This course along with MATH4001 (MathsStats Hons Thesis A) form the thesis component of the honours streams for applied mathematics, pure mathematics, physical oceanography or statistics. The two courses form part of the one thesis/project. Students will normally complete MATH4001 before MATH4002, but with permission of the appropriate honours coordinator, the order may be reversed. The two thesis courses must be complete in successive semesters.

For the thesis component, a student will undertake independent study in the appropriate area of applied mathematics, pure mathematics, physical oceanography or statistics according to their honours stream. The student will be supervised by at least one member of the academic staff of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, possibly jointly with an academic external to the School, or, with the permission of the Head of School, a suitable other person in a non-university research position. The student will write a thesis and give an oral presentation on the thesis to the appropriate department.

The written thesis will be assessed on four major areas:

exposition
literature coverage
critical analysis and insight
originality

The weighting of these components will depend on the type of thesis, as determined by discussion between the student and supervisor(s) when the topic is chosen. All theses are expected to address all four areas.

Two academic staff members will assess the thesis. The supervisor(s) are expected to provide a report on the thesis but they may not be one of the two markers.

The written thesis mark will account for 90% of the final grade; the oral presentation for the other 10%. The final mark awarded will be decided at a specially convened meeting of the appropriate department. Students will receive a marker's report on their written thesis, outlining how the final mark was decided and possibly listing errors that ought to be corrected.