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• Research Guide for Mathematics

Research Guide for Mathematics: Home

• Journals and Conference Proceedings
• Dissertations
• Keeping up-to-date

Purpose of this guide

This guide is intended for students and researchers studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford, although students and researchers from any field may find it useful.

Use this guide to find out about books and online resources for Maths, including ebooks, ejournals, bibliographic databases.

Finding books for Mathematics

Oxford has a wide range of ebooks for Mathematics and printed books, including the main science collection in the Radcliffe Science Library .  For more detailed info about our book collections visit our books page  of this guide.

• SOLO Search SOLO, the University's resource discovery tool, for print and ebooks at Oxford. You can search by author, title or subject and limit to a specific library or online resources.
• SOLO user guide If you need help with SOLO, take a look at this guide for tips on searching, managing results and using your SOLO account.

Key journals

A lot of journals, as well as being available in print, are available online and can be searched via SOLO or eJournals A-Z. Below are a few of the top journals for Mathematics below but you can find a longer list on the journals page  of this guide.

• Acta mathematica
• Acta numerica
• Annals of mathematics
• Journal of differential geometry
• Journal of the American Mathematical Society
• Mathematics (BrowZine) Mathematics and Statistics journal content from the Bodleian Libraries from 2005 onwards.

Key databases

Oxford subscribes to many bibliographic databases. They can be used to locate journal articles, conference proceedings, books, patents, images, data and more. You can find some of the key databases for Mathematics below, but take a look at the  databases page  of this guide for more titles.

Founded in 1888 to further mathematical research and scholarship, the American Mathematical Society fulfills its mission through programs and services that promote mathematical research and its uses, strengthen mathematical education, and foster awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and to everyday life.

The Society has over 32,000 individual members and 550 institutional members in the United States and around the world. Programs and services for AMS members and the mathematical community include professional programs such as meetings and conferences, surveys, employment services; publications including Mathematical Reviews (a database of over 2 million items covering over 60 years of mathematics literature), journals, and over 3,000 books in print; support for Young Scholars Programs and the Mathematical Moments program of the Public Awareness Office; resources such as MR Lookup for researchers and authors; and a Washington office that connects the mathematical community with the broader scientific community and with decision makers who determine science funding.

The AMS headquarters is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and the Society has offices also in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Washington D.C.

The Society was founded in 1865 for the promotion and extension of mathematical knowledge and was granted a Royal Charter in 1965. The Society is registered as a charity with the United Kingdom Charity Commissioners. It is the major British learned society for Mathematics, with a nationwide membership and several hundred overseas members.

MathSciNet is a comprehensive database covering the world's mathematical literature since 1864. It provides Web access to the bibliographic data and reviews of mathematical research literature contained in the Mathematical Reviews Database.

The Mathematical Reviews Database is the database of bibliographic information and reviews created and maintained by the American Mathematical Society. It continues the tradition and extends the scope of the work begun by the paper publication Mathematical Reviews in 1940. Journals, conference proceedings, and books of mathematics research are covered. The Mathematical Reviews Database is published in a variety of formats, including MathSciNet, the monthly Mathematical Reviews, and Current Mathematical Publications.

Mathematical Reviews is a paper publication containing the bibliographic information and review information of those items in the Mathematical Reviews Database for which there are reviews.

Current Mathematical Publications is published 17 times per year and contains the bibliographic information and classifications (using the Mathematics Subject Classification) of the classified items in the Mathematical Reviews Database.

MathSciNet, the Mathematical Reviews Database, Mathematical Reviews, and Current Mathematical Publications are all produced by the American Mathematical Society.

PhysMath Central is an independent publishing platform operated by BioMed Central committed to providing immediate open access to peer-reviewed physics and mathematics research.

SciFinder on the Web is a research discovery tool that allows you to explore the world’s literature in Chemistry and related scientific disciplines including biochemistry, biomedical sciences, chemical engineering, materials science, pharmacology, agriculture, etc. The CAS information service indexes and abstracts information from more than 10000 major scientific journals, 57 patent authorities around the world, conference proceedings, technical reports, etc and produces the following databases:

CAplus (Scientific Literature and Patents)

CAS REGISTRY (Chemical Substances)

CASREACT (Reactions)

CHEMCATS (Chemical Catalogs)

CHEMLIST (Regulated Chemicals)

MARPAT (Markush Structures)

Scopus is a bibliographic database for science, medicine and some social sciences. It covers over 25,000 journals and over 300,000 books from over 7,000 publishers worldwide, providing access to over 90 million records going back as far as the 18th century.

It includes the content from a number of other major databases: Medline (medicine) 1966 - , Embase (medicine) 1970 - , Compendex (engineering) 1970 - , Geobase (geography) 1980 - .

• Web of Science more... less... Alternative names: WoK ; WoS ; Web of Knowledge. Provides access to and cross-searching of databases in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, social sciences and humanities. It includes Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Data Citation Index. Also provides access to Journal Citation Reports for sciences and social sciences.
• Databases A-Z A full, browsable list of Oxford's online databases.

Lead Librarian, Physical and Applied Sciences

Key libraries

• Radcliffe Science Library The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is Oxford University's main teaching and research science library.
• Whitehead Library The Whitehead Library is the departmental graduate library located in the Mathematical Institute.

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• Graduate school
• Information for postgraduate research students
• Submitting your thesis

This section contains essential information and guidance for the preparation and submission of your thesis.

Preparation and Submission of your Thesis

IMPORTANT - When preparing your thesis please ensure that you have taken into account any copyright or sensitive content issues, and dealt with them appropriately. 

COVID-19  Additional academic support – Supporting Students to Submission

Additional academic support is available for postgraduate research students impacted by the pandemic. If your research has been disrupted by COVID-19, it will now be possible to have this taken into account in viva examinations.

