Academic Regulations 2004/5

School of Mathematics

All courses in the undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes referred to below are credit rated in accordance with the principles contained in the CATS Guide and Regulations. A statement of how the CATS arrangements apply to each programme is included in the Undergraduate Degree Course Programmes Handbook or relevant MSc Programme Handbook.

A BSc or MMath student may be permitted to follow a programme varying slightly from the normal requirements, eg: spending one semester abroad, not as a programme requirement.

General Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by Full-Time Study
  1. All candidates admitted to a programme for the degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) in the School shall be candidates for an honours degree and must:

    1. satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in the General Regulations;

    2. satisfy the appropriate programme requirements.

  2. The programme of study for the degree of BSc is three academic years except for those requiring an additional year for studies abroad as part of their programme of study. Candidates shall take an approved pattern of study in accordance with the regulations set out below to qualify for the award of a single, joint or combined honours degree.

  3. All undergraduate programmes are based on a common course structure as follows:

    1. the subjects available in the School are divided into courses; candidates are required to take the equivalent of eight courses in each year to form a coherent pattern of study;

    2. each degree programme may prescribe certain courses which are core or compulsory and this information is included in the Undergraduate Degree Course Programmes Handbook.

  4. To proceed from one year of the programme to the next candidates must reach a standard deemed satisfactory by the School Board in the relevant assessments (including examinations, practicals, projects and coursework where these are required).

  5. Candidates who have successfully met all the requirements of their programme will be recommended to the University for the award of the degree of BSc. The classification will depend upon a candidate’s performance in assessments for Parts II and III. Candidates who do not attain the standard required for honours may be awarded a pass or ordinary degree. A list of successful candidates will be issued with the names arranged in the following order – first class, second class (upper division), second class (lower division), third class, pass or ordinary. Candidates placed in the first, second and third classes shall be awarded an honours degree. Within each class and division the names will be arranged in alphabetical order.

  6. The following procedures apply in cases where candidates do not obtain a standard in the examinations deemed satisfactory to the School Board:

    1. a candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in assessments during the first or second year of the programme will be referred for re-examination in the next Supplementary Examinations. In the event of failure to satisfy the examiners in the referred subjects, the candidate may resit all the courses for the relevant year as an internal student, or at the normal time of the assessment held in the following year as an external student;

    2. a candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the assessments as a whole held in the second or subsequent years of the programme may resit all the courses for the relevant year as an internal student, or at the normal time of the assessment held in the following year as an external student;

    3. a candidate shall normally be permitted to resit on one occasion only; further resits may be allowed at the discretion of the School Board;

    4. a candidate resitting at the normal time of the assessments held in the following year shall normally be required to take the papers set for that occasion regardless of any change of syllabus;

    5. a candidate for any of the joint or combined honours degree programmes must also satisfy the examiners of the named second subject. A candidate who does not meet this requirement in the assessments held during the first or second year of the programme may be permitted to continue on to the subsequent year of the Mathematics or the Mathematical Studies programme if appropriate. A candidate in this position may elect to be referred in those courses in which failure has prevented continuation on the named joint or combined honours degree. A candidate who does not meet the named second subject requirement in the final year may, if appropriate, be recommended for the award of a degree in Mathematics or Mathematical Studies.

General Regulations for BSc Single Honours
  1. Programme Structure

    1. The full honours programme consists of 24 courses, eight to be taken in each year of study. Each course lasts one semester, and is offered at levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 with the level coinciding notionally with the year of study. In each year at least six of the eight courses must be at or above the corresponding notional level. A project is equivalent to one or two courses depending on its duration.

    2. Normally four courses are taken in each semester.

    3. In the second and third years candidates choose courses, other than those which are core or compulsory, from the appropriate second, third and fourth level courses in consultation with their Tutors and relevant Programme Co-ordinators. Normally no more than two non-MATH units may be taken in the last two years of the programme.

    4. Core and compulsory courses for Single Honours programmes are specified in the Undergraduate Degree Course Programmes Handbook.

