Bachelor of Science Honours in Mathematics

Purpose and Rationale of the Qualification

• To provide students with a broad knowledge in one of the mathematical sciences, up to the level of being able to start research.
• To offer specialised study to provide the necessary basis for students who would like to proceed to a study at Master's Degree level.
• To contribute to the pool of people with a higher qualification in the sciences, a very scarce and valuable national resource.
• To provide students not proceeding with further study with a well-rounded and comprehensive education in one of the mathematical sciences that will enable them to function successfully in society and the workplace.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in the related field, Level 7.

Generic/Critical cross-field outcomes

The Bastions graduate will

1. Understand the place and the importance of the sciences in human endeavour.
2. Understand the level of expertise that has been achieved by completing the present program of study.
3. Know about and be able to expertly utilise the sources of knowledge.
4. Be able to communicate about scientific matters both in writing and verbally in a precise and coherent way.
5. Realise the importance of understanding the problems to which the expertise is to be applied.
6. Have a basic knowledge of the philosophy and ethics of science.
7. Have some experience of working in a small team.

General outcomes

1. Have an in-depth knowledge of the nature of the mathematical sciences, especially their dependence on logical deduction and proof.
2. Have learned to appreciate and to practice precision and economy of expression and thought, which are hallmarks of the mathematical sciences.
3. Have a broad and relatively deep knowledge of one of the mathematical sciences, including recent developments, to the point where research could begin.
4. Have acquired skill and facility in following complex formal arguments, and be able to devise intermediate level proofs and arguments independently.
5. Be familiar with and have considerable experience in applications of the mathematical sciences in a variety of fields, ranging from the natural through the engineering to the economic sciences.
6. Have acquired modelling skills which can be applied in a variety of complex situations.
7. Have learned to understand complex systems and the process of building complex systems.

Specific outcomes

The Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc Hons) in Actuarial Science graduate will have

1. Demonstrated understanding at an advanced level of the concepts, principles and practice of life and short term assurance, pension funds, institutional investments and actuarial statistics.

The BSc Hons in Applied Mathematics graduate will have

1. Demonstrated acquisition of advanced mathematical skills (both theoretical and computational) that will enable the student of model, analyse and solve typical problems that appear in industry, research, or the academic environment.

The BSc Hons in Computer Science graduate will have

1. Demonstrated the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge and expertise to either carry on with a Master's Degree in Computer Science, or to follow a career in Information Technology in business or industry.

The BSc Hons in Mathematical Statistics Graduate will have

1. Demonstrated understanding at an advanced level of the probabilistic and stochastic nature of many real-world systems, and mastered various procedures for dealing with the uncertainty in modelling such systems.

The BSc Hons in Mathematical Statistics (Actuarial) graduate will have

1. Demonstrated understanding at an advanced level of the concepts, principles and practice of life and short term assurance, pension funds, institutional investments and actuarial statistics.
2. Demonstrated understanding at an advanced level of the probabilistic and stochastic nature of many real-world systems, and mastered various procedures for dealing with the uncertainty in modelling such systems.

The BSc Hons in Mathematics graduate will have

1. Mastered advanced level higher mathematics, including analysis and algebra.
2. Acquired familiarity with computer packages to assist in modelling various practical scenarios.

The BSc Hons in Numerical Mathematics graduate will have

1. Mastered advanced level numerical analysis techniques.
2. Acquired modelling and computational skills using computer packages.

The BSc Hons in Operational analysis graduate will have

1. Demonstrated understanding at an advanced level of operational research principles and procedures, including mathematical programming, stochastic processes, simulation, inventory control and production management.

The BSc Hons in Physical and Mathematical Analysis graduate will have

1. A generalist knowledge of theoretical foundation of numerical and algorithmic techniques.
2. First experiences in applying thee in academic and industrial environments.
3. Taken first steps in working in an interdisciplinary team.
4. Acquired skills needed in the technical and scientific job market.
5. Built a platform on which either industrial or academic careers can be developed.

The Following Associated Assessment Criteria are assessed in an integrated manner across all the Exit Level Outcomes

• The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for Level 7.
• A comprehensive battery of assignments, exercises, seminars, projects, class debates and discussions, written tasks, written tests and written examinations is used to demonstrate the existence and assess the quality of all of these outcomes.

Integrated Assessment

• The nature of the mathematical sciences is such that to study successfully at any particular level, the student has to draw very much on the knowledge and expertise gathered in previous years.
• In this sense the assessments that are devised for the honours degree are also integrated assessments for the entire study.
• Over and above this, students will have to complete at least one major project of practical or theoretical nature, either individually or in small teams, and present both written and oral reports on the work.