Undergraduate courses

Students whose program requires them to take Mathematics courses in later years must take the standard first year courses MATH1131 Mathematics 1A and MATH1231 Mathematics 1B, or their higher equivalents MATH1141 Higher Mathematics 1A and MATH1241 Higher Mathematics 1B. The higher versions cover all of the material in MATH1131 and MATH1231, often at greater depth, and are intended for students who have obtained high marks in HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and Extension 2, or very high marks in Mathematics Extension 1 alone.

Students who do not intend studying Mathematics beyond Year 1 may instead take the courses MATH1031 Mathematics for Life Sciences and MATH1041 Statistics for Life and Social Sciences. However, students who select these courses should seriously consider the implications of their choice because only a limited number of further Mathematics courses will be available to them. 

The single course MATH1011 Fundamentals of Mathematics B is also available to students seeking an alternate prerequisite for MATH1131 in cases where they do not meet the normal HSC prerequisites. Students should note, however, that only one of MATH1011 and MATH1131 can be counted in their degree.

MATH1151 Mathematics for Actuarial Studies and Finance 1A and MATH1251 Mathematics for Actuarial Studies and Finance 1B are similar to MATH1141 and MATH1241, but are designed for Actuarial Studies students, for students in the BCom/BSc who are taking majors in Finance and Mathematics and for the Mathematics and Finance Plan in Advanced Science.

The course MATH1081 Discrete Mathematics is an additional Level I course which is highly recommended for all students who intend to major in Mathematics. It may be taken in Stage 1 or Stage 2, depending on the mathematical background of the student.

In second year, we offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skill in the 'core' areas of mathematics and statistics and, at the same time, to begin to specialise towards Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, or Statistics.

Some of the courses you take are determined by your choice of Majors/Minors (in the Science degree program 3970 or combined degree programs) or a study plan (in Advanced Science). Other courses are 'free electives' which you can choose for yourself.

The information given here is to help you choose your electives, starting with a list of courses together with links to a fuller description of each course. Many of the courses are available at Higher level as well as Ordinary, so we offer advice on whether to take Higher courses. Finally, there is a guide to the differences between Applied, Pure and Statistics and how this may affect your choice of courses.

What do we offer?

Course List for Mathematics and Statistics Majors etc.

The following is a list of the courses we offer Mathematics and Statistics majors at second year. Each item in the list is linked to a course description which tells you what the course is about and why it is worth studying. The last digit of the course number tells you how many units of credit it is worth: last digit 0 means 3 units of credit and last digit 1 means 6 units of credit.  

NOTE: MATH2260 is not taught every year.

The following is a list of courses we offer Mathematics and Statistics majors at third year.

Not all Level III courses in Mathematics and Statistics are offered every year. If a course is not being offered in a particular year, the course entry below will indicate that. 

Students proceeding to Year 4 (Honours) in some area of Mathematics or Statistics should consult with the relevant Honours Directors (see the information about Honours) before making a final choice of Level III courses. 

** These courses (MATH3101 and MATH3361) are offered in alternate years. MATH3101 will be offered in even years (2022, 2024…), and MATH3361 will be offered in odd years (2023, 2025…).

*** These courses (MATH3171 and MATH3191) are offered in alternate years. MATH3191 will be offered in even years (2022, 2024…), and MATH3171 will be offered in odd years (2023, 2025…).

Students whose program requires them to take Mathematics courses in later years must take the standard first year courses MATH1131 Mathematics 1A and MATH1231 Mathematics 1B, or their higher equivalents MATH1141 Higher Mathematics 1A and MATH1241 Higher Mathematics 1B. The higher versions cover all of the material in MATH1131 and MATH1231, often at greater depth, and are intended for students who have obtained high marks in HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and Extension 2, or very high marks in Mathematics Extension 1 alone.

Students who do not intend studying Mathematics beyond Year 1 may instead take the courses MATH1031 Mathematics for Life Sciences and MATH1041 Statistics for Life and Social Sciences. However, students who select these courses should seriously consider the implications of their choice because only a limited number of further Mathematics courses will be available to them. 

The single course MATH1011 Fundamentals of Mathematics B is also available to students seeking an alternate prerequisite for MATH1131 in cases where they do not meet the normal HSC prerequisites. Students should note, however, that only one of MATH1011 and MATH1131 can be counted in their degree.

MATH1151 Mathematics for Actuarial Studies and Finance 1A and MATH1251 Mathematics for Actuarial Studies and Finance 1B are similar to MATH1141 and MATH1241, but are designed for Actuarial Studies students, for students in the BCom/BSc who are taking majors in Finance and Mathematics and for the Mathematics and Finance Plan in Advanced Science.

The course MATH1081 Discrete Mathematics is an additional Level I course which is highly recommended for all students who intend to major in Mathematics. It may be taken in Stage 1 or Stage 2, depending on the mathematical background of the student.

Starting from T2 2023, students should access course outlines from www.unsw.edu.au/course-outlines.

In second year, we offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skill in the 'core' areas of mathematics and statistics and, at the same time, to begin to specialise towards Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, or Statistics.

Some of the courses you take are determined by your choice of Majors/Minors (in the Science degree program 3970 or combined degree programs) or a study plan (in Advanced Science). Other courses are 'free electives' which you can choose for yourself.

The information given here is to help you choose your electives, starting with a list of courses together with links to a fuller description of each course. Many of the courses are available at Higher level as well as Ordinary, so we offer advice on whether to take Higher courses. Finally, there is a guide to the differences between Applied, Pure and Statistics and how this may affect your choice of courses.

What do we offer?

Course List for Mathematics and Statistics Majors etc.

The following is a list of the courses we offer Mathematics and Statistics majors at second year. Each item in the list is linked to a course description which tells you what the course is about and why it is worth studying. The last digit of the course number tells you how many units of credit it is worth: last digit 0 means 3 units of credit and last digit 1 means 6 units of credit.  

NOTE: MATH2260 is not taught every year.

Starting from T2 2023, students should access course outlines from www.unsw.edu.au/course-outlines.

The following is a list of courses we offer Mathematics and Statistics majors at third year.

Not all Level III courses in Mathematics and Statistics are offered every year. If a course is not being offered in a particular year, the course entry below will indicate that. 

Students proceeding to Year 4 (Honours) in some area of Mathematics or Statistics should consult with the relevant Honours Directors (see the information about Honours) before making a final choice of Level III courses. 

Starting from T2 2023, students should access course outlines from www.unsw.edu.au/course-outlines.

** These courses (MATH3101 and MATH3361) are offered in alternate years. MATH3101 will be offered in even years (2022, 2024…), and MATH3361 will be offered in odd years (2023, 2025…).

*** These courses (MATH3171 and MATH3191) are offered in alternate years. MATH3191 will be offered in even years (2022, 2024…), and MATH3171 will be offered in odd years (2023, 2025…).