OCIAM and NA Group

MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing

www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/courses/grad/mmsc

Summary

Oxford's MSc 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 description in engineering, physical, chemical, financial or biological language, carry out any mathematical analysis that is helpful, 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.

There are three main parts to the assessment of the course:

The core and special topic courses are shared with the MSc in Applied and Computational Mathematics. In addition, students attend mathematical modelling classes and practical numerical analysis classes, which are assessed by submitting projects.

General Information

The course organisers are Dr Hilary Ockendon (OCIAM) and Dr Andy Wathen (Numerical Analysis Group); a good first contact point for questions is the Numerical Analysis Group Secretary (Computing Laboratory, Room 208, email: MMSC-Admissions@comlab.ox.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1865 273885). Each student will have a supervisor who will discuss their progress with them, and who can advise on what options are suitable. Students may attend the lectures of any of the courses available, in addition to the lecture courses they are taking for their assessment. In particular the sessions on additional skills covering use of LaTeX, literature searches, numerical software, and advice about special topics will be important.

The course lasts 12 months, from October to the following September. Although the lecture courses are given during the three University terms, much other work is carried out in the vacations, and students should expect to spend most of the year in Oxford.

For the academic year 2002-2003, the course will begin with a week of introductory material based at the Computing Laboratory, beginning at 9.30am on the morning of Monday 7 October 2002.

The dates of the University Full Terms for the Academic Year 2002-2003 are

Here is the Trinity Term 2003 timetable.The Hilary Term 2003 and Michaelmas Term 2002 timetables are available for information at Hilary Term 2003 and Michaelmas Term 2002 timetable

Funding and Application Procedure

There is EPSRC funding to support this course which can provide studentships for UK students and partial studentships for EC students. In addition, the MSc Sponsorship Scheme provides a number of industrial bursaries each year (NB: industrial bursaries can provide partial funding, but not complete support); applicants must indicate if they need support on the application form. Mature student applicants should clearly state if they wish to apply for a mature student grant (as defined by the EPSRC); such applicants will be considered on a case by case basis. Various scholarships are also available for international students: application for these is entirely the responsibility of the student and should be made as early as possible.

Last year the course was sponsored by Mathengine, Schlumberger Cambridge Research, Nuon, Thales Underwater Systems, Nomura International and Pilkington. All these companies provide topics for student dissertations which are jointly supervised by company and university representatives.

Applications are now being considered for October 2003. Early application is strongly encouraged. Applicants from the United Kingdom are normally required to attend an interview. Applicants from outside the UK are not normally required to attend an interview. Applications can be sent at any time but will be processed according to the following deadlines:

Applications: December 6th, 2002 for interview and decision in week commencing 13th January, 2003. Applications: February 28th, 2003 for interview and decision in week commencing 17th March, 2003. Applications: April 4th, 2003 for interview and decision in week commencing 21st April, 2003. Applications: May 9th, 2003 for interview and decision in week commencing 26th May, 2003.

Applicants are reminded that they should ask their referees to provide references direct to the Computing Laboratory by the application deadline.

Applications received after May 9th may still be considered but applicants should bear in mind that there are a limited number of places available and that admission decisions will be made at the end of each interview week. Overseas or other applicants who, for funding purposes, require a decision before January 17th 2003 should indicate this in a covering letter with their application.

An application form for the course may be obtained from:

Secretary for the MSc in Mathematical Modelling & Scientific Computing, Oxford University Computing Laboratory, Wolfson Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QD. Tel: +44 (0)1865 273885. e-mail: MMSC-Admissions@comlab.ox.ac.uk.

Prerequisites

Prospective applicants should consult the list of desirable prerequisities before proceeding. For UK applicants the normal requirement is a 2.1 degree with significant mathematical content though there is some flexibility for those with industrial experience. Non-UK applicants are expected to have achieved an equivalent level.

Frequently Asked Questions

The links below give answers to some most frequently asked questions:

Core Courses

There are five compulsory core courses: The core courses consist of both lectures and examples classes, and students must attend both. There is also a Numerical Analysis test at the end of Michaelmas Term on B1. (This is not a formal part of the course assessment but is intended to help students and supervisors see where extra work is needed.) Some preparatory reading relating to the core courses is suggested. The core courses are each assessed by a written examination in April, consisting of two papers, Paper A and Paper B. Paper A will contain at least 3 questions on each of courses A1 and A2. Paper B will contain at least 2 questions on each of courses B1, B2 and B3.

Practical computing and mathematical modelling skills

All students will learn MATLAB at the start of the course if they do not already know it. In Michaelmas Term students will take Practical Numerical Analysis I classes and Mathematical Modelling I classes which will include group work and presentation of results. There will be a Mathematical Modelling test at the end of Michaelmas Term on the material covered in the Mathematical Modelling I classes.

In Hilary Term, students will attend Mathematical Modelling II classes and Practical Numerical Analysis II classes, and will write up two projects (one based on each set of classes) for assessment.

Special Topics

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 must write four special topics for assessment, including at least one on a Modelling course marked [M] in the list, and at least one on a Computation course marked [C] in the list. A special topic usually consists of either answers to a set of questions or a miniproject 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 to the lecturer within 6 weeks of the end of the term for Michaelmas and Hilary Term lecture courses, or within 2 weeks of the end of term for Trinity Term lecture courses. The lecturer will assess the work and make a recommendation to the examiners.

Special Topic Courses

Michaelmas Term 2002

Hilary Term 2003

Trinity Term 2003

Students may ask the Supervisory Committee for permission to offer a special topic based either on a lecture course not listed here, or on another appropriate subject. The student should discuss this with his or her supervisor first. In particular, students who wish to study Viscous Flow (MT2002), or Waves and Compressible Flow (HT2003), or Nonlinear Systems (HT2003) may ask permission to write a special topic on one of these courses. However, since these are third year undergraduate lecture courses, the project must go beyond the undergraduate level, and permission will only be granted to students who have not previously studied the material.

Dissertation

Students normally prepare their dissertations during Trinity Term and the long vacation but it is often valuable to commence background work earlier. The topic should be selected in consultation with your supervisor and the details of the form and scope of the dissertation are described in the Regulations. Here are some possible dissertation projects. Also talk to any potential supervisors. A number of industrial topics suitable for dissertations will be presented at a meeting in March by companies who sponsor the MSc course.

You will be required to give a short talk and answer questions on the background to your dissertation topic at an open meeting, attended by supervisors, examiners and sponsors, to be held at the end of June 2003.

In normal circumstances the body of the dissertation (excluding appendices etc.) should not exceed 50 pages.

Your dissertation should be handed in to the Examination Schools by mid-day on Friday 12 September 2003.

The oral examination will be held at the end of September and you will be expected to answer questions on your dissertation. If your performance in the written examination, or the assessment of your special topics, is weak, you may also expect to be asked questions on your special topics at the oral.

Checklist

In summary, if you are a student on this course you need to complete:

Diary

Diary of important events for the academic year 2002-03.

Further Information Handbook

This Further Information Handbook contains important information about the Computing Laboratory facilities, people and and safety and should be relevant throughout your time at Oxford. OCIAM OCIAM OCIAM OCIAM NA Group NA Group NA Group NA Group