First Year for Science Broadbase Entrants

It is tacitly assumed below that, upon admission to university, you are totally committed, or almost totally committed, to graduating in the MATH programme.


A1.1:

Instead of expecting you to do so and so, we suggest you finish doing, by the end of the first year of study, at least the following:

  1. MATH1010 (University Mathematics) or MATH1030 (Linear Algebra I),
  2. two 'faculty package' courses which are STAT1011 and one other course from amongst physics, chemistry and life sciences as specified,

However, it is much better if you have done both of MATH1010, 1030, rather than just one of them, by the end of the first year of study.

You are also encouraged to do MATH1050 (Foundations of Modern Mathematics) in the second semester.

Don't 'lag behind' in the other 'common' courses, as required by the university and your college (such as English, Chinese, IT, general education, physical education).

A1.2:

A timely completion of MATH1010, 1030 is essential for a smooth progress in higher years.

Having done all 'faculty package' courses in the first year allows you more flexibility in higher years. The same can be said about the other 'common' courses.

There are two further issues: MATH2010 and courses from other disciplines. (Refer to Q1.5 and Q1.6 in Enrichment Entrants, Q3.3, Q3.4 respectively.)

A1.3:

No, but we strongly suggest you do all three courses in the first year, for the following reasons:

  1. If you intend to graduate in the Enrichment Stream, this ensures you can progress at a reasonable pace academically in the second year and beyond. (Refer to Q1.6.)
  2. If you may want to use some major units on non-MATH courses in higher years, or you plan for a minor subject or a second major, you need more room in your timetable from the second year onwards so that you have a better chance in accommodating both MATH and non-MATH courses. (Refer to 'Overall Planning'.)

In either situation, this indirectly increases your chances of getting scholarships, exchange opportunities, and internships in higher years.

A1.4:

If you have taken MATH1010, 1030 in the first semester and your performance is satisfactory (for example, with at least B in each course), you may consider taking MATH2010 on top of MATH1050 in the second semester.

A1.5:

We strongly suggest you take MATH1050 after you have done at least one of MATH1010, 1030 (or ideally both). If you have done only one of MATH1010, 1030 and intend to take MATH1050, please take MATH1050 simultaneously with the other of MATH1010, 1030.

MATH1050 is designed for bridging you from MATH1010, 1030 to the level 2000 courses (MATH2010, 2040, 2050, 2070). (Refer to 'Mathematics Courses beyond the First Year'.) What you learn in MATH1010, 1030 will be used in proofs and rigorous reasoning, which are emphasized in MATH1050.

A1.6:

Once you have declared mathematics as your major subject, you are a MATH student.

All students with MATH as first major subject are treated as equals by the department, irrespective of how they have been admitted:

  1. You have the same privileges in education as all other MATH major students. We will not distinguish you from the others inside or outside the classrooms.
  2. You have the same opportunities offered by the department, such as overseas exchange, internships, and higher-year scholarships. What matters is your performance after becoming a MATH student.

We offer generous admission scholarships to new students of good quality. Upon meeting certain criteria on mathematics achievement, every MATHEMATICS ENRICHMENT entrant will be awarded an admission scholarship. Moreover, we also guarantee 8 admission scholarships, based on the same criteria on academic merit, for SCIENCE BROADBASE entrants who declare
major in MATH upon admission.

Students with MATH as second major subject will be eligible to enjoy some of the privileges, at a lower priority.

A1.7:

All MATH students have the same opportunity to graduate in the Enrichment Stream:

  1. Plan your study as MATHEMATICS ENRICHMENT entrants do: make sure you have done all the basic required courses on time, so that you have enough 'room' to accommodate advanced courses in the third and fourth years of studies. (Refer to Q1.3, Q1.4.)
  2. Declare your choice of stream to the department in the final year of your study. The application procedure will be announced by the department in due course. Your major GPA will likely be considered in the application.
  3. Fulfil all the requirements on the advanced courses.

A1.8:

The bottom line is do at least the other of MATH1010, 1030 in the second semester; failing to do so, you may end up delaying your progress. (See Q2.2.)

If your performance in MATH1010 or MATH1030 in the first semester is satisfactory, you may consider doing MATH1050 on top of the other of MATH1010, 1030 in the second semester. Then you will have at least done all three of MATH1010, 1030, 1050 by the end of the first year of study. (See also Q2.3, Q2.5.)