Case Study: University of Oxford achieves self-directed symbolic computation and problem‑solving skills with MathWorks (MATLAB and Symbolic Math Toolbox)

Mathematics Undergraduate Students At The University Of Oxford Use MATLAB For Symbolic Computation And Problem Solving

The University of Oxford’s Mathematical Institute uses MathWorks tools in its first‑year course "Exploring Mathematics with MuPAD" to give about 200 mathematics undergraduates per year an introduction to symbolic computation. The challenge was to promote independent, self‑directed learning while ensuring every student could access the required software (MATLAB with the Symbolic Math Toolbox and its MuPAD notebook) from their own laptops and receive timely guidance tied to other first‑year courses.

Oxford leveraged a campus‑wide license for MATLAB and Symbolic Math Toolbox and structured a two‑term course with small‑group demonstrator support and project work linked to other modules. MathWorks also provided application engineer assistance during the conversion to MuPAD. The result: students can work and submit MuPAD notebook files remotely, self‑directed learning is enabled across ~200 students annually, course changes were streamlined with MathWorks support, and students report transferable skills—many citing MATLAB on CVs and using the tools in later projects and research.

University of Oxford

Catherine Wilkins

Course Director