Mathematics with a Year in Industry

Mathematics plays an important role in many aspects of modern life, providing the techniques and language to handle problems from a wide variety of disciplines. It has always been essential for engineering and the physical sciences and is becoming increasingly important in the life sciences and social sciences. Yet mathematics is not only studied because of its applications; it has a fascination and beauty of its own, characterised by precision and logical rigour. Mathematics forms a rewarding, challenging and varied subject of study at university, and our BSc degree spans a wide range of mathematical topics, encompassing mathematical methods, pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and probability and statistics. On completing this degree you will be well-placed to pursue a career in such diverse areas as banking, insurance, healthcare, transport, power generation, software, and the armed forces, or to pursue further academic study in mathematics-based subjects. The with a Year in Industry variant provides a year of extensive practical work experience in a scientific, business or industrial setting, contributing to the development of mathematics/computing skills and employability.

The programme is intended to:

a) provide a high quality general mathematical education comprising a balanced core of key knowledge together with the opportunity to study a range of selected topics in more depth.

b) provide the foundations needed for those intending to become professional or research mathematicians;

c) develop the analytical abilities of students so that they can identify and apply appropriate mathematical techniques and methods to solve problems in a range of application areas.

d) develop in students appropriate subject-specific, core academic and personal and key skills in order to prepare them for a wide range of employment opportunities.

e) generate in students an enthusiasm for the subject of mathematics and involve them in a demanding, interesting and intellectually stimulating learning experience reinforced by appropriate academic and pastoral tutorial support.

f) provide a structured opportunity for students to develop a relationship with a graduate employer, through a year-long placement.

Your Mathematics programme is a four year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level (6) (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into four ‘Stages’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.  The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

If you do not pass the level 3 MTH3100 Industrial Placement module or are not able to secure a placement you will be required to transfer to the 3-year BSc Mathematics programme.

Interim Awards

If you do not complete the programme you may be able to exit with a lower qualification. If you have achieved 120 credits, you may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Mathematics and if you achieve 240 credits, where at least 90 credits are at level 2 or above, you may be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Mathematics.

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College web site 

https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/
 

Credit

The programme consists of 480 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally not more than 75 credits would be allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at level 1, and must take at least 90 credits at level 3.

The pass mark for award of credit in an individual module is 40%.

Progression

Support for you to find a placement for the year in industry is given through the module MTH1100 Employability and Preparation for Placement or Internship in year 1. Your engagement with the module will be assessed at the September (ref/def) Assessment, Progression and Award Committee at the end of year 1. Students who show insufficient or incomplete engagement will be required to transfer to the corresponding 3-year BSc Mathematics degree.

A student who is registered for the 3-year BSc Mathematics programme will be allowed to transfer to the 4-year BSc Mathematics with a Year in Industry programme provided they have secured a placement approved by the College and all the necessary paperwork has been completed within the required deadlines.

If you do not pass the MTH3100 Industrial Placement module at stage 3 or are not able to secure a placement (including completing all paperwork by the prescribed deadlines) you will be required to transfer to the 3-year BSc Mathematics programme.

Condonement is the process that allows you to pass a ‘stage’ should you fail to achieve the required number of credits in any stage. You are required to achieve 120 credits in each stage of the programme. You must have achieved an average mark of at least 40% across the 120 credits of assessment including the marks for any failed and condoned modules. You will not be allowed reassessment in the condoned credit.  Up to 30 credits of failure can be condoned in a stage. However, you must pass the modules marked with a 'Yes' in the 'non-condonable' column in the tables above. The pass mark for these modules is 40%.

Assessment and Awards

Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit-weighted average marks for stages 2, 3 and 4 combined in the ratio 2:1:4 respectively.

Classification

The marking of modules and the classification of awards broadly corresponds to the following percentage marks:

Class I    70% +                                                      

Class II   Division I 60-69%                                     

Class II   Division II 50-59%                                    

Class III  40-49%

Full details of assessment regulations for UG programmes can be found in the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual (TQA) on the University of Exeter website.  Generic marking criteria are also published here.

Please see the Teaching and Quality Assurance Manual for further guidance.

In accordance with University policy a system of personal tutors is in place for all students on this programme.  A University-wide statement on such provision is included in the University's TQA Manual.  As a student enrolled on this programme you will receive the personal and academic support of the Programme Coordinator and will have regular scheduled meetings with your Personal Tutor; you may request additional meetings as and when required. The role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

Information Technology (IT) Services provide a wide range of services throughout the Exeter campuses including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.  Help may be obtained through the Helpdesk, and most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.

Additionally, the College has its own dedicated IT support staff, helpdesk and computer facilities which are linked to the wider network, but which also provide access to some specialised software packages.  Email is an important channel of communication between staff and students in the College and an extensive range of web-based information (see https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/ ) is maintained for the use of students, including a comprehensive and annually revised student handbook.

The Harrison Learning Resource Centre is generally open during building open hours. The Centre is available for quiet study, with four separate rooms that can be booked for meetings and group work. Amongst its facilities, the Learning Resource Centre has a number of desks, four meeting rooms with large LCD screens, and free use of a photocopier. Also available are core set texts from your module reading lists, and undergraduate and MSc projects from the past two years.

Online Module study resources provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to some useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, library and research skills, past exam papers, and the 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' module are also available through the student portal (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk)

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

Support for students to find a placement for the year in industry is given through the module MTH1100 Employability and Preparation for Placement or Internship in year 1. 

It is the student’s responsibility to secure an industrial placement for Stage 3 of the programme and to meet the deadlines for the submission of paperwork relating to this. The College will be responsible for ensuring that the placement is appropriate, and maintaining regular contact with the student over the duration of the placement.

All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.  Applicants are normally invited to attend an Admissions Day, which will include the opportunity to talk with and question members of the academic staff.

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University and the entrance requirements for this programme. These are published in full in the University of Exeter Undergraduate Prospectus (see http://www.ex.ac.uk/undergraduate/). In addition to candidates offering GCE AS and A2, those offering International Baccalaureate, and appropriate VCE A-levels will also be considered, as well as mature candidates with evidence of appropriate alternative qualifications. Direct entry to Stage 2 of the programmes will also be considered for candidates who have successfully completed study equivalent to the core material in the first stage of the programmes.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

External Examiner reports for all programme are available to you on the University website