[wasmalay]

Hey guys,

I was wondering whether you could please provide me with some advice. I am currently doing an MSc in Economics and Finance, and over the next three years, I will be studying towards a PhD in Mathematical Economics. That said, although I have learnt a lot of mathematics, I was looking for some sort of more 'formal' training in the latter field.

After extensive research, I have found out that the University of London, via the London School of Economics, offers a Graduate Diploma in Mathematics.

Does anybody know anything about this Diploma? Has anybody ever done it before? It does specify on there that 'ideally', one would have a good knowledge of mathematics, at least to the level of a first-year undergraduate in maths.

For the record, I do not have any degree in maths, but I have done modules like mathematics for economics, and plenty of statistics/econometrics. However, I tend to pick up the maths very easily.

Would you guys (those who have done it before, or those of you who know a fair deal about the degree) say that it is doable?

I thank you a lot for your cooperation on this matter.

[MrShifty]

If it's anything like the External/International GradDip offered by UoL/LSE, there are links to the syllabus for each module here.

Much of the compulsory material actually looks like first year undergraduate maths: basic logic, vector spaces, series, limits, and so on. That stuff shouldn't pose much of a problem.

The only problem is if there are 'gaps' between the compulsory and the optional material. The course on optimization theory, for instance, deals with compact sets, but it's not mentioned whether these are covered during the module itself or a prior module.

Your best bet is probably to get in touch with the relevant people at the LSE, explain to them what knowledge you have and see what they say.

[wasmalay]

(Original post by MrShifty)
If it's anything like the External/International GradDip offered by UoL/LSE, there are links to the syllabus for each module here.

Much of the compulsory material actually looks like first year undergraduate maths: basic logic, vector spaces, series, limits, and so on. That stuff shouldn't pose much of a problem.

The only problem is if there are 'gaps' between the compulsory and the optional material. The course on optimization theory, for instance, deals with compact sets, but it's not mentioned whether these are covered during the module itself or a prior module.

Your best bet is probably to get in touch with the relevant people at the LSE, explain to them what knowledge you have and see what they say.

Hey mate,

Thanks very much for your reply. Yes, it's true that most of the stuff looks like first-year undergraduate maths, however, the modules Further Linear Algebra and Further Calculus delve much deeper into the more complex areas of maths, which would require formal training in maths, instead of just the 'Maths for Economics' that I have done. You see where I'm coming from?

But anyway, thanks very much for your reply.

[MrShifty]

No worries.

When you say 'Further Linear Algebra' and 'Further Calculus', are you talking about MT2175 and MT2176? I only ask as these are quite different to the 'Advanced Linear Algebra' and 'Advanced Calculus' (MT2117 and MT2118) modules which are part of the Graduate Diploma, the latter two assuming much less in the way of prequisites and may be a lot more accessible.

I don't know how appropriate it is, but as an alternative have you considered doing a Certificate in Higher Education in Mathematical Sciences via the Open University? This is roughly equivalent to the first year of a maths degree, so should provide you with a good foundation. They also offer a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences, which is equivalent to two years of a maths degree, but I'm not sure if that's not a bit much!

Whatever you decide, good luck!

[wasmalay]

(Original post by MrShifty)
No worries.

When you say 'Further Linear Algebra' and 'Further Calculus', are you talking about MT2175 and MT2176? I only ask as these are quite different to the 'Advanced Linear Algebra' and 'Advanced Calculus' (MT2117 and MT2118) modules which are part of the Graduate Diploma, the latter two assuming much less in the way of prequisites and may be a lot more accessible.

I don't know how appropriate it is, but as an alternative have you considered doing a Certificate in Higher Education in Mathematical Sciences via the Open University? This is roughly equivalent to the first year of a maths degree, so should provide you with a good foundation. They also offer a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences, which is equivalent to two years of a maths degree, but I'm not sure if that's not a bit much!

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Hiya,

Thank you so much for taking all that time and helping me make a decision. You can't know how much you're helping!

I have also had a look at that Certificate in Maths from the Open University, but I am an international student, and as you will appreciate, that certificate unfortunately costs a bomb, and even more so when you compare it with the Diploma in Maths from the UoL.

And yes, I was actually talking about MT2175 and MT2176. I am not sure about this and I may be imagining things, but I think I read somewhere that for the academic year 2012-2013, they wouldn't offer Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra on the Diploma, with the latter two having been replaced by MT2175 and MT2176. I have scrutinised the brochure as well, and it seems that MT2175 and MT2176 have become the norm now.

I guess I'll just have to do some work on my own during the summer while writing up my dissertation. I was thinking of going through basically everything that LSE has put up on its website for the module MA100 (http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calen...2011_MA100.htm).
That's simply because it is a prerequisite for MA212 (http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calen...2012_MA212.htm), which is the module that they have split into the two half-courses MT2175 and MT2176.

Do you think this should do the trick for me?

Again man, I thank you very much for all the help that you're providing me with, and if ever I can return the favour in any way whatsoever, please feel free to let me know.

[MrShifty]

(Original post by wasmalay)
Do you think this should do the trick for me?

I should think so! After all, if there's no specific need for a formal qualification like a Graduate Diploma, there's not really that much reason to pay for what you can achieve through independent study (which if you're doing a PhD should be well within your capabilities).

Load up on a couple of textbooks*, supplement these with some online notes and you should be absolutely fine. Also, when you start your PhD you will probably be able to sit in on lectures from other departments like mathematics if you want to.

Good luck!

*if the pure, proofy parts of the maths is a bit hard going at times, Velleman's 'How to Prove It' is a nice introduction to that side of things.

[wasmalay]

(Original post by MrShifty)
I should think so! After all, if there's no specific need for a formal qualification like a Graduate Diploma, there's not really that much reason to pay for what you can achieve through independent study (which if you're doing a PhD should be well within your capabilities).

Load up on a couple of textbooks*, supplement these with some online notes and you should be absolutely fine. Also, when you start your PhD you will probably be able to sit in on lectures from other departments like mathematics if you want to.

Good luck!

*if the pure, proofy parts of the maths is a bit hard going at times, Velleman's 'How to Prove It' is a nice introduction to that side of things.

Hey mate,

Thanks for the reply. I think you misunderstood me there! What I actually meant was that I would go through the prerequisites during the summer, so that I would be up to speed with the course material when I would do the Graduate Diploma later. Actually, I do need to get a qualification to show my mathematical aptitude to other departments/universities I may apply to in the future. Although a very strong knowledge of mathematics is already assumed in the field in which I am interested, I know of departments which want you to have taken pure maths modules during your training.

And bearing in mind how lazy I am, there is not much chance of my knowing every mathematical field in great detail if I studied each of these on my own. I need something to motivate me. This would therefore mean that the first year of my PhD is going to be excruciating!

By the way, I have looked up the Velleman book, and it seems to give a very nice, gentle introduction to proofs. Thanks for that.

Thank you again for all your help bro. Take care!

[764dak]

I am thinking about doing this too.

[avinashrd]

(Original post by 764dak)
I am thinking about doing this too.

Hi Fellow students,

I have received an offer from UOL for Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematics starting from 2013. Please let me know if anybody in the student room forum have received an offer. We can discuss about the course.

Regards,
Avinash