Student Insights - Maths Undergraduates

Hear what our students have to say. (Please note, this video was recorded prior to the Curriculum Review, some references to modules are out-of-date)

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Before you decide to study Mathematics, or any other subject, at university level, you should try to discover what it involves. Some topics in university Mathematics are a direct continuation of those you will have studied at A-level/IB/secondary school, but others introduce you to new ways of thinking. You will be concerned with the logical and precise structure of arguments, the proper definition of mathematical objects, the design of sophisticated mathematical models, and the legitimacy of computations.

If what attracts you to mathematics is the ability to solve precisely only a narrowly defined set of problems, you should question whether mathematics is right for you. A-level and school mathematics can often be quite “recipe-like”, with a somewhat regimented and recognizable style of exam questions, and which do not really introduce students to “Real Mathematics”.

If you choose to study Mathematics at University, in addition to being able to solve the straightforward questions, you should enjoy mathematics for its own sake and be curious as to how it all fits together. You should take pleasure both in investigating things yourself and in learning about it from others.

To help you decide whether university level mathematics is right for you, you may wish to take a look at the recommended reading list.