Mathematics and Philosophy
Bachelor's degree
In Oxford
Description
-
Type
Bachelor's degree
-
Location
Oxford
UCAS code GV15 Duration
3 years (BA)
4 years (MMathPhil)
Entrance requirements
A*A*A with the A*s in Maths and Further Maths if taken
Subject requirements Maths
Further Maths
Admissions test(s) ox.ac.uk/mat Written work None
Admissions statistics*
Interviewed: 42%
Successful: 12%
Intake: 16
*3-year average 2017-19
Contact
+44 (0) 1865 615205
Email Maths
+44 (0) 1865 276926
Email Philosophy
Subject requirements: Essential Recommended Helpful – may be useful on course
Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page
Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.
This course brings together two of the most fundamental and widely-applicable intellectual skills. Mathematical knowledge and the ability to use it is the most important means of tackling quantifiable problems, while philosophical training enhances the ability to analyse issues, question received assumptions and clearly articulate understanding. The combination provides a powerful background from which to proceed to graduate study in either mathematics or philosophy or to pursue a diverse range of careers.
Historically, there have been strong links between mathematics and philosophy; logic, an important branch of both subjects, provides a natural bridge between the two, as does the Philosophy of mathematics module. The degree is founded on the belief that the parallel study of these related disciplines can significantly enhance your understanding of each.
">Video of Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford University
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The Philosophy Faculty is the largest in the UK, and one of the largest in the world, with more than 70 full-time members and admitting around 450 undergraduates annually to read the various degrees involving philosophy. Many faculty members have a worldwide reputation, and the faculty has the highest research ratings of any philosophy department in the UK
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
Reviews
Subjects
- Ms Word
- GCSE Mathematics
- University
- Maths
- Algebra
- Teaching
- Word
- Options
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Logic
- Joint
- Foundations
- Combination
- Compulsory
- Consists
- MMathPhil
Course programme
- Years 1 and 2: up to ten lectures a week, two–three tutorials a week
- Years 3 and 4: up to eight lectures a week. Equivalent of eight units taken each year. Weekly tutorials per philosophy subject. Fortnightly classes per mathematics unit.
Tutorials are usually 2-4 students and a tutor. Class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose. There would usually be around 8-12 students though classes for some of the more popular papers may be larger. Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctorate level.
To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.
Academic YearCourse structureThere are two Mathematics and Philosophy degrees, the three-year BA and the four-year MMathPhil. Decisions regarding continuation to the fourth year do not have to be made until the third year.
The mathematics units in this joint course are all from the single-subject Mathematics course. Accordingly the standard in mathematics for admission to the joint course is the same as for admission to the single-subject Mathematics course. The compulsory core mathematics for the joint course consists mainly of the pure (as opposed to applied) mathematics from the compulsory core for the single-subject Mathematics course. The philosophy units for the Mathematics and Philosophy course are mostly shared with the other courses with philosophy.
In the first year, all parts of the course are compulsory. In the second and third years some subjects are compulsory, consisting of core mathematics and philosophy and bridge papers on philosophy of mathematics and on foundations (logic and set theory), but you also choose options. In the fourth year there are no compulsory subjects, and you can do all mathematics, all philosophy, or a combination of the two.
YEAR 1COURSES
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Philosophy
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: five compulsory written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
- Mathematics
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Philosophy
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations, Part A (Year 2): two written papers on pure mathematics core and two written papers on mathematics options
Final University examinations, Part B (Year 3): four 90-minute exams in mathematics and three three-hour papers in philosophy and either two further 90-minute mathematics exams or one further three-hour philosophy paper (or the equivalent)
COURSES
- Mathematics
Advanced options including:- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Philosophy
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University Examinations, Part C: philosophy subjects include a 5000-word essay. Students study three philosophy subjects or eight mathematics units, or a mixture of the two disciplines. A 2:1 is currently required to progress to Part C.
YEAR 1COURSES
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Philosophy
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: five compulsory written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
- Mathematics
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Philosophy
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations, Part A (Year 2): two written papers on pure mathematics core and two written papers on mathematics options
Final University examinations, Part B (Year 3): four 90-minute exams in mathematics and three three-hour papers in philosophy and either two further 90-minute mathematics exams or one further three-hour philosophy paper (or the equivalent)
COURSES
- Mathematics
Advanced options including:- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Philosophy
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University Examinations, Part C: philosophy subjects include a 5000-word essay. Students study three philosophy subjects or eight mathematics units, or a mixture of the two disciplines. A 2:1 is currently required to progress to Part C.
YEAR 1YEAR 1YEAR 1COURSES
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Philosophy
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: five compulsory written papers
COURSES
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Philosophy
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
COURSES
COURSES- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Philosophy
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Calculus and probability
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
- Elements of deductive logic
- General philosophy
- Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: five compulsory written papers
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTFirst University examinations: five compulsory written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3YEARS 2 AND 3YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
- Mathematics
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Philosophy
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations, Part A (Year 2): two written papers on pure mathematics core and two written papers on mathematics options
Final University examinations, Part B (Year 3): four 90-minute exams in mathematics and three three-hour papers in philosophy and either two further 90-minute mathematics exams or one further three-hour philosophy paper (or the equivalent)
COURSES
- Mathematics
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Philosophy
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
COURSES
COURSES- Mathematics
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Philosophy
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Core pure mathematics (Algebra, Metric spaces, Complex analysis)
- Foundations (Set theory, Logic)
- Intermediate mathematics options
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
- Knowledge and reality or Early Modern philosophy
- Philosophy of mathematics
- Further philosophy papers
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations, Part A (Year 2): two written papers on pure mathematics core and two written papers on mathematics options
Final University examinations, Part B (Year 3): four 90-minute exams in mathematics and three three-hour papers in philosophy and either two further 90-minute mathematics exams or one further three-hour philosophy paper (or the equivalent)
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTFinal University examinations, Part A (Year 2): two written papers on pure mathematics core and two written papers on mathematics options
Final University examinations, Part B (Year 3): four 90-minute exams in mathematics and three three-hour papers in philosophy and either two further 90-minute mathematics exams or one further three-hour philosophy paper (or the equivalent)
YEAR 4YEAR 4YEAR 4
COURSES
- Mathematics
Advanced options including:- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Philosophy
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University Examinations, Part C: philosophy subjects include a 5000-word essay. Students study three philosophy subjects or eight mathematics units, or a mixture of the two disciplines. A 2:1 is currently required to progress to Part C.
COURSES
- Mathematics
Advanced options including:- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Philosophy
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.
COURSES
COURSES- Mathematics
Advanced options including:- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
Advanced options including:
- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Axiomatic set theory
- Elliptic curves
- Gödel’s incompleteness theorems
- Infinite groups
- Model theory
- Stochastic differential equations
- Optional mathematics dissertation
- Philosophy
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
- Advanced options in philosophy
- Optional philosophy thesis
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.
The options listed above are illustrative and may change. A full list of current options is available on the Mathematics website and the Philosophy website.Mathematics websitePhilosophy websiteASSESSMENT
Final University Examinations, Part C: philosophy subjects include a 5000-word essay. Students study three philosophy subjects or eight mathematics units, or a mixture of the two disciplines. A 2:1 is currently required to progress to Part C.
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTFinal University Examinations, Part C: philosophy subjects include a 5000-word essay. Students study three philosophy subjects or eight mathematics units, or a mixture of the two disciplines. A 2:1 is currently required to progress to Part C.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
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Mathematics and Philosophy