

M-A in Mathematics at University of Delhi


Delhi, Delhi
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About the Specialization
What is Mathematics at University of Delhi Delhi?
This M.A. Mathematics program at University of Delhi focuses on advanced mathematical concepts, foundational theories, and their applications. The curriculum builds a robust theoretical base while exploring modern areas like functional analysis, topology, and number theory, which are essential for research and high-level analytical roles in the Indian landscape, differentiating it from purely applied programs.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for mathematics graduates seeking to deepen their theoretical understanding, aspiring researchers, and individuals aiming for careers in quantitative analysis, data science, or academia. It suits fresh graduates with strong mathematical aptitude and working professionals looking to transition into research or specialized analytical roles requiring rigorous foundational knowledge.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including roles as actuaries, quantitative analysts in finance, data scientists, or researchers in R&D. Many also pursue Ph.D. positions in India or abroad. Entry-level salaries range from INR 4-7 LPA, with experienced professionals earning INR 10-20+ LPA in sectors like IT, finance, education, and actuarial services.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Build Strong Conceptual Foundations- (Semester 1-2)
Focus rigorously on understanding the core theorems, proofs, and definitions in foundational subjects like Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, and Topology. Regularly solve problems from standard textbooks and engage in discussions to internalize concepts deeply.
Tools & Resources
NPTEL lectures, Standard reference books (e.g., Dummit & Foote, Rudin, Munkres), Online problem-solving communities (e.g., StackExchange Mathematics)
Career Connection
A solid foundation is critical for advanced studies, research, and excelling in competitive exams (UGC NET/JRF) and quantitative roles that demand deep analytical reasoning.
Develop Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Engage actively in tutorials and problem-solving sessions. Collaborate with peers on challenging problems, discuss different approaches, and participate in mathematics clubs or local olympiads to hone critical thinking abilities.
Tools & Resources
Peer study groups, Departmental workshops, Online platforms like Project Euler, Previous year question papers
Career Connection
Enhances logical reasoning and systematic problem-solving, which are highly valued in research, data science, financial modeling, and any analytical profession.
Explore Emerging Mathematical Fields- (Semester 1-2)
Beyond core subjects, dedicate time to reading introductory material on areas like Mathematical Logic, Computational Mathematics, or applications in data science to broaden perspectives and identify potential specialization areas for future electives.
Tools & Resources
Online courses (Coursera, edX), Popular science books on mathematics, Departmental seminars, YouTube channels on advanced math topics
Career Connection
Helps in identifying personal interests for elective choices in later semesters and aligning with career trends in interdisciplinary fields like AI/ML or quantitative finance.
Intermediate Stage
Strategic Elective Selection- (Semester 3)
Carefully choose Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) subjects that align with your long-term career aspirations. For instance, select Number Theory for cryptography, Operations Research for logistics, or Financial Mathematics for finance. Consult faculty and industry professionals for guidance on relevant choices.
Tools & Resources
Faculty advisors, Alumni network via LinkedIn, Online career forums, Detailed DSE course descriptions
Career Connection
Specializing wisely can directly open doors to specific industries like finance, analytics, or research, enhancing your employability and expertise in a targeted domain.
Engage in Research Projects/Seminars- (Semester 3)
Seek opportunities to work on small research projects with faculty members or actively participate in departmental seminars and colloquia. This exposure to active research areas and methodologies is crucial, especially if considering an academic career.
Tools & Resources
Departmental notice boards and newsletters, Faculty office hours, University research grants (if available), Academic journals in specialized fields
Career Connection
Builds research aptitude, hones presentation skills, and provides practical experience valuable for Ph.D. admissions, research fellowships, and R&D roles in India.
Develop Computational and Programming Skills- (Semester 3)
Learn relevant programming languages like Python or R and mathematical software (e.g., MATLAB, Mathematica, LaTeX) to apply mathematical concepts to real-world problems. This is essential for numerical analysis, data visualization, and computational mathematics.