  2. Assessment

    Each course in Mathematics is normally examined at the end of the semester in which it is given; some courses may include coursework or other assessment which takes place during the session. First year assessments form Part I, those in the second year form Part II and those in the third year form Part III of the degree programme.

  3. Practical Requirements

    Candidates who undertake a project in the third year or select courses involving the use of computing facilities may be required to attend the University for part of one or more vacations.

Programme Regulations for BSc Single Honours Mathematics

  1. Programme Requirements

    Passes in three relevant subjects at GCE Advanced level including an approved mathematics subject. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications.

  2. Programme Structure

    Details are included in the Undergraduate Degree Course Programmes Handbook.

Programme Regulations for BSc Single Honours Industrial Applied Mathematics

  1. Programme Requirements

    Passes in three relevant subjects at GCE Advanced level including an approved mathematics subject. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications. Normally candidates will be expected to have studied some Applied Mathematics or Physics.

  2. Programme Structure

    Details are included in the Undergraduate Degree Course Programmes Handbook.

General Regulations for Joint and Combined Honours Programmes

  1. The following degree programmes are offered:

    Joint Honours
    Mathematics and a Modern Language
    Mathematics and Music (not available to new students from 2003/04)
    Mathematics and Philosophy (not available to new students from 2003/04)

    Combined Honours
    Mathematical Studies
    Mathematics with Actuarial Studies
    Mathematics with Astronomy
    Mathematics with Chemistry
    Mathematics with Computer Science
    Mathematics with Economics
    Mathematics with Finance/Financial Mathematics
    Mathematics with Geography (not available to new students from 2004/05)
    Mathematics with Management Sciences
    Mathematics with Music
    Mathematics with Oceanography (not available to new students from 2003/04)
    Mathematics with Operational Research/Management Mathematics
    Mathematics with Physics
    Mathematics with Statistics

  2. Programme Structure

    1. Each full honours programme consists of 24 courses. Each course lasts one semester; a project is equivalent to one or two courses depending on its duration.

    2. Normally four courses are taken in each semester.

    3. Each programme contains core and compulsory courses. These are specified in the Undergraduate Degree Programmes Handbook.

    4. A Programme Co-ordinator is appointed for each Programme who, subject to the approval of the School Board, will ensure that each candidate's choice of courses forms a coherent pattern of study.

  3. Assessment

    Each course in Mathematics is normally examined at the end of the semester in which it is given; courses given by other Schools are examined at the normal time for those Schools. Some courses may include coursework assessment which takes place during the session. First year assessments form Part I, those in the second year form Part II and those in the final year form Part III of the degree programme.

  4. Practical Requirements

    Candidates who undertake a project in the final year or select courses involving the use of computing facilities may be required to attend the University for part of one or more vacations.

Regulations for BSc Joint Honours Programmes

  1. Passes in three relevant subjects at GCE Advanced level, including an approved mathematics subject; for Mathematics and a Modern Language Advanced level pass in the appropriate language is required. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications.

  2. Programme Structure

    1. In the final year at least three MATH courses at level 3 or 4 must be taken. Mathematics and a Modern Language requires at least four units at level 3 or 4.

    2. A candidate is required to take the core and compulsory courses and options which will provide a profile of courses to include at least 12 MATH courses. The only exception is the Mathematics and a Modern Language degree which requires a profile including 13 MATH courses.

    3. Students following the Mathematics and a Modern Language programme will be required to spend the third year abroad in a country where the language of study is normally spoken. Where possible this period will be in a Mathematics Department of a University in the country visited, and the arrangements will be subject to the approval of the Head of School concerned.

    4. Students following the Mathematics and a Modern Language programme will take Part II in the second year and Part III in their fourth year. In addition coursework or relevant examinations during the year abroad may be required.

Regulations for BSc Combined Honours Programmes

  1. Programme Requirements

    Passes in three relevant subjects at GCE Advanced level including an approved mathematics subject. For the Mathematics with Astronomy and Mathematics with Physics programmes Advanced level pass in Physics is required; for Mathematics with Chemistry Advanced level pass in Chemistry is required; for Mathematics with Geography Advanced level pass in Geography is required; for Mathematics with Music Advanced level pass in Music is required. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications.

