Mathematics and Statistics - UNSW Science - The University of New ...

A student’s perspective
Chin Pin Wong
Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics)
Honours in Pure Mathematics
One of my fondest memories of studying
mathematics at UNSW was of my first year
algebra lecturer raving about the beauty
of the formula eπi= –1. That incident
was my first time witnessing such passion
about a simple formula and I was both
amazed and slightly alarmed at it.
It was soon apparent that this passion for
mathematics was an integral part of life at
the School of Mathematics and Statistics.
In fact, after four years at university,
this enthusiasm for mathematics certainly
enriched my experiences as a student –
it was contagious, and it also showed
me that mathematics could be both fun
and intriguing.
I completed my BSc (Advanced
Mathematics) with a major in Pure
Mathematics in 2010. One of my original
motivations for choosing UNSW was that
this degree meant I could just concentrate
on mathematics. But the degree was also
structured so that I had enough flexibility
to study in areas outside their major
through elective subjects. I took courses
in areas as diverse as economics, arts
and science. I also had the opportunity to
dabble in areas of applied mathematics
such as operations research and dynamical
systems. These courses broadened
my understanding of mathematics and
gave a glimpse of how theory could be
put into practice.
My lecturers and tutors were always
helpful and supportive, and the small
number of students in pure mathematics
produced a tight-knit community. The
School also offered opportunities
such as vacation research, funded by
scholarships from UNSW and the
Australian Mathematical Science Institute,
inter-university competitions, and even a
chance to play a role in encouraging
women to pursue mathematics through
the ‘Girls do the Math’ program.
University Contacts
School of Mathematics
and Statistics
Faculty of Science
The University of New South Wales
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052
Australia
T: +61 2 9385 7111
F: +61 2 9385 7123
E: ug.mathsstats@unsw.edu.au.
www.maths.unsw.edu.au
General enquiries
T: +61 2 9385 7788
F: +61 2 9385 4051
E: science@unsw.edu.au
www.science.unsw.edu.au
International admissions
T: +61 2 9385 6996
F: +61 2 9385 9907
E: internationaloffice@unsw.edu.au
www.international.unsw.edu.au
©2013 Faculty of Science at the University of New
South Wales. Information in this Guide is correct as at
December 2012.
The University and the Faculty of Science reserve the
right to change any degree, admission requirements
or other information herein without prior notice. We
recommend that you check our websites for the most
current information before making final selections or
enrolling in any courses.
The information contained in this publication applies to
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should contact the UNSW International Officer for further
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