What is it really like to study Maths at university?

Looking back to when I was in school, I was quite unaware of what a maths degree entailed and what equipment I would need. I will share what I have learnt about the subject since studying at Birmingham.

How studying maths changes at university

The biggest difference from A-Level is that there is a shift of focus. In school, you are mostly taught how things are done, and these skills are still important and will be used. At university, you will build on these skills and spend more time thinking about why things work.

Every module is different. Some modules have a strong focus on building up the foundational knowledge of a topic and learning about definitions, theorems and proofs. A theorem is a statement that tells you if something is true, then something else is true, and you will be taught what these are and prove why they are true. Other modules spend more time on methods which can be used to solve certain problems. In general, many begin with definitions and theorems and then lead into methods later, since the theorems help to explain why the methods work.

I didn’t realise just how many different topics are covered in maths. I have really enjoyed the variety. Learning about a wide range of topics in first and second year allowed me to understand what interests me most, informing which optional modules to pick later on. I have found that my favourite modules have been in applied maths topics, which are more method-based and use differential equations or statistics to understand real-life situations.

How you are assessed

Many modules are assessed through a mixture of exams and coursework. Most of the coursework we are given are problem sheets. These are questions based on the content you’ve been learning in lectures, and they help massively to understand the topic better while counting towards your module grade. The best way to understand maths is through practising, so in addition to problem sheets we are provided with non-assessed questions.

Not every module is like this though. For example, in first and second year, there are modules which teach you coding. I had never coded before and learnt through the computer labs ran in these modules. You will also complete modules where you work on real-life problems in groups. You and your group could be assessed through a report, poster or video you produce.

Maths is not just about numbers and calculations - a very important skill you are taught in a degree is how to communicate and present to others. In third year, you will write a research project and do a presentation which I found really developed my skills.

Equipment

I will finish by discussing what equipment and resources Maths students use day to day. For every lecture-based module, we are given an online copy of notes which the lectures follow. Therefore, you will not need to purchase any textbooks. Many people find it useful to take notes in lectures and use either pen and paper, or a tablet with apps such as OneNote. These are also used to complete problem sheets.

You will also be taught LaTeX, a software which you use to type up documents which presents mathematical notation very well. It is useful to have a device with a keyboard which means you can use LaTeX and coding programs to complete assignments which use these wherever you are. I would recommend getting a laptop/tablet with a good battery life as not everywhere you will go has plugs.

I complete all my degree work using a laptop and a pen and paper. Others use a tablet and a laptop, or you could use a laptop with a touchscreen or tablet with a keyboard. There are also computers at study spaces around the university which you can use, so it is up to you what you think you would prefer.