Things to do now!
Register with the University on MyImperial
Please make sure you officially REGISTER online on MyImperial as soon as possible (from 30 days before the start date of your course) as per the instructions sent you via email. You can find further information here.
What to review prior to arrival
We expect you to have a very good understanding of school mathematics when you start at Imperial. The work at Imperial is demanding and fast-paced. Even in topics you are already familiar with, you may be presented with very challenging problems. So it is very important that you consolidate and practice your knowledge of mathematics before you arrive. This is particularly important if you have had a gap year.
Most topics on the course will hopefully be very familiar, however, some may even be new to you - students come to Imperial with different educational qualifications. We also understand that many of you will have had various interruptions to your study over the last few years.
We know that you will of course be busy preparing for your transition this coming month, spending time with family and friends and some of you may also be doing some part-time paid work or volunteering. Thus we have also prepared a pre-arrival course, where we have chosen some topics and questions for you to review; do take some time to engage with the material prior to arrival!
Do some MATHS!
Pre-arrival maths support and induction information will be posted on the Blackboard Learn VLE page “Maths Pre-Arrival Course”. You should have received information on how to access the page in an email from the Admissions Team. If not, please contact: maths.admissions@imperial.ac.uk.
We like to say that “mathematics is not a spectator sport”. The best way to learn maths is to do maths. The videos and supplementary material in the Pre-Arrival Course on Blackboard will include number of maths problems and quizzes. How to approach some of the questions may not be self-evident, so take some time to think about them. Pause videos/write out the problems, think about what they are asking, and what methods and knowledge you have to solve the question. Don’t worry if you can’t do all of them, but do try them out - get your brain working again after a long break!
Introductory Maths Catalogue
This catalogue covers first year modules which have substantial mathematical content within them which is likely to be based on concepts taught in the UK A-level system. The terminology is typically that which is used in the UK educational system, but we are aware that many students come from different systems and have different primary languages. One of the aims of this catalogue is to help those students fill in any gaps caused by different systems or language barriers. You can find further information as well as access to catalogue here.
Extra Recommended Reading
If you have a bit of extra time over the break, a few excellent books, which will help you to prepare for the different style of mathematics that you will study here, are:
How to Study for a Mathematics Degree by Lara Alcock, published by Oxford University Press (ISBN: 978 019 966 1329)
A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics by Martin Liebeck, published by Chapman and Hall (ISBN: 1 58 488 1933). This book is an excellent support for your first year mathematics programme and will be referred to in your Introduction to University Mathematics module.
Towards Higher Mathematics: a Companion, by Richard Earl, published by Cambridge University Press (ISBN: 978 131 661 4839)
How to Think Like a Mathematician by Kevin Houston, published by Cambridge University Press (ISBN: 978 052 171 9780)
Lecturers will usually recommend a selection of books at the start of a module. These will generally be available in the main College Library (including digital copies) or can be ordered if necessary. Through the library you will also have access to numerous e-journals, e-books and newspapers.
New Student Welcome
Do also take a look at
University-wide Welcome Information
Induction Information
The University requires all students to complete the following Compulsory Courses:
Health and Safety Induction - you can access this course online here.
Plagiarism Awareness - you will be sent a link to complete this course closer to the start of term.
Recommended Training
AI and Study Guidance Hub
We invite you to explore the AI & Study Guidance Hub, a specially developed resource for Imperial's student community to catch up on the latest developments in the use of artificial intelligence at the university. Please browse the webpages to access regularly updated student resources.
A new student resource 'An introduction to Gen(erative)AI student' online course will be available here from 30 September. We are sure you will have many questions about the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in your studies. This resource aims to answer some of those questions by providing a basic understanding of generative AI and how we at Imperial believe it can be best used, given that the landscape is constantly shifting.
You can access the Mathematics Induction Timetable 2425 via this link.
Students should upload their ID card photo to My Imperial as soon as possible. The deadline is 3 days before the official start date of your course, otherwise you will need to take it in-person at the ID Card Office without exception.
Please note, photos must be 30KB or under which is significantly smaller than most photos taken on a phone camera. You can use free online compression tools in order to make your file small enough.
Incoming students living in University accommodation
- The Community Safety and Security team will distribute all ID cards directly to halls prior to the start of the academic year for collection by students upon arrival.
- If you have not uploaded your photo before arrival, you will have to have it taken in person at ID Office, then the card will be handed to the department.
Incoming students living outside of University accommodation
- These will be collected by the department. You will receive an email from the UG Maths Office once your card is ready for collection.
Maths classes primarily take place in the Huxley Building at 180 Queen’s Gate.
The main lecture theatre is the Clore Lecture Theatre. This is on the right hand side on the same level you enter the building from on Queen’s Gate. Your classes will take place across rooms on levels 1, 2 and 3, with computing classes on level 4. Tutorials may also take place on levels 5, 6 and the “in-between floor” 6M.
The two main Departmental rooms undergraduates can use for working are the Maths Common Room next to the Clore, and the Maths Learning Centre (MLC) on level 4. There are also two other smaller computer rooms, 408 and 410, that students can use when they are not being used for classes or tutorials.
Most of the maths academic and administrative staff offices are on levels 5, 6, 6M and 7 of Huxley Building, although as we are a large department, a few of your tutors may be in different buildings around South Kensington. The Mathematical Finance section is located in Weeks Building. Please see here for the South Kensington Campus Map.
There are a number of study spaces on campus for students to use. In addition to the rooms in the Department, many students choose to study in the Library or in the Go Study spaces around campus.
The campus and the surrounding areas near South Kensington, Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington have various food shops, restaurants and cafes. You can also bring your packed lunch to eat on campus.
Take some time in your first few weeks to wander around the campus, go for a workout at Ethos, grab a smoothie from the College Cafe, find out how to register at the Health Centre, pick up a Careers booklet from Sherfield, have some curly fries at the 568... Ask older year students for their favourite spots on campus and in the area!
For information about computing facilities in the university and software go to https://www.imperial.ac.uk/admin-services/ict/. You will be
sent details of how to activate your Imperial Computer Account and email address before you arrive.
All communications from the Department will be sent to your Imperial email address from the end of September onwards. Please check this daily.
Once you have completed Imperial’s online registration process, you can use your university credentials to get Microsoft Office 365 software for free. This allows you to install the latest version of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, OneNote and much more on compatible, personally-owned devices. Read more and access training on: www.imperial.ac.uk/admin-services/ict/self-service/connect-communicate/office-365/
Computer requirements
The Department has three computer labs that are available for students to use for study when the rooms are not in use for classes/tutorials. In addition to this resource, it is recommended that students have a laptop (or desktop computer) to use to access study material and completing computing exercises outside lectures.
It is up to you the type of computer you have, students in the past have had various devices, but we would suggest that at minimum you get a laptop with 16Gb RAM, 256Gb solid state disk, 14” HD screen, Windows 10 Pro 64, webcam. The Department also has some laptops students can loan - for more information please contact maths-student-office@imperial.ac.uk.
You will need reliable internet connection with a minimum of sustained 10 MBps down/upload speed and you may need to be able to use Microsoft Teams (requiring access to a webcam and microphone) for certain activities.
Some students will have a graphics tablet to allow digital notes annotation, however, please note that this is not required and you will be given printing credit in order to print off problem sheets and lecture notes. You will also be able to add more funds to the printing account if needed. Further information can be found here.
Some assessments will be completed at home and will need to be scanned (using a scanner, document camera or smartphone) and submitted digitally.