Tips on planning your thesis

At an early stage you should:

• Prepare a detailed work plan for your research in consultation with your supervisor.
• Build some flexibility into your plan. It is difficult to give general advice about the allocation of time on theory‑oriented projects, because the nature of these is so variable. In the case of experiment‑based research projects, you should normally allow up to six months to write a DPhil thesis, or three to four months for a corresponding MSc by Research thesis.
• Consider attending available skills training courses, for example  Thesis and Report Writing .

It is not advisable to leave all the writing to the end, for several reasons:

• You will need practice at writing over a period of time in order to develop a good style.
• There will inevitably be hold‑ups in experimental work and it is better to use that time to work on part of your thesis, rather than to waste it. If you do some writing earlier the final completion of your thesis will not seem such a daunting task.
• Approaching your submission date will become more stressful than necessary.

About your thesis

The best way to find out what is required for a successful thesis in your subject area is to look at some written in recent years. You should obviously look particularly closely at theses written by previous members of your own research group, which are available in the University library.

The formal requirements for obtaining your degree are set out in detail in the ‘ Examination Regulations ’. The standard required for success in the DPhil examination is defined as follows: that the student present a significant and substantial piece of research, of a kind which might reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after three or at most four years of full‑time study in the case of a full-time student, or eight years in the case of a part-time student. For the MSc by Research the standard required is that the candidate should have made a worthwhile contribution to knowledge or understanding of the relevant field of learning after a minimum of one year or two years of full-time study.

Thesis structure - Integrated Thesis

Students applying for confirmation of status in the following departments; Biology (nee Plant Sciences and Zoology) Chemical Biology, Earth Sciences, Engineering Science, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry and Statistics can now apply to submit their thesis in an alternative format, as an integrated thesis, including  those registered on the following Doctoral Training programmes: Future Propulsion and Power  CDT, Inorganic Chemistry for Future Manufacturing  CDT, Synthesis for Biology and Medicine  CDT, Theory and Modelling in Chemical Sciences CDT, Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures  CDT.  MSc by Research students in these departments may also apply to do this, and should submit a request direct to the Director of Graduate Studies.

An integrated thesis may either be a hybrid of conventional chapters and high-quality scientific papers, or be fully paper-based. Regardless of the format, the content of the thesis should reflect the amount, originality and level of work expected for a conventional thesis. It should not be assumed that the act of publication (in whatever form) means the work is of suitable academic quality and content for inclusion in a thesis, and students should discuss all papers in detail with their supervisor before including. It would be anticipated that the candidate would be a lead contributor, rather than a minor author, on at least some of the papers in order to consider this format. There is no minimum, or maximum, number of papers a candidate is expected/allowed to include as part of such a thesis and it will remain a matter for the examiners to conclude whether the contributions are equivalent to that which would be expected of a standard DPhil.

Any papers utilised must concern a common subject, constitute a continuous theme and conform to the following guidelines:

 (i) If a candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy wishes to be examined through an integrated thesis (in the departments listed above), they should apply for permission to be examined in this way when they apply for confirmation of status, as detailed in the relevant departmental handbook. A candidate for the Degree of Master of Science by Research should normally apply to the DGS for permission to be examined in this way six months before submitting their papers for examination. To revert to being examined by a conventional thesis rather than an integrated thesis, the candidate must inform their department of the change as detailed in the relevant departmental handbook.

(ii) Work can be included regardless of its acceptance status for publication but candidates may be questioned on the publication status of their work by the examiners.

(iii) Any submitted/published papers should relate directly to the candidate’s approved field of study, and should have been written whilst holding the status of PRS or a student for the MSc (by Research), or DPhil.

(iv) The collection of papers must include a separate introduction, a full literature review, discussion and a conclusion, so that the integrated thesis can be read as a single, coherent document.

(v) The candidate must ensure all matters of copyright are addressed before a paper’s inclusion. A pre-print version of any published papers should be included as standard.

(vi) Joint/multi-authored papers are common in science based subjects and thus acceptable if the candidate can both defend the paper in full and provide a written statement of authorship, agreed by all authors, that certifies the extent of the candidate’s own contribution. A standard template is available for this purpose.

• Download the Statement of Authorship template as a Word document
• View the Statement of Authorship template as a webpage  

The length and scope of theses, including word limits for each subject area in the Division are set out in Departmental guidelines.

In all departments, if some part of the thesis is not solely your work or has been carried out in collaboration with one or more persons, you should also submit a clear statement of the extent of your contribution.

• Download the guidance for submitting an Integrated Thesis as a Word document
• View the guidance for submitting an Integrated Thesis as a webpage

Thesis page and word limits

Several departments place a word limit or page limit on theses. Details can be found in the  Examination Regulations  or  GSO.20a Notes of Guidance for Research Examinations .

Permission to exceed the page and word limits

Should you need to exceed your word/page limit you must seek approval from the Director of Graduate Studies in your department. You and your supervisor must submit a letter/email requesting approval, giving reasons why it is necessary to exceed the limit. This must be sent to the MPLS Graduate Office ( [email protected] ).

Proof-reading

It is your responsibility to ensure your thesis has been adequately proof-read before it is submitted.  Your supervisor may alert you if they feel further proof-reading is needed, but it is not their job to do the proof-reading for you.  You should proof-read your own work, as this is an essential skill in the academic writing process. However, for longer pieces of work it is considered acceptable for students to seek the help of a third party for proof-reading. Such third parties can be professional proof-readers, fellow students, friends or family members (students should bear in mind the terms of any agreements with an outside body or sponsor governing supply of confidential material or the disclosure of research results described in the thesis).   Proof-reading assistance may also be provided as a reasonable adjustment for disability.    Your thesis may be rejected by the examiners if it has not been adequately proof-read.  

See the University’s Policy on the Use of Third Party Proof-readers . The MPLS Division offers training in proof-reading as part of its Scientific Writing training programmes.

Examiners and Submission Dates

You are strongly advised to apply for the appointment of examiners at least four to six weeks before you submit your thesis.

