Welcome to ...
School of Mathematics & Statistics
School of Mathematics & Statistics
Stage 1 Induction Information
?? September 2015
I am ...
Stage 0/1 Degree Programme Director:
Dr Peter Avery
I am also ...
Degree Programme Director
(Student Welfare and Progression)
I answer to ...
Director of Learning & Teaching:
Dr Michael White
and
…
Head of School:
Prof Rob Henderson
Contact Details
Dr Peter Avery
Room 3.04
P.J.Avery@ncl.ac.uk
General Rules and Guidance
A useful reference is:
Degree Programme Handbook
for
1st Year Students
School of Mathematics & Statistics
More information (and breaking news):
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/maths
If you need more detailed advice:
 JH DPD (Degree Programme Director)
 Personal Tutor
 JH Advisor: Prof. Anvar Shukurov
 MATH School Office
 JH Office in AFRD
Sources of Information
 The School website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/maths
• PEC form
 NESS: https://ness.ncl.ac.uk
 Blackboard: http://bb.ncl.ac.uk/
Compulsory modules at Stage 1
 Stage 1 Joint Honours Mathematics
 Compulsory and Core (4 x 15 credits)
Methods MAS1601(S1) Introduction to Calculus
MAS1602(S1) Introductory Algebra:
Complex Numbers, Vectors and Matrices
Applied MAS1603(S2) Multivariable Calculus
and Differential Equations
Statistics MAS1604(S2) Probability and Statistics
 These modules assume only the 'common core' of A-level
Mathematics.
Overview of Stage 1
 Stage 1 is essentially a qualifying exam for Stage 2.
 In order to do well in Stage 2 you need a very good
understanding of the Stage 1 topics.
 As the material gets more difficult, it gets progressively
more difficult to teach yourself from the lecture
material. Thus it is crucially important to attend lectures
and other classes and to attempt all the set work in
order to do well.
Coursework
 ICA for All Stage 1 MAS modules :
 Assignment Lab (week 3/4)
Questions given out in advance to practice on.
Subset to complete during the lab.
 Computer Based Assignments (CBA) weeks 6 and 9
Assessment using Numbas;
Plenty of practice questions;
Similar questions used in assessment.
 Test (week 6/7)
Unseen set of questions similar to those covered in lectures, etc.
 Written assignment (week 11)
Questions to complete in own time.
Submission of Assignments

All assignment submission sheets will be available to print from NESS.

Staple the correct personalised Header Sheet to the top left hand
corner of the assignment.

All assignments must be submitted in the Homework Hand-in letterboxes
before 13:00 on the due date.

Please do not submit coursework in plastic folders/covers.

Acknowledgement of receipt will be e-mailed to students within one
working day of the deadline. NESS will also indicate that a piece of
coursework has been submitted.

It is the responsibility of the student to check submission receipts and
notify any anomalies to the General Office within 24 hours of the submission
deadline.
Coursework
 Late work is not accepted. If ill etc and unable to
submit an assignment, complete a PEC Form and take
to the Stage DPD, asking for it to be excused.
 Extensions possible for major projects (>5% of module)
– submit a PEC form in advance of the deadline and
take to the Stage DPD.
 Most coursework is intended to be largely ‘formative’,
i.e. it is intended to help you learn the material. The
marks given for such coursework are an incentive for
you to complete the coursework, and the marks
awarded for coursework are often higher than for exam
marks( particularly CBAs). You should not expect the
marks available to reflect the amount of time spent on
coursework.
Feedback
 Feedback on coursework:
•
•
•
•
indications where things have gone wrong,
some general feedback,
access to correct solutions,
feedback class, where you can ask questions.
 Feedback on exams:
• General feedback is given: mark distribution, scaling,
• Individual feedback on your scripts is available on
request.
Passing exams
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Exams are in January, May/June (and August).
Stage 1 Exams are Pass/Fail where Pass=40.
They do not count to your final degree class.
(First = 70+, II-1 = 60+, II-2=50+, III = 40+).
You must 'pass Stage 1' to continue.
You need to pass any failed modules at Resits in
August.
 Only two attempts are normally allowed at each
module.
 Don’t book a holiday in August.
 PEC if major illness or personal problems affect your
exam performance.
Communication
 You can use email to contact your lecturers
 Please use your University email address to contact
us, not a private email address (you might not get a
reply).
 Please don’t expect a running email conversation or
ask for detailed mathematical explanations.
 Check your University email regularly – this is how we
communicate important information.
Attendance
 Students are, except for absence with good
cause, expected to attend all elements of their
programme of study, including lectures, tutorials
and examinations.
 A student who is absent between 2 and 7
calendar days must submit a self-certification
form.
 For absences longer than 7 days, a student must
submit a medical certificate.
 Complete a PEC form if the absence is significant
enough to affect your assessments.
Monitoring attendance
 Some classes are monitored.
 Registers will be sent around lectures
and MUST be returned at the end of the
lectures.
 If you do not manage to sign an
attendance register, please sign the
form at the front of the lecture theatre at
the end of the class.
Behaviour
 You are expected to maintain the highest level of
behaviour and be considerate to staff and fellow
students.
 Keep mobiles to silent mode during lectures,
tutorials, etc.
 If you are unavoidably late for a lecture and the
lecture has started when you arrive at the room,
enter quietly. DO NOT let the door bang behind
you. Take a seat near the door to avoid disruption
to the lecturer and other students.
 Talking should be kept to a minimum. Ask the
lecturer a question if you are unsure
about something.
Penthouse
 The Penthouse (Level 7) is available
for the use of all Mathematics & Statistics
students(including JH) from 9.00am till
5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
 There is a work area and power points.
 Wifi is available there.
 There is also social space.
 Please keep it clean and tidy.
 Avoid excessive noise in the social areas
 There is also a work area(reading room) on
level 4 of the Herschel building.
The School of Mathematics and Statistics
 Three ‘Sections’
• Pure Mathematics
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
 Staff Profile
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•
•
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14 Professors
4 Readers
8 Senior Lecturers
18 Lecturers
 Committed to excellence in Teaching and
Research
• Research grants, teaching fellowships
Staff-Student Committee
 Meets about twice a Semester to discuss any issue
affecting undergraduate students. For example
proposals to change degree programmes or problems
with a specific module.
 Usually meets at 1.30pm on a Wednesday. Lunch is
provided.
 Good thing to put on your CV.
 Volunteers?