Support Classes Information
The Department requires well qualified teachers in order to provide a suitable level of support and so a broad familiarity with the subject is essential, which must usually be demonstrated by being an existing postgraduate (research) student. We will, in exceptional cases, also accept applications from postgraduate (taught) students in the Mathematics Department and other applications if the applicant can demonstrate the necessary background.
Please contact Mark Cummings, m.s.cummings@warwick.ac.uk, if you have any queries.
Graduate students form an essential and respected part of the undergraduate teaching force at Warwick. Our students are of the highest calibre: most have 3 or 4 A*’s at A-level and STEP. They expect and deserve good teaching. They also need the support and encouragement of people who vividly remember how challenging undergraduate mathematics can be.
What Teaching is Available?
Most of the teaching provided by postgraduate students will fall into two categories: Supervisions and Support Classes.
Detailed information on Supervisions can be found at: Supervisions Information. Note that the links on that page to register teaching interests are specifically for Undergraduate students; postgraduates should use the links on the current page.
Supervisors cover most of the core first-year modules. Almost every other module is supported through Support Classes, let by a Teaching Assistant (TA). These are a combination of teacher-led activities (with the TA choosing material to go through and asking questions of the students) and student-led (with students picking topics to look at, and asking the TA for answers). Each TA will develop their own approach, as what works for one may be unsuitable for another.
Many modules include assignment sheets, which are marked by TAs. There is the option to request teaching-only, or marking-only roles if you are only able to do one of these.
TAs are often involved with exam marking, but arrangements for these will be sorted nearer the time.
Module Arrangements
For most modules there will be a support class each week, in weeks 2-10. Larger modules may have multiple support classes each week; students are expected to attend one of these each week, and they should cover similar content (this may vary depending on the class leader, or the needs/wishes of the students). Popular second- and third-year modules also receive support through mathXchange sessions (mostly run by teaching-focus staff).
For most modules with assessed work, there will be four assignments through the term. Marking will be divided between the TAs for the module, usually equally but alternative distrubutions are possible if desired.
Changes For 2026/27
Payment Rates
Following discussion with the SGSLC and departmental admin, payment rates have undergone an adjustment.
- Supervisions will be allocated an extra 30 minutes for prep/admin/marking, per contact hour. This brings them to 6 hours (2 contact, 4 prep/admin/marking) for a Maths group, and 3.5 (1 contact, 2.5 prep/admin/marking) for a joint-degree group
- Support Class preparation and admin hours will now be based on the academic level of the module. Teaching a second (or subsequent) class for the same module in a week will increase the contact hours but not the prep/admin hours. The new prep/admin hours will be:
- MA1 and MA2 modules - 2 hours per week
- MA3 modules - 3 hours per week
- MA4 modules - 4 hours per week
- Assignment marking rates have been converted to allow a more granular increase based on student numbers. While some modules will use different payment rates due to special course arrangements, the standard model will consist of four assignments in a module, and a pay rate of 10 minutes per student, plus an additional 20 minutes per assignment to understand the questions.
- If a module has n students taking it, and four assignments, you will be paid for 4*(10n+20)/60 hours.
Module Changes for 2026-27
MA269 Asymptotic and Integral Transforms will no longer be running; this will be replaced by MA2A4 Asymptotic Methods (Term 1) and MA299 Complex Methods (Term 2)
MA2K4 Numerical Methods and Computing will be replaced by MA2L4 Numerical Analysis and Ordinary Differential Equations (Term 2).
MA3K7 Problem Solving With Python will run twice, once in Term 1 and again in Term 2, to allow more students to take it.
The following modules will no longer be running:
-
- MA352 Combinatorial Optimisation
- MA4M6 Category Theory
- MA4N4 Transport Processes in Mathematical Biology
The following modules are new:
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- MA2B4 Probability: Structures and Examples (Term 2)
- MA3A9 Data Driven Mathematical Modelling
- MA4P3 Classical Groups
- (plus several modules which did not run in 2025/26)
Modules With Unusual Arrangements
MA124 Maths by Computer
Runs through Terms 1 and 2; TAs will generally attend a 2-hour drop-in computer lab session each week.
There are three (short) assignments to be marked around the end of Term 1, and group projects at the end of Term 2.
MA240 Modelling Nature's Nonlinearity
This module has two large assignments/projects, submitted at the end of Term 1 and early Term 2.
MA265 Methods of Mathematical Modelling 3 / MA268 Algebra 3 / MA270 Analysis 3
These three second-year core modules will mainly be supported through the MathXChange drop-in sessions, although there will be a couple of "normal" support classes running alongside this. Most of the support teaching will be handled by the department's Teaching Fellows, but there will be some capacity for GTAs to be involved as well.
There are marking-only roles available for these modules, as the assignments will be marked by GTAs.
MA2K3 Consolidation
2025/26 saw the introduction of a new version of MA2K3, and some of the details may be adjusted this year; the current plan is for there to be two two-hour classes, in which the class leader (either Richard Lissaman or another Teaching Fellow) will be assisted by TAs. There is no marking for this module.
This module is intended to help students who struggled in their first year (or are returning from a temporary withdrawal) to cover key material from the first-year curriculum.
MA397 Consolidation
Third-year Consolidation is intended to help students who struggled in their second-year (or are returning from a temporary withdrawal), and covers key material from the first two years.
Students are assigned a TA who meets with them individually for an hour each week, and who marks their assignment (seven through the term)
MA3K7 Problem Solving With Python
This module is taught through a two-hour interactive class each week, plus an online python lecture. Assignments are typically involve a single question to explore, and there is a project submitted shortly after the end of the term.
MA3L3 Communicating Mathematics
Assessed entirely through assignments, including a group project and group presentation.
MA4N1 Theorem Proving With Lean
Has one group project assessed through several stages; marking hours (and associated preparation) comparable to other modules.