Broadening Training

There is a specific requirement to broaden students’ knowledge and understanding of the Mathematical Sciences. This broadening will ensure that students understand their own research as part of the wider Mathematical Sciences, appreciating the variety of questions, objectives, and ways of thinking there are; and it will also familiarise students with different ideas so they can make the surprising links across mathematics which are the basis of some of the most fruitful advances.

The specifics of broadening training will vary from student to student and should be discussed with your supervisor, but the basic requirements are as follows. 

All students starting from October 2020 onwards must un­dertake 68 hours of broadening courses during their DPhil studies. These should amount to the equivalent of 3 standard 16-hour lecture courses, with the remaining hours being made up via attendance at seminars and colloquia.

-You must complete at least 1 broadening course prior to Transfer. 

-At least 2 of the 3 courses should be distinct from your research.

Students who started in October 2019 or earlier must undertake 100 hours of broadening. These should amount to the equivalent of 5 standard 16-hour lecture courses with the remaining hours being made up via attendance at seminars and colloquia.

-You must complete at least 1 broadening course prior to Transfer. 

-At least 3 of the 5 courses should be distinct from your research.

Exemptions for previous study

Students who have studied for an undergraduate and postgraduate degree for a combined period of five years prior to starting the DPhil in Mathematics will be exempt from the equivalent of 1 of the required 16-hour courses. DTC and CDT students are exempt from the requirements, however they must attend at least 20 seminars, workshops or colloquia.

What counts as broadening?

Broadening courses may be selected from the following:

• Taught Course Centre courses;
• graduate lectures and advanced classes/courses as listed in the Mathematics lecture list;
• courses specific to any of the Mathematics MSc programmes;
• MMath Part C and Part B courses provided that the student has not already taken the course (or an equivalent elsewhere);
• courses offered by other departments, with prior approval from the DGS;
• LMS/EPSRC Summer Schools, Graduate Modelling Camps and similar, with the num­ber of hours of lectures defining the amount of training;
• Other courses with approval from the DGS.

Please note, research students who attend Part B and C courses may not attend the problems classes; they are encouraged to form informal groups to discuss the problem sets, and (when space permits) the Department will facilitate booking of rooms for this purpose.

Teaching for broadening

Teaching can be a way to build a deep understanding of a subject, and so teaching a new subject outside of your research area can be a way to broaden your mathematical knowledge. If your supervisor agrees, you are permitted to act as a TA or Class Tutor to meet the equivalent of 1 of the required 16-hour lecture courses of the broadening requirement. 

Assessment methods for broadening courses

Broadening courses are not required to be assessed. Students and lecturers may discuss and mutually agree ways of engaging with the material beyond lectures. For example, a lecturer may be able to suggest references to extend a particular topic, or where open questions may be found.

Broadening courses taken should be noted on applications for Transfer and Confirmation, and the assessors for Transfer or Confirmation of Status may ask students questions (at a fairly general level) about the topics they have covered in their broadening training.

Seminars, workshops and colloquia

All doctoral students should be attending seminars, workshops and colloquia regularly, even if not in their specialist area.