An Evaluation of a Summer Mathematics Bridging Course for Mature Students

Abstract

Each summer, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Maynooth University delivers a three-week bridging course for mature student applicants. This course serves a dual purpose. First, it acts as a refresher of fundamental mathematical skills, and second, for some, the summative assessments form part of the screening process to determine if their mathematics is of a sufficient level to make the move to higher education. This paper describes the results of student feedback on this course obtained through an online survey of past participants. Respondents indicate that not only is this course effective for building mathematical fluency and confidence, but that they also benefit from gaining a familiarity of the campus as well as making friends with their peers.