Mathematical Acceleration and eXtension - MAX

Take first semester university mathematics at high school in New Zealand.

About the MAX programme

MAX students enrol into the course MATHS 199: Advancing in Mathematics, as part of the Young Scholars Programme (which allows talented students to complete a university course while still at high school).

As a MAX student you’ll study cryptography, mathematical modelling, fractals, chaos theory and graph theory. You’ll learn to pen abstract mathematical proofs, write computer code and create models to study real-life situations.

If you perform well in MATHS 199, you can choose to count this course towards a BSc or BE(Hons) at the University of Auckland, getting a head start on your degree.

Applying for the MAX programme

You are eligible to apply if you:

  • are currently attending high school
  • have a good understanding of Year 13 mathematics
  • have a strong recommendation from your school's Head of Mathematics

If you want to study remotely, you'll need good access to a computer, the internet, and be able to work well on your own.

You need to apply for admission under the University's Discretionary Entrance Regulations

To be admitted to the MAX programme you need the consent of the University of Auckland's Department of Mathematics.

For all enrolment enquiries email us at max@auckland.ac.nz.

International students who wish to join the MAX programme will need to apply for full entrance to the University of Auckland. Potential international students should contact us directly at max@auckland.ac.nz.

Have questions about the programme?

Reach out using the Young Scholars Programme Question form to chat to a staff member in the Young Scholars Programme for Science.

MAX logistics

The course starts at the beginning of March. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings and the course wraps up by the end of June (with the final exam being held towards the end of June, the exact date will be confirmed in May).

Each Tuesday evening class starts at 4.30 pm and wraps up no later than 7.30 pm. Students can attend in person or via a livestream. Each evening session features a lecture followed by a lab and then another lecture. All lectures are recorded, so if you can’t attend on a Tuesday, you can catch up on the material by watching the recordings later in the week.

There are no classes held during the school holidays.

On top of attending class, we recommend budgeting an additional five to seven hours per week for the course. This time will be spent viewing extra recordings, completing course readings, attempting practice problems, completing assignments and the project and preparing for the test and final exam.

For more information about the course see the digital course outline.

The MAX information meeting

Check out our online information session - a great opportunity for students, teachers and parents to learn more about MAX. 

An online webinar will be run on Tuesday 22 October. This is a great opportunity for students, teachers and parents to hear from the MAX team and learn about MAX. 

If interested in attending, please register your interest by completing this form. 

Contact us

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at max@auckland.ac.nz.