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How many hours/week study is Maths degree?
Hello,
I'm 32, have a full-time job, and am thinking about doing a Maths degree simultaneously. In 1991 I got As in Maths/Phys/Chem but for various reasons never went to uni full-time. I did a part-time Computing BSc at an ex-poly. That rubbish course had a 75% drop-out rate. I didn't have enough time or motivation and got a 2:2 at the end. At least unlike most people I finished. Since age 18 I've worked mostly as a software engineer.
So now, thinking that 2:2 goes nowhere toward further study, and it would be good to actually learn some stuff, particularly stuff with permanence as opposed to learning endless programming tools/languages that keep changing, I like the idea of studying Maths.
My question is, how many hours a week does it take ? How many hours lectures, how much study? Most full-time students seem to cope with going out on the p*** and having a part-time job, as well as studying. If I don't go out on the p***, and work say 28-32 hours/wk (some time off in week for lectures), does that work out OK? Or is this insane / total masochism ? ;-)
Thanks guys
Nick
I'm 32, have a full-time job, and am thinking about doing a Maths degree simultaneously. In 1991 I got As in Maths/Phys/Chem but for various reasons never went to uni full-time. I did a part-time Computing BSc at an ex-poly. That rubbish course had a 75% drop-out rate. I didn't have enough time or motivation and got a 2:2 at the end. At least unlike most people I finished. Since age 18 I've worked mostly as a software engineer.
So now, thinking that 2:2 goes nowhere toward further study, and it would be good to actually learn some stuff, particularly stuff with permanence as opposed to learning endless programming tools/languages that keep changing, I like the idea of studying Maths.
My question is, how many hours a week does it take ? How many hours lectures, how much study? Most full-time students seem to cope with going out on the p*** and having a part-time job, as well as studying. If I don't go out on the p***, and work say 28-32 hours/wk (some time off in week for lectures), does that work out OK? Or is this insane / total masochism ? ;-)
Thanks guys
Nick
nicknicknick
Hello,
I'm 32, have a full-time job, and am thinking about doing a Maths degree simultaneously. In 1991 I got As in Maths/Phys/Chem but for various reasons never went to uni full-time. I did a part-time Computing BSc at an ex-poly. That rubbish course had a 75% drop-out rate. I didn't have enough time or motivation and got a 2:2 at the end. At least unlike most people I finished. Since age 18 I've worked mostly as a software engineer.
So now, thinking that 2:2 goes nowhere toward further study, and it would be good to actually learn some stuff, particularly stuff with permanence as opposed to learning endless programming tools/languages that keep changing, I like the idea of studying Maths.
My question is, how many hours a week does it take ? How many hours lectures, how much study? Most full-time students seem to cope with going out on the p*** and having a part-time job, as well as studying. If I don't go out on the p***, and work say 28-32 hours/wk (some time off in week for lectures), does that work out OK? Or is this insane / total masochism ? ;-)
Thanks guys
Nick
I'm 32, have a full-time job, and am thinking about doing a Maths degree simultaneously. In 1991 I got As in Maths/Phys/Chem but for various reasons never went to uni full-time. I did a part-time Computing BSc at an ex-poly. That rubbish course had a 75% drop-out rate. I didn't have enough time or motivation and got a 2:2 at the end. At least unlike most people I finished. Since age 18 I've worked mostly as a software engineer.
So now, thinking that 2:2 goes nowhere toward further study, and it would be good to actually learn some stuff, particularly stuff with permanence as opposed to learning endless programming tools/languages that keep changing, I like the idea of studying Maths.
My question is, how many hours a week does it take ? How many hours lectures, how much study? Most full-time students seem to cope with going out on the p*** and having a part-time job, as well as studying. If I don't go out on the p***, and work say 28-32 hours/wk (some time off in week for lectures), does that work out OK? Or is this insane / total masochism ? ;-)
Thanks guys
Nick
I think it would depend where you study and what sort of degree classification you would be aiming for. I'm in my first year of a Mathematics degree at Warwick and in my first two terms I've typically had 20-25 hours of contact time per week before counting time spent doing assignments/example sheets, reading lecture notes and revising for examinations so the total amount of time spent studying or in lectures/supervisions/tutorials will be significantly higher than 32 hours.
I think it would be too much to hold down a full time job at the same time.
I don't want to discourage you from studying Mathematics though, while it can often be frustrating it's also immensely rewarding and interesting.
Gaz031 - thanks a lot for the very helpful and thoughtful reply.
ssmoose - I was thinking Leicester because its nearby and has a good department which specialises in Mathematical Modelling (which I'm interested in) and is perhaps more friendly (non-rah) than Nottingham.
---------------------
Presumably with 3 As at A-level and as a mature student I should be able to get in most places other than Oxbridge... The main issue is brushing up skills.
I think this is only worth doing if I can get at least a 2:1 preferably a 1st.
I also thought of doing just enough undergrad stuff to get into a MMath - computational mathematics (or similar). Wonder how possible that is. does skip the steps to get a good Maths grounding though.
Really I'm interested in Computational Mathematics.
Eventually it would be cool to do some research where all the code is written in Lisp. I've learnt C,C++, Java, Perl, Python and they're all subsets of Lisp's features. The world should be using Lisp! But most people don't realise, and never will.. ;-(
The main people who seem to use and/or understand Lisp are mathematicians.
If scientists weren't fighting Perl or Fortran when writing number-crunching stuff, and had the beauty of Lisp at their disposal, I'm convinced humankind would be a lot further on. A lot of people think I'm on acid when I say that. I take that as a compliment. ;-)
Thought about doing Open Uni too but thats lonely and tough.
Sigh...
Might have to make some extreme financial sacrifices, especially with top-up fees. Its a risky endeavor too going back to uni at this age. I suppose Maths one of the best subjects for employment though.
Any more thoughts welcome...
Cheers
Nick
ssmoose - I was thinking Leicester because its nearby and has a good department which specialises in Mathematical Modelling (which I'm interested in) and is perhaps more friendly (non-rah) than Nottingham.
---------------------
Presumably with 3 As at A-level and as a mature student I should be able to get in most places other than Oxbridge... The main issue is brushing up skills.
I think this is only worth doing if I can get at least a 2:1 preferably a 1st.
I also thought of doing just enough undergrad stuff to get into a MMath - computational mathematics (or similar). Wonder how possible that is. does skip the steps to get a good Maths grounding though.
Really I'm interested in Computational Mathematics.
Eventually it would be cool to do some research where all the code is written in Lisp. I've learnt C,C++, Java, Perl, Python and they're all subsets of Lisp's features. The world should be using Lisp! But most people don't realise, and never will.. ;-(
The main people who seem to use and/or understand Lisp are mathematicians.
If scientists weren't fighting Perl or Fortran when writing number-crunching stuff, and had the beauty of Lisp at their disposal, I'm convinced humankind would be a lot further on. A lot of people think I'm on acid when I say that. I take that as a compliment. ;-)
Thought about doing Open Uni too but thats lonely and tough.
Sigh...
Might have to make some extreme financial sacrifices, especially with top-up fees. Its a risky endeavor too going back to uni at this age. I suppose Maths one of the best subjects for employment though.
Any more thoughts welcome...
Cheers
Nick
Popa Dom
Have you considered an Open University degree?
nicknicknick
Thought about doing Open Uni too but thats lonely and tough.
...
gianthead
ta 4 the comment on sponsorship - hadn't thought of that route.
do you know of particular companies /institutions that do that and what kind of committment there is at the end of it?
ta 4 the comment on sponsorship - hadn't thought of that route.
do you know of particular companies /institutions that do that and what kind of committment there is at the end of it?
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