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Preparatory Project in Mathematical Sciences - MAT00093M

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  • Department: Mathematics
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This project is to help you prepare for the MSc dissertation by carrying out some preparatory background reading of a mathematical topic of choice under an expert supervisor, and to present a clear account of your work.

You will learn and develop the skills in writing mathematics in a clear and concise way, using established conventions, and will write a mathematical project report using the scientific typesetting program LaTeX.

You will also prepare a formal mathematical talk on your work, and present it to an audience of peers and academics.

Related modules

The module is for students on the MSc in Mathematical Sciences only

The lectures on LaTeX, study skills, etc, will be delivered online via a cross-module cross-year self-paced training course.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This project is to help you prepare for the MSc dissertation by carrying out some preparatory background reading of a mathematical topic of choice under an expert supervisor, and to present a clear account of your work.

You will learn and develop the skills in writing mathematics in a clear and concise way, using established conventions, and will write a mathematical project report using the scientific typesetting program LaTeX.

You will also prepare a formal mathematical talk on your work, and present it to an audience of peers and academics.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  1. Acquire mathematical expertise in an autonomous fashion, making use of recommended reference texts and advice from the supervisor.

  2. Create a high-level synopsis of mathematics learned over an extended period.

  3. Communicate advanced mathematics fluently and concisely, as a written narrative.

  4. Use the typesetting system LaTeX to produce a mathematical document of a professional standard.

  5. Prepare and deliver a mathematical talk to an audience of peers and academics, using PowerPoint, Beamer, or other suitable software.

Module content

Before the start of the second semester each student picks a mathematical topic to be investigated and is assigned a supervisor. The work in this module is normally intended to serve, directly or indirectly, as a preparation for the dissertation.

During Week 1 of Semester 2, the student and supervisor meet to decide on the main references to be studied in the project..

During the first half of the semester, students will develop their mathematical research and presentation skills, including mathematical writing and the use of LaTeX.

Alongside this, they will start doing the background reading and scoping work on their project.

An early draft of the project report is presented to the project supervisor midway through the semester, and the supervisor will present constructive feedback on both the mathematics and the writing shortly afterwards in an extended meeting.

The deadline for submission of the final version of the project report is Friday of Week 10. The supervisor and another staff member act as the markers of the project report.

Students present a talk on a topic taken from their project report during Friday Week 11. Two markers, none of whom are the supervisor, mark the presentation.

Throughout the semester the student and their supervisor will have roughly five half-hour meetings to ensure that steady progress is made.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

If a student has a failing module mark, only failed components need be reassessed

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 20

Module feedback

Current Department policy on feedback is available in the student handbook. Coursework and examinations will be marked and returned in accordance with this policy.

Indicative reading

Departmental web pages about LaTeX and the resources listed there.

Writing Mathematics:

L Gillman, Writing Mathematics Well: a manual for authors, MAA (S 0.149 GIL).

N J Higham, Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, SIAM. (S 0.149 HIG).

E E Knuth, T Larrabee and P M Roberts, Mathematical Writing, MAA (S0.249 KNU).

S G Krantz, A Primer of Mathematical Writing, American Mathematical Society (S 0.149 KRA).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.