INTRODUCTION

Introduction: Budapest Semesters in Mathematics

A Program in English for American and Canadian Undergraduates.

“Hungary is a tiny country, and yet she sent to North America an amazing number of outstanding [people] in all intellectual fields, scientific, literary and artistic.” – Laura Fermi, Illustrious Immigrants

Clearly, the Hungarian educational system has been the most successful for pure mathematics; it’s a model that ought to be studied very carefully because it works.” – Donald Knuth, Two Year College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 13

“Without a doubt, the most exciting part of my classes was the emphasis on creative problem solving.” – Julie Kerr, Alephnaught, Vol.35, No.1

Spend part of your undergraduate studies in Budapest.

Learn mathematics from leading Hungarian scholars—in English.

Hungary has a long tradition of excellence in mathematics education. However, because of the language barrier, students have not been able to take advantage of the skill and dedication of the mathematics faculties of Hungarian universities.

Initiated by Paul Erdős, László Lovasz, and Vera T. Sós, the program Budapest Semesters in Mathematics (BSM) provides a unique opportunity for North American undergraduates. Through this program, mathematics and computer science majors in their junior/senior years may spend fall, spring or summer semester in Budapest and study under the tutelage of eminent Hungarian scholar-teachers. The instructors of BSM are members of Eötvös University, the Mathematical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the three institutions known for having educated more than half of Hungary’s highly acclaimed mathematicians. BSM classes are held at the College International, a Hungarian-based educational institution focusing on international students studying in Budapest. Most instructors have had teaching experience in North America and are familiar with the cultural differences.

All courses are taught in English.
Classes are small.
Credits are transferable to North American colleges and universities.
The school is near the center of historic Budapest.
Living costs are modest.

See https://www.budapestsemesters.com/

Abstract

We investigated two factors that predict students’ achievement and behaviour in undergraduate mathematics: gender and personality. We found that gender predicted students’ achievement and behaviour when considered in isolation, but ceased to be predictive when personality profiles were taken into account. Furthermore, personality accounted for significantly more variance in undergraduates’ achievement and behaviour than did gender, but the converse was not the case. We therefore argue that personality provides the more productive lens through which to understand the behaviour of undergraduate mathematics students. We relate this finding to recent research emphasising gender differences in mathematics education, and suggest that researchers wishing to promote equity in participation at and beyond the undergraduate level should consider shifting their focus to individual differences in personality.

Teaching Blog of Ioannis Souldatos

Mathematics

Budapest Semesters in Mathematics