Appointing examiners for your thesis

Approval of the proposed names of examiners rests with the Director of Graduate Studies. Two examiners are normally appointed. It is usual for one of the examiners to be a senior member of Oxford University (the ‘internal examiner’) and the other to be from another research organisation (the ‘external examiner’). The divisional board will not normally appoint as examiners individuals previously closely associated with the candidate or their work, representatives of any organisation sponsoring the candidate’s research, or former colleagues of a candidate. Your supervisor will make suggestions regarding the names of possible examiners. Before doing so, your supervisor must consult with you, in order to find out if you have any special views on the appointment of particular examiners. Your supervisor is also allowed to consult informally with the potential examiners before making formal suggestions. Such informal consultation is usually desirable, and is intended to determine whether the people concerned are willing in principle to act, and if so, whether they could carry out the examination within a reasonable period of time. (For example, there may be constraints if you have to return to your home country, or take up employment on a specific date).

See information on examiner conflicts of interest , under section 7.3.3 Examiners.

What forms do I need to complete?

You will need to complete the online  GSO.3 form. Supervisors complete the section indicating names of the proposed examiners, and they should provide alternatives in case the preferred examiners decline to act.

Timing for appointment of examiners

You are advised to submit your appointment of examiners form in advance of submitting your thesis to avoid delays with your examination process. Ideally you should apply for the appointment of examiners at least 4-6 weeks before you expect to submit your thesis for examination.

There are currently no University regulations requiring examination to take place within a certain time limit after thesis submission. However, your examiners would normally be expected to hold your viva within 3 months. If you need to have your examination sooner than this, you may apply for an early viva , by completing the 'Application for a time specific examination' section on the appointment of examiners form, this section must be endorsed by your supervisor and DGS in addition to their approval in the main body of the form. The request must be made at the time of completing and submitting the appointment of examiners form, it cannot be done after this.

Please bear in mind that the examination date requested must not be earlier than one calendar month after the date on which the thesis has been received by the Research Degrees Team or after the date on which the examiners have formally agreed to act, whichever is the latest. The actual date of the examination will depend primarily on the availability of both examiners. In the Long Vacation, a longer time is normally required. It is therefore essential that you leave sufficient time for your forms to be formally approved, and for your examiners to be formally invited.  If sufficient time has not be given this could impact on your early examination request .

If, for any reason, examiners wish to hold a viva within four weeks of receiving their copy of the thesis, permission must be sought from the Director of Graduate Studies. The internal examiner will need to give details of the proposed arrangement and the reasons for the request. Under no circumstances will a viva be permitted to take place within 14 days of receipt of the thesis by the examiners.

Special considerations

Your supervisor is permitted to indicate to the Director of Graduate Studies if there are any special factors which should be taken into account in the conduct of your examination. For example, a scientific paper may have been produced by another researcher which affects the content of your thesis, but which was published too late for you to take into account. The Director of Graduate Studies will also need to be told of any special circumstances you may require or need to inform your examiners of which may affect your performance in an oral examination, or if any part of your work must be regarded as confidential. The Director of Graduate Studies will then forward (via the Graduate Office), any appropriate information that they think should be provided to the examiners. The Graduate Office will also seek approval from the Proctors Office if required.

Change of thesis title

If during your studies you want to change the title or subject of your thesis, you must obtain the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies using the online form GSO.6 . If you are requesting the change at the time of submitting your thesis, you may do this on the application for appointment of examiners form. A change of title is quite straightforward; it is common for students to begin with a very general title, and then to replace it with a more specific one shortly before submitting their thesis. Providing your supervisor certifies that the new title lies within the original topic, approval will be automatic. A change of the subject of your research requires more detailed consideration, because there may be doubt as to whether you can complete the new project within the original time‑scale.

If following your examination your examiners recommend that your thesis title be changed, you will need to complete a change of thesis title form to ensure that your record is updated accordingly.

From MT19 y ou must submit your digital examiners’ copy of your thesis online, via the Research Thesis Digital Submission (RTDS) portal, no later than the last day of the vacation immediately following the term in which your application for the appointment of examiners was made.   If you fail to submit by this date your application will be cancelled and you will have to reapply for appointment of examiners when you are ready to submit. Y our thesis should not be submitted until your application for confirmation of status has been approved (this applies to DPhil students only) . For MSc by Research students you should ensure that your transfer of status has been completed .

If you are funded on a research council studentship, you will have a recommended end-date before which your thesis must be submitted. If you do not know this date, please consult your supervisor.

Please note that you must not submit copies of your thesis directly to your examiners as this could result in your examinations being declared void and you could be referred to the University Proctors.

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Oxford theses

The Bodleian Libraries’ thesis collection holds every DPhil thesis deposited at the University of Oxford since the degree began in its present form in 1917. Our oldest theses date from the early 1920s. We also have substantial holdings of MLitt theses, for which deposit became compulsory in 1953, and MPhil theses.

Since 2007 it has been a mandatory requirement for students to deposit an electronic copy of their DPhil thesis in the Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) , in addition to the deposit of a paper copy – the copy of record. Since the COVID pandemic, the requirement of a paper copy has been removed and the ORA copy has become the copy of record. Hardcopy theses are now only deposited under exceptional circumstances. 

ORA provides full-text PDF copies of most recent DPhil theses, and some earlier BLitt/MLitt theses. Find out more about Oxford Digital Theses, and depositing with ORA .

Finding Oxford theses

The following theses are catalogued on SOLO (the University libraries’ resource discovery tool) :

• DPhil and BLitt and MLitt theses
• BPhil and MPhil theses 
• Science theses

SOLO collates search results from several sources.

How to search for Oxford theses on SOLO

To search for theses in the Oxford collections on SOLO :

• navigate to the SOLO homepage
• click on the 'Advanced Search' button
• click the 'Material Type' menu and choose the 'Dissertations' option
• type in the title or author of the thesis you are looking for and click the 'Search' button.

Also try an “Any field” search for “Thesis Oxford” along with the author’s name under “creator” and any further “Any field” keywords such as department or subject. 

