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Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) (MC-SCIMAT)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2022 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Majors, minors and specialisations
- Further study
Principal Coordinator
James Osborne
Contact
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Contact Stop 1
Future students:
- Further information: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/
Overview
Award title | Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2022 — Parkville |
CRICOS code | 094599G |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
AQF level | 9 |
Credit points | 200 credit points |
Duration | 24 months full-time or 48 months part-time |
The Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) is a coursework master's degree incorporating a substantial research project.
The course is a flexible program that allows students to study subjects across Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Physics, Physical Combinatorics, Operations Research, Industrial Optimisation, Discrete Mathematics, Statistics, Probability and Stochastic Processes. Subjects are taught at an advanced level and form an ideal preparation for research in Mathematics and Statistics, including doctoral (PhD) studies.
The Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) also gives students the opportunity to undertake a professional skills component, and is a pathway to PhD study or to the workforce.
Links to further information
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- an undergraduate degree with a major in Mathematics, Statistics or Mathematical Physics, and a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%) in the best 50 points in that major or relevant discipline studies at third year.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
Note:
- Quotas may be applied and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research
- Entry into a stream of the Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) is subject to the capacity of the department(s) or schools(s) to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and degree policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the degree. The Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) requires the following for all enrolled students:
- the ability to comprehend complex science and technology related information;
- the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of science, and technology principles and practices during assessment tasks;
- the ability to spend significant time behind a computer screen.
Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. There may be additional inherent academic requirements for some subjects, and these requirements are listed within the description of the requirements for each of these subjects. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the relevant Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Intended learning outcomes
After completing this course, students should have:
- discovered the challenge of research in Mathematics and Statistics;
- developed a deeper knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics;
- completed a substantial piece of research; and
- established a sound preparation for future research in Mathematics or Statistics.
Graduate attributes
Graduates will:
- have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
- have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
- have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
- reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
- be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
- be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
- have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
- be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.
Course structure
Students must complete a total of 200 pts comprising:
- Discipline subjects (137.5 points);
- Professional Skills Subject (12.5 points);
- Research Project Component (50 points or in special cases, with approval of the MSc program coordinator, 25 points with an additional 25 points of Master's level Mathematics and Statistics discipline subjects).
Subject options
Students must select one of the following specialisations (62.5 pts):
- Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Biology;
- Mathematical Physics and Physical Combinatorics;
- Operations Research and Industrial Optimisation;
- Pure Mathematics;
- Statistics and Stochastic Processes.
Specialisation subjects
Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Biology specialisation
Students must complete two compulsory specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90064 | Advanced Methods: Differential Equations | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90067 | Advanced Methods: Transforms | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must select three elective specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90011 | Mathematical Biology | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90026 | Computational Differential Equations | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90060 | Mathematical Statistical Mechanics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90103 | Random Matrix Theory | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90113 | Continuum Mechanics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90125 | Bayesian Statistical Learning | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90127 | Advanced Biological Modelling: Dynamics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90129 | Infectious Disease Dynamics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
Mathematical Physics and Physical Combinatorics specialisation
Students must complete at least two of three compulsory specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90030 | Advanced Discrete Mathematics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90060 | Mathematical Statistical Mechanics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90067 | Advanced Methods: Transforms | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must select three elective specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90031 | Enumerative Combinatorics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90064 | Advanced Methods: Differential Equations | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90065 | Exactly Solvable Models | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90069 | Introduction to String Theory | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90103 | Random Matrix Theory | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90132 | Lie Algebras | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
Operations Research and Industrial Optimisation specialisation
Students must complete two compulsory specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90014 | Optimisation for Industry | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90098 | Approximation, Algorithms and Heuristics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must select three elective specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90013 | Network Optimisation | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90050 | Scheduling and Optimisation | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90137 | Mathematical Game Theory | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90142 | Advanced Nonlinear Optimisation | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Pure Mathematics specialisation
Students must complete two compulsory specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90012 | Measure Theory | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90023 | Algebraic Topology | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must select three elective specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90017 | Representation Theory | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90020 | Functional Analysis | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90029 | Differential Topology and Geometry | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90056 | Riemann Surfaces and Complex Analysis | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90068 | Groups, Categories & Homological Algebra | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90097 | Algebraic Geometry | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90124 | Advanced Topics in Geometry and Topology | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90132 | Lie Algebras | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90133 | Partial Differential Equations | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90136 | Algebraic Number Theory | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90143 | Differential Geometry | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Statistics and Stochastic Processes specialisation
Students must complete two compulsory specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90081 | Advanced Probability | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90082 | Mathematical Statistics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must select three elective specialisation subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90019 | Random Processes | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90027 | Practice of Statistics & Data Science | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90051 | Mathematics of Risk | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90059 | Stochastic Calculus with Applications | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90083 | Computational Statistics & Data Science | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90084 | Statistical Modelling | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90085 | Multivariate Statistical Techniques | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90110 | Analysis of High-Dimensional Data | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MAST90111 | Advanced Statistical Modelling | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90112 | Advanced Topics in Stochastic Models | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90122 | Inference for Spatio-Temporal Processes | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90125 | Bayesian Statistical Learning | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST90138 | Multivariate Statistics for Data Science | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Further Discipline subjects
Students must also select:
- Two subjects (25 points) from a single specialisation different to their selected specialisation; and
- Four subjects (50 points) from any of the specialisations. Students from the Mathematical Physics and Physical Combinatorics specialisation may take up to four approved Master's level subjects from other Schools or Faculties, of which at least two must be from the Physics Master's level subjects listed below. Students from other specialisations may take up to two approved Master's level subjects from other Schools or Faculties.
