Mathematics and Philosophy

There are two Mathematics and Philosophy degrees, the three-year BA and the four-year MMathPhil. You are not asked to choose between them on your application, and so long as your exam results in the second and third years are of an appropriate standard you have the option either to complete an honours BA or continue to the fourth year for the MMathPhil.

The mathematics units in this joint course are all from the single-subject Mathematics course. Accordingly the standard in mathematics for admission to the joint course is the same as for admission to the single-subject Mathematics course.The compulsory core mathematics for the joint course consists of the pure (as opposed to applied) mathematics from the compulsory core for the single-subject Mathematics course. The philosophy units for the Mathematics and Philosophy course are mostly shared with the other joint courses with Philosophy.

All parts of the course in the first year are compulsory. In the second and third years some units are compulsory, consisting of core mathematics and philosophy and bridge papers on philosophy of mathematics and on foundations (logic and set theory), but you also choose options. The structure of the fourth year Master’s level is currently under review.

In your first two years work is divided between lectures (about ten a week) and tutorials in your college (two or three a week). In your third and fourth years the same applies to Philosophy subjects, but most Mathematics courses are linked to intercollegiate classes rather than tutorials in your college. About a third of your week will be spent working on your own, preparing essays for Philosophy tutorials, and solving problems for Mathematics tutorials or classes.