HANDBOOK FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE …

1 HANDBOOK FOR THEUNDERGRADUATEMATHEMATICSCOURSESISSUED OCTOBER 2013 The Mathematical InstituteMathematics is central to our understanding of the world in which we live, to our control ofour environment, and to the organisation of our society. It underpins science, technology,medicine, economics and government. The preservation and propagation of mathematicsis essential if civilization is to flourish. But this is a requirement that goes far beyond thesimple recording and transmission of techniques of calculation and analysis.

2 If society is tobenefit from mathematics , it must nurture a mathematical culture by promoting a pervasiveunderstanding of logical and mathematical ways of thinking and by supporting the studyof mathematics for its own every level, those who teach mathematics must be able to see beyond the horizonsset by the problems at hand so that they may comprehend the concepts and aims of math-ematics and not just simply mechanical execution. Without a broader appreciation of theirsubject, they will not pass on the understanding that is required for tackling new problems,nor will they instil a sense of the beauty and universality of mathematical mission of the Mathematical Institute is the preservation and expansion of mathe-matical culture.

3 Our goals are to extend our own horizons through research at the highestlevel; to support the propagation and exploitation of mathematical ideas through publica-tion and by reaching out to the public; to train our students, graduate and UNDERGRADUATE ,in the practice of mathematics ; and to educate them in the ways of mathematical these means, and by teaching those who will themselves carry forward our mission, weseek to extend the benefits of mathematical Using this Handbook12 Your First Weeks at Oxford University23 The mathematics Aims and Structure.

4 Courses .. Course Structure .. Background .. Facts and Figures .. Staff .. Departments .. The First Year .. Lecture Courses .. Computational mathematics Course .. Course .. The Second, Third and Fourth Years .. Second Year (Part A) .. Third and Fourth years (Parts B and C) .. and Theoretical Physics (MMathPhys) .. Choices .. Exit points .. years or four years? .. course .. issues .. The Long Vacation .. Projects ..174 Teaching and An Average Week.

5 Lectures and how to get the best out of them .. Problem Sheets .. Tutorials .. Classes .. Practicals .. Feedback .. History of mathematics .. Special Educational Needs ..225 Books .. Libraries .. IT .. Other .. Services .. Language Centre .. Lectures .. Skills .. Needs ..256 Organisation and Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences Division .. The Departments .. The Faculties .. Colleges .. Invariants Society.

6 Representation .. Activities and Facilities .. Proctors and Academic Appeals ..287 Assessment and Preparation .. Entering for University Examinations .. Procedure for Written Examinations .. First Public Examination .. Results .. Second Public Examination .. A .. B .. C .. Results .. and Resits .. Projects, Dissertations, Extended Essays .. Examination Regulations .. Prizes ..328 University Regulations and The Proctors .. Paperwork.

7 For Candidates in University Examinations .. Plagiarism .. is plagiarism? .. does plagiarism matter? .. forms can plagiarism take? .. just printed text! .. Code on Harassment .. Disabilities and Equal Opportunities .. University Equal Opportunities Statement: students .. and Admissions .. curriculum, teaching and assessment .. and Support Services .. Development and Training .. Safety ..389 Information for International Contacts .. Language Skills.

8 39I Appendices40A Aims of the Courses40B The Joint mathematics & Statistics .. mathematics & Computer Science .. mathematics & Philosophy .. Mathematical and Theoretical Physics ..41C Contact Mathematical Institute .. Faculty of Statistics .. Department of Computer Science .. Projects Committee .. Careers Service .. MURC .. Invariants .. General ..43D Examination Conventions43E Programme Specifications44F Mathematical Institute Departmental Disability Statement44G Mathematical Institute Complaints - Complaints within the Department 45H Policy on Intellectual Property Rights46iv1 Using this HandbookThisHandbookis intended as a guide and reference for you throughout your Mathematicscourse at Oxford.

9 The information is for students matriculating in October 2013. Pleasekeep it as a handy reference guide. It will be useful for you at the start of each year andwhen you are planning some reading over the summer (the Long Vacation) for your supplements the material printed in theExamination Regulations. TheHand-book, read in conjunction with its supplements, defines the syllabus, provides you withinformation to help you understand the processes and procedures of the Mathematical In-stitute, and the other facilities such as libraries and computers to which you have gives you information on how you will be assessed and how your examinations are clas-sified.

10 You are supplied with theHandbookat the beginning of your course and will beinformed by your tutors when you should collect supplements, including theSynopses ofLecture Coursesfor each year of your course. All this material is also published on theMathematical Institute gives you some information about how colleges work in relationto your mathematics course. Your college tutors will give you more detailed informationabout the support provided within the tutorial is primarily the Course HANDBOOK for the single subject mathematics of what is said is also relevant to the mathematics parts of the joint courses (Math-ematics & Computer Science, mathematics & Philosophy and mathematics & Statistics).