Yearbooks

Programme: BScHons Applied Mathematics

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty
02240172 Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Credits Duration
Minimum duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 135

Programme information

 

    Renewal of registration

    1. Subject to exceptions approved by the Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of department, and in the case of distance education where the Dean formulates the stipulations that will apply, a student may not sit for an examination for the honours degree more than twice in the same module.
    2. A student for an honours degree must complete his or her study, in the case of full-time students, within two years and, in the case of after-hours students, within three years of first registering for the degree and, in the case of distance education students, within the period stipulated by the Dean. Under special circumstances, the Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of department, may give approval for a limited extension of this period.

    In calculating marks, General Regulation G.12.2 applies.

    Apart from the prescribed coursework, a research project is an integral part of the study.

    Admission requirements

    A BSc in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or equivalent Bachelor's degree with at least a 60% average in the final year Mathematics or Applied Mathematics subjects. The final year should include at least four of the following third-year level modules or equivalent: partial differential equations, dynamical systems (ordinary differential equations), real analysis, complex analysis, numerical analysis and continuum mechanics (UP modules WTW 386, WTW 382, WTW 310, WTW 320, WTW 383 or WTW 387). In the selection procedure the candidate's complete undergraduate academic record will be considered.

    Promotion to next study year

    The progress of all honours candidates is monitored biannually by the postgraduate coordinator/head of department. A candidate’s study may be terminated if the progress is unsatisfactory or if the candidate is unable to finish his/her studies during the prescribed period.

    Pass with distinction

    The BScHons degree is awarded with distinction to a candidate who obtains a weighted average of at least 75% in all the prescribed modules and a minimum of 65% in any one module.

    Minimum credits: 135

    Minimum credits: 135

    Core credits:         45

    Elective credits:    90

    Other programme-specific information:

    The programme compilation consists of seven honours modules of 15 credits each as well as the mandatory project (30 credits). It is required that students select the stream and elective modules according to the prerequisites of the modules.

    • Stream 1: Applied analysis
    • Stream 2: Differential equations and modelling

    Core modules

    Elective modules

    • Module content:

      An introduction to the basic mathematical objects of linear functional analysis will be presented. These include metric spaces, Hilbert spaces and Banach spaces. Subspaces, linear operators and functionals will be discussed in detail. The fundamental theorems for normed spaces: The Hahn-Banach theorem, Banach-Steinhaus theorem, open mapping theorem and closed graph theorem. Hilbert space theory: Riesz' theorem, the basics of projections and orthonormal sets.

      View more

    • Module content:

      An analysis as well as an implementation (including computer programs) of methods are covered. Numerical linear algebra: Direct and iterative methods for linear systems and matrix eigenvalue problems: Iterative methods for nonlinear systems of equations. Finite difference method for partial differential equations: Linear elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic and eigenvalue problems. Introduction to nonlinear problems. Numerical stability, error estimates and convergence are dealt with.

      View more

    • Module content:

      Measure and integration theory: The Caratheodory extension procedure for measures defined on a ring, measurable functions, integration with respect to a measure on a ?-ring, in particular the Lebesgue integral, convergence theorems and Fubini's theorem.
      Probability theory: Measure theoretic modelling, random variables, expectation values and independence, the Borel-Cantelli lemmas, the law of large numbers. L¹-theory, L²-theory and the geometry of Hilbert space, Fourier series and the Fourier transform as an operator on L², applications of Fourier analysis to random walks, the central limit theorem.

      View more

    • Module content:

      Study of main principles of analysis in the context of their applications to modelling, differential equations and numerical computation. Specific principles to be considered are those related to mathematical biology, continuum mechanics and mathematical physics as presented in the modules WTW 772, WTW 787 and WTW 776, respectively.

      View more

    • Module content:

      Classical optimisation:  Necessary and sufficient conditions for local minima.  Equality constraints and Lagrange multipliers.  Inequality constraints and the Kuhn-Tucker conditions.  Application of saddle point theorems to the solutions of the dual problem.  One-dimensional search techniques.  Gradient methods for unconstrained optimisation.  Quadratically terminating search algorithms.  The conjugate gradient method.  Fletcher-Reeves.  Second order variable metric methods:  DFP and BFCS.  Boundary following and penalty function methods for constrained problems.   Modern multiplier methods and sequential quadratic programming methods.  Practical design optimisation project.

      View more

    • Module content:

      An analysis as well as an implementation (including computer programs) of methods is covered. Introduction to the theory of Sobolev spaces. Variational and weak formulation of elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic and eigenvalue problems. Finite element approximation of problems in variational form, interpolation theory in Sobolev spaces, convergence and error estimates.

      View more

    • Module content:

      Mathematical modelling of Random walk. Conditional expectation and Martingales. Brownian motion and other Lévy processes. Stochastic integration. Ito's Lemma. Stochastic differential equations. Application to finance.

      View more

    • Module content:

      This module aims at using advanced undergraduate mathematics and rigorously applying mathematical methods to concrete problems in various areas of natural science and engineering.
      The module will be taught by several lecturers from UP, industry and public sector. The content of the module may vary from year to year and is determined by relevant focus areas within the Department. The list of areas from which topics to be covered will be selected, includes: Systems of differential equations; dynamical systems; discrete structures; Fourier analysis; methods of optimisation; numerical methods; mathematical models in biology, finance, physics, etc.

      View more

    • Module content:

      Analysis of spatial versus material description of motion. Conservation laws. Derivation of stress tensors. Analysis of finite strain and rate of deformation tensors. Stress and strain invariants. Energy. Linear and nonlinear constitutive equations. Applications to boundary value problems in elasticity and fluid mechanics.

      View more


    The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

    Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

    COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

    To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

    FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences