Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Logic MSc

This one year taught postgraduate programme leads to the degree of MSc in Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Logic.  The programme is suitable not only for students who wish to improve their background knowledge prior to applying to undertake a PhD by research, but also for students who wish to enhance their knowledge of postgraduate-level abstract mathematics.

The MSc comprises of the taught component, running from the start of the academic year in September until the end of the second semester in late Spring, followed by the dissertation component running from May until September.

During the taught component of the programme you will normally take five course units together with a written project.   The project is normally an expository account of a piece of mathematics and you will write this under the guidance of a supervisor.  The taught component comprises of conventional lectures supported by examples classes, project work and independent learning via reading material.

After successfully completing the taught component, you will prepare a dissertation on an advanced topic in pure mathematics or mathematical logic, normally of current or recent research interest, chosen in consultation with your supervisor.

You can also take the programme part-time, over a period of two years.  There is some flexibility in the precise arrangements for this programme, but you would normally attend two lecture courses each semester for three semesters before commencing work on your dissertation.

The aims of the programme are to provide training in a range of topics related to pure mathematics and mathematical logic, to encourage a sophisticated and critical approach to mathematics, and to prepare students who have the ability and desire to follow careers as professional mathematicians and logicians in industry or research.

The taught courses cover material related to the research interests of the academic staff.  Topics covered in lectured course units normally include include: set theory, group theory, dynamical systems and ergodic theory, measure theory, functional analysis, algebraic topology, Godel's theorems, hyperbolic geometry, Lie algebras, analytic number theory, Galois theory, predicate logic, computation and complexity, and other topics relevant to current mathematics.

There will be a University Postgraduate Open Day on Wednesday 28 November 2012.   You can register for this event at http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgadmission/openday.html.  We also expect to hold a School Open Day on Wednesday 13 February 2013.