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SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND PHILOSOPHY

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[1] A

[2] In the following ‘the Mathematics Course Handbook’ refers to the Mathematics Undergraduate Handbook and supplements to this published by the Teaching Committee of the Department of Mathematics and also posted on the website at: http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/current-students/undergraduates/handbooks-synopses/.

  1. [3] 1. All candidates shall be examined in Mathematics and in Philosophy.
  2. [4] 2. No candidate shall be admitted to the examination in this School unless he or she has either passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination.
  3. [5] 3.
    1. [6] (a) The examination in Mathematics and Philosophy shall consist of three parts: [7] Part A, Part B and Part C.
    2. [8] (b) Parts A, B and C shall be taken at times not less than three, six, and nine terms, respectively, after passing or being exempted from the First Public Examination.
    3. [9] (c) Part A shall be taken on one occasion only. No candidate shall enter for Part B until he or she has completed Part A of the examination.
  4. [10] 4.
    1. [11] (a) In order to proceed to Part C, a candidate must achieve upper second class Honours or higher in Parts A and B together.
    2. [12] (b) A candidate who fails to satisfy the Examiners in Part C may enter again for Part C on at most one subsequent occasion.
    3. [13] (c) A candidate who has obtained Honours in Parts A and B together or has satisfied the examiners but has not obtained Honours in Parts A and B together is permitted to supplicate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Philosophy. A candidate who has achieved [From 1 October 2013: upper] second class Honours or higher in Parts A and B together and who takes the examination in Part C and fails to obtain Honours in Part C, is permitted to supplicate for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Philosophy with the classification obtained in Parts A and B together; provided that no such candidate may later enter or re-enter the Part C year or supplicate for the degree of Master of Mathematics and Philosophy; and provided in each case that the candidate has fulfilled all the conditions for admission to a degree of the University.
    4. [14] (d) A candidate who has achieved [From 1 October 2013: upper] second class Honours or higher in Parts A and B together, and achieves Honours in Part C may supplicate for the degree of Master of Mathematics and Philosophy provided that the candidate has fulfilled all the conditions for admission to a degree of the University.
  5. [15] 5. The Examiners shall classify and publish the combined results of the examinations in Part A and Part B, and in respect of candidates taking the four-year course shall separately classify and publish results in Part C.
  6. [16] 6. The examinations in this school shall be under the joint supervision of the Divisional Board of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences and the Board of the Faculty of Philosophy, which shall appoint a standing joint committee to make regulations concerning it, subject in all cases to clauses 1-4 above.
  7. [17] 7.
    1. [18] (a) The Public Examiners for Mathematics in this school shall be such of the Public Examiners in the Honour School of Mathematics as may be required, not being less than three; those for Philosophy shall be appointed by a committee whose three elected members shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Philosophy.
    2. [19] (b) It shall be the duty of the chairmen of the Public Examiners in Parts A, B and C of the Honour School of Mathematics to designate such of their number as may be required for Mathematics in the Honour School of Mathematics and Philosophy, and when this has been done and the examiners for Philosophy have been nominated, the number of the examiners in Mathematics and Philosophy shall be deemed to be complete. No examiners for Philosophy will be required in Part A of the examination.

