M.Sc. in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing
www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/grad/mmsc
Summary
Oxford's M.Sc. in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing aims to
train graduates with a strong mathematical background to develop and apply
their skills to the solution of real problems. By the end of the course
students should be able to formulate a well posed problem in mathematical
terms from a possibly sketchy verbal description, carry out appropriate
mathematical analysis, select or develop an appropriate numerical method,
write a computer program which gives sensible answers to the problem, and
present and interpret these results for a possible client. Particular
emphasis is placed on the need for all these parts in the problem solving
process, and on the fact that they frequently interact and cannot be carried
out sequentially.
Until October 2006, Oxford had two M.Sc. courses in this area:
Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing (emphasizing coursework) and
Applied and Computational Mathematics (emphasizing research). The two
have now been joined into one course with the former name, but there is
currently still
flexibility for students to choose between coursework-intensive and
research-intensive options (Strands C and R). However, from October
2008 it will no longer be possible to follow the research intensive option
(strand R) through the course.
The new
M.Sc. in Mathematical and Computational Finance started in October 2007
and it is now no longer be possible to specialise in Mathematical Finance
on the M.Sc. in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing.
Requirements
[MT, HT, TT = Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity Term]
To complete this course a student must complete 12 units, counted as follows:
-
Core courses
(1 unit each): normally 24 lectures + classes + exam.
There are four core courses: one on Mathematical Methods and one on Numerical
Analysis in each of MT and HT. Each course will be assessed by a written
examination on Thursday of Week 0 of the following term. Every student must
complete the two core courses in MT. [The only exception is that a student
who has already completed one of these courses as an Oxford undergraduate may
arrange (with the Course Organiser in Week 0 of MT) to take one of the core
courses in HT instead.]
-
Special topics
(1 unit each): normally 12-16 lectures + mini-project.
There are about twenty special topics to choose from spread over all three
terms. Each student must do at least one special topic in the area of
Modelling (M) and one in the area of Computation (C).
-
Case Studies in Modelling and in Scientific
Computing
(0.5 unit each): normally 4 weeks of group work + oral presentation + report
(HT). Each student must do at least one modelling case study and at least
one scientific computing case study.
-
Dissertation:
4 units for Strand C (~50 pages, not necessarily original)
or 6 units for Strand R (~65 pages, some original ideas).
Here is a list of recent dissertation
titles.
In addition all students must attend:
General Information
The Course Director is Dr Peter
Howell (OCIAM) and the Course Organiser is Dr
Kathryn Gillow (NA Group). A supervisor will be appointed for each
student who will discuss their progress with them and who can advise on what
options are suitable.
The course lasts almost twelve months, from the beginning of October to
the end of the following September. Although the lecture courses are given
during the three University terms, the examinations will take place on the
Thursdays of the weeks preceding both Hilary and Trinity terms. Additionally,
much other work is carried out in the vacations, and students should expect
to spend most of the year in Oxford. There will be no time for long holidays.
For the academic year 2007-2008, the course will begin with a week of
introductory material based at the Computing Laboratory, beginning at 9.30am
on the morning of Monday 1 October 2007.
The dates of the University Full Terms for the Academic Year 2007-2008 are:
- MT = Michaelmas Term 2007:
Sunday, 7 October 2007 - Saturday, 1 December 2007
- HT = Hilary Term 2008:
Sunday, 13 January 2008 - Saturday, 8 March 2008
- TT = Trinity Term 2008:
Sunday, 20 April 2008 - Saturday, 14 June 2008
Here is the TT 2008 timetable. The MT 2007
and HT 2008 timetables are available for information at MT 2007 and HT
2008.
Funding and Application Procedure
The course is supported by a number of
EPSRC studentships for UK (fees and living allowance) and EU (fees only)
students. All eligible applicants who are offered a place are automatically
considered for any remaining studentships; the majority of studentships will
be allocated by April of each year. In addition we have two studentships to
covers fees and a living allowance for students of any nationality (overseas
fees can be covered) supported by KAUST. Again all applicants
who are offered a place are automatically considered for these
studentships. Here is some information about scholarships for international
students. Students who undertake an industrial project suggested by a
sponsor will receive a small additional bursary.
In addition, the M.Sc. Sponsorship Scheme provides a number of industrial
bursaries each year. These will not provide complete support, but are
intended to help to meet the cost of attending the course. Applicants who
wish to be considered for an industrial bursary must indicate this on the
application form and briefly give their particular reasons for requiring
extra funds. Generally only a few bursaries are considered each year. All
such cases will be assessed by the Admissions Committee on the basis of
academic merit and financial need.
In 2006-2007 the course was sponsored by Schlumberger Technology Centre
and Thales Underwater Systems. Both these companies provided topics for
student dissertations.
Here are the Admissions Criteria. It
is possible to download information about deadline
dates and application forms. Enquiries about the course should be
directed to the Numerical Analysis Group Secretary, e-mail:
MMSC-Admissions@comlab.ox.ac.uk.
Prerequisites
The usual background is a good undergraduate degree (for UK applicants
this means a 2.1 or higher) in a subject with significant mathematical
content.