Searching by shelfmarks

If you are searching using the shelfmark, please make sure you include the dots in your search (e.g. D.Phil.). Records will not be returned if they are left out.

Oxford University Research Archive (ORA)

ORA was established in 2007 as a permanent and secure online archive of research produced by members of the University of Oxford. It is now mandatory for students completing a research degree at the University to deposit an electronic copy of their thesis in this archive. 

Authors can select immediate release on ORA, or apply a 1-year or 3-year embargo period. The embargo period would enable them to publish all or part of their research elsewhere if they wish. 

Theses held in ORA are searchable via  SOLO , as well as external services such as EThOS and Google Scholar. For more information, visit the Oxford digital theses guide , and see below for guidance on searching in ORA.

Search for Oxford theses on ORA

Type your keywords (title, name) into the main search box, and use quotes (“) to search for an exact phrase.

Refine your search results using the drop-downs on the left-hand side. These include:

• item type (thesis, journal article, book section, etc.)
• thesis type (DPhil, MSc, MLitt, etc.)
• subject area (History, Economics, Biochemistry, etc.)
• item date (as a range)
• file availability (whether a full text is available to download or not)

You can also increase the number of search results shown per page, and sort by relevance, date and file availability. You can select and export records to csv or email. 

Select hyperlinked text within the record details, such as “More by this author”, to run a secondary search on an author’s name. You can also select a hyperlinked keyword or subject. 

Other catalogues

Card catalogue  .

The Rare Books department of the Weston Library keeps an author card index of Oxford theses. This includes all non-scientific theses deposited between 1922 and 2016. Please ask Weston Library staff for assistance.

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

You can use ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global  to find bibliographic details of Oxford theses not listed on SOLO. Ask staff in the Weston Library’s Charles Wendall David Reading Room for help finding these theses. 

Search for Oxford theses on ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Basic search.

The default Basic search page allows for general keyword searches across all indexes using "and", "and not", "and or" to link the keywords as appropriate. Click on the More Search Options tab for specific title, author, subject and institution (school) searches, and to browse indexes of authors, institutions and subjects. These indexes allow you to add the word or phrase recognised by the database to your search (ie University of Oxford (United Kingdom), not Oxford University).

Advanced search

The Advanced search tab (at the top of the page) enables keyword searching in specific indexes, including author, title, institution, department, adviser and language. If you are unsure of the exact details of thesis, you can use the search boxes on this page to find it by combining the key information you do have.

Search tools

In both the Basic and Advanced search pages you can also limit the search by date by using the boxes at the bottom. Use the Search Tools advice in both the Basic and Advanced pages to undertake more complex and specific searches. Within the list of results, once you have found the record that you are interested in, you can click on the link to obtain a full citation and abstract. You can use the back button on your browser to return to your list of citations.

The Browse search tab allows you to search by subject or by location (ie institution). These are given in an alphabetical list. You can click on a top-level subject to show subdivisions of the subject. You can click on a country location to show lists of institutions in that country. At each level, you can click on View Documents to show lists of individual theses for that subject division or from that location.

In Browse search, locations and subject divisions are automatically added to a basic search at the bottom of the page. You can search within a subject or location by title, author, institution, subject, date etc, by clicking on Refine Search at the top of the page or More Search Options at the bottom of the page.

Where are physical Oxford theses held?

The Bodleian Libraries hold all doctoral theses and most postgraduate (non-doctoral) theses for which a deposit requirement is stipulated by the University:

• DPhil (doctoral) theses (1922 – 2021)
• Bachelor of Divinity (BD) theses
• BLitt/MLitt theses (Michaelmas Term 1953 – 2021)
• BPhil and MPhil theses (Michaelmas Term 1977 – 2021)

Most Oxford theses are held in Bodleian Offsite Storage. Some theses are available in the libraries; these are listed below.

Law Library

Theses submitted to the Faculty of Law are held at the Bodleian Law Library .

Vere Harmsworth Library

Theses on the United States are held at the Vere Harmsworth Library .

Social Science Library

The Social Science Library holds dissertations and theses selected by the departments it supports. 

The list of departments and further information are available in the Dissertations and Theses section of the SSL webpages. 

Locations for Anthropology and Archaeology theses

The Balfour Library holds theses for the MPhil in Material and Visual Anthropology and some older theses in Prehistoric Archaeology.

The Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library holds theses for MPhil in Classical Archaeology and MPhil in European Archaeology.

Ordering Oxford theses

Theses held in Bodleian Offsite Storage are consulted in the Weston Library. The preferred location is the Charles Wendell David Reading Room ; they can also be ordered to the Sir Charles Mackerras Reading Room .

Find out more about requesting a digitised copy, copyright restrictions and copying from Oxford theses .

Dissertations

Most Harvard PhD dissertations from 2012 forward are available online in DASH , Harvard’s central open-access repository and are linked below. Many older dissertations can be found on ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Search which many university libraries subscribe to.

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Dissertation in mathematics

This module enables you to carry out a sustained, guided, independent study of a topic in mathematics. There’s a choice of topics, for example: algebraic graph theory; aperiodic tilings and symbolic dynamics; advances in approximation theory; history of modern geometry; interfacial flows and microfluidics; variational methods, and Riemann surfaces. Provided study notes, books, research articles, and original sources guide you. You must master the appropriate mathematics and present your work as a final dissertation.

Qualifications

M840 is a compulsory module in our:

• MSc in Mathematics (F04)
• Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
• You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

Find out more about entry requirements .

What you will study

The list of topics available varies each year. We’ll let MSc in Mathematics students know the available topics that October in the spring, before the module starts.

Recently available topics have included:

• Advances in approximation theory
• Algebraic graph theory
• Aperiodic tilings and symbolic dynamics
• History of modern geometry
• Interfacial flows and microfluidics
• Riemann surfaces
• Variational methods.

