Due to unforeseen circumstances we are unable to proceed MATH bridging module as planned in 2025. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.
What is the Maths Bridging Course?
MSI aims for research and educational outcomes of the highest possible quality. This is achieved by world wide collaborative research, nurturing quality students, increasing the international profile and the efficiency of the organisation whilst ensuring administration and support functions effectively.
The Bridging Course modules have been specifically designed to cover the prerequisite knowledge required to undertake the following First Year maths courses
Who should enrol in the Maths Bridging Course?
The Maths Bridging Course is highly recommended for students who plan to take one of the mathematics courses listed above as part of their degree program, but who do not feel confident with the prerequisite knowledge (either because they did not take the prerequisite course at high school, or they took the prerequisite course but do not feel in command of the material, or they took the prerequisite course quite a while ago).
The Mathematical Sciences Institute will give students access to an online diagnostic test that they should take as soon as it becomes available. The result in the diagnostic test will indicate whether or not you should take the Maths Bridging Course before enrolling in ANU Maths courses. A link to the diagnostic test website will be available by the end of November.
Further information about the ANU Maths Bridging Course can be found here.
Structure and content
The Maths Bridging Course will run each day from 10am to 3pm. The daily schedule is as follows:
- Session 1: 10am-12pm
- Break: 12pm-1pm
- Session 2: 1pm-3pm
To make the most of the opportunity, students will also need to spend time studying outside of class time.
Lecture Style
The Maths Bridging Course will comprise two lectures per day, each lasting 2 hours. Each lecture may include content delivery, interactive problem solving and a quiz.
Maths Bridging Course Topic List
- Basic set theory: definition of a set, intersection, union, complement.
- Real numbers, inequalities, distance between two points, absolute value.
- Equation of a straight line (slope formula, point-slope equation, slope-intercept), parallel lines, perpendicular lines.
- Polynomials, long division, factoring polynomials, completing the square, finding roots.
- How to solve an equation (factoring, completing the square, quadratic formula).
- Complex numbers: imaginary unit, sum, difference, multiplication, conjugate, reciprocal, quotient of two complex numbers, quadratic equations.
- How to solve inequalities: interval notation, properties, combined inequalities, inequality involving absolute value.
- Functions and their graphs: domain,composite functions, even and odd functions, minima and maxima, piecewise defined functions, vertical and horizontal shifts, streches and compressions, reflection.
- Rational functions: properties, domain of a rational function, graphs, asymptotes.
- Exponential and logarithm functions.
- Trigonometric functions and trigonometric identities.
- Polar coordinates, polar equations and graphs, converting from rectangular to polar and from polar to rectangular.
- Vectors: direction and magnitude, position vector, addition and subtraction, unit vector, dot product, cross product.
- Binomial Theorem. Counting and probability: counting formula, permutations and combinations, compound probabilities.
- Basic calculus: finding limits, one-sided limits, continuous functions.
- Basic calculus: Derivative of a function: product, quotient, chain rule.
- Basic calculus: Anti-differentiation, definite integral, area under a curve.
The cost of the Maths Bridging Course is AUD $550.
This cost is inclusive of:
- Tuition Fees
- Academic Activities
If you want advice on whether or not the Maths Bridging Course is a good choice for you, email admin.teaching.msi@anu.edu.au with the following details:
- The mathematics course you studied in Year 12
- The mathematics course you intend to enrol in at ANU.
The Australian National University reserves the right to cancel the Bridging Course or change the title, content, dates and venues. We also reserve the right to decline registrations where registrations exceed capacity or cancel the Bridging Course due to insufficient registrations. In the event of cancellation, students registered for Bridging Course will be notified 14 days prior to commencement.
Registered students who wish to cancel must provide written confirmation of their intention to the Bridging Course Administrator at admin.teaching.msi@anu.edu.au by 7 days prior to commencement.
Under the circumstances outlined below, students may be eligible for a full refund of their fees.
- If ANU is unable to offer the course
- If a student’s visa application is refused. Evidence of refusal is mandatory and students must provide the decision record from the Department of Home Affairs in the case of a visa refusal
- If a student cancels their place in the course in writing, by the dates outlined above.