Support Classes

Many modules will have support classes associated with them. These include core second-year modules, most third-year and some fourth-year modules.

Support classes will vary depending on the material and how they support the lectures. Some will spend most of the time going over the assignments sheets (assessed or otherwise), and if these sheets are assessed it is usually the Teaching Assistant (TA) of the support class that marks them. Other classes will go over particularly tricky parts of the module, or additional examples that give a better insight.

In other departments, support classes are sometimes known as "seminars". Indeed, maths support classes will appear on your timetable as "seminars".

Preparation

Don't go to a support class expecting the TA to know what you have been struggling with. They will welcome feedback from you on what you would like help with and would probably be happy to receive an email ahead of time to give them sufficient time to prepare.

Make sure you are prepared: this means attending the lectures beforehand, and attempting the assignment sheets that are going to be covered.

Expectations

What you can expect from the TA of your support class:

They should turn up to the classes promptly and be well prepared.
The style and the teaching may vary but you should expect the TA to be have good subject knowledge and be well-prepared to answer relevant questions. In particular, most of the TAs will not be experts on the course they are covering so cannot be expected to answer questions outside of the material covered in lectures (although of course many will still do so).
The TA will mark any assessed work and return marks to the lecturer promptly. The University expects all work to be returned within 20 working days of the submission deadline, but for support classes you should typically get it returned within at least 2 weeks.
If you have minor concerns about your support class (can't hear the TA, can't read writing, don't feel they're going over the things you need help with) then talk to the TA! Often this could be the first time they have taught a support class and would welcome any feedback that would improve their performance.
If you have any serious concerns about your support class that you feel cannot be directly addressed with the TA, please write to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
You are encouraged to email your TA with suggestions for topics you are particularly having problems with, but it is not the TAs job to email individual solutions to students. That is what the support classes are for.
If the TA will miss a support class due to unforeseen circumstances, they or the lecturer will notify you beforehand and if possible arrange a replacement class.

mathXchange

Second and third year students have access to a series of two-hour support sessions to support their Core Modules, known as mathXchange.

At these sessions, which take place in the Undergraduate Workroom, second year students can:

Access one-to-one support from teaching staff with problems and queries. These could be very specific queries about content from the module or you could just ask teaching staff to help you build confidence the module in general.
Work with other second year students on the material in their Core Modules, knowing that support is on hand if necessary.
Work alone, knowing that support is on hand if necessary.

Second year mathXchange - 2025/26, term 2

Covers: MA266 Multilinear Algebra, MA263 Multivariable Analysis, MA260 Norms, Metrics & Topologies
Times: Monday 10-12, Tuesday 2-4, Thursday 10-12, Friday 2-4, all sessions in the Undergraduate Workroom
Supported by teaching fellows: Raad Al Kohli, Alvaro Gonzalez Hernandez, Sunny Sood

Third year Analysis & Topology mathXchange - 2025/26, term 2

Covers: MA3G1 Theory of PDEs, MA3G8 Functional Analysis II, MA3H6 Algebraic Topology
Times: Tuesday 2-4 (overlaps with second year mathXchange), Thursday 1-2, all sessions in the Undergraduate Workroom
Supported by teaching fellows: Michelle Daher, John Green

Third year Algebra mathXchange - 2025/26, term 2

Covers: MA300 Mathematics of Cryptography, MA377 Rings & Modules, MA3A6 Algebraic Number Theory, MA3E1 Groups & Representations
Times: Monday 2-4, Wednesday 10-12
Supported by teaching fellows: Raad Al Kohli, Alvaro Gonzalez Hernandez, Sunny Sood

Students are strongly encouraged to attend mathXchange. You can attend as many sessions as you like each week and you can drop-in for just a part of any session. We hope to provide a very supportive, friendly environment to help students make confident progress with the core year 2 material.

Note that support classes will still exists for second year core modules but these will be restricted to two per week per module. One of the classes will go at a slightly faster pace to the other, you should attend the one that feels right for you. More detail will be provided by the module lecturers.

Undergraduate Workroom Academic Support

In addition to mathXchange, you can also attend Undergraduate Workroom Academic Support session, teaching fellows are available if you have questions about course content or need help with homework for selected modules. For 2025/26, term 2, the Undergraduate Workroom Academic Support sessions are as follows:

Hamdi Dervodeli will be available in the UG workroom: Monday 3-5 pm, Wednesday 9-12 pm, Thursday 2-4 pm, Friday 9-10 am. You can ask him for help with first and second year modules as well as MA4L7 Algebraic Curves and MA4A5 Algebraic Geometry.
Dan Marlowe will be available in the UG workroom: Wednesday 10-12 pm, Thursday 2-4 pm. You can ask him for help with any first or second year module, as well as MA266 Multilinear Algebra, MA377 Rings and Modules, MA3A6 Algebraic Number Theory, MA3E1 Groups and Representations, MA3H6 Algebraic Topology, MA3K7 Problem Solving with Python.