Please note:

• Since the available topics vary from year to year, check that we are offering the topic you wish to study before registering.
• For staffing reasons, you might not be able to study your preferred topic. Therefore, we’ll ask you for your first and second choice. We can usually offer you one of your choices, although this cannot be guaranteed.

You will learn

Successful study of this module should enhance your skills in understanding complex mathematical texts, working on open-ended problems and communicating mathematical ideas clearly.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor.

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

• Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
• Guiding you to additional learning resources.
• Providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content.

The module has a dedicated and moderated forum where you can join in online discussions with your fellow students. There are also online module-wide tutorials. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part. If you want to participate, you’ll likely need a headset with a microphone.

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

Future availability.

Dissertation in mathematics (M840) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2024.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.

Regulations

Entry requirements.

You must have passed four modules from the MSc in Mathematics (F04) .

If you’ve passed only three modules, you may request exceptional permission to take M840 alongside another module.

Additionally:

• To study the ‘Advances in approximation theory’ topic, you should have passed Advanced mathematical methods (M833) or the discontinued module M832.
• To study the ‘Variational methods applied to eigenvalue problems’ topic, you should have passed Calculus of variations and advanced calculus (M820) .
• To study the ‘Riemann surfaces’ topic, you should have a Grade 1 or 2 pass a course in Complex analysis (M337) or an equivalent course.

All teaching is in English and your proficiency in the English language should be adequate for the level of study you wish to take. We strongly recommend that students have achieved an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 7. To assess your English language skills in relation to your proposed studies you can visit the IELTS website.

Additional costs

Study costs.

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Study events

This module may have an optional in-person study event. We’ll let you know if this event will take place and any associated costs as soon as we can.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding .

Study materials

What's included.

You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:

• a week-by-week study planner
• course-specific module materials
• audio and video content
• assessment details and submission section
• online tutorial access.

You will need

Some topics require specific books. We’ll let you know which once your topic is confirmed.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

The material contains small print and diagrams, which may cause problems if you find reading text difficult. Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages .

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Course info

Ccd dissertations on a mathematical topic (2017-18).

Students may offer a double-unit dissertation on a Mathematical topic for examination at Part C. A double-unit is equivalent to a 32-hour lecture course. Students will have approximately 6 hours of supervision for a double-unit dissertation distributed over Michaelmas and Hilary terms. In addition there are lectures on writing mathematics and using LaTeX in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. See the lecture list for details.

Students considering offering a dissertation should read the Guidance Notes on Extended Essays and Dissertations in Mathematics available at:

https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/projects .

Application Students must apply to the Mathematics Projects Committee for approval of their proposed topic in advance of beginning work on their dissertation. Proposals should be addressed to the Chairman of the Projects Committee, c/o Mrs Helen Lowe, Room S0.20, Mathematical Institute and are accepted from the end of Trinity Term. All proposals must be received before 12noon on Friday of Week 0 of Michaelmas Full Term. For CD dissertations candidates should take particular care to remember that the project must have substantial mathematical content. The application form is available at https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/projects . Once a title has been approved, it may only be changed by approval of the Chairman of the Projects Committee.

The department also publishes a booklet of pre-approved Part C dissertation topics. This is available at https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/projects . If you would like to offer one of these dissertations, you should contact the supervisor who proposed the topic in the first instance and then notify Projects Committee using the form available at https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/projects by 12noon on Friday of Week 0 of Michaelmas Full Term.

Assessment Dissertations are independently double-marked, normally by the dissertation supervisor and one other assessor. The two marks are then reconciled to give the overall mark awarded. The reconciliation of marks is overseen by the examiners and follows the department's reconciliation procedure (see https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/teaching-and-learning/projects ).

Submission TWO copies of your dissertation, identified by your candidate number only, should be sent to the Chairman of Examiners, FHS of Mathematics Part C, Examination Schools, Oxford, to arrive no later than 12noon on Monday of week 10, Hilary Term 2018 . An electronic copy of your dissertation should also be submitted via the Mathematical Institute website. Further details may be found in the Guidance Notes on Extended Essays and Dissertations in Mathematics .

10000 word dissertation

Mathematics

• Admissions Requirements
• Fees and Funding
• Studying at Oxford

Course overview

UCAS code: G100 Entrance requirements: A*A*A with the A*s in Maths and Further Maths if taken. Course duration: 3 years (BA); 4 years (MMath)

Subject requirements

Required subjects: Maths Recommended subjects: Further Maths Helpful subjects: Not applicable

Other course requirements

Admissions tests:  MAT Written Work: None

Admissions statistics*

Combined statistics for Mathematics and Mathematics and Statistics:

Interviewed: 30% Successful: 9% Intake: 179 *3-year average 2021-23

Email:  [email protected]

Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.

About the course

Mathematicians have always been fascinated by numbers. One of the most famous problems is Fermat’s Last Theorem:

if n≥3, the equation x n +y n =z n  has no solutions with x, y, z all nonzero integers.

An older problem is to show that one cannot construct a line of length  3 √2 with ruler and compass, starting with a unit length.

Often the solution to a problem will require you to think outside its original framing. This is true here, and while you will see the second problem solved in your course, the first is far too deep and was famously solved by Andrew Wiles.

In applied mathematics we use mathematics to explain phenomena that occur in the real world. You can learn how a leopard gets its spots, explore quantum theory and relativity, or study the mathematics of stock markets.

We will encourage you to ask questions and find solutions for yourself. We will begin by teaching you careful definitions so that you can construct theorems and proofs.

Above all, mathematics is a logical subject, and you will need to think mathematically, arguing clearly and concisely as you solve problems. For some of you, this way of thinking or solving problems will be your goal. Others will want to see what else can be discovered. Either way, it is a subject to be enjoyed.

There are two Mathematics degrees, the three-year BA and the four-year MMath. Decisions regarding continuation to the fourth year do not have to be made until the third year.

The first year consists of core courses in pure and applied mathematics (including statistics).