Tools & Resources
Online tutorials (Codecademy, DataCamp, Coursera), University computer labs, Open-source software documentation, NPTEL courses on computational methods
Career Connection
Essential for quantitative roles, data science, scientific computing, and significantly enhances problem-solving capabilities in an applied context, making you industry-ready.
Advanced Stage
Intensive Placement/Higher Studies Preparation- (Semester 4)
Dedicate focused time to prepare for competitive exams such as UGC NET/JRF, GATE for academic and research positions, or technical interviews for industry roles. Concentrate on advanced problem-solving, conceptual clarity, and mock interviews.
Tools & Resources
Previous year question papers and solutions, Specialized coaching institutes (if needed), University career services for mock interviews, Online communities for exam preparation
Career Connection
Directly impacts success in securing desired academic positions, coveted research fellowships, or high-value industry roles in leading Indian companies and institutions.
Networking and Professional Engagement- (Semester 4)
Attend mathematics conferences, workshops, and colloquia. Actively connect with professors, researchers, and professionals in your chosen mathematical field. Join relevant professional societies in India, such as the Indian Mathematical Society.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn for professional connections, Professional body websites and events calendars, Conference proceedings, Faculty introductions to industry contacts
Career Connection
Opens doors to potential collaborations, mentorship, internship opportunities, and valuable job leads within the Indian mathematical community and related industries.
Portfolio Development and Project Showcase- (Semester 4)
Compile a robust portfolio of your academic achievements, including any research papers, significant projects, and computational work. If applicable, complete a dissertation or a major project to showcase advanced mathematical application and independent research capability.
Tools & Resources
GitHub repositories for code and projects, LaTeX for professional document formatting, Personal academic website/blog, Presentation tools for showcasing work
Career Connection
Provides tangible evidence of your skills and expertise, making you a more attractive candidate for employers and Ph.D. programs, highlighting your practical application of theoretical knowledge.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- B.A./B.Sc. (Hons) Mathematics from University of Delhi or a UGC recognized University with at least 50% marks in aggregate. OR B.A./B.Sc. with at least two courses of Mathematics securing 60% marks in aggregate. OR B.A./B.Sc. (Hons) Computer Science with at least 60% marks in aggregate.
Duration: 4 semesters / 2 years
Credits: 80 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 25%, External: 75%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MM CC-101 | Abstract Algebra | Core | 5 | Group Theory (Sylow''''s theorems), Ring Theory (Ideals, PID, UFD), Module Theory, Vector Spaces, Field Theory |
| MM CC-102 | Real Analysis | Core | 5 | Metric Spaces, Continuity and Compactness, Connectedness, Riemann-Stieltjes Integral, Sequences and Series of Functions |
| MM CC-103 | Topology | Core | 5 | Topological Spaces, Basis, Subspaces, Continuous Functions, Product Topology, Connectedness, Compactness, Countability and Separation Axioms |
| MM CC-104 | Ordinary Differential Equations | Core | 5 | Linear Equations with Variable Coefficients, Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions, Linear Systems, Stability Theory, Boundary Value Problems |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MM CC-201 | Complex Analysis | Core | 5 | Analytic Functions, Power Series, Conformal Mappings, Cauchy''''s Integral Theorem, Residue Theorem, Entire Functions |
| MM CC-202 | Functional Analysis | Core | 5 | Normed Linear Spaces, Banach Spaces, Hilbert Spaces, Bounded Linear Operators, Dual Spaces, Hahn-Banach Theorem |
| MM CC-203 | Partial Differential Equations | Core | 5 | First Order PDEs, Classification of Second Order PDEs, Wave Equation, Heat Equation, Laplace Equation, Green''''s Functions |
| MM CC-204 | Probability and Statistics | Core | 5 | Probability Spaces, Random Variables, Distribution Functions, Expected Value, Limit Theorems, Statistical Inference |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MM DSE-301 | Number Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Divisibility, Congruences, Quadratic Residues, Diophantine Equations, Farey Sequences, Continued Fractions, Prime Number Theorem |
