Cambridge Maths Part 3 (MAST) Tripos

Hi,

quick question really to anyone in the know out there.

I am currently a second year student at Loughborough, studying mathematics and economics. I am on a mid 2:1 after my second year, which is worth 25% of my overall degree.

I am coming to the end of a 15 month industrial in Front Office FX Sales and TRading, , and i am thinking about masters after i finsih university.

Is there a point of me applyng for this course, and is it beneficial to wait till after my january exams (when i have pulled my average up to a first) I want to ensure my application looks as good as it can, and i am worried that my average second year grades would have a negative affect. Would waiting to oull up my overall score to a first, plus the placement, be advantageous?

Any adivce would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the replies.

I shall definitely wait till after my exams, bump up my mark to overall first, then send my application off, which would probably early feb, after my results are released.

I didnt realise that most people applying already had a Masters, i assumed it was a course aimed at graduates.

I appreciated that it is very theoretical, however after my year out i wish to try and understand and go into greater depth on my mathematical studies, possibly into PHd, but not 100% sure as of yet.

Would my year out really be a hinderance, i thought it would at least have some positive impact.

If not for the cambridghe MASt, what other programmes in the UK have similar content / prestige that i could look into?

Thanks again guys

I think most of the students who do the MASt coming from another British university have a 4 year degree (so like an "undergrad" Master's, MSci, MMath, MPhys etc...). Part III is definitely not for students who are not wanting to move on to further academic study (like a PhD) and they would advise against someone doing it without any further plans in mind since it is very difficult.

I'm not sure exactly what your focus is, you mentioned you do Finance sort of things, so you could possibly look into Finance MSc's? I am a theoretical physicist myself and two comparable courses (though Cambridge would still be considered much more prestigious) would be the QFFF MSc at Imperial and (to a lesser extent) the MSc at Durham. Oxford is also apparently starting their own course similar to Cambridge's (might just be for theoretical physics though) that is supposed to start soon.

Do you mean, 'definitely FOR students'?

I wondered this too. It seems like the perfect preparation for a maths/physics PhD. It doesn't look like a terminal degree at all!

Do you mean, 'definitely FOR students'?

I wondered this too. It seems like the perfect preparation for a maths/physics PhD. It doesn't look like a terminal degree at all!

He said definitely not for students who are NOT wanting to go on to a PhD. Double negative!

Thanks. Maybe I shouldn't post on here at 4 in the morning so I don't look like an idiot!

To be honest, I'm not sure if finance is where i want to end up.

The purpose of doing the MAST was to be able to develop a much greater understanding of the subject, without having to dedicate myself to a PHD as of yet.

In regards to having a Msc. already, my course is currently 3 years ( 4 years with an industrial placement included) so would only graduate with an Bsc. Part of the reason I would like to transfer to cambridge is of course the prestige that comes along with obtaining a degree / Postgraduate qualification from there. I would then be better informed if I would actually like to continue on with my education, or if in fact i would like to follow a different route.

Are there any other Masters courses in the Uk, Ie Applied mathematics from LSE, or Imperial, that are up there with the course from cambridge, that maybe don't require the applicant to already have an Msc. in a chosen field?

Alex