University of Sydney cuts maths prerequisites for many degrees

The Australian Academy of Science says the cut to University of Sydney maths prerequisites for many degrees leaves students ill-equipped.

The University of Sydney has backed away from most of its maths prerequisites for courses. Photo: Bianca De Marchi

The body representing Australia’s top scientists has said it is “concerned” by the University of Sydney’s decision to remove the maths prerequisite for students enrolling in a range of degrees that demand maths expertise.

Australian Academy of Science president Chennupati Jagadish said mathematics was a “foundational skill across the sciences”.

“Removing the prerequisite to have studied advanced mathematics for certain degrees will leave students underprepared and ill-equipped to complete their courses,” Professor Jagadish said.

Jagadish Chennupati. Photo: Bradley Cummings

The University of Sydney announced the change on Monday saying the requirement for students to have passed the advanced maths subject in the NSW year 12 Higher School Certificate would be removed for degrees in commerce, economics, science, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing and psychology.

The university said the advanced maths requirement would be retained for courses in engineering honours, advanced computing and pharmacy. The change, to be introduced next year, brings the university in line with most Australian universities, which do not require this level of maths to enter similar degrees. The advanced maths HSC subject (equivalent to the year 12 subject called mathematical methods in some other states) teaches the fundamental maths skill of calculus, but is not the highest level of year 12 maths in NSW.

The University of Sydney introduced the advanced maths requirement in 2019, saying it would lift academic standards. But on Monday the university said dropping the requirement would open the way to university for students who did not have the opportunity to take advanced maths at school, a situation exacerbated by maths teacher short­ages.

Professor Jagadish acknowledged that some students were not able to able to access advanced maths. “But we need both excellence and equity, and students have the right to expect both. Removing the advanced mathematics prerequisite does nothing to address the decline in mathematics enrolments at schools and sends the wrong signal to students,” he said.

Australian Institute of Physics president Nicole Bell said, from an educational point of view, advanced maths should be a prerequisite for science and engineering degrees.

“The fact we cannot – because we simply don’t have enough maths teachers – indicates the severity of the maths teacher crisis in Australia,” she said.

Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute director Tim Marchant said he understood the need for the University of Sydney to attract more low socio-economic status and regional students by removing maths prerequisites.

“I’m concerned about the message it sends to parents and schoolchildren,” he said.