MSc in Mathematical Sciences Personal Statement
The admissions process for the MSc in Mathematical Sciences (OMMS) does not include an interview. The Admissions Panel is making their decision on the application file you submit alone. Thus, it is important that you convey why you are motivated and suited to study at Oxford in the supporting documents. This includes the personal statement.
Your personal statement should be up to 1000 words and should be written in English, otherwise there are no specific formatting requirements. Do not feel you have to use the full 1000 words; a strong statement can be anywhere from 500 to 1000 words long. You should explain your motivation for applying for the MSc in Mathematical Sciences (OMMS) at Oxford, your relevant education and experience, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. It is important to convey enthusiasm for the branch(es) of the mathematical sciences that you will follow on the course as well as demonstrating that your background is suitable for study at a higher level in these areas.
Your statement will be assessed on your reasons for applying, evidence of motivation for and understanding of the masters programme, commitment to the subject beyond the requirements of the degree course, capacity for sustained and intense work, reasoning ability, the ability to absorb abstract ideas at a rapid pace, and an indication of your intended pathway through the OMMS course.
You may wish to begin your personal statement by describing your reasons for applying to OMMS. These can be as simple as wanting to study the mathematical sciences for another year, or you may have a more targeted aim for what you wish to achieve on the course.
The members of the admissions panel who assess your application will want to see that you have given some thought to your pathway through the OMMS course. You can demonstrate this by stating which of the lecture courses you might follow, were you to come to Oxford. Of course, this does not have to be a complete or definitive list and you may subsequently change your mind. The assessors will also appreciate that you are most likely to still be completing your undergraduate degree and therefore will be continuing to learn about new and interesting areas of mathematics. The lecture courses available for 2022-23 can be found by following the links below and it is likely that most of the same lecture courses will be offered in the academic year 2023-24.
Since OMMS runs alongside the fourth year of Oxford’s undergraduate mathematics programme, most of these lecture courses have prerequisites. These can be found by clicking on the individual lecture course links at:
- Mathematical Institute courses;
- Department of Statistics courses;
- Department of Computer Science courses. (You may take at most two courses from the Department of Computer Science for credit on this masters programme.)
Those who assess your application will want to see that you are well prepared for the courses you might follow. You can demonstrate this by highlighting which of your previous modules are relevant to the prerequisites of the lecture courses you would take on OMMS.
Finally, you should tell us about any other relevant experience you have that demonstrates either your commitment to the mathematical sciences or your suitability to study on OMMS. Such experience might include, but is not limited to, research projects, prizes or awards, super-curricular courses, mathematical programming experience or outreach.