[20] B

  1. [21] 1. [Until 1 October 2013: In Part A each candidate shall be required to offer the four written papers in Mathematics from the Schedule of papers for Part A (See ‘Schedule’ below). Each of papers AC1(P) and AC2(P) shall be of 2 hours duration and each of papers AO1(P) and AO2(P) shall be of 1½ hours duration.] [From 1 October 2013: In Part A, each candidate shall be required to offer, from the Mathematics Part A Schedule (see below), papers A1(CP), A2, and either two papers from papers A3,A4, A5, A8 or one paper from papers A3,A4,A5,A8 and paper ASO.]
  2. [22] 2. The examination for Part B shall consist of units in Mathematics and subjects in Philosophy. The schedule of units in Mathematics shall be published in [From 1 October 2013: Mathematics and Philosophy Synopses of lecture courses] supplement to the Mathematics Course Handbook by the beginning of the Michaelmas Full Term in the academic year of the examination concerned. The schedule shall be in two parts: Schedule 1 (standard units [Until 1 October 2013: and half-units]) and Schedule 2 (additional units [Until 1 October 2013: and half-units]). In Philosophy the subjects shall be subjects 101–118, 120, 122, 124, 125 and 199 from the list given in Special Regulations for All Honour Schools Including Philosophy. Each subject in Philosophy other than a Thesis shall be examined in one 3-hour paper. Each candidate shall offer:
    1. [23] (i) [Until 1 October 2013: Two] [From 1 October 2013: Four] units of Mathematics from Schedule 1, [Until 1 October 2013: one] [From 1 October 2013: two] of which shall be [Until 1 October 2013: B1 Foundations Logic and ] [From 1 October 2013: B1a Logic and B1b] Set Theory.
    2. [24] (ii) Three subjects in Philosophy from 101–118, 120, 122, 124 and 125, of which two must be 122 and either 101 or 102, and
    3. [25] (iii) Either [Until 1 October 2013: one further unit] [From 1 October 2013: two further units] in Mathematics drawn from Schedule 1 and 2 combined or one further subject in Philosophy from subjects 101–118, 120, 124 and 199: Thesis.
  3. [26] 3. In Part C each candidate shall offer [Until 1 October 2013: a total of three units chosen in any combination from the lists for Mathematics and for Philosophy.] [From 1 October 2013: one of the following: [27] (i) Six units in Mathematics; [28] (ii) Four units in Mathematics and one unit in Philosophy; [29] (iii) Two units in Mathematics and two units in Philosophy; [30] (iv) Three units in Philosophy; [31] from the lists for Mathematics and for Philosophy.] [32] [From 1 October 2013: The schedule of units in Mathematics shall be published in the Mathematics and Philosophy Synopses of lecture courses supplement to the Mathematics Course Handbook by the beginning of the Michealmas Full Term in the academic year of the examination concerned.] [Until 1 October 2013: Units in Mathematics are taken from the schedule of units and half units for Part C of the Honour School of Mathematics (see ‘Schedule’ below).] No unit [Until 1 October 2013: or half unit] in Mathematics, and no subject in Philosophy, may be offered in both Part B and Part C. A unit in Philosophy consists of one of the subjects 101-18, 120, 124, 125 and 180 as specified in the Regulations for Philosophy in all Honour Schools including Philosophy, or a Special Subject in Philosophy as approved by the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy by regulations published in the University Gazette and communicated to college tutors by the end of the fifth week of Trinity Term in the year before the Part C examination in which it will be examined, or a Thesis as specified below. No candidate may offer more than one Special Subject in Philosophy in Part C. In approving a Special Subject in Philosophy for Part C, the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy may specify that candidates will not be permitted to offer certain special subjects in combination with certain other subjects, or will be permitted to do so only on condition that in the papers on the other subjects they will not be permitted to answer certain questions. Subject to these qualifications, any candidate may offer any special subject. Each unit in Philosophy other than a Thesis shall be examined by a three-hour written paper together with an essay of at most 5,000 words. The relative weight of the essay to the three-hour exam shall be 1 to 3, i.e. the essay shall count for 25% of the mark in that subject. No essay shall exceed this word limit, which includes all notes and appendices, but not the bibliography. The word count should be indicated on the front of the essay. There shall be a select bibliography or a list of sources. All essays must be typed in double spacing on one side of quarto or A4 paper, with footnotes rather than endnotes. Candidates should avoid any substantial repetition of material between examination scripts and examination essays.The topic for a Philosophy examination essay in a given subject can be any question set for the most recent examination of that subject in Honour Schools with Philosophy, with the exception of questions for Plato Republic (115) and Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics (116) consisting of multiple passages for comment. Candidates may apply for approval of other essay topics by writing to the Chairman of the Board, c/o the Administrator, Philosophy Centre, 10 Merton Street, giving the title he or she proposes, together with an explanation of the subject in about 100 words and enclosing a letter from their tutor attesting to the suitability of this topic for the candidate. Any such application must be received no later than Friday of the sixth week of the Hilary Term preceding the Part C examination for which the essay is to be submitted. Late applications will not be considered. Any such application shall be accepted or rejected by the Board within two weeks of its being received.

[33] Each essay shall be the candidate's own work, though it should show knowledge of relevant literature in the subject and may include passages of quotation or paraphrase so long as these passages are clearly indicated as such and the source properly attributed. The candidate may discuss a first draft of the essay with his or her tutor for that subject. The amount of assistance the tutor may give shall be limited to what can be provided in one of the candidate's tutorials for their study of that subject. For each essay the candidate shall sign a statement to the effect that the essay is his or her own work and the tutor shall also sign a statement confirming that, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, this is so. These statements shall be placed in a sealed envelope bearing the candidate's examination number and the name of the subject for which the essay has been written and presented with two copies of each essay. Each copy of an essay shall be identified only by the candidate's examination number and bear the name of the Philosophy subject for which the essay is being submitted and must be submitted not later than noon on Friday of the first week of the Trinity Full Term of the examination to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, addressed to the Chairman of the Examiners for Part C of the Final Honour School of Mathematics and Philosophy.

