A postgraduate course in Mathematics and Statistics.

This course teaches advanced mathematical methods with the aid of Maple, an algebraic computing language with graphics and numerical capabilities, which you’ll be taught how to use. Although the emphasis is on mathematical methods, you’ll use Maple partly to extend the use of these methods, partly to help you to visualise the mathematics and partly to enable you to combine conventional analytic techniques with numerical analysis. You’ll explore various forms of approximations, perturbation expansions, accelerated convergence methods including Padé approximants, asymptotic expansions of integrals and some eigenvalue problems.

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

The first part of this MSc in Mathematics course teaches the use of Maple: you are not expected to have any knowledge of it before you begin. The rest of the course deals with the various forms of approximation.

You will learn

Successful study of this course should enhance your skills in programming in Maple, understanding complex mathematical texts and communicating mathematical ideas clearly.

Entry

You must declare the MSc in Mathematics (or another qualification towards which the course can count) as your qualification intention. You must normally pass at least one of the Intermediate modules M828, M821, M832, M836, M829 or M835 before studying this module. For this module you are advised to have studied Nonlinear ordinary differential equations (M821). A sound knowledge of real and complex analysis is also assumed. 

All teaching is in English and your proficiency in the English language should be adequate for the level of study you wish to take. We strongly recommend that students have achieved an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 7. To assess your English language skills in relation to your proposed studies you can visit the IELTS website.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Qualifications

M833 an optional module in our:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics (C90)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics (E23)
• MSc in Mathematics (F04)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

The material contains small print and diagrams, which may cause problems if you find reading text difficult. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer.

Study materials

What's included

Course notes, other printed materials.

You will need

We recommend that you have access to the internet at least once a week during the course and would like to point out that vital material, such as your assignments, will be delivered online.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can access using a web browser – and some course software provided on disk.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
• A netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device is not suitable for this course – check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online using a special maths eTMA processor, which is used in place of the main eTMA system, unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

You will, however, be granted the option of submitting on paper if typesetting electronically or merging scanned images of your answers to produce an electronic TMA would take you an unacceptably long time.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2013. We expect it to then be available thereafter in odd years, starting in October.

How to register

To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

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