Programme Specification (Master s Level) MSc in Applied Mathematics This document provides a definitive record of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student may reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities provided. This programme specification is intended as a reference point for students as well as for academic and support staff involved in delivering the programme and enabling student development and achievement, for its assessment by internal and external examiners, and in subsequent monitoring and review. Programme Information Award Programme Title MSc Applied Mathematics Programme code Awarding Institution Teaching Institution Faculty Department Mode and Period of Study Cohort Entry Points Relevant QAA Benchmark Statement(s) and/or other external reference points G1U2 (Full-time, October start) G1U2A (Full-time, August start) G1U224 (Part-time, October start) Imperial College London Imperial College London Faculty of Natural Sciences Department of Mathematics 1 calendar year full-time (12 months) 2 calendar years part-time (24 months) Annually in October or annually in August (NB the August start date will be withdrawn after August 2015) Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research Total Credits ECTS: 90 CATS: 180 FHEQ Level EHEA Level External Accreditor(s) Level 7 - Master s 2 nd cycle None Specification Details Student cohorts covered by specification 2015-16 Responsible Officer Ryan Barnett Date of introduction of programme
Date of programme specification/revision November 2015 Description of Programme Contents MSc in Applied Mathematics is a full-time 12 month/part-time 24 month programme which: Provides high quality education in Mathematics within an environment committed to excellence in both teaching and research. Attracts well-qualified students and provides intellectual challenge in a structure containing an appropriate amount of flexibility, so that students can develop their specialist interests. Teaches and provides the opportunities to learn a core of advanced (Pure or Applied) mathematics, together with a range of more specialised options in Mathematics. Introduces students to a wide range of applications of Mathematics. Equips students with a range of mathematical skills in problem-solving, project work and presentation to enable them to take prominent roles in a wide spectrum of employment and research. Provides further breadth and depth of Mathematics beyond BSc, at a level comparable with the 4 th year of an MSci. Learning Outcomes I. Knowledge and Understanding Upon successful completion of the programme, students will have knowledge and understanding of: The fundamentals of Mathematics as a rigorous living discipline in its own right. The application of Mathematics as a language to a wide range of situations relevant to research and industry. The importance of precision of argument. Problem-solving strategies and methods (including basic computational skills). A selection of subjects which students study in greater depth, according to their interests, leading to current developments at the frontiers of the subject. A particular research topic agreed with a Supervisor, on which the student writes an original account in his or her own words. Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Lectures, supported by an office hour system, are an integral part of course delivery in this programme. Problems classes where appropriate are integrated within the lectures. Students engage in private study to work through set problem sheets as well as lecture content. In the second half of the year (second year for part-time students) students pursue a major research project as stated above. Assessment of knowledge and understanding is through a combination of unseen written examinations, assessed coursework/tests, and written projects/presentations. II. Skills and other Attributes Upon successful completion of the programme, students will develop intellectual, practical, and transferable skills in following areas: A. Intellectual Skills A1. Ability to assimilate and understand a large body of complex concepts and their inter-relationships. A2. Ability to understand mathematical argument and deductive reasoning. Students will learn to use the formal processes of mathematical proof in the development of mathematical theories. A3. Ability to use a structured mathematical/analytical approach to problem solving, and an understanding of the importance of assumptions made and consequences of their violation.
A4. Ability to use mathematics to describe and model applications, including approximate solution methods, and to interpret results. A5. Ability to carry out extended investigative mathematical work as an individual. Teaching/learning methods and strategies (Intellectual Skills) All lectures are accompanied by problem sheets which students work through privately. Students are supported by group tutorials/problems classes; these are often integrated within the timetabled lecture periods. There is access to lecturers informally and through a formal office hours system. Assessment of the lecture material is primarily by examination, some with assessed coursework and assignments. A1 and A4 are acquired through the compulsory individual research project. B. Practical Skills B1. Ability to carry out investigative project work as an individual. B2. Proficiency in the use of symbolic and numerical software as part of practical computation. Teaching/learning methods and strategies (Practical Skills): There is a compulsory major research project. Projects are assessed through production of a hard copy thesis and a compulsory oral presentation. C. Transferable Skills C1. Ability to solve open-ended problems and problems with well-defined solutions by formulating problems in precise terms, identifying key issues and trying different approaches in order to make progress. C2. Ability to carry out an independent investigation using textbooks and other available literature, searching databases and interacting with colleagues and staff as necessary to extract important information. C3. Ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and concise manner orally, on paper and using IT. C4. Ability to use analytical skills, paying attention to detail and using technical language correctly, to manipulate precise and intricate ideas, to construct logical arguments. C5. Development of IT skills for communication and analysis. C6. Ability to work independently, use initiative, organize oneself to meet deadlines, plan and execute an extended project. C7. Ability to work and interact constructively with others Teaching/learning methods and strategies (Transferable Skills): Acquisition of C1 is partly through the methods and strategies outlined in A above. Acquisition of C2 and C4 comes through coursework, and through the project; C3 comes through coursework and the oral presentation on the project. Acquisition of C5 is through guided preparation of the project dissertation and presentation. Acquisition of C6 is developed progressively through coursework, through the programme as students take control of their own learning, through private study, project work and classes and finally the research project. Acquisition of C7 is mainly through the compulsory project, where the student should interact with the supervisor to obtain an understanding of the research problem. In this programme these skills are developed to a particularly high level. Students need to plan their pattern of work very carefully since their programme of lectures and enhanced coursework will depend on their particular option choice. Students need to balance this with the demands of the extended project which continues from January until the end of the academic session in September.
Entry Requirements Academic Requirement Additional Requirements English Requirement Normally at least an upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Mathematics or a related subject (such as Engineering or Physics) from a UK university or equivalent. None Standard requirements - IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0 (or equivalent) Learning & Teaching Strategy Scheduled Learning & Teaching Methods Lectures accompanied by problem sheets which students work through privately. Individual student/lecturer consultations Group tutorials/problem classes A programme of research seminars E-learning & Blended Learning Methods Project and Placement Learning Methods Dissertation / oral assessment Assessment Strategy Assessment of the modules is by unseen written examination and/or coursework Assessment Methods There is a compulsory major research project. Projects are assessed through production of a dissertation and oral presentation. Academic Feedback Policy Any assessed coursework done as part of a module will be marked promptly and returned to the student. Students are encouraged to discuss any difficulties with the module lecturer. There is access to lecturers informally and through a formal office hours system. MSc student meetings are also held in December and February. Indicative feedback from the Programme Director or module leader is given after the May-June examinations. Students will meet their supervisor at least weekly to discuss their progress. They should choose modules to complement their project, and discuss their work on these with their supervisor. Re-sit Policy The programme follows the College Academic and Examination regulations which permit re-entry to
written examinations on one occasion. This will be at the next available opportunity (i.e. the following academic year). For full details see: General Regulations Regulations for the award of Taught Master s Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates Regulations for the Examination of Master s Level Degrees http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/regulations Mitigating Circumstances Policy The Department follows the College s Academic and Examination Regulations and Mitigating Circumstances Policy and Procedures. Programme Structure Student must take 8 taught modules and complete a major research dissertation. Full-time Presession One Two Three Four Taught Modules 0 4 4 0 0 Project 0 0 1 Part-time: Year 1 Presession One Two Three Four Taught Modules 0 2 2 0 0 Project 0 0 0 0 0 Part-time: Year 2 Presession One Two Three Four Taught Modules 0 2 2 0 0 Project 1 Assessment Dates & Deadlines (based on Full-time attendance mode) Written Examinations Coursework Assessments Project Deadlines Normally May or June, exceptionally January Continuous Dissertation: 15 th September
Practical Assessments Oral assessment normally within a week of project submission. Award Assessment Structure : Programme Element ECTS % Weighting Taught Element 8 modules assessed by written examination and/or coursework Research Element Consists of a written dissertation of 30-60 pages (90%) and oral assessment (10%) 60 67% 30 33% Total 90 100% Marking Scheme The Pass Mark for postgraduate Master s level programmes is 50%. Students must pass both elements in order to be awarded a degree. In order to be awarded a result of merit, a candidate must obtain an aggregate mark of 60% or greater; a result of distinction requires an aggregate mark of 70% or greater. To obtain a pass mark, students must: 1) Take 8 module examinations. Earn a pass mark in 6 examinations papers with no mark below 40%, and score an average of at least 50%. A student who earns below 40% in an examination will have to re-sit that paper. 2) Earn a pass mark (i.e., a score of at least 50%) in the research project. A merit mark will be awarded to students who earn a pass mark in all 8 examinations with an average mark of 60% or above, and who score 60% or above on the project. A distinction mark will be awarded to students who earn a pass mark in all 8 examinations with an average mark of 70% or above, and who score 70% or above in the project. Where appropriate, a Board of Examiners may award a result of merit where a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of 60% or greater across the programme as a whole AND has obtained a mark of 60% or greater in each element with the exception of one element AND has obtained a mark of 50% or greater in this latter element. Where appropriate, a Board of Examiners may award a result of distinction where a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of 70% or greater across the programme as a whole AND has obtained a mark of 70% or greater in each element with the exception of one element AND has obtained a mark of 60% or greater in this latter element.
Module List An up-to-date list of modules approved for the Applied Mathematics MSc is provided in the Course Handbook. Note that there are typically small variations in this list from year to year. The 8 courses are together assigned 60 ECTS units while 30 ECTS units are assigned to the project. Students may also take modules from the Department s other Master s programmes and approved modules from Colleges of the University of London with the approval of the MSc Programme Director. Students may also take modules from the Department s Undergraduate programmes up to a maximum of 15 ECTS at level 6 of the FHEQ with approval of the MSc Programme Director. Supporting Information The Programme Handbook is available at: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/natural-sciences/departments/mathematics/study/admissions/postgraduate/msc/mscin-applied-mathematics/ The Module Handbook is available at: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/natural-sciences/departments/mathematics/study/admissions/postgraduate/msc/mscin-applied-mathematics/ The programme s competency standards documents can be found at: TBC The College s entry requirements for postgraduate programmes can be found at: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/entryrequirements/graduate Details of the College s s pastoral care and welfare support are available at: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/student-support/ The College s Quality & Enhancement Framework is available at: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/qualityassurance The programme is consistent with the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area which is available at: http://www.ehea.info/uploads/qualification/qf-ehea-may2005.pdf