Bachelor of Biomedicine with Concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences

[alanyin1]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone's done/doing a Concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences alongside the Bachelor of Biomedicine? I'm currently a 2nd year Biomed student currently on track for the Bio-Engineering major, and have satisfied the prereqs so far, but may switch majors. Anyway, I'm doing MCB and BMEN20001: Biomechanical Physics and Computation this sem with BLAW10001 as my breadth, and am planning on doing MAST20029: Engineering Mathematics next sem to satisfy the Bio-Eng 3rd year subject prereqs.

After looking into the Diploma, the Applied Maths Specialisation appeals the most to me, as I enjoy the content, but also because I haven't done any prob or stats since high school (as I completed alternative subjects to the usual EDDA + Maths for Biomed combo in 1st year), and have not completed any 'true' computing subjects ever (I did enjoy and get 87 in ESD2 however, if that counts for anything).

Additionally, if I were to complete solely the degree in Biomed, I would have at least 50 points of maths subjects that could potentially be cross-credited (MAST10008, MAST10006, MAST20029: Engineering Maths this year and want to do MAST20009: Vector Calc next year). Therefore, I would need only 50 points more; however, my subject choices would have to change to account for prereqs required for the Applied Maths major needed for the Diploma - specifically, taking the Vector Calc + Differential Equations route instead of Engineering Maths, as well as having to take Real Analysis.

It should be noted that completing both the degree and the Diploma will take me 4 years instead of the standard 3.5 years as I'm no longer in the Accelerated Maths stream - I dropped AM 2 for Calc 2 due to a few reasons; now somewhat regretting due to forgoing the same credit that Real Analysis would give.

My question is, is the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences useful enough to justify the extra year in total time, if I am to major in Bio-Engineering anyway, and is it even useful at all? I've always appreciated maths, but am considering switching into the Biochem major or others, depending on how I find MCB + HSF this year. How useful is it in terms of future job prospects?

Even now, I really have no firm idea of what I want to do after uni; I'm trying out for med, but if it doesn't work, I guess I'll be content with potentially doing a Masters in Engineering (probably Biomedical with Business) & looking to network + internships/jobs, or going into research/academia for bio-engineering or biochemistry?

One blessing/problem that I've had since forever is having too varied of an interest; I've always felt uncomfortable in 'surrendering' a subject to specialise in another (e.g. biochem = no maths, maths = no chem etc - I could see myself seriously doing anything). However, I will eventually have to do so

I'll go have a consulting session with the Department of Maths as well as Stop 1, probably on Monday, but would definitely appreciate any ideas, suggestions and similar experiences that anyone has! Thanks

[Chelsea f.c.]

Beyond the obvious material in maths and it's uses maths teaches us how to solve problems especially numerical ones within any situation... adding maths skills will make you more employable in any situation and may complement your other subjects.... as my econometrics tutor said that when he worked at the accc his greater skills in statistics meant unlike his friends who were paper pushes and coffee jug fillers he got to work on interesting projects because unlike the theory and report writing skills that were more than supplied by the department he had numerical skills which made him a popular graduate level employee.

[stolenclay]

Disclaimer: I am a bit biased obviously since I have already gone down the rabbit hole, so to speak.

My question is, is the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences useful enough to justify the extra year in total time, if I am to major in Bio-Engineering anyway, and is it even useful at all?

Yes, it is worth the extra year in total time. After you start working, you will release how little a year means in the grand scheme of your entire career/life.

How useful is it in terms of future job prospects?

Going by the fields you've listed, not useful. Let me elaborate.

Outside academia: This sounds contradictory to what I've said above, but, judging by the fields you have mentioned, it should be quite rare for having or not having the Diploma (and the associated skills gained in the Diploma) to be the deciding factor in whether a job (in biomedical engineering, biochemistry, or medicine) is offered to you. While the skills are useful, the mathematics itself would not be the substantial focus of the position (because that is left to academia). Rather, it may help sporadically once you have secured the position, and if you don't know the mathematical side of things there will almost always be someone else who does.

Inside academia: I think this will be a non-issue because you would never apply for a position in academia in the first place unless you were confident you had the right technical knowledge. (Also, by the time you have studied enough to consider applying to academic positions, you will definitely have this kind of awareness.) Speaking from a STEM perspective, academic research is not like research in general: You will almost always be working on a niche problem, and suitable candidates simply wouldn't be accepted (or even apply) if they didn't have the right domain-specific knowledge and skills.


I guess my advice really is not to see the Diploma as a burden which you would only consider if it improved employment prospects. If you have the drive and interest right now to study more mathematics, by all means take this chance (while you are still an undergraduate) and enrol in the Diploma! This is the most convenient time to be learning mathematics — once you graduate into medicine/start working, your drive/incentives to study maths will be completely different.