Hello,
I recently graduated from a cheap london university in BSc Mathematics......and am thinking of going into Msc Mathematics in canada.
So was wondering what people study in MSc Pure (algebra/number theory) mathematics???? I am asking this stupid question because I am very much concerned that my Bachelors degree (3 yrs) is inadequate and I may not be able to understand the MSc lectures ???????
Is it possible to do masters without REAL ANALYSIS.........?????What about PHD without REAL ANALYSIS?????

It obviously depends what you did in your courses, but from my experience (a bizarre degree taking 5 years (4 is normal in scotland) where I had to do a years worth of masters modules at some point during it and you'd have a degree that lay somewhere between a Masters and a BSc, and most of my modules were in algebra), everything (within reason) you need to know is covered at the start of the course. If things aren't covered then if you are doing a Masters degree I suspect you would be expected to find out for yourself. One recurring thing that kept popping up but we were never taught about were modules - noone ever told us what a module was, but we were expected to know! So, naturally, I went and looked them up...(not that I have any idea what they are now, though).

As for a PhD without Real Analysis, I suspect this would be possible - I can see no reason why not! (Although I've a lecturer who claims that Real Analysis pops up in Infinite Group Theory, and I would tend to believe him as he, well, knows more than me...) I hope it doesn't though, as my analysis is awful, and I'm starting a PhD in Infinite Group Theory in October...

As for what would be covered in a MSc, the modules I did (which are modules that a regular Masters student would/could do) were in Group Theory (Group Actions, Hall -subgroups, Nilpotent Groups, and everything in between), general courses in Finite Fields, Lie Algebras, Group Rings and Semigroups, and then a module in Fortran, and another in the History of Maths (interesting...but I had to write an essay ). Then I also had my dissertation.

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Ok....so I have had undergrad courses in Group theory, number theory,finite fields....only 1 semester in each( 10-12 lectures)..which were very brief introductories only in my opinion..........and I intend to do most of my masters module in algebra.......so I guess it will be without analysis......but I have this incredible fear that I won't understand the lectures ........If u have any electronic notes/ any material of your masters ....can you please email it..please!!!

What have you done up to in Group Theory? Have you touched on the Fundamental Theorem for Finite Abelian Groups and Sylow's Theorems?

I can't imagine any BSc not setting you up for a Masters in the same subject. Anyway, the people who accept you for your postgraduate studies know what is what - if they think you'll not get the degree then they won't take you on. It is in their best interest to get students who will do well. So if you get in, chances are you will understand everything, with at least a little work.

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In groups I have done cosets/homo&iso morphisms.....don't know abt Fundamental TH for finite abeleian groups....but definate NO on SYLOW's theorem.................