Polymaths - Part-time

University of Bolton

Foundation degree

In Bolton

Price on request

The best Other IT courses

See all

See all

Description

  • Type

    Foundation degree

  • Location

    Bolton

  • Duration

    1 Year

The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Polymaths Certificate has been taught at the University of Bolton for more than 30 years. It’s ideal if you’d like to study an honours degree in mathematics but don’t have the necessary A-levels. It has a proven history with many successful students progressing to undergraduate courses and going on to gain good honours degrees.

It’s designed to provide an overview of the mathematics discipline and prepare you for degree-level study. The course covers a range of subjects, including number systems, functions and their graphs, elementary abstract algebra, and differential and integral calculus.

This course requires regular commitment twice a week - classes are taught in the evening in relatively small groups of between 20 and 30 students. Informal and interactive, lessons involve lots of student participation and discussion of the course materials. You’ll be guided in the programme towards the development of subject-specific skills, such as understanding abstract concepts and being able to clearly present mathematical arguments, and assessed through short tests, exams and a project of your choice.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Bolton (Greater Manchester)
See map
Deane Road, BL3 5AB

Start date

On request

About this course

The Polymaths course provides an excellent foundation for the BSc (Hons) Mathematics course. It also provides a good foundation for courses in other subjects that have a high mathematical requirement; for example, engineering and computer-related courses.

Studying the Polymaths Certificate helps to develop skills and knowledge that are in high demand. On completion of the course, successful students will be able to demonstrate the ability to manage their time effectively in order to meet deadlines, convey information with clarity, organise workloads, problem solve, and work methodically and accurately.

The Polymaths Certificate is primarily designed for people who wish to progress to study at undergraduate level, especially in subjects that require A-level Mathematics. Many of our successful Polymaths students choose to study BSc (Hons) Mathematics.

There is a demand for mathematicians across a wide range of sectors so completing a degree in mathematics is a solid choice. Popular career paths for mathematics graduates include business, IT, economics, banking and finance. Those who have specialised in statistics can find work in the NHS, local authorities, education, the pharmaceutical industry, insurance, market research and marketing companies and accountancy firms. There are also opportunities for employment with publicly-funded-research institutes or government agencies.

Alternative Career Options
Insurance underwriting
Aerospace engineering
Business analysis
Quantity surveying
Tax advising
Pensions consultancy
Engineering
Software testing
Scientific Research and Development
Teaching and education
Management consultancy
Public administration
Market research
Corporate finance
Computing
Auditing
Retail
Purchasing
Investment banking
Stocks and shares
Credit and investment analysis

A pass at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 in GCSE Mathematics (or equivalent) is recommended.

You’ll be required to attend an interview as part of the application process. This will allow you to discuss the course with the admissions tutor who’ll decide if it’s appropriate for you.

Key Features:
Our Mathematics degrees are top in the North West and second in the UK for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2018), and you can be assured that we offer the same high standards of tuition and pastoral care to our Polymaths students.
The course focus is pure mathematics supported by some studies using the computer algebra system Maple.
Course topics include algebraic techniques, number systems, mathematical functions, calculus, set theory and logic.
After successfully completing the Polymaths Certificate of the IMA with the required score, you may progress on to the BSc (Hons) Mathematics degree course at the University of Bolton.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Subjects

  • IT
  • GCSE Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Part Time
  • Teaching
  • Staff
  • Algebra
  • University
  • Project
  • Discussions
  • Encouraged

Course programme

Teaching, Learning And Assessment

The Polymaths Certificate of the IMA is delivered via informal, interactive twice-weekly lessons held in the evening. Sessions are tutor-led and are approximately two-and-a-half hours in length. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions and invited to join in discussions during these lessons. Split into six sections, the programme comprises four areas of content, which are supplemented by a computer algebra unit and a project.

You’ll be expected to complete a number of short tests in your own time based on week-by-week learning of the set course books. Additionally, you’ll sit a time constrained open-book in class test for each book. There’s a long test on computer algebra, which is not time-constrained – this is completed in lesson time and includes tutor support.

You’ll also be expected to complete a project on a mathematical topic of your choosing, receiving guidance from tutors – restriction on the nature of the project is kept to a minimum. The IMA Polymaths Certificate is issued on the condition that you achieve at least 700 marks out of a total 1,200 for the entire course.

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up to date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.

See related categories

Polymaths - Part-time

Price on request

The best Other IT courses

See all

See all