Options start in the second year, with the third and fourth years offering a large variety of courses, including options from outside mathematics.

Unistats information

Discover Uni  course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for Mathematics.

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small. 

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

A typical week (Years 1 and 2)

• Around ten lectures and two-three tutorials or classes a week
• Additional practicals in computational mathematics (first year) and numerical analysis (if taken)

A typical week (Years 3 and 4)

• Six-ten lectures and two-four classes each week, depending on options taken
• Compulsory dissertation in the fourth year

Tutorials are usually 2-4 students and a tutor. Class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose. There would usually be around 8-12 students though classes for some of the more popular papers may be larger. 

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctoral level. 

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our  Academic Year  page.

Course structure

There are two Mathematics degrees, the three-year BA and the four-year MMath. Decisions regarding continuation to the fourth year do not have to be made until the third year. 

Admission to Mathematics is joint with Mathematics & Statistics, and applicants do not choose between the two degrees until the end of their fourth term at Oxford. At that point, all students declare whether they wish to study Mathematics or study Mathematics & Statistics. Further changes later on may be possible subject to the availability of space on the course and the consent of the college.

The first year consists of core courses in pure and applied mathematics (including statistics). Options start in the second year, with the third and fourth years offering a large variety of courses, including options from outside mathematics.

Years 3 and 4

Mmathphys year 4.

The Physics and Mathematics Departments jointly offer an integrated master’s level course in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics .

Mathematics students are able to apply for transfer to a fourth year studying entirely mathematical and theoretical physics, completing their degree with an MMathPhys.

The course offers research-level training in: Particle physics, Condensed matter physics, Astrophysics, Plasma physics and Continuous media. 

The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes .

Academic requirements 

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on  how we use contextual data .

The majority of those who read Mathematics will have taken both Mathematics and Further Mathematics at A-level (or the equivalent). However, Further Mathematics at A-level is not essential. It is far more important that you have the drive and desire to understand the subject.

Our courses have limited formal prerequisites, so it is the experience rather than outright knowledge which needs to be made up. If you gain a place under these circumstances, your college will normally recommend suitable extra preparatory reading for the summer before you start your course.

While AEA and STEP papers are not part of our entry requirements, we encourage applicants to take these or similar extension material, if they are available.

If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.

If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements .

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our  Applying to Oxford  pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions test

All candidates must take the  Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT)  as part of their application.

Guidance on how to prepare can be found on the  MAT page . 

We will be putting in place new arrangements for our admissions tests for 2024 onwards. We will provide more information on these arrangements at the earliest opportunity. 

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course.

What are tutors looking for?

Tutors are looking for a candidate’s potential to succeed on the course. We recommend that candidates challenge themselves with Mathematics beyond their curriculum, question their own understanding, and take advantage of any available extension material.

Ultimately, we are most interested in a candidate’s potential to think imaginatively, deeply and in a structured manner about the patterns of mathematics. 

Visit the Maths Department website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.

Quantitative skills are highly valued, and this degree prepares students for employment in a wide variety of occupations in the public and private sectors.

Around 30% of our graduates go on to further study, but for those who go into a profession, typical careers include finance, consultancy and IT.

Nathan, an engineer, says:

‘During my degree I developed my ability to solve complex problems – a fundamental skill set to tackle challenges I encounter on a day-to-day basis as an engineer. The application of mathematics in engineering and manufacturing is ever increasing, meaning there will be more and more opportunities to find interesting roles in which I can apply my skills.’

Note: These annual fees are for full-time students who begin this undergraduate course here in 2024. Course fee information for courses starting in 2025 will be updated in September.

We don't want anyone who has the academic ability to get a place to study here to be held back by their financial circumstances. To meet that aim, Oxford offers one of the most generous financial support packages available for UK students and this may be supplemented by support from your college.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

For more information please refer to our  course fees page . Fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our  guidance on likely increases to fees and charges.

Living costs

Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our  world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down.

Living costs for the academic year starting in 2024 are estimated to be between £1,345 and £1,955 for each month you are in Oxford. Our academic year is made up of three eight-week terms, so you would not usually need to be in Oxford for much more than six months of the year but may wish to budget over a nine-month period to ensure you also have sufficient funds during the holidays to meet essential costs. For further details please visit our  living costs webpage .

• Financial support

**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding

Fees, Funding and Scholarship search

Additional Fees and Charges Information for Mathematics

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.

Contextual information

Unistats course data from Discover Uni provides applicants with statistics about a particular undergraduate course at Oxford. For a more holistic insight into what studying your chosen course here is likely to be like, we would encourage you to view the information below as well as to explore our website more widely.

The Oxford tutorial

College tutorials are central to teaching at Oxford. Typically, they take place in your college and are led by your academic tutor(s) who teach as well as do their own research. Students will also receive teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. However, tutorials offer a level of personalised attention from academic experts unavailable at most universities.

During tutorials (normally lasting an hour), college subject tutors will give you and one or two tutorial partners feedback on prepared work and cover a topic in depth. The other student(s) in your tutorials will be doing the same course as you. Such regular and rigorous academic discussion develops and facilitates learning in a way that isn’t possible through lectures alone. Tutorials also allow for close progress monitoring so tutors can quickly provide additional support if necessary.

Read more about tutorials and an Oxford education

College life

Our colleges are at the heart of Oxford’s reputation as one of the best universities in the world.

• At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities.
• Porters’ lodge (a staffed entrance and reception)
• Dining hall
• Lending library (often open 24/7 in term time)
• Student accommodation
• Tutors’ teaching rooms
• Chapel and/or music rooms
• Green spaces
• Common room (known as the JCR).
• All first-year students are offered college accommodation either on the main site of their college or in a nearby college annexe. This means that your neighbours will also be ‘freshers’ and new to life at Oxford. This accommodation is guaranteed, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live after accepting a place here, all of this is organised for you before you arrive.
• All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.
• While college academic tutors primarily support your academic development, you can also ask their advice on other things. Lots of other college staff including welfare officers help students settle in and are available to offer guidance on practical or health matters. Current students also actively support students in earlier years, sometimes as part of a college ‘family’ or as peer supporters trained by the University’s Counselling Service.