A reasonable level of competency in mathematical analysis and linear
algebra is required for this course. The speed at which the course proceeds
does not allow any time to catch up on basic material. A detailed list of the
minimally required basic knowledge is given in prerequisites.
The links below give answers to some frequently asked questions:
Course Details
Strand C (coursework) students will normally accumulate 4 units for core
courses + 3 units for special topics + 1 unit for case studies + 4 units for
dissertation. Strand R (research) students will normally accumulate 2 units
for core courses + 3 units for special topics + 1 unit for case studies + 6
units for dissertation. Each student must report to the Course Organiser by
Friday of Week 4 of MT whether he/she will complete the Strand C (4-unit
dissertation) or Strand R (6-unit dissertation) option.
There are four core courses:
The core courses consist of both lectures and examples classes, and
students must attend both. Some preparatory
reading relating to the core courses is suggested. Past exam papers can
be found on the OXAM website.
There is a great variety of special topic lecture courses listed below. Each
falls under a broad heading of Modelling, Computation or Other, and is marked
[M], [C] or [O] accordingly. Students should complete at least one Modelling
course marked [M] in the list and one Computation course marked [C] in the
list. A special topic is usually assessed by a mini-project on a topic
agreed with the lecturer. Students wishing to do a special topic on one of
these courses must inform the lecturer before half the lectures have been
given, and the special topic must be handed in with a completed cover sheet within 6 weeks of the end of
the term for MT and HT lecture courses, or within 2 weeks of the end of term
for TT lecture courses. The lecturer will assess the work and make a
recommendation to the examiners.
It is also possible to do other topics if approved by the
M.Sc. Supervisory Committee. Students who wish to follow a lecture course not
on the list or to do a special topic based on a reading course should submit
a short description of the project to the course organiser.
These are the courses available for the Academic year 2007-2008. Note
that the list of courses may change from year to year.
MT = Michaelmas Term 2007
- Approximation of Functions [C], Dr I J
Sobey
- Martingales Through Measure Theory [O], Dr J
Kristensen
- Mathematical Ecology and Biology [M] Dr E A
Gaffney
- Mathematics and the Environment [M], Dr A C
Fowler and Dr G Sander
- Optimal Control of Partial Differential
Equations [M], Prof D Hömberg
- Partial Differential Equations for Pure and
Applied Mathematicians [O], Dr J Dyson
- Perturbation Methods [O], Dr M Porter
- Solid Mechanics [M], Prof J M Ball
- Stochastic Differential Equations [O], Dr Z
Qian
- Topics in Fluid Mechanics [M], Prof S J
Chapman, Dr A C Fowler, Dr P D Howell and Dr J Norbury
- Viscous Flow [M], Dr J Norbury and Dr H
Ockendon
HT = Hilary Term 2008
TT = Trinity Term 2008
All students will learn MATLAB at the start of the course if they do not
already know it. In MT students will take Practical
Numerical Analysis classes and Mathematical
Modelling classes which will include group work and presentation
of results.
In HT, students will participate in the Case Studies in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing, and will write up at least
one project for assessment for each course.
There is also the possibility of learning another computer programming
language.
All students will attend the Additional
Skills sessions in MT. These will provide information about how the
course is assessed and advice about special topics as well as covering the
use of LaTeX and the web, sources of numerical software, literature searches,
communication and career development.
A careers evening is usually organised in February.
Students normally prepare their dissertations during HT, TT and the long
vacation (Strand R) or TT and the long vacation (Strand C), but it is often
valuable to commence background work earlier. A student's dissertation topic
should be selected in consultation with their supervisor and the details of
the form and scope of the dissertation are described in the Regulations. Here
are some possible dissertation
projects. Additionally, a number of industrial topics suitable for
dissertations will be presented at a meeting in December by companies who sponsor the
M.Sc. course. Also students are encouraged to talk to any potential
supervisors, which may include most academics or researchers in OCIAM or the
NA Group. Note that the supervisor allocated in the first term will not
usually turn out to be the supervisor for the dissertation.
Each student will be required to give a short talk and answer questions on
the background to their dissertation topic at an open meeting, attended by
supervisors, examiners and sponsors, to be held at the end of March (Strand
R) or June (Strand C).
In normal circumstances the body of the dissertation (excluding appendices
etc.) should not exceed 65 pages (Strand R, worth 6 units) or 50 pages
(Strand C, worth 4 units). Note that no alternative weightings (e.g. a
dissertation worth 5 units) will be allowed.
Students should submit three bound copies of their dissertation to the
Examination Schools by mid-day on Friday 5 September 2008. An electronic copy
may also be requested.
The oral examination (viva) will be held in the second half of September
and students will be expected to answer questions on their dissertation.
Students whose performance was considered to be weak in either the written
examination or their special topics, may also expect to be asked questions on
these parts of the course at the oral. Strand R students may have longer
vivas than Strand C students.
Checklist for Discussion with Supervisor and Course Organiser
Print this checklist and discuss it with your
supervisor and the course organiser. The checklist should be returned to the
course organiser by Friday of week 4 of MT.
Further information
Marking conventions
Diary of important events for the academic year
Course programme specifications
Statement of provision for the
M.Sc. course