Admissions - Subjects

MATHEMATICS

including Mathematics with Physics

and Mathematics with Computer Science

ESSENTIAL SUBJECTS Mathematics   DESIRABLE SUBJECTS Further Maths   STEP Required if A-level courses are being taken

These notes describe the admissions procedure and the teaching of Mathematics at Queens', and should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the Cambridge University Undergraduate Prospectus. The Course During Parts IA and IB, in first and second years respectively, students follow a core course which provides a foundation in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Probability and Statistics. In Part II, taken in the third year, students may pick from a wide range of lecture courses to reflect their own interests and goals, e.g., in theoretical physics, or in `applicable' areas such as statistics or optimisation.  An optional fourth year course, Part III, is taken after graduation, leading to a Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics. Those who might like to study Computer Science after one year of Mathematics can take Part IA Mathematics with Computer Science, in which two mathematics courses are replaced by courses in computer hardware and programming. Similarly, those who are considering specialising in Physics after one year of Mathematics can take Part IA Mathematics with Physics, in which two mathematics courses are replaced by physics courses from Part IA Natural Sciences, including practical laboratory work.  There are about 12 lectures each week, all during the mornings. In the first two years these are given in University lecture rooms about five minutes walk from Queens'.  In the third and fourth years lectures are given in the new Centre for Mathematical Sciences. In addition to lectures, much of each student's working time is devoted to preparing for College supervisions. These provide the more personal and detailed form of teaching which is explained below. A University examination is taken at the end of each year and leads to an Honours degree.   The second and third years include project work involving practical work in computing.  The fourth year includes an extended mathematical essay. Admissions A typical offer will involve three A grades in basic A-level subjects together with conditions on STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper). At A-level the normal subjects would be Mathematics and Further Mathematics, plus one other. Although it is intended that the Mathematics course be accessible to students who have studied only one Mathematics A-level, we see it as strongly advantageous if students have studied two Mathematics A-levels. We consider seriously applicants from schools or colleges where it is not possible to take two Mathematics A-levels, but recommend such applicants to study as much mathematics as possible, e.g. by taking extra modules, perhaps to give an A/S in Further Mathematics, and/or by reading beyond the single Mathematics syllabus. In common with other courses, Mathematics does not have a fixed quota of places but typically Queens' will admit about fifteen mathematicians each year, depending upon the number and quality of the applicants. Applicants are encouraged to take time off between school and University and to use this time travelling or working. We have found no evidence that such time off impairs their mathematical careers. College Teaching During the first two years at Queens' mathematics students are supervised two or three times a week. Supervisions are in pairs and for an hour at a time. Much of the most important teaching is done in supervisions, where the supervisor will review the material covered in lectures, work on problems with the students, and keep a personal check on each student's progress. The work set for each supervision typically requires eight to ten hours’ preparation. In addition, special classes for all Queens' students are held weekly at which a supervisor discusses common problems and particularly important ideas, prior to the supervisions.  Queens' takes great care to make the best possible arrangements for supervisions, and almost all of the supervision in the first two years is done by members of the College, either Fellows or Research Students, many of the latter having previously been undergraduates at Queens'.  The College has four teaching Fellows in Mathematics: Professor Haynes (Director of Studies, who is an applied mathematician), Dr Glass and Dr Inglis (who are both pure mathematicians) and Professor Weber (who works in the area of probability and statistics). In the third year, when students take specialised options, supervisions are organised amongst a group of ten colleges so that the particular expertise of all the mathematicians in these colleges is pooled and used effectively. General It is not unusual for those who enter Cambridge to read Mathematics and then to change subject after their first or second year (for example, to Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Engineering, Economics, Management Studies or Computer Science). In addition to the undergraduates in the College reading Mathematics, Queens' also usually has between five and ten students taking Part III (as graduates) and several research students studying for the Ph.D. degree. Queens' mathematicians have had little difficulty in finding employment when they graduate. Accountancy, consultancy, computing, and general management are popular, as well as postgraduate research, either in Britain or abroad. We urge candidates to visit the College at one of our open days to learn more about the College and Mathematics here. Over the past several years, Queens' examination results in Mathematics have often been right at the top of the University: Queens' mathematicians rarely get Thirds. Whether this is a property of our entrants, or teachers, or both, can (thankfully!) never be assessed but undoubtedly most of those who come to Queens' do enjoy their Mathematics and the teaching they receive. Further information can be obtained from the faculty website: www.maths.cam.ac.uk/faculty.html   January 2004