  2. Programme Structure

    1. A candidate is required to take the core and compulsory courses and options which will normally provide a profile of courses to include at least 16 MATH courses (at least 18 MATH courses for Mathematical Studies).

    2. In the final year four of the MATH courses taken must be at level 3 or 4.

General Regulations for the Degree of Master of Mathematics by Full-Time Study

  1. All candidates admitted to the Master of Mathematics (MMath) degree programme in the School shall be candidates for an honours degree and must:

    1. satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in the General Regulations;

    2. satisfy the appropriate programme requirements.

  2. The programme of study for the degree of MMath is four years.

  3. Candidates are normally required to achieve an average of 55% or more in Part II. A candidate not achieving this level may choose either to resit Part II in full for the MMath under Regulation 6 (b) above, or, if his/her performance has met the requirement for a BSc programme, may transfer to that programme. An MMath candidate failing to achieve the standard prescribed for the BSc programmes will be permitted to resit or to take referrals only for a BSc programme.

  4. A candidate must satisfy the examiners in Part III in order to remain in candidature for the MMath degree programme.

  5. Candidates who have successfully met all the requirements of their programme will be recommended for the award of the degree of MMath. The classification of the degree will depend upon a candidate’s performance in Parts III and IV. Candidates who do not attain the standard required for honours may be awarded a pass or ordinary degree. A list of successful candidates will be issued with the names arranged in the following classes: first class, second class (upper division), second class (lower division), third class, pass or ordinary. Candidates placed in the first, second and third classes shall be awarded an honours degree. Within each class and division the names will be arranged in alphabetical order.

  6. The following procedures shall apply in cases where candidates do not obtain the required standard in assessments (but see also Regulations 24 above and 28 below):

    1. a candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in assessments during the first or second year of the programme will be referred for re-examination in the next Supplementary Examinations. In the event of failure to satisfy the examiners in the referred subjects, the candidate may resit all the courses for the relevant year as an internal student, or at the normal time of the assessment held in the following year as an external student;

    2. a candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the assessments as a whole held in the second or subsequent years of the programme may resit all the courses for the relevant year as an internal student, or at the normal time of the assessment held in the following year as an external student;

    3. a candidate shall normally be permitted to resit on one occasion only. Further resits may be allowed at the discretion of the School Board;

    4. a candidate resitting at the normal time of the assessments held in the following year shall normally be required to take the papers set for that occasion regardless of any change of syllabus.

  7. The School Board may recommend the award of the degree of BSc to an MMath candidate who has failed to reach a satisfactory standard in Part IV.

  8. A candidate who has failed to reach a satisfactory standard in Part III for the degree of MMath, may be recommended for the award of the degree of BSc based on performance in Parts II and III.

  9. In exceptional circumstances the School Board may recommend the award of the degree of BSc to a candidate who has reached a satisfactory standard in Part III but who is, for good cause, prevented from proceeding to Part IV.

  10. Candidates awarded the degree of BSc under Regulations 28-30 above will not be permitted to remain in candidature for the degree of MMath.

Programme Regulations for MMath

  1. Programme Requirements

    Passes in three relevant subjects at GCE Advanced level including an approved Mathematics subject. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications.

  2. Programme Structure

    The MMath programme consists of 32 courses, eight to be taken in each year of study. Courses are offered at levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 with the level coinciding notionally with the year of study. In each year at least six of the eight courses must be at or above the corresponding notional level. A profile is required of at least 20 MATH courses in the final three years of the programme. The full-year project is equivalent to two courses. Core and compulsory courses are shown in the Undergraduate Degree Programmes Handbook. Remaining courses are optional and must be selected in consultation with Tutors and the Programme Co-ordinator.

  3. Assessment

    Each course is normally examined at the end of the semester in which it is given; some courses may include coursework assessment which takes place during the session.

  4. Practical Requirements

    Candidates undertaking a project in the fourth year of study or selecting courses involving the use of computing facilities may be required to attend the University for part of one or more vacations.

General Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by Part-time Study

  1. To qualify for admission to the programme leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science by part-time study in the School a candidate must:

    1. satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes as specified in the General Regulations;

    2. satisfy the appropriate programme requirements.

  2. The part-time programme of study leads to either an honours or ordinary degree in Mathematical Studies.

  3. The part-time programme of study shall extend over not less than four and not more than eight academic years. Candidates shall follow an approved pattern of study in accordance with the programme regulations set out below in order to qualify for the award of a degree.

  4. The pattern of study is based on a course system. A part-time candidate may enrol for not less than two and not more than five courses in each academic year. To gain credit for a course a candidate must reach a standard deemed satisfactory by the School Board in the relevant assessments for that course.

  5. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in a course may either refer in that course when it is next examined or repeat the course as an internal student. Further resits may be allowed at the discretion of the School Board.

  6. In order to qualify for the award of an honours degree a candidate must normally register for not less than 24 units and must satisfy the examiners in not less than 20 of those courses, subject to programme and School assessment rules.

  7. A candidate who has registered for not less than 18 units and who does not wish to proceed to an honours degree by further part-time study must satisfy the examiners in not less than 16 units in order to qualify for the award of an ordinary degree.

  8. A candidate who has initially enrolled for part-time study may with the permission of the School Board be eligible to enrol subsequently for full time study as an honours degree candidate. In order to qualify for admission to the second year the part time candidate must have registered for not less than eight courses and have satisfied the examiners in not less than seven of them. In order to qualify for admission to the third year the part-time candidate must have registered for not less than 16 courses and have satisfied the examiners in not less than 14 of them. Permission to effect such transfers will be granted by the School Board only if an approved programme of study can be based on the courses already satisfactorily completed. A candidate once enrolled for full time study would not normally be allowed to revert to part time study.

Programme Regulations

  1. Programme Requirements

    Advanced level passes in at least two but preferably three subjects, including Mathematics. The School Board may admit candidates with other qualifications.

  2. Programme Structure

    The full honours programme consists of 24 courses. Each course lasts one semester and is offered at levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the level coinciding notionally with the year of study. A project is equivalent to one or two courses depending on its duration. The programme has core and compulsory courses as identified for the Mathematical Studies programme in the Undergraduate Degree Programme Handbook. Courses must be selected in consultation with the Programme Co-ordinator and are in all cases subject to School Board approval.

  3. Assessment

    Each course is normally examined at the end of the semester in which it is given, but a course may be assessed wholly or partly on coursework assigned during that semester.

  4. Practical Requirements

    Candidates who undertake a project or select courses involving the use of computing facilities may be required to attend the University for part of one or more vacations.

Mathematics Undergraduate Courses 2004/05

Although the list of courses below is as accurate as possible at the time of publication, there can be no guarantee that particular courses will be available.

First Year

First Semester
MATH1019 Calculus and Maple
MATH1021 Algebra and Proof
MATH1023 Geometry I
MATH1001 Number Theory and Cryptography

Second Semester
MATH1020 Calculus and Differential Equations
MATH1022 Algebra and Maple
MATH1024 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
MATH1002 Applications of Mathematics

Second Year

First Semester
MATH2039 Analysis and Approximation
MATH2003 Group Theory
MATH2008 Introduction to Applied Mathematics
MATH2011 Statistical Distribution Theory
MATH2037 Computer Tools for Operational Research

Second Semester
MATH2038 Differential Equations and Applications
MATH2002 Complex Variable Theory
MATH2005 Geometry II
MATH2009 Vector Calculus and Applications
MATH2010 Statistical Methods I
MATH2012 Stochastic Processes
MATH2014 Algorithms

Third Year

First Semester
MATH3032 Communicating and Researching Mathematics
MATH3001 Rings and Fields
MATH3004 Number Theory
MATH3006 Relativity, Black Holes and Cosmology
MATH3012 Statistical Methods II
MATH3018 Numerical Methods
MATH3044 Statistical Inference
MATH3017 Mathematical Programming
MATH3052 Applications of Mathematics in Biology
MATH3030 Mathematics Project
MATH3062 Metric Spaces
MATH3063 Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics

Second Semester
MATH3002 Topology
MATH3003 Group Theory and Its Applications
MATH3007 Discrete Dynamical Systems
MATH3008 Applications of Differential Equations
MATH3013 Simulation and Queues
MATH3014 Design and Analysis of Experiments
MATH3016 Optimization
MATH3022 Mathematical Finance
MATH3023 Communicating and Teaching Mathematics
MATH3031 Mathematics Project
MATH3005 Fluids and Waves
MATH3056 Information and Coding Theory

Fourth Year

First Semester
MATH6108 Groups and Symmetries
MATH6079 Hyperbolic Geometry
MATH6080 Asymptotics
MATH6091 Mathematics Project
MATH6095 Introduction to Semigroup Theory
MATH6097 Advanced Differential Equations

Second Semester
MATH6107 Gravitational Waves
MATH6109 Differential Geometry and Applications
MATH6078 Galois Theory
MATH6094 Complex Function Theory
MATH6092 Mathematics Project

Regulations for the Postgraduate Programme in Operational Research and the Postgraduate Programme in Operational Research and Finance

  1. The Diploma of the University of Southampton (DipSoton) is awarded by the Senate to postgraduate candidates who have satisfactorily completed not less than three terms of full-time study, or six terms of part-time study, and passed assessments for which a distinction or a pass may be awarded.

  2. The normal requirement for entry to the programme is a good (normally First or Upper Second) honours degree in Mathematics, Science, Engineering or Social Science, or a postgraduate qualification involving substantial work with quantitative methods. Candidates with other qualifications may be approved by the School Board.

  3. The programme shall normally begin in October and includes lectures and a variety of assessment methods including coursework.

  4. Candidates will be assessed by a variety of methods including coursework and written examinations.

  5. On successful completion of a Diploma programme, candidates deemed suitable by the School Board may be permitted to continue with work on a full time supervised project. A dissertation on this project must be submitted by 30 September following. For part-time students and in special cases, and with the approval of the School Board, a candidate may submit by a later specified date.

  6. A candidate who satisfies the examiners in all the assessments including the dissertation will be recommended for the award of the degree of Master of Science (MSc). The Diploma will not be awarded in this case. The MSc degree may be awarded with Distinction.

  7. With the permission of the School Board a candidate failing to satisfy the examiners may, on one subsequent occasion, sit a supplementary examination and/or resubmit his/her dissertation by a date to be specified by the School Board.

Regulations for the Postgraduate Programme in Statistics with Applications in Medicine

  1. The Diploma of the University of Southampton (DipSoton) is awarded by the Senate to postgraduate candidates who have satisfactorily completed not less than three terms of full-time study, or six terms of part-time study, and passed assessments for which a distinction or a pass may be awarded.

  2. The normal requirement for entry to the programme is a good (normally First or Upper Second) honours degree in Mathematics, Science, Engineering or Social Science, or a postgraduate statistics qualification. Candidates with other qualifications may be approved by the School Board.

  3. The programme shall normally begin in October and includes lectures and a variety of assessment methods including coursework.

  4. Candidates will be assessed by a variety of methods including coursework and written examinations.

  5. On successful completion of a Diploma programme, candidates deemed suitable by the School Board may be permitted to continue with work on a full time supervised project. A dissertation on this project must be submitted by 30 September following. For part-time students and in special cases, and with the approval of the School Board, a candidate may submit by a later specified date.

  6. Part-time candidates accepted for further study will normally carry out their projects at the University but in special cases permission may be given by the School Board for the work to be done at a Research Institute or other recognised centre.

  7. A candidate who satisfies the examiners in all the assessments including the dissertation will be recommended for the award of the degree of Master of Science (MSc). The Diploma will not be awarded in this case. The MSc degree may be awarded with Distinction.

  8. With the permission of the School Board a candidate failing to satisfy the examiners may, on one subsequent occasion, sit a supplementary examination and/or resubmit his/her dissertation by a date to be specified by the School Board.