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.
“Before coming to Surrey, I’d read that not only are students more employable having done a year’s placement, but they also tend to do better in their final year than those who haven’t. The opportunity to do a Professional Training placement was very significant in my decision to come to Surrey.”
Bethany Breed, Maths BSC
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
12-1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
2-3pm – Algebra – Lecture
3-4pm – Calculus – Lecture
Tuesday
10-11am – Real Analysis – Lecture
11-12pm – Calculus or Real Analysis – Seminar
12-1pm – Algebra or Probability and Statistics – Seminar
2-3pm – Algebra – Lecture
3-4pm – Calculus – Lecture
Wednesday
10-11am – 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
10-11am – Real Analysis – Lecture
12-1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
1-2pm – Probability and Statistics – Computer Lab Work
2-3pm – Algebra – Lecture
3-4pm – Calculus – Lecture
Friday
10-12pm – Real Analysis – Lecture
12-1pm – Probability and Statistics – Lecture
2-3pm – Algebra – Lecture
3-4pm – Calculus – Lecture
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.