| MM DSE-302 | Advanced Group Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Solvable Groups, Nilpotent Groups, Group Extensions, Free Groups, Group Representations |
| MM DSE-303 | Operations Research | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Linear Programming, Simplex Method, Duality Theory, Transportation Problem, Game Theory, Queueing Theory |
| MM DSE-304 | Fluid Dynamics | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Kinematics of Fluids, Equations of Motion, Viscous Incompressible Flow, Boundary Layer Theory, Irrotational Flow |
| MM DSE-305 | Theory of Elasticity | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Stress and Strain Tensors, Hooke''''s Law, Equations of Equilibrium, Plane Stress, Plane Strain, Torsion, Bending |
| MM DSE-306 | Algebraic Topology | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Homotopy, Fundamental Group, Covering Spaces, Singular Homology, Excision Theorem, Cell Complexes |
| MM DSE-307 | Differential Geometry | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Curves in R3, Serret-Frenet Formulas, Surfaces, First and Second Fundamental Forms, Gaussian Curvature, Geodesics |
| MM DSE-308 | Fourier Analysis | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Fourier Series, Fourier Transforms, L2 Spaces, Convolution, Paley-Wiener Theorem, Distribution Theory |
| MM DSE-309 | Wavelets | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Fourier Transform Review, Haar Wavelets, Multiresolution Analysis, Daubechies Wavelets, Continuous Wavelet Transform |
| MM DSE-310 | Probability Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Measure Theory, Probability Measures, Random Variables, Expectation, Conditional Expectation, Martingales, Limit Laws |
| MM DSE-311 | Graph Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 3) | 5 | Basic Graph Concepts, Trees, Connectivity, Eulerian and Hamiltonian Graphs, Planar Graphs, Graph Coloring |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MM DSE-401 | Advanced Complex Analysis | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Riemann Surfaces, Elliptic Functions, Picard''''s Theorems, Argument Principle, Jensen''''s Formula, Entire Functions |
| MM DSE-402 | Commutative Algebra | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Modules, Tensor Products, Exact Sequences, Noetherian Rings, Dedekind Domains, Primary Decomposition |
| MM DSE-403 | Financial Mathematics | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Options, Futures, Arbitrage, Black-Scholes Model, Binomial Trees, Stochastic Differential Equations |
| MM DSE-404 | Cryptography | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Classical Ciphers, Symmetric Key Cryptography, Asymmetric Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures, Hash Functions, Elliptic Curve Cryptography |
| MM DSE-405 | Finite Element Methods | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Variational Formulation, Shape Functions, Element Assembly, Boundary Conditions, Discretization, Applications to PDEs |
| MM DSE-406 | Fuzzy Sets and Applications | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic, Fuzzy Relations, Fuzzy Arithmetic, Fuzzy Control Systems, Decision Making |
| MM DSE-407 | Measure and Integration | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Lebesgue Measure, Measurable Functions, Lebesgue Integral, Convergence Theorems, Lp Spaces, Radon-Nikodym Theorem |
| MM DSE-408 | Representation Theory of Finite Groups | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Group Representations, Irreducible Representations, Schur''''s Lemma, Characters, Orthogonality Relations, Tensor Products |
| MM DSE-409 | Mathematical Modelling | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Principles of Modelling, Dimensional Analysis, Compartmental Models, Dynamical Systems, Numerical Methods, Case Studies |
| MM DSE-410 | Wavelet Analysis | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Continuous Wavelet Transform, Discrete Wavelet Transform, Orthonormal Wavelets, Multiresolution Analysis, Applications |
| MM DSE-411 | Coding Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Error-Detecting Codes, Linear Codes, Cyclic Codes, BCH Codes, Reed-Solomon Codes, Convolutional Codes |
| MM DSE-412 | Category Theory | Elective (Students choose 4 DSEs from the list for Semester 4) | 5 | Categories, Functors, Natural Transformations, Adjunctions, Limits and Colimits, Universal Properties |