Read more about Oxford colleges and how you choose

FIND OUT MORE

• Visit the department's website

Our 2024 undergraduate open days will be held on 26 and 27 June and 20 September.

Register to find out more about our upcoming open days.

Mathematics Open Days  - 20 April 2024 in Oxford and 27 April 2024 online. 

Mathematical Sciences Research 

Mathematical Sciences at The University of Oxford was listed as one of the best in the UK in the most recent (2021) Research Excellence Framework (REF). 

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• Mathematics and Computer Science
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FEEL INSPIRED?

Why not have a look at the reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants on the  department's website ?

You can also watch recent lectures, and see a real first-year tutorial on the Mathematics YouTube channel  to get a feel for what studying here is like and find out  about the department's research at the  Oxford Mathematics Alphabet . 

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Erratum to “Lefschetz Theory for Exterior Algebras and Fermionic Diagonal Coinvariants”

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Jongwon Kim, Roberto Pagaria, Brendon Rhoades, Erratum to “Lefschetz Theory for Exterior Algebras and Fermionic Diagonal Coinvariants”, International Mathematics Research Notices , Volume 2024, Issue 9, May 2024, Pages 7201–7204, https://doi.org/10.1093/imrn/rnad023

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This erratum corrects the proof of the main result [ 1 , Thm. 5.2] of [ 1 , Sec. 5]. While this result is correct as stated, its proof is flawed. We adopt the notation of [ 1 , Sec. 5].

The total order |$\prec $| is not a term order, so that [ 1 , Lem. 5.3] loses meaning. In particular, [ 1 , Lem. 5.1] is false because the depth |$d(\sigma )$| is not multiplicative.

We correct the proof of [ 1 , Thm. 5.2] as follows. We shall calculate a Gröbner basis for the ideal |$I_{n} = \langle \delta _{n}\rangle \subset \wedge \{\Theta _{n}, \Xi _{n} \}$| where |$\delta _{n}= \sum _{i=1}^{n} \theta _{i} \xi _{i}$| with respect to the lexicographical term order |$<_{\textrm{lex}}$|⁠ .

For each Motzkin path |$\sigma $| as in [ 1 , Sec. 5], we define |$j(\sigma )$| to be the |$x$| -coordinate where the depth |$d(\sigma )$| is achieved the 1st time. We have |$d(\sigma )=0$| if and only if |$j(\sigma )=0$|⁠ . If |$u, v$| are the Motzkin paths (or monomials) in Example 1 , then |$j(u)=5$| and |$j(v)=2$|⁠ .

The initial ideal |$\operatorname{in}_{lex}(\delta _{n}^{k})$| with respect the lexicographical term order contains all monomials |$\sigma $| with depth |$d(\sigma )\leq -k$|⁠ .

We claim that the leading monomial of |$p(\sigma )\delta _{n}^{-d(\sigma )}$| divides the monomial |$\textrm{wt}(\sigma )$|⁠ , and we prove this statement for all |$n$| by induction on |$j(\sigma )$|⁠ . The base case |$j(\sigma )=0$| is trivial because all monomials belong to the ideal generated by |$\delta _{n}^{0}=1$|⁠ .

For the inductive step, we remove the 1st step |$s_{1}$| from |$\sigma $| to get a new path |$\tau =(s_{2}, \dots , s_{n})$| involving only the variables |$\theta _{2}, \dots , \theta _{n}, \xi _{2}, \dots , \xi _{n}$|⁠ . Notice that |$p(\sigma )=p_{1}(\sigma )p(\tau )$|⁠ . We divide proof in three cases according to the 1st step |$s_{1}$|⁠ .

Case 1: |$s_{1} = (1,1)$| is an up step.

Case 2: |$s_{1} = (1,0)$| is a horizontal step.

Case 3: |$s_{1} = (1,-1)$| is a down step.

We conclude that |$\textrm{wt}(\sigma ) \in \textrm{in}_{\textrm{lex}}(\delta _{n}^{-d(\sigma )}) \subseteq \textrm{in}_{\textrm{lex}}(\delta _{n}^{k})$| for all |$k \leq -d(\sigma )$| and the proof is complete.

The above theorem substitutes [ 1 , Lem. 5.3]. The 2nd part of the proof of [ 1 , Thm. 5.2] is correct and can be left unchanged.

The set |$\{p(\sigma )\delta _{n} \mid \sigma \textnormal{ s.t.} d(\sigma )=-1\}$| is a Gröbner basis for the ideal |$I_{n}= \langle \delta _{n} \rangle $| with respect to the lexicographical term order.

Kim J. B. Rhoades “ Lefschetz theory for exterior algebras and fermionic diagonal coinvariants .” Int. Math. Res. Not. IMRN 4 ( 2022 ): 2906 – 33 .

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Mathematical Institute

Please note the following topics are only open to Part C Maths, Maths & Phil, Maths & CompSci and OMMS students. For current students please see the full proposals here .

