Mathematics, Business and Finance 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 exploring the application of mathematics in areas related to business and finance 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. Projects will combine theory, modelling, computation and applications, including possible use of computer programmes and packages.

Pre-requisite Modules: Specific to the project topic concerned.

The aim of this module is to engage you with business and finance applications and products. By taking this project module, you will expand on the knowledge you acquired in formal modules and strengthen your skills in research and report writing.

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 mathematics of relevance to business and finance, including also economics;

2. demonstrate a critical appreciation of your chosen specialised topic, with appropriate in-depth mathematical knowledge relating to business and finance.

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

4. exhibit enhanced 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 written report only. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 50%. For deferred candidates, the mark will be uncapped.

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.

Basic reading:

• Bowden, J., Writing a report: how to prepare, write and present really effective reports, Library online, 8th ed. Oxford: How To Books, 2008, 1848032889, 9781848032880

• Katz, M.J., From research to manuscript: a guide to scientific writing, Library online, Springer, 2009, 1402094671, 9781402094675

• McMillan, K. and Weyers, J.D.B. How to write dissertations & project reports, Library online, 2nd ed., Harlow: Pearson, 2011, 9780273743842, 9780273743835

• McMillan, K. and Weyers, J.D.B. How to write essays & assignments. Library online, 2nd ed. Harlow: Pearson, 2011, 0273743813, 9780273743811

Web-based and electronic resources:

• ELE

Reading list for this module: