This page describes the MSc in Mathematics for Applications, taught by the Mathematics Department at Royal Holloway. The programme has these distinctive features:
- a choice of applications of mathematics which are attractive to possible future (and present) employers;
- a choice of relevant areas of mathematics to extend your knowledge;
- good facilities and a friendly environment on a beautiful campus.
See the Programme Handbookand syllabus for further details.
This is the NEW 2009/10 version, you will receive a printed copy at the induction meeting.
Who is it for?
Those with a good undergraduate degree in Mathematics who want to learn some more of the subject in areas which are relevant to real life applications.
Duration of course
Full-time 50 weeks or part-time 102 weeks (end of September to middle of September)
Funding
We have a Geoffrey Kneebone Scholarship (worth £1000), which wil be awarded from 2009 on.
We will automatically consider all MSc applications that have arrived in the department by 1st June.
(You do not need to apply separately.) The succesful candidate will be informed.
Click here for historical info (1MB)
There are some, but very limited, funding opportunities mentioned here:
http://www.rhul.ac.uk/graduate%2Dschool/
If you happen to come from one of 125 schools in the UK, you can apply for a grant with them.
Assessment
There are written examinations for the taught courses, and a project involving a written dissertation, written largely during the summer vacation.
Entry requirements
The normal requirement for entry to the MSc degree is a first class or IIa honours degree with mathematics as a main field of study from a UK university or an international equivalent. However, the department has considerable flexibility in its admissions policy and strongly encourages applications from non-standard applicants (such as those with degrees in other subjects like Physics or Computer Science). Please contact the Programme Director or Graduate School if you have any enquiries about entry requirements.
Subjects of study
The three core courses, which you must normally take, are
- Theory of Error-Correcting Codes (MT5461)
- Advanced Cipher Systems (MT5462)
- Applications of Field Theory (MT5485)
At the discretion of the Course Director, a core course may be replaced by a suitable optional course, for example when you have already taken the equivalent of a core course in your first degree.
The MSc project and the optional courses give you the opportunity to pursue your own interests. Five optional courses may be chosen from
- Computational Number Theory (MT5412) (not in 2009/10)
- Complexity Theory (MT5413) [Term 2]
- Advanced Quantum Theory (MT5420)
- Aerodynamics and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (MT5421) (not in 2009/10)
- Advanced Electromagnetism and Special Relativity (MT5422) (not in 2009/10)
- Magnetohydrodynamics (MT5423)
- Advanced Financial Mathematics (MT5447)
- Computational Number Theory (MT5412) (not in 2009/10)
- Combinatorics (MT5454)
- Network Algorithms (MT5465)
- Public Key Cryptography (MT5466)
- Permutations and counting with groups (MT4860) (not in 2009/10)
You may also, with the agreement of the Course Director, choose up to two of your optional courses from the third and fourth year options of the undergraduate degree programme in Mathematics. Such agreement is normally only given to fill gaps in the mathematics covered by your first degree.
As well as the taught courses all students will prepare a main project. This project work is undertaken under the supervision of a member of staff. The report on the main project must be submitted by 10 September of the calendar year of completion of the written part of the examination.
Organisation of the teaching and teaching methods
Each half-unit course runs throughout either Term 1 or Term 2, and students are encouraged to divide their courses equally between the terms.
Teaching for each course is organized as formal lectures and informal seminars or guided reading. For each course (except the project-based course MT5464) the lecturer also provides regular examples for you to work through in your own time, and the feedback obtained from these is a valuable part of the learning process. Some of the optional courses require use of the Mathematica language, and you are given instruction in this in the first week.
Application Details
For an overview of the application process, application forms, details of the College's general entry requirements, as well as for online applications, please go to:
http://www.rhul.ac.uk/graduate-school/pages/prospective.html#Applying
Information about tuition fees can also be found on the Finance Office web site:
There is no firm deadline for applications. Applications that arrive with the department before July 1st can be considered for a departmental grant.
Contact information
For further information please send an email to the course director (Dr Elsholtz) at Maths-Msc-Admission@rhul.ac.uk
or contact our administrator
Ms Jenny Lee
Mathematics Department
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
Surrey TW20 0EX
Telephone: 01784 443091
Fax: 01784 430766