Representations of finite Hecke algebras - Prof D Ciubotaru

Conservation Laws of Chemical Reaction Networks - Dr H Rahkooy and Prof H Harrington

Applications of Syzygies in Biochemical Networks - Dr H Rahkooy and Prof H Harrington

Algebraic Methods for Maximum Likelihood Estimation - Dr J Coons

Homotopy Type Theory - Prof Y Kremnitzer

Mathematical Consciousness Science - Prof Y Kremnitzer

Equations in finite groups and probability - Prof N Nikolov

Penrose’s impulsive gravitational waves, Lorentzian synthetic spaces and optimal transport - Prof A Mondino

Optimal transport theory applied to PDEs - Dr A Esposito

Convolution equations and mean-periodicity - Prof J Kristensen

On the regularity for elliptic equations and systems - Prof L Nguyen

Cauchy Problems in General Relativity - Prof Q Wang

C*-Algebras - Prof S White

Geometry, Number Theory and Topology

Applications of Topological Data Analysis in Physical Oceanography - Dr A Brown and Prof H Harrington

Number of solutions to equations over finite fields - Prof A Lauder

Modular Forms and Elliptic Curve - Dr A Horawa

The Manin-Mumford conjecture - Prof D Rossler

The Chebotarev density theorem and its effective versions - Prof E Breuillard

Topological data analysis of CODEX multiplexed images in colorectal cancer - Dr I Yoon, Prof H Harrington and Prof H Byrne

The Twin Prime Conjecture - Prof J Maynard

Iwasawa Theory - Prof J Newton

Almost-periodicity in additive number theory - Dr T Bloom

Local Fields and the Hasse Principle - Prof V Flynn

Ramsey theories - Prof E Hrushovski

Kim Indepdence - Prof E Hrushovski

Mathematical Methods and Applications 

Untangling Knots Through Curve Repulsion - Dr R Bailo

Algebraic Topology and Machine Learning for Modelling Flow in Porous Media - Dr A Yim

Droplets on lubricated solid surfaces - Prof D Vella

Pattern formation and travelling waves in heterogeneous populations using aggregation-diffusion equations - Dr D Martinson

Modelling solid-body tides - Dr H Hay and Prof I Hewitt

Evolution of thin liquid films - Prof J Oliver

How directed are directed networks - Prof R Lambiotte

Mathematical Physics

The Classification of 2D Conformal Field Theories - Prof A Henriques

Formation of Planetary Rings - A Granular Gas Approach - Dr R Bailo

Numerical Analysis and Data Science

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare - Dr A Kormilitzin

AAA Rational Approximation - Prof N Trefethen

Flood prediction using machine learning - Dr Y Sun

Topics in Randomised Numerical Linear Algebra - Prof Y Nakatsukasa

Stochastics, Discrete Mathematics and Information

String graphs - Prof A Scott

Categorical Approaches to Probability - Dr D Lee

From algorithmic learning in a random world to algorithmic learning - Prof H Oberhauser

Black-Scholes versus stochastic volatility models as hedging tools - Prof M Monoyios

Wasserstein Space of Measures and Distributionally Robust Optimization - Prof J Obloj

History of Mathematics

Students wishing to do a dissertation based on the History of Mathematics should contact Christopher Hollings at  @email  by Wednesday of week 1 with a short draft proposal. All decisions will be communicated to students by the end of week 2.

All supported proposals , will then be referred to Projects Committee who meet in week 4 for final approval. With the support of Dr Hollings students must submit a COD Dissertation Proposal Form to Projects Committee by the end of week 3.

Department of Statistics

Please note that Part C Mathematics and Statistics students MUST select from the list of the below topics. OMMS students are also able to select the Statistics and Probability projects from the Department of Statistics.

It may be possible for a Maths student to complete a Statistics dissertation, however, the priority when allocating will be the Maths & Stats and OMMS students. If you are interested, please email  @email  for more information.

An alternative to the log-likelihood for clustering - Dr G Mena

Applications of Machine Learning to Drug Discovery - Prof G M Morris

Bayesian analysis of rank data - Prof G Nicholls

Brownian bees - branching and selection - Prof J Berestycki

Epidemiology models with contract tracing - Prof J Berestycki and Dr F Foutel-Rodier

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation models of molecular scaffold assembly - Dr D Nissley

Knowledge (Self) distillation in machine learning - Prof F Caron

Limit order book and fundamentals-driven embeddings of financial instruments for portfolio selection - Prof M Cucuringu

Multiple testing and hypothesis aggregation - Prof D Steinsaltz

Parking functions, trees, and parking on trees - Prof C Goldschmidt

Partially Stochastic Networks - Dr T Rainforth

Probability and Statistics for Genetics - Prof R Davies

Proximal Causal Inference - Prof R Evans

Separation results for methods based on implicit regularization - Prof P Rebeschini

Two Sample Mendelian Randomisation - Prof F Windmeijer

Understanding COVID-19 in New York State schools in the 2020-23 and 2021-22 school years - Prof C Donnelly

Upper and Lower Bounds on the Probability of Finite Union of Events - Dr J Yang

Maths whizz Aaron Naidu graduates summa cum laude from UKZN, next up Oxford University

A cademic excellence has always been a priority for Aaron Naidu who graduated summa cum laude for his Honours degree in statistical science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal this week.

He will then head to the Oxford University in England later this year where he pursue his Master of Science in statistical science degree.

A passion for mathematics since his schooling years, Naidu was the first student to win the Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad outright while still in high school.

Having matriculated from Eden College in Durban, UKZN said Naidu excelled in mathematics, winning several awards at a national and international level.

These awards were obtained from South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO), Computer Programming and Physics Olympiads, and the International Mathematics and Informatics Olympiads.

UKZN said Naidu graduated summa cum laude for his undergraduate degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), placed in the top 3% of every module, including the six extra he took on.

He received the Zac Yacoob Scholarship for being the best honours student at UKZN across all Colleges and Disciplines.

Following his academic achievement, Naidu was offered many bursaries but opted to study at UKZN because of its proximity to home and his experiences in the Siyanqoba Regional Olympiad Training Programme run by Emeritus Professor Poobhalan Pillay.

The 12-month programme at Oxford includes a research dissertation component.

Until he heads to Oxford in October, Naidu is working towards writing actuarial science board exams.

Naidu attested his good marks to God, the nurturing environment he was blessed with and the support of his parents, Dr Sean Naidu and Dr Anoshini Moodley, as well as his brother, Jaedon Naidu.

In 2021, IOL spoke to Naidu about his win at the South African Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad.

He said the reason why some student found maths challenging was because “too many students tried to learn the formulae needed for a test and how to apply them, instead of focussing on where the formulae come from and why we do things the way we do”.