IMA:Fellow

Requirements
Applicants for Fellow require senior professional standing based on demonstrable achievement and competence in the development or application of mathematics.

In addition to an approved qualification for the Member grade applicants must have:

completed seven years of research in mathematics or its applications which has made a valuable contribution to the subject, OR
completed ten years responsible work requiring knowledge and application of mathematics, OR
made outstanding contributions to the development or application of mathematics.

Although the regulations allow admission to Fellow within seven years of obtaining a first degree it is unusual for applicants to have gained sufficient seniority and experience before the age of 32.

The level of acceptable work cannot be defined precisely. Generally, commercial or industrial mathematicians may have led a research, development or operational group, which uses advanced or applied mathematics. A university mathematician will normally be of at least senior lecturer grade. A schoolteacher may have made a sufficient contribution to mathematics development at a local or national level.

How to Apply
Applications must be made using an Institute application form (Word) (Pdf) and must be signed. The signature constitutes a contract to abide by the rules of the Institute. A properly completed application will not be processed until the appropriate fees are received. See the separate sheet for the current fees.

The application must include a detailed statement outlining current and previous professional activities. The statement is an important part of the application and should make the case for acceptance by the Membership Committee. Additional information, for example, a summary publication list may be enclosed.

Applicants for Fellow should show their application form to two referees who must read and sign it. A signature is taken to mean that in that referee’s opinion the applicant meets the requirements for the grade sought. Both referees should be Fellows of the Institute, wherever possible. Referees who are senior members of other relevant professional bodies may be accepted as an alternative.

Referees will later be invited to submit comprehensive references. These references are crucial in the consideration of the application, so applicants should ensure that referees have a detailed knowledge of the applicant’s work and be more senior than the applicant, or of equal seniority but working for a different organisation.

Applications for Fellow are considered by the Membership Committee. Applications usually take two to three months to process from receipt at Catherine Richards House.

Designatory Letters
All Fellows may use the letters FIMA after their name.