receive formative feedback from your supervisor and an independent marker. The final project report must be submitted electronically by the end of Term 2, in accordance with the University’s submission requirements.

Term 3: You will give an oral examination (viva) in the first week of Term 3, before the May exam period. This will include a short presentation and discussion of your project with a panel of two independent markers.

Reassessment will be by resubmission of the project report only. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 50%. For deferred candidates the mark will be uncapped.

Basic reading:

• Research papers and relevant sections of textbooks as appropriate to the topic of the individual project. Suitable references will be suggested by the programme coordinator in advance of the projects commencing.

Web-based and electronic resources:

• ELE

Other resources:

Reading list for this module: