Your Maths Course

Year 1 Modules and Handbook

The first year of all Imperial maths degrees, regardless of the coding, is the same. We want you to have a good foundation of knowledge enabling you to study more advanced maths in the later years. Your first year programme will start with the module Introduction to University Mathematics (IUM) This module occupies the first four weeks of the first Term.

IUM is an intensive introduction to the ways in which you will be thinking about Mathematics at Imperial. Alongside the lectures for the module, there will be a number of problem classes per week. During the classes you will work in smaller groups with other students developing your understanding of the material from the lectures. The module is assessed by a number of components, culminating in a final test in week 4. The module is pass/fail, encouraging you to really delve deep into the material.

Core/compulsory topics (for all students):

After the completion of the IUM module, you will study the following core modules throughout the rest of the Autumn Term to the end of the Spring Term:

• Analysis I
• Linear Algebra and Group Theory
• Calculus and Applications
• Probability and Statistics
• Introduction to Computing

And in the Spring Term additionally you will be studying:

• Introduction to Applied Mathematics

To support your learning, you will have regularly scheduled lectures and problems classes for your core modules. You will need to take considerable time outside of these timetabled sessions to review the material and complete the problem sets given to you.

Throughout the Autumn and Spring Terms, you will have tests and assignments to help you gain feedback on your understanding. Final exams on all core modules will take place in the Summer Term.

In the module Introduction to Computing you will learn to programme using Python. No previous computing experience is necessary. Programming is a useful tool for mathematics and you will use it in assignments in later years.

After exams, the Year 1 culminates in the Individual Research Project, a chance for you to delve deeper into a specific area of mathematics based on your interests and options from the project supervisors.

Programme Handbook

Further information regarding the programme can be found in the Mathematics UG Handbook 2024/25.

Year Abroad students (G104 coding)

Students taking the Year Abroad course G104 intending to go to one of our European partner universities need to have at least a GSCE (or equivalent) in their chosen language and they MUST register for classes in their chosen language as soon as possible after registration opens. The enrolment form is accessible through the Horizons page. You will need your CID number and make sure you indicate that you are a Year Abroad Student on enrolment form.

International Students

If you are an international student and your first language is not English, studying mathematics in English, especially if doing so for the first time, can be a challenge. To support you, special English language classes are offered to students in Term 1. Students will be selected to attend based on a language test. You may also wish to request to join the classes.

The Centre for Academic English also offers extra classes and 1-to-1 support for students. These are free to attend and are an excellent way to hone your language skills.

Horizons

The optional Imperial Horizons programme allows you to take an additional non-maths module from a number of different options, including modules such as: Criminal Minds: The Psychological & Social Causes of Crime, Video Production for Mobile Devices or Korean. The programme has been designed to broaden students’ education and enhance their career prospects. It is a great opportunity to expand
your knowledge (and CV!) and to meet new people.

The modules run on Tuesdays from 4-6 PM and do not interfere with your maths lectures. Please read more about the programme on: . You need to apply to the programme separately, registration will open in September. In Year 1 Horizons modules are not for credit; in Year 2, you will take one I-Explore module (Horizons are included in these) for credit as part of your degree.

Learning at University

When you join Imperial, be prepared to challenge yourself and your thinking. You are here to learn and learning often comes from reflecting on and revising from your mistakes.

Entering university, you are expected to be an independent learner, managing your timetable and a possibly very different workload than you have had to manage in the past. The best way to get the most out of your experience is making sure that you keep on top of the material assigned to you so that you can engage well and ask questions to gain support.

Lectures

In your lectures you will need to be taking good notes so that you can review these and identify questions you want to ask on material you don’t fully understand.

Problems Classes

Each module will give you a number of problem sheets to tackle. It is very important to spend adequate time on these. You will probably have found Mathematics relatively easy at school or college. Don’t be surprised if you find that you need to work much harder at Mathematics at university, where the subject is more about problem solving and rigorous proof than about tackling routine exercises and calculations. You should expect to be challenged.

The main purpose of the weekly problems classes is to discuss the lecture material and to sort out any difficulties arising from question sheets set by the lecturers. These sessions allow you to engage in group work or other interactive work, investigating the maths and working on questions together. Make sure you have attempted problem sheets and questions from lectures before coming to these classes so that you can get the help you need, engage with the extra questions being asked, and know what to ask yourself. You may need to rethink how you plan your week and ensure that you work “backwards” from set deadlines in order to allow you time to work on problem sheets and assessments both prior to the deadline as well as prior to the times set in your schedule to ask questions and get help (such as problems classes).

Other support

To help you with the transition from school to university level Mathematics, we try to give you as much support as possible in the first year.

Many of your lecturers will use a Blackboard Learn page (the College VLE system) to display module information (e.g. notes, problem sheets, recommended reading or pre-lecture reading material), but some will use separate websites. Information will be given at the start of year lectures.

Each module lecturer will offer an ‘office hour’, where you can ask individual questions. In addition, all modules will be supported by a monitored discussion forum via a platform called Ed Discussion.

Personal Tutor and Academic Tutorials

Every student is assigned a Personal Tutor in the Department, a member of the teaching and academic staff. The Personal Tutor will meet with students individually a few times a year, to discuss transition to university, general progress, and provide support and signposting around the programme and College.

In addition to these individual meetings, in Year 1, you will meet in a small group with your Personal Tutor every two weeks to discuss and work on mathematical thinking and problem solving skills.

Peer tutorials

Along with module-specific support, you will have weekly peer tutorials starting from week 5, where you will meet with a smaller group of students from your cohort and an older-year student to work together on your mathematics in a more informal environment, learning from each other and from the older student.

Typically, you will need to spend around 40 hours per week on Mathematics (including lectures and tutorials). You will find, however, that solving problems and understanding concepts is more satisfying and productive without time constraints. As a previous student has said—first year is all about learning how to “struggle” with a question, to really understand how to break it down and solve it. We expect you to spend as much time as necessary to understand Mathematics. The hour guideline is set for the typical student, you may need less or more time to understand the material depending on your personal background, knowledge and engagement. The first year is as much about learning about yourself, the way you study, as well as it is about the Mathematics!

The College has an online resource for learning and study skills support and advice, which you can find here.

Timetable

Your timetable will be available through your Imperial Outlook calendar, which will show all the timetabled teaching events you have been added to. Please check your calendar regularly for any updates or changes.

Further information on how to view your timetable can be found here.

Virtual Learning Environment

The Department of Mathematics uses BlackBoard as its Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Every module taught by the Department has its own BlackBoard page containing teaching materials and will be where you submit most of your coursework assignments. In Year 1 you will automatically be added to the BlackBoard pages for your modules.

You can also use BlackBoard to communicate with staff and other students through online discussion via EdStem, link to Panopto recordings for lectures.

Undergraduate Education Office

Undergraduate Education Office
The Education Office is the student hub for all undergraduate students studying in the Maths Department.
The staff in the office deal with a range of student enquiries which include: