Cambridge-MIT Exchange

The Cambridge-MIT Exchange (CME) program is an opportunity for undergraduate students from one Cambridge to study across the pond at the other. The Mathematics Department of MIT has participated in the CME program since 2001.

The MIT-hosted CME website has a wealth of information about the University of Cambridge and the CME program.

An application is currently available in the UMO, 2-108. It includes a personal statement, a letter of reference form to be completed by someone in the MIT community and an MIT transcript. The UMO will also want to interview the applicant.

Application materials:

Application deadlines for the 2008-2009 academic year:

Early decision: January 21, 2010
Regular deadline: February 18, 2010

The mathematics faculty at the University of Cambridge is one of the very best in the world. There are two departments within the faculty, the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, which share the teaching of undergraduate classes. The mathematics faculty occupies an amazing new complex, the Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

Undergraduates at the University of Cambridge study only courses in their major field. The mathematics program at the University of Cambridge is split into three parts called, collectively, the Mathematical Tripos. The first two years of the program (Parts IA and IB) are a general introduction to mathematics with very few electives. The third year of the program (Part II) offers several options for specialization. The fourth year (Part III) is equivalent to a first year of graduate study.

Every year, about 250 undergraduate students begin the Tripos.

All classes within the Tripos are instructed through lectures. Performance for the year is assessed by four three-hour examinations at year's end. These final examinations cover material from all the classes from that leg of the Tripos. There are no graded homework assignments or interim course examinations; instead, students are expected to arrange for supervisions in most of these classes. Supervisions are a unique and highly successful component of the Cambridge system. In a supervision, a student meets with a supervisor (usually a research student or young faculty member) in his or her college to discuss material from a specific class. In preparation for each supervision, students complete example sheets (problem sets) that have been assigned by the supervisor. These example sheets serve as a basis for discussion. This system of supervisions results in a much deeper appreciation for the subject material than many of the more traditional systems do.

Normally MIT mathematics juniors are well-prepared for the classes in Part IB of the Tripos. Some of the more advanced MIT students will find the subjects of Part II of the Tripos more appropriate. Because of the integrated nature of the final exams, it is basically necessary to adhere to a single course of study, though there are provisions to make some replacements. The complete Tripos syllabus shows that the Cambridge Mathematics program has a physics slant; consequently, several of the classes are approved for MIT credit in physics subjects.

Material in the Tripos is generally taught in a fairly rigorous manner. Students looking to start with classes in Part IB of the Tripos should be familiar with basic ideas from linear algebra and comfortable composing rigorous proofs. Ideally, students will have successfully completed 18.100B (Analysis I) and 18.700 (Linear Algebra) in advance of the exchange. Completion of 18.440 (Probability and Random Variables) is also helpful, but unneccessary (as students can take the Part IB statistics course or its prerequisite Part IA probability class).

Students will in all likelihood complete their MIT mathematics degree requirements while at the University of Cambridge. Transfer credit is available for many of the classes in the Tripos. Part II students have the option of submitting modified CATAM write-ups to obtain credit for 18.821 (Project Laboratory in Mathematics) and complete their CI-M and Institute Laboratory requirements. Additionally, several students have taken advantage of the excellent humanities offerings at Cambridge.

Most students find it best to follow a straight math curriculum. These students are current (or ahead) on their HASS requirements and (for students of Part IB) the CI requirement.

Several guides have been written for MIT students taking part in the CME program, such as Being a 'Mathmo' at Cambridge University: A Guide for MIT Students" and Life in Cambridge: An Insider's Guide to Cambridge; the latter was largely written in September 2004 by Oneil Bhalala, Rajini Haraksingh (both Mathmos) and other CME alumni.

Some testimonials:

"It was a great year. I'm really glad I decided to go." (Rajini Haraksingh, 2003-04)

"The best thing about Cambridge was being able to work on Math without pressure. The Centre for Mathematical Sciences is a bright, open, happy place. ... A fantastic experience. I'm definitely glad I did it." (Aaron Marcus, 2003-04. Aaron additionally wrote a full testimonial for the Cambridge newsletter.)

Tilke Judd (2001-02) has written a report from the front and made some comments to The Tech.

In the converse direction, Dan Abramson (2002-03), a Cambridge student, had some commentary on his time at MIT under the CME program.

And of course there's the exiled Cambridge humor.

2007-2008	William Joel Cofield Julia Zhuzi Yu	IB IB	Trinity Gonville and Caius
2006-2007	Irida Altman Justin Curry	II IB	Jesus Churchill
2005-2006	Oliver Venn Shubhangi Saraf	IA II	Queens St John's
2003-2004	Oneil Bhalala Katherine Dalis Job Evers Rajini Haraksingh Aaron Marcus	IB IB IB IB II	Gonville and Caius Trinity Christ's Sidney Sussex Churchill
2002-2003	Victor Brar Russell Moriarty Rita Monson Devren Yener	IB IB IB II	Fitzwilliam Sidney Sussex Girton Christ's
2001-2002	Shelli Farhadian Tilke Judd Josh Peters	IB IB IB	Queens Downing Christ's

For questions please feel free to contact Professor Haynes Miller, 617/253-7569, hrm@math.mit.edu.

Cambridge-MIT Exchange

Applying for the CME

Mathematics at the University of Cambridge

The Cambridge Academic System

Topics of Study

Preparation for the Tripos

CME and Institute Degree Requirements

The Real Scoop

MIT Students Taking the Maths Tripos Under CME

Contact