A week in the life of a maths undergraduate
From lectures to computer lab sessions and personal tutorials, discover what a typical week looks like as a first-year BSc or MMath maths student at Surrey.
How you'll learn
Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of:
- Computer labs
- Group work
- Lectures
- Online learning
- Seminars.
Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays and reading.
In addition to academic support from our lecturers and personal tutors, the student-run Surrey University Mathematics Society provides second and third-year maths student mentors to help support you in your first year.
We’ve also introduced hybrid learning, a mix of online and face-to-face sessions, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A typical week in your first year
In your first year, you'll receive approximately 20 contact hours each week.
Monday
- 12 noon - 1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
- 2pm - 3pm – Algebra – Lecture
- 3pm - 4pm – Calculus – Lecture.
Tuesday
- 10am - 11am – Real Analysis – Lecture
- 11am - 12 noon – Calculus or Real Analysis – Seminar
- 12 noon - 1pm – Algebra or Probability and Statistics – Seminar
- 2pm - 3pm – Algebra – Lecture
- 3pm - 4pm – Calculus – Lecture.
Wednesday
- 10am - 11am – Real Analysis – Lecture.
Please note, Wednesday afternoons are left free for University sporting, society or employability events.
The Department of Maths also features extracurricular seminars. At these, academics and graduates studying for doctoral degrees give seminars on mathematics used in research. Alumni give talks on how the mathematics they learned at University helps them in their careers, and is used in real-world industrial and statistical applications.
Thursday
- 10am - 11am – Real Analysis – Lecture
- 12 noon - 1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
- 1pm - 2pm – Probability and Statistics – Computer Lab Work
- 2pm - 3pm – Algebra – Lecture
- 3pm - 4pm – Calculus – Lecture.
Friday
- 10am - 12 noon – Real Analysis – Lecture
- 12 noon - 1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
- 2pm - 3pm – Algebra – Lecture
- 3pm - 4pm – Calculus – Lecture.
Life outside of lectures
We’re a campus university so everything you need is within a five-minute walk, including the Students’ Union building, grocery shopping, wellbeing and support services, the launderette and the medical centre. Students also have access to more than 180 student clubs and societies, with interests ranging from mixed martial arts to mah jong, and poker to politics.
Nearby Surrey Sports Park is a £36m facility, offering state-of-the-art training facilities such as a climbing wall and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Guildford’s picturesque cobbled high street boasts a wide range of retail and catering outlets, plus an excellent range of pubs and a busy nightlife. The town is also only a 35-minute train journey to London.
Find out more about undergraduate study in our Department of Mathematics.
Disclaimer: The timetable and modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication and may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps. Given the changing nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, our hybrid learning model is under continuous review. See the latest information on all changes.