UOL Bsc Mathematics and Economics

[<3 jessica.]

what are the job prospects upon graduation? Anyone care to shed some light on it?

 

[Michael Shoemaker]

you currently taking this degree or soon to be ?

 

[<3 jessica.]

Contemplating on it, thus would like to know the job prospects.

 

[dwyw88]

i am interested to take up this course as well

 

[Mathemagician]

it is good to know there are still some brave souls out there ....

 

[Buaya_Hunter]

it is good to know there are still some brave souls out there ....

 

[dwyw88]

it is good to know there are still some brave souls out there ....

more insight for us new blood?

 

[Mathemagician]

more insight for us new blood?

Alright let me shed some light about this course..

I belong to the second batch of BME since it was offered by UOL. In my opinion, this is the toughest course compared to others (yes even compared to BSc. Economics and Finance). You can see that those people who are taking this course are much stressed compared to other students.

For this course, you have to know that the mathematics is pure mathematics not applied mathematics. If you are thinking of doing this degree because you are good at numbers then you should go choose Accounting and Finance instead of this degree. After first year, you will rarely encounter numbers in mathematics. You will be dealing with proofs most of the time. The maths exam questions are set in a way to test your understanding of the concept instead of your algebra skills. Also, each half-unit exam is 2 hours only and you have to do 4 questions out of 5. It means that you must solve a question within 30 minutes including reading and interpreting the question.

Every year, you have to take 2 units of mathematics and 2 units of economics. All economics modules are worth full unit but all of the mathematics modules you can take for this course are worth half unit except UOL116 Abstract Mathematics which is full unit. So you will be taking more than 4 subjects in a year. You will be taking 6 , 5, 6 subjects in the first, second and third year respectively. And for your information, the half unit module is as painful as other module which is worth full unit.

You can refer to SIM website to see what are the units that you can take

http://www1.sim.edu.sg/sge/pub/gen/sge_pub_gen_content.cfm?mnuid=188&ID=233

You can see that you have 4 electives there (Number 4, 10, 11 and 12) but the truth is that electives for 10 and 11 are pretty much fixed because SIM do not offer extra option for you to choose. Your only electives are number 4 and 12.

The most useful foundation unit, in my opinion, are probably Principles of Accounting and Principles of Banking and Finance.. So choose one of them according to your preferences..

For option number 12, if you are considering further studies, then it depends on what field you want to go.. If you want to go into Finance, i would suggest that you take Corporate Finance or Monetary Economics (make sure you clear Macroeconomics in 2nd year). If you want to go into Economics, then take Elements of Econometrics. Otherwise , you can choose any of these three according to your preferences.

I am not sure what to say about job prospect of this degree. For some jobs, employers dont really care about what you are studying since they also know not much of what you learn will be applicable at work. They have to retrain you. They want to know whether you are competent and smart enough for the job.

I think this degree pretty much your problem solving skill and critical thinking. so you are eligible to apply for any reasonable job, just make sure you "dont screw up" the interview. From my batch, I know some people got jobs in bank, some became teacher, and some go for further studies.

All in all, this degree is really academically challenging. If you are thinking of going for further studies, definitely take this degree since it will give you a very strong foundation. You will find your life much easier later on when you are doing masters or Ph.D .

If you are really worried about job prospect, then you should take Accounting and Finance. Every time you see the jobs vacancies, most of them require you to have accounting skill. None of them says "You must know how to prove Mean Value Theorem", "You must know how to do Lebesgue Integration"

I dont have much time to elaborate on everything since I have exams coming soon.. do leave some question if there are specific aspect of the course you want to know.. I will (hopefully) get back to you after the war is over.. provided that I am still alive by then

 

[<3 jessica.]

Alright let me shed some light about this course..

I belong to the second batch of BME since it was offered by UOL. In my opinion, this is the toughest course compared to others (yes even compared to BSc. Economics and Finance). You can see that those people who are taking this course are much stressed compared to other students.

For this course, you have to know that the mathematics is pure mathematics not applied mathematics. If you are thinking of doing this degree because you are good at numbers then you should go choose Accounting and Finance instead of this degree. After first year, you will rarely encounter numbers in mathematics. You will be dealing with proofs most of the time. The maths exam questions are set in a way to test your understanding of the concept instead of your algebra skills. Also, each half-unit exam is 2 hours only and you have to do 4 questions out of 5. It means that you must solve a question within 30 minutes including reading and interpreting the question.

Every year, you have to take 2 units of mathematics and 2 units of economics. All economics modules are worth full unit but all of the mathematics modules you can take for this course are worth half unit except UOL116 Abstract Mathematics which is full unit. So you will be taking more than 4 subjects in a year. You will be taking 6 , 5, 6 subjects in the first, second and third year respectively. And for your information, the half unit module is as painful as other module which is worth full unit.

You can refer to SIM website to see what are the units that you can take

http://www1.sim.edu.sg/sge/pub/gen/sge_pub_gen_content.cfm?mnuid=188&ID=233

You can see that you have 4 electives there (Number 4, 10, 11 and 12) but the truth is that electives for 10 and 11 are pretty much fixed because SIM do not offer extra option for you to choose. Your only electives are number 4 and 12.

The most useful foundation unit, in my opinion, are probably Principles of Accounting and Principles of Banking and Finance.. So choose one of them according to your preferences..

For option number 12, if you are considering further studies, then it depends on what field you want to go.. If you want to go into Finance, i would suggest that you take Corporate Finance or Monetary Economics (make sure you clear Macroeconomics in 2nd year). If you want to go into Economics, then take Elements of Econometrics. Otherwise , you can choose any of these three according to your preferences.

I am not sure what to say about job prospect of this degree. For some jobs, employers dont really care about what you are studying since they also know not much of what you learn will be applicable at work. They have to retrain you. They want to know whether you are competent and smart enough for the job.

I think this degree pretty much your problem solving skill and critical thinking. so you are eligible to apply for any reasonable job, just make sure you "dont screw up" the interview. From my batch, I know some people got jobs in bank, some became teacher, and some go for further studies.

All in all, this degree is really academically challenging. If you are thinking of going for further studies, definitely take this degree since it will give you a very strong foundation. You will find your life much easier later on when you are doing masters or Ph.D .

If you are really worried about job prospect, then you should take Accounting and Finance. Every time you see the jobs vacancies, most of them require you to have accounting skill. None of them says "You must know how to prove Mean Value Theorem", "You must know how to do Lebesgue Integration"

I dont have much time to elaborate on everything since I have exams coming soon.. do leave some question if there are specific aspect of the course you want to know.. I will (hopefully) get back to you after the war is over.. provided that I am still alive by then

What are the various position in banks that a graduate from this course be looking at?

 

[dwyw88]

thx Mathemagician for the post, it's informative, allow interested takers to sort of haf a preview.

 

[Dessyway]

agree with what @Mathemagician said.
This course is deemed to be very challenging, 1 of the killer subjects in UOL is EOE, but one of my friend says that it is 1 of the easier subject compared to other maths & Econs subjects..

 

[Mathemagician]

agree with what @Mathemagician said.
This course is deemed to be very challenging, 1 of the killer subjects in UOL is EOE, but one of my friend says that it is 1 of the easier subject compared to other maths & Econs subjects..

EOE is not that difficult.. get that blue book by Dougherty and understand the content from cover to cover (skip the preface though) will get you at least 70 marks...

EOE is easier than other maths courses because it is not abstract.. try to read third year maths modules subject guide.. you will pull your hair and scream

 

[morning-sun]

To Mathemagician, can you explain what you mean by critical thinking in your post?

 

[Mathemagician]

To Mathemagician, can you explain what you mean by critical thinking in your post?

this kind of critical thinking --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking

Writing mathematical proofs will definitely develop your critical thinking

 

[Hymnody]

Ahh..the brave souls of uol-external, taking BME.

/salute.

Just a little to add on, this degree allows good opportunity for further studies if done well. Most specialised post grad studies require economics and quantitative background and this degree definitely demonstrates that a lot.

 

[Mathemagician]

Ahh..the brave souls of uol-external, taking BME.

/salute.

Just a little to add on, this degree allows good opportunity for further studies if done well. Most specialised post grad studies require economics and quantitative background and this degree definitely demonstrates that a lot.

Indeed.. honestly I think this BME is even harder than some of the MSc. course at LSE...

 

[Rushifaa]

Mathemagician going for Phd after Masters at LSE?

 

[Mathemagician]

Mathemagician going for Phd after Masters at LSE?

I will see how well I perform for my MSc. dissertation first

 

[amerell]

EOE is not that difficult.. get that blue book by Dougherty and understand the content from cover to cover (skip the preface though) will get you at least 70 marks...

EOE is easier than other maths courses because it is not abstract.. try to read third year maths modules subject guide.. you will pull your hair and scream

Hi, may i check is this the dougherty book that you are referring to?:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images...ow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg

 

[Mathemagician]

Hi, may i check is this the dougherty book that you are referring to?:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images...ow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg

yep that one... the only textbook that you need for EOE.. just a gentle reminder, the exercises in the textbook are not UOL　exam type questions.. but you can use that to gain more understanding of the topics. The subject guide contains the solution to the exercises.