Beth Hocking, who has been undertaking her PhD research at Imperial, will present her findings on the experience of women undergraduates studying mathematics at four elite universities and the links to admissions practices and course culture:
The experience of women undergraduates studying mathematics at four elite universities and the links to admissions practices and course culture
Becoming and succeeding as an elite mathematics student involves navigating a demanding academic and cultural environment. Women and non-binary students are underrepresented on elite mathematics courses compared to mathematics courses more broadly, raising questions about how admissions systems operate and about the social and learning consequences for those who are admitted.
This presentation draws on my qualitative doctoral research examining access to elite mathematics courses across four universities. Through in-depth interviews with 45 participants, including students, teachers and lecturers, I develop a multi-dimensional account of how elite mathematical ability is understood, enacted in admissions and experienced within course cultures.
I present findings from the perspective of women participants, alongside accounts from other students and educators, on gender in admissions and mathematics. Using ‘ability’ as an organising concept, I show how its construction varies across the four universities, with different emphases on competition, support and resilience. These variations are evident in admission systems and course cultures and are reflected in women’s contrasting experiences.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion around the following prompts:
- Do elite universities have any scope to influence the representation of women?
- Are gender disparities in admissions testing unsurprising given gender awarding gaps?
- Are elite programmes suitable for students that don’t like competition?
- Do students that need support lack readiness for elite study?
- Should students be compelled to develop communication and collaboration skills?