Admissions

Trinity takes students for three- and four-year undergraduate courses in Mathematics, as well as the joint school of Mathematics and Statistics.  The three-year course leads to a BA, and the four-year course is an integrated masters course leading to the MMath. All students are admitted initially to the four-year course, and the decision to stop after 3 years can be made at any time. Applicants are required to take the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) in November, following which around 3 applicants per place are shortlisted for interview. Those invited for interview typically have two interviews at Trinity and one at another college. As much as possible the interviews recreate the atmosphere of a tutorial, with the time spent solving mathematical problems in discussion with the tutors.

We also welcome strong applicants for postgraduate courses in Mathematics, at either Masters or DPhil level. And postdoctoral researchers working with our Tutorial Fellows are eligible to become associate members of our graduate common room. We value our maths community across all stages of learning!

Mathematics freshers stand in the college front quad.
Our third-year Maths students
A maths tutorial led by Trinity tutor Ian Hewitt.
A tutorial with our Maths tutor Ian Hewitt

Teaching Structure

For the first two years, the lectures are accompanied by tutorials or small-group classes (2-6 students), which happen in Trinity. These provide an intensive and personal education – an unrivalled opportunity to discuss work with the college’s academics. Regular problem sheets are set for each module – students submit their solutions to the tutor ahead of the tutorials, which then provide an opportunity to discuss any issues and extensions to the work on the problem sheet. The small-group nature of the tutorials allows us to respond directly to individuals’ strengths and needs, and the tutors enjoy getting to know the students individually. A typical week involves around 10 lectures and 2 or 3 tutorials. The rest of the time is spent on independent study – mostly working on the problem sheets – although in Trinity we strongly encourage students to work together too, to learn from each other and develop communication skills.

Course Details

The course syllabus is the same across the university, and more information can be found here. The first year involves the same core modules for all students – a mix of pure maths, applied maths, and statistics. Lectures happen at the Mathematical Institute, a short walk away from college, and are accompanied by tutorials, which happen in college. At the end of the first year there are a set of exams (‘Prelims’) which students must pass, but which don’t contribute to the final degree.

The second year follows a similar format, but there is an increasing selection of modules from which students begin to choose. By the third and fourth years, there are many different modules to choose from, with each student charting their own path depending on their interests. The college tutors take an advisory role at this stage, with all teaching – lectures and accompanying classes – taking place in the department along with students from other colleges. The fourth year includes a dissertation on a mathematical or related topic.

A group of students sit at a table writing equations in the Maths building; the Radcliffe Observatory is visible out the window in the background.
Maths at Trinity has been a wonderful experience; the tutors have always managed to strike the balance between stretching and supporting me.
Matthew
A close-up of bicycles parked in Trinity college.
Google Maps
This map shows the distance from the main entrance to Trinity, but most Maths students use the back gate to get to lectures, which cuts the distance in half again!

Career Prospects

A mathematics degree develops logical thought and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers across many sectors. Our recent graduates have gone on to a wide range of successful careers including teaching, banking, consultancy, software development, as well as founding start-ups. Many have also gone on to further study (for PhDs or specialist Masters courses).

Two students stand talking on a staircase landing in the maths department. The image is taken from above.
Over the last five years, over 60% of our students have achieved First-Class Honours degrees in Mathematics.