Up to two of the four Further Discipline subjects can be replaced with approved undergraduate subjects. Where it is necessary for the student to acquire the required knowledge for Master's level Mathematics & Statistics discipline subjects, up to two further Master's level subjects can be replaced with approved undergraduate subjects.
Suggested Further Discipline subjects
Physics
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC90007 | Quantum Mechanics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC90008 | Quantum Field Theory | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC90009 | Physical Cosmology | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC90010 | Statistical Mechanics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC90011 | Particle Physics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC90012 | General Relativity | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Computer Science
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
COMP90038 | Algorithms and Complexity |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
COMP90043 | Cryptography and Security | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
COMP90046 | Constraint Programming | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
COMP90048 | Declarative Programming | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
COMP90049 | Introduction to Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
COMP90051 | Statistical Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
COMP90059 | Introduction to Programming |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Bioinformatics
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BINF90001 | Statistics for Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BINF90002 | Elements of Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Biomedical Engineering
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BMEN90027 | Systems and Synthetic Biology | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
Further discipline subjects may also include master's level subjects on topics related to the student’s research project, provided they are approved by the program coordinator. The total number of further discipline subjects offered by other schools in the student’s coursework cannot exceed two.
Professional Skills
1. Students must choose one of the following:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90045 | Systems Modelling and Simulation | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
COMP90072 | The Art of Scientific Computation |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
2. Students who have already received credit for one of (MAST30028, COMP10001, COMP10002, COMP20005, INFO10001) must choose one of the above subjects, or one of the following:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
SCIE90012 | Science Communication | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SCIE90013 | Communication for Research Scientists |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Winter Term (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
12.5 |
SCIE90017 | Science and Technology Internship |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Research Project - 50 points
A typical course structure for full time students
Full time students are advised to structure their enrolments as follows:
- Semester 1 - 50.0 points of coursework and no research project.
- Semester 2 - 37.5 points of coursework and Research Project Part 1 (12.5 points).
- Semester 3 - 37.5 points of coursework and Research Project Part 2 (12.5 points).
- Semester 4 - 25.0 points of coursework and Research Project Part 3 (25 points).
Other structures that are suitable for part time study, or for students who enroll with credit from earlier degrees, can be negotiated with the student's supervisor and the School's MSc program coordinator.
Research Project Component
The first semester of study is meant for coursework only. During the first semester, students should finalise their choice of research project supervisor and research topic.
The research project should be conducted in three consecutive semesters. Typically, work on the project, including the associated thesis and presentation, starts at the beginning of the second semester of study and is conducted in 60 of the next 66 weeks. An indicative total time commitment of 800 hours for the duration of the project is expected.
The assessment requirements below are applicable to the entire 50 point Research Project.
- A preliminary literature survey and research plan (of 2 pages) is due at the end of week eight of Research Project Part 1 (hurdle; pass/fail ).
- An intermediate report on the progress in the research project (of 2 pages) is due at the end of week eight of Research Project Part 2 (hurdle; pass/fail).
- A thesis (90% of assessment) is the main requirement due after the full 50 points of enrolment in the research project component. Theses are expected to be 40-60 pages in length, excluding references, appendices, figures and tables. The thesis will be submitted two weeks prior to the end of the teaching period in the final semester of Research project enrolment.
- Students will have to give 30 minute presentations (10% of assessment) on their research projects in the last week of that teaching period, on a date to be announced by the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the beginning of semester.
Leave of absence during enrolment in a research project and outside of university holidays requires the approval of the student’s supervisor.
Under special circumstances, with the permission of the program coordinator, students may be allowed to complete two 25 point research projects in lieu of a single 50 point project.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90116 | Research Project Part 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST90119 | Research Project Part 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
MAST90117 | Research Project Part 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST90120 | Research Project Part 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
MAST90118 | Research Project Part 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
MAST90121 | Research Project Part 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Research Project - 25 points
A typical course structure for full time students
This option is only available to students in special cases, and only with approval of the MSc program coordinator. Full time students for whom that option is approved are advised to structure their enrolments as follows:
- Semester 1 - 50.0 points of coursework and no research project.
- Semester 2 - 50.0 points of coursework and no research project.
- Semester 3 - 37.5 points of coursework and Minor Research Project Part 1 (12.5 points).
- Semester 4 - 37.5 points of coursework and Minor Research Project Part 2 (12.5 points).
Other structures that are suitable for part time study, or for students who enroll with credit from earlier degrees, can be negotiated with the student’s supervisor and the School's MSc program coordinator.
Research Project Component
The research project starts at the beginning of the third semester of study. Typically, work on the project, including associated thesis and presentation, should be conducted in 40 of the next 44 weeks.
An indicative total time commitment of 400 hours for the duration of the project is expected.
Leave of absence during enrolment in a research project and outside of university holidays requires the approval of the student’s supervisor.
The thesis will be submitted two weeks prior to the end of the teaching period in the final semester of research project enrolment, being the fourth semester of study. The students will have to give presentations on their research projects in the last week of that teaching period, on a date to be announced by the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the beginning of that semester.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90114 | Minor Research Project Part 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST90115 | Minor Research Project Part 2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Students completing this option will be required to select a further 25 points of coursework subjects from the relevant specialisation.
Majors, minors & specialisations
Name | Credit Points |
---|---|
Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Biology | 62.5 |
Mathematical Physics and Physical Combinatorics | 62.5 |
Operations Research and Industrial Optimisation | 62.5 |
Pure Mathematics | 62.5 |
Statistics and Stochastic Processes | 62.5 |
Further study
The Master of Science offers a pathway to a PhD.
Last updated: 26 April 2024