Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Applied Mathematics - Co-operative Program

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate research fields

  • Control and Dynamical Systems
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Mathematical Medicine and Biology
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Scientific Computing

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Program type 
    • Co-operative
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • Admission to the co-operative program is competitive. Students in the MMath in Applied Mathematics program can apply to transfer into the MMath in Applied Mathematics Co-operative Program after completing at least one academic term. Admittance will be decided based on the student’s progress to date, and is subject to approval by the student's research supervisor.

Degree requirements

    The MMath in Applied Mathematics - Co-operative Program will enable students to combine graduate studies with some work experience. The program is normally eight terms long, with six academic terms and two work terms. The timing of work and academic terms is fairly flexible, but the program must start with at least two academic terms and must end on an academic term. Students in the program are encouraged to complete COOP 601 Career Success Strategies in the academic term prior to the first work term.

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 4 one-term (0.50 unit) graduate courses, satisfying a breadth requirement. Candidates for the MMath (thesis) degree must maintain a grade point average of at least 70% in their coursework. Besides the breadth requirement, there are no other constraints on course selection.
    • Breadth requirement: to satisfy the breadth requirement, students are required to complete 2 courses from the following lists, with no more than 1 course from each list:
      • Applications:
        • AMATH 663 Fluid Mechanics
        • AMATH 673 Quantum Theory 2
        • AMATH 674 Quantum Theory 3: Quantum Information and Foundations
        • AMATH 675 Introduction to General Relativity
      • Computation:
        • AMATH 642 Computational Methods for Partial Differential Equations
        • AMATH 740 Numerical Analysis
        • AMATH 741 Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations
      • Differential Equations:
        • AMATH 651 Introduction to Dynamical Systemsƒ
        • AMATH 653 Partial Differential Equations 2
        • AMATH 655 Control Theory
        • AMATH 751 Advanced Ordinary Differential Equations
        • AMATH 753 Advanced Partial Differential Equations
      • Techniques:
        • AMATH 656 Calculus of Variationsƒ
        • AMATH 677 Stochastic Processes for Applied Mathematics
        • AMATH 731 Applied Functional Analysis
        • AMATH 732 Asymptotic Analysis and Perturbation Theory
        • AMATH 777 Stochastic Processes in the Physical Sciences
    • Students may not count more than 1 graduate course that is cross-listed with an undergraduate course for credit towards their MMath (thesis) degree. This restriction applies to all 600-level AMATH courses and any cross-listed courses offered by other departments.
    • Courses are selected in consultation with the student's supervisor. Students are encouraged to select courses that will help them develop a broad knowledge of Mathematics and its applications: appropriate courses are often offered by other departments in the Faculties of Mathematics, Science and Engineering.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Graduate Studies Work Report
    • Students are required to complete two four-month or one eight-month work terms, in a suitable position, to begin after at least two academic terms (during which the coursework requirements will typically have been completed). Students will return to campus after the work terms to complete the remaining degree requirements. Students will be required to provide a work term report when they return to campus.
  • Master’s Thesis
    • The MMath thesis is a comprehensive study that contributes to the understanding of a research topic, either by relating various approaches in the literature or by developing new methods. An MMath thesis is not required to contain original results. However, it is not uncommon for students - particularly those who have had research experience as undergraduates - to obtain new results that lead to publication in the research literature. For University guidelines on co-authored material in Masters theses please visit the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website; additional departmental guidelines apply.
    • The Master's thesis is read by a committee that consists of the thesis supervisor and two other faculty members who are knowledgeable about the research area. The supervisor and at least one of the other two committee members must be affiliated with the Department of Applied Mathematics.
    • The student will present their results in a thesis defence, which consists of a 20 minute presentation by the candidate, followed by detailed questioning by the committee members. The thesis should be provided to the examining committee at least two weeks before the defence date.
  • Other requirements 
    • Direct transfer into the PhD program: A Master's student with an excellent record and strong progress in research may apply for direct transfer into the PhD program after one year of Master's studies. To initiate this process, the student's supervisor must submit a written request to the Graduate Officer. Names of two potential examiners should be included. The request should be accompanied by a statement of research progress to date, written by the student, approximately three pages in length. If the student's record is deemed to be of sufficient standing, the statement of research progress will be forwarded to the examining committee, and the student will be invited to present this summary at a 40 minute presentation followed by questioning by the examining committee. This examination normally takes place in the student's fourth term. If successful, the student is transferred directly into the PhD program and this examination then retroactively takes the place of the pre-comprehensive seminar, which is used by the student's committee to determine the topics for the comprehensive exam; that exam should take place in the student's fifth term.

    • Master's Research Paper option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 7 one-term (0.50 unit) graduate courses, satisfying a breadth requirement. Candidates for the MMath (Research paper) degree must maintain a grade point average of at least 70% in their coursework. Besides the breadth requirement, there are no other constraints on course selection.
    • Breadth requirement: to satisfy the breadth requirement, students are required to complete 2 courses from the following lists, with no more than 1 course from each list:
      • ƒApplications:
        • AMATH 663 Fluid Mechanics
        • AMATH 673 Quantum Theory 2
        • AMATH 674 Quantum Theory 3: Quantum Information and Foundations
        • AMATH 675 Introduction to General Relativity
      • Computation:
        • AMATH 642 Computational Methods for Partial Differential Equations
        • AMATH 740 Numerical Analysis
        • AMATH 741 Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations
      • Differential Equations:
        • AMATH 651 Introduction to Dynamical Systemsƒ
        • AMATH 653 Partial Differential Equations 2
        • AMATH 655 Control Theory
        • AMATH 751 Advanced Ordinary Differential Equations
        • AMATH 753 Advanced Partial Differential Equations
      • Techniques:
        • AMATH 656 Calculus of Variationsƒ
        • AMATH 677 Stochastic Processes for Applied Mathematics
        • AMATH 731 Applied Functional Analysis
        • AMATH 732 Asymptotic Analysis and Perturbation Theory
        • AMATH 777 Stochastic Processes in the Physical Sciences
    • Students may not count more than three graduate courses that are cross-listed with undergraduate courses for credit towards their MMath (thesis) degree. This restriction applies to all 600-level AMATH courses and any cross listed courses offered by other departments.
    • Courses are selected in consultation with the student's supervisor. Students are encouraged to select courses that will help them develop a broad knowledge of Mathematics and its applications: appropriate courses are often offered by other departments in the Faculties of Mathematics, Science and Engineering.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Graduate Studies Work Report
    • Students are required to complete two four-month or one eight-month work terms, in a suitable position, to begin after at least two academic terms (during which the coursework requirements will typically have been completed). Students will return to campus after the work terms to complete the remaining degree requirements. Students will be required to provide a work term report when they return to campus.
  • Master’s Research Paper
    • The Master's research paper is a review paper that is typically prepared over the course of one term. It should be 25-35 pages in length. The Master's research paper is assessed by the research supervisor and one other faculty member. There is no oral examination.
Department of Applied Mathematics website