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Maths Bridging Module

Looking to stand out from the crowd, or refresh your maths skills before starting university? Our Maths Bridging Module covers prerequisite knowledge for first-year mathematics courses at ANU, so you can start with confidence.

Overview

Want to get ahead or refresh your maths skills before starting university? Our online Maths Bridging Module helps you build the recommended prerequisite knowledge for first-year mathematics courses at ANU, so you can start with confidence.

This bridging module is designed to prepare you for the mathematical foundations and prerequisite knowledge needed for the following first-year courses:

Course instructor

Associate Professor Adam Piggott
Associate Director Science Education and First-Year Coordinator, Mathematical Sciences Institute

With over 25 years' experience teaching undergraduate and graduate mathematics, Associate Professor Adam Piggott brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the program. As First-Year Coordinator, he has supported generations of students transitioning into university-level mathematics, and may even be one of your lecturers in first year.

Who should enrol?

The Mathematical Sciences Institute Bridging Module is ideal for students who want to strengthen their foundations before starting first-year mathematics courses. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready, or simply want to build confidence, this program will help you get on track, become familiar with the ANU learning environment, and connect with other commencing students and future classmates.

After registering, you’ll be asked to complete an online diagnostic test. Your results will indicate whether the Maths Bridging Module is recommended for you before enrolling in ANU mathematics courses. The diagnostic test link will be available by the end of November.

Take the Diagnostic Test

More information: Choosing your first year, first semester mathematics course

Delivery and dates

The Maths Bridging Module runs over nine consecutive working days, from Monday 2 February to Thursday 12 February 2026. Each day includes two hours of lectures in the morning and a two-hour workshop in the afternoon.

All lectures and workshops will be delivered online. Zoom details will be provided seven days before the module begins, once enrolment is confirmed and payment received.

Structure and content

Each session runs from 10am to 3pm (local Canberra time, AEDT).

  • Morning session: 10am-12pm
  • Break: 12-1pm
  • Afternoon session: 1-3pm

To get the most out the module, you should also plan to spend time studying outside of scheduled sessions.

Learning style

Sessions combine clear explanations with interactive problem solving, quizzes, and guided activities to help you practise key concepts and build confidence quickly.

Maths Bridging Module Topic List

The topics covered in the bridging module include:

  • Basic set theory: set notation, intersection, union, complement.
  • Real numbers, inequalities, distance between two points, absolute value.
  • Equation of a straight line (gradient formula, gradient-point equation, gradient-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).
  • How to solve inequalities: interval notation, properties, combined inequalities, inequality involving absolute value.
  • Functions and their graphs: domain, composite functions, one-to-one, onto, minima and maxima, piecewise defined functions, transformations.
  • Rational functions: properties, domain of a rational function, basic graphs, asymptotes.
  • Exponential and logarithm functions.
  • Trigonometric functions and trigonometric identities.
  • Polar coordinates: converting from rectangular to polar and from polar to rectangular.
  • Vectors: direction and magnitude, position vector, addition and subtraction, unit vector.
  • Basic calculus: finding limits, one-sided limits, continuity.
  • Basic calculus: Definition of the derivative, basic derivatives, product rule, quotient rule, chain rule.
  • Basic calculus: Anti-differentiation, definite integral, area under a curve.

Fees

The cost of the Maths Bridging Module is AUD$500.

This cost is inclusive of:

  • Tuition fees
  • Academic activities

If you would like advice on whether or not the Maths Bridging Module is a good choice for you, email admin.teaching.msi@anu.edu.au with the following details:

  • The mathematics course/s that you studied in Year 12
  • The mathematics course/s you intend to enrol in at ANU.

Cancellation

The Australian National University reserves the right to cancel the Maths Bridging Module or change the title, content, dates and venues. We also reserve the right to decline registrations where registrations exceed capacity or cancel the Maths Bridging Module due to insufficient registrations. In the event of cancellation, students registered for Maths Bridging Module will be notified 14 days prior to commencement.

Registered students who wish to cancel must provide written confirmation of their intention to the Maths Bridging Module Administrator at admin.teaching.msi@anu.edu.au by 7 days prior to commencement.

 

Refunds

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.

Enrol and payment link

Please enrol here