This page contains important information for you if you are making an application to us, via UCAS, in the 2013 cycle.
You might like to consult our Information Sheet on mathematics degrees at Edinburgh.
Our mathematics degrees are over-subscribed. This means that we are not able to make offers to all those who apply. If you do receive an offer from us it is likely to be at the higher end of the range shown in the prospectus. In order to treat all applicants fairly we will make many of our offers after the UCAS deadline of January 15th.
Once you have received an offer from us we will invite you to spend a day with us so that you can learn more about the School of Mathematics, the University and the city of Edinburgh.
If you have applied for one of the joint degrees listed below, you will hear from the other School involved, not directly from us.
It is possible to go straight in to the second year (accelerated programme) for the degrees:
If you apply for the accelerated programme but do not meet the terms of your offer we will automatically consider you for first year entry.
If you have applied for first-year entry but achieve the grades required for our accelerated programme, then you will be able to switch in to that when you arrive if you wish.
If you are at school in Scotland our decision on whether to make an offer to you will normally be based on your Higher results and your offer may well be unconditional. This does not mean that we do not value the Advanced Higher mathematics course. In fact we think it is a very good preparation for university study and urge you to take it seriously. Taking AH maths does not mean that you will have covered all the material in our first year mathematics courses.
Although we do not require you to have taken Further Mathematics at A level we encourage you to do so. If you have not taken Further Maths in year 12, we would encourage you to take some FM modules in year 13 if this is possible. The pure modules provide the best preparation for university study.
It is best to arrive at university with a thorough command of the mathematics you have done at school. Take advantage of the time before you arrive to do some extra practice and to look again at things that you did not completely understand. This is particularly important if you are taking a gap year or have only done Higher maths at school. Foundation Mathematics by D J Booth (ISBN 978-0201624199) is a useful combination of revision and new material.
It is also a very good idea to start to look at mathematics from a university-level perspective. Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction by Timothy Gowers (ISBN 978-0192853615) gives an idea of the scope and spirit of mathematics and is not too technical. How to Study for a Mathematics Degree by Lara Alcock (ISBN 978-0-19-966132-9) gives an insight into what to expect at university and contains useful study advice. You may also like to read some popular mathematics books by authors such as Simon Singh and Ian Stewart.
In your first year you will take the following three mathematics courses. They will make up half of your timetable.
Semester 1: Introduction to Linear Algebra
Semester 2: Calculus and its Applications
Semester 2: Proofs and Problem Solving
You will need to purchase a text book for each of these courses. We will advise you of the titles, and which edition you need during induction week. We hope to have an arrangement with Blackwell's Bookshop in Edinburgh which will allow you to purchase these books at less than the normal price.
You will also need to choose courses in other subjects to complete your timetable. It is helpful if you arrive with some ideas about what these might be. The full catalogue can be found on the drps pages.
If you opt to do our accelerated programme you will take the normal year 2 courses in your first semester. Alongside these you will take Accelerated Algebra & Calculus and a short course in Proofs and Problem solving. These courses will cover key ideas from our first year programme that you will not have seen at school.
