Algebraic Topology

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
MATH 4010
Course ID icon
Course ID
200051
Campus icon
Campus
Mawson Lakes, Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
Mathematical Sciences
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Michael Albanese
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Course level
4
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

One of the great insights of 20th century mathematics is that we may associate some algebraic structure (a group, or a ring) to a topological space (for example, a surface), in such a way that continuous changes made to the topological space do not change the algebraic structure. In that case we have an invariant algebraic structure. These algebraic invariants provide a powerful tool to study and classify topological spaces, which we will do in this course. 

  • Fundamental Group and Covering Spaces
  • Simplicial and Singular Homology
  • Singular Cohomology and Poincaré Duality

Course learning outcomes

  • Explain the fundamental group, its properties, and its relationship with covering spaces
  • Explain homology and cohomology groups, their properties, and relationship to each other
  • Calculate algebraic invariants for suitable examples
  • Apply the theory in the course to solve a variety of problems
  • Demonstrate skills in communicating mathematics

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed all of MATHX307 Groups, Rings and Fields/MATHX311 Metric and Topological Spaces

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

Availability

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Group 1

Class number
Class number 22010
Section
Section FR01
Size
Size 10
Available
Available 8
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
8 May - 29 May Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engin and Maths Sciences, 212
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engin and Maths Sciences, 212

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Degree list
The following degrees include this course