Diploma in Mathematical Sciences

Students undertaking the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences concurrently with a new generation undergraduate degree will generally achieve the objectives of the new generation BSc degree, but the following specific outcomes are particular objectives of the Diploma:

(a) support the graduate attributes, under “academically excellent”:

• be intellectually curious and apply a rigorous, critical and logical approach to enquiry;
• apply outstanding analytical, quantitative and technical skills to problem solving and, where relevant, design;

(b) support the graduate attribute, under “knowledgeable across disciplines”:

• have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment;

(c) provide students who would not otherwise have the opportunity, access to professional masters or research-preparation masters programs in mathematics and statistics, while keeping fully open the pathways associated with the major chosen within the core of their new-generation undergraduate degree.

Students undertake the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences together with a new generation undergraduate degree, to make a total program of between 350 and 400 points.

Up to fifty points of appropriate Mathematics and Statistics subjects in the new generation undergraduate degree program may also be attributed to the Diploma.

Note that in some cases students will be required to complete a total of 125 points of mathematics and statistics study to complete a maths sequence as required by the Diploma. Note that only 100 points of this 125 points of study can be completed in the Diploma and therefore any additional points required must be completed within the bachelors degree or via the Community Access Program.

To be awarded the Diploma students must have completed 100 points of Mathematics and Statistics subjects at post-VCE level, including 50 points at third year level. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science majoring in Mathematics and Statistics or Mathematical Physics are not permitted to complete a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences.

Students are required to select subjects in the new-generation degree and the Diploma, so that all requirements of the new-generation undergraduate degree are met and, in addition through the Diploma, the student meets the specific requirements for the award of any one specialisation of the major in Mathematics and Statistics, as defined for the new generation Bachelor of Science.

• Pure Mathematics
• Applied Mathematics
• Operations Research / Discrete Mathematics
• Statistics / Stochastic Processes

Pathways

Depending on a student’s individual circumstances and their study preferences, the Diploma may be taken in a variety of ‘Fast Track’ modes or by adding the full 100 points (i.e. one full year) to their degree.

The mode of undertaking the diploma, either Fast Track or by addition of a full year to their degree, will depend on each student’s particular circumstances and study preferences, including whether they meet the criteria for permission to overload. The overload policy requires a particular level of performance/achievement be attained for permission to overload.

Fast Track modes will involve cross crediting of up to 50 points and/or overloading in one, two or all three years of the course.

All current and commencing new generation undergraduate degree and commencing BE students may apply to undertake the diploma subject to meeting prerequisites.

For the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences students must have completed VCE Unit 3/4 Mathematical Methods or equivalent.