Mathematics and statistics support
CEED's maths and statistics support service allows undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from the university to come for free, confidential, one to one help with any mathematics or statistics based problem. 
If you are confused by a particular topic, stuck on a problem, want to build confidence in your mathematical ability, or want to consult about experimental design or data analysis then why not make an appointment?
Students can receive support with the maths and stats components of courses taught in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology, Philosophy, and Geography & Geosciences.
The list of topics currently covered by our tutors can be viewed using our interactive topic list. If the topic you are looking for isn't listed here, please get in touch and we will find out if any of our tutors are able to help (ceedtutors@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Please note, that our CEED office does not have a full mobility access. If you have any access requirements, please contact CEED directly.
1:1 appointments
You are welcome to book an appointment with one of the CEED mathematics and statistics tutors.
Please note that it may be 24-48 hours before your appointment is allocated, therefore we may not always be able to fulfil last minute requests.
Statistics appointments: Please note that due to staffing we may be unable to offer statistics appointments until week 10 or 11. We are working hard to address the delay.
About CEED tutoring services
- Appointments are free and confidential
- Our primary aim is to help students over occasional bumps—please note, we do not offer routine tutoring service
- Services are limited to no more than 3 tutoring appointments per term
- We cannot offer discipline specific help
- The tutor will not proof-read, edit, or discuss any written work that is not yet submitted
Who may request tutoring and when?
- Appointments are available to all students except PGR (PhD) students
- New students are required to attend 2 weeks of classes before booking a one-to-one appointment with CEED.
What can I expect from an appointment?
- Strategies to support you to become independent in your studies
- Personalized support
- Several topics can be tutored in the same appointment at the discretion of the tutor and depending on the complexity of the topic.
- Maths/Stats & Study Skills cannot be tutored in the same appointment (different tutors are required)
- Advice from experienced postgraduate (PhD) tutors. Our tutors are PhD students who have an excellent understanding of mathematics and statistics, and often lead tutorial groups within schools.
- Please note that CEED is unable to offer appointments to help with modules run by the School of Mathematics and Statistics. CEED targets the skills, such as study skills or maths & stats, that underpin the academic subjects on offer in St Andrews, but does not provide subject specific support. Just as we don’t offer 1:1 tuition in, for example, History or Chemistry, we cannot provide tuition for Mathematics and Statistics modules because of the overlap with core academic content. We encourage you to contact your module coordinator in the first instance. For sub-honours modules, Maths Base and your module tutor are also sources of help. If you have explored these avenues and feel you are not getting appropriate help please contact the Director of Teaching for Mathematics and Statistics, Dr Rees-Jones, at maths-dot@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Getting the most from your appointment
To get the most from your appointment you should:
- Be as specific as you can about what you would like help with. In the first instance you should make one appointment. It is more efficient to choose the one or two topics that are the most important.
- Bring your lecture notes/ textbooks/ tutorial notes along with you.
- Expect to be treated as an independent learner.
Mathematics and Statistics support
Our new Maths and Stats Hub contains resources on a range of topics to support you with Mathematical and Statistical elements of your degree.
Mathematics features in many different subjects, and an understanding of the maths behind a subject can often greatly aid understanding of the subject itself.
From basic descriptive statistics to inferential statistics there will be a statistical tool appropriate to use for any data situation. Here you will find information on the classification of your data, the appropriate analysis to employ, and the interpretation of such analysis.
CEED's online resources cover the following areas:
Mathematics:
- Fundamentals of mathematics
Statistics:
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Fundamentals of statistics;
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Statistical tests;
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Statistical regression;
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Statistics in dissertation project planning;
Please note, we are also able to offer a 20% discount for subscriptions to Laerd Statistics, who provide tutorials in SPSS software. To obtain a code please email: learning@st-andrews.ac.uk
Our new Maths and Stats Hub can be accessed on Moodle.
'Friendly econ' scheme
Sub-honours students in Economics should also note 'Friendly Econ', a student-run tutoring scheme organised by the St Andrews Economics Society and supported by CEED.
Friendly Econ tutors are honours students selected based on their academic excellence and strong personal skills. This ensures that the sessions are run in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, where the tutor guides the student towards discovering the solution.
Economics Honours students provide support with:
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understanding economic concepts;
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performing mathematical calculations; and,
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solving tutorial questions.
When, where?
This semester, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the scheme will run every Wednesday in a virual format. Tutoring sessions for first-year students will take place from 3 to 4 pm and from 4 to 5 pm for second-year students. Please, check Friendly-Econ's Facebook page to access the link to the tutoring session.