[34] Philosophy Thesis

  1. [35] 1. Subject [36] The subject of every thesis should fall within the scope of philosophy. The subject may but need not overlap any subject on which the candidate offers papers. Candidates should avoid substantial repetition in examination scripts or examination essays of material from their theses. No part of a Philosophy thesis submitted for Part C may include work submitted for this or any other degree. Every candidate shall submit through his or her college for approval by the Board of the Faculty of Philosophy the title he or she proposes, together with an explanation of the subject in about 100 words; and a letter of approval from his or her tutor, not earlier than the first day of Trinity Full Term of the year before that in which he or she is to be examined and not later than Friday of the fourth week of the Michaelmas Full Term preceding his or her examination. Applications for approval of subject should be directed to the Chairman of the Board, c/o The Administrator, Philosophy Centre, 10 Merton Street. The Board shall decide as soon as possible whether or not to approve the title and shall advise the candidate immediately. No decision shall be deferred beyond the end of the fifth week of Michaelmas Full Term. If a candidate wishes to change the title of his or her thesis after a title has already been approved by the Board, he or she may apply for such permission to be granted by the Board. Applications should be directed to the Chairman of the Board (if the application is made before the first day of Hilary Full Term preceding the examination). If later than the first day of Hilary Full Term preceding the examination application for change of title should be made to the Chairman of Examiners for Part C of the Final Honour School of Mathematics and Philosophy.
  2. [37] 2. Authorship and origin [38] Every thesis shall be the candidate's own work. A candidate's tutor may, however, discuss with the candidate the field of study, the sources available, and the method of presentation; the tutor may also read and comment on drafts. The amount of assistance the tutor may give is equivalent to the teaching of a normal paper. Every candidate shall sign a certificate to the effect that the thesis is his or her own work and the tutor shall countersign the certificate confirming, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that this is so. This certificate shall be placed in a sealed envelope bearing the candidate's examination number presented together with the thesis. No thesis shall be accepted which has already been submitted for a degree of this or any other university, and the certificate shall also state that the thesis has not been so submitted. No thesis shall, however, be ineligible because it has been or is being submitted for any prize of this university.
  3. [39] 3. Length and format [40] No thesis shall exceed 20,000 words, the limit to include all notes and appendices, but not including the bibliography; no person or body shall have authority to permit any excess. The word count should be indicated on the front of the thesis. There shall be a select bibliography or a list of sources. All theses must be typed in double spacing on one side of quarto or A4 paper, with any notes and references at the foot of each page. Two copies of the thesis shall be submitted to the examiners.
  4. [41] 4. Submission of thesis [42] Every candidate shall submit two copies of their thesis, identified by the candidate's examination number only, not later than noon on Friday of the week before the Trinity Full Term of the examination to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, addressed to the Chairman of the Examiners for Part C of the Final Honour School of Mathematics and Philosophy.
  5. [43] 5. The highest honours can be obtained by excellence either in Mathematics or in Philosophy provided that adequate knowledge is shown in the other subject of the examination.
  6. [44] 6. The use of calculators is generally not permitted for written papers. However, their use may be permitted for certain exceptional examinations. The specification of calculators permitted for these exceptional examinations will be announced by the Examiners in the Hilary Term preceding the examination.

[45] Schedule

[46] Papers in Part A

  1. [47] [Until 1 October 2013: AC1(P) Algebra and Analysis
  2. [48] AC2(P) Algebra and Analysis
  3. [49] AO1(P) Options
  4. [50] AO2(P) Options]
  5. [51] [From 1 October 2013: A1 (CP) Algebra 1
  6. [52] A2 Metric Spaces and Complex Analysis
  7. [53] A3 Algebra 2
  8. [54] A4 Integration
  9. [55] A5 Topology
  10. [56] A8 Probability
  11. [57] ASO Short Options]

[58] Syllabus details will be published in the Mathematics Course Handbook by the beginning of the Michaelmas Full Term in the academic year of the examination for Part A.

[59] Units [Until 1 October 2013: and half units] in Mathematics for Part B and Part C

[60] The [Until 1 October 2013: final] list of units [Until 1 October 2013: and half units] along with synopses and other details, will be approved by the Mathematics Teaching Committee and published in the Mathematics Course Handbook by the beginning of Michaelmas Full Term in the academic year of the examination concerned.

[61] The list of units [Until 1 October 2013: and half units] for Part C shall include units in Mathematical Logic as specified by the Joint Committee for Mathematics and Philosophy.