PhD Mathematics

What you will study

Our PhD in Mathematics will give you extensive training for a career as a professional mathematician, ready for a future in academia, industry, government, or a wide variety of other fields.

You’ll work closely with one or two supervisors, who you’ll meet frequently to discuss your research and your career development. They’ll oversee your progress, guide your critical thinking and offer advice throughout your studies.

During the first few months of your PhD, you’ll enrol and attend a series of induction events, and work with your supervisor to design a personal development plan, which you’ll update throughout your PhD.

You’ll complete a number of taught modules, including assessments, to broaden your mathematical knowledge. Most of these will be completed in your first year, with some completed in your second year. These include taught courses from MAGIC, the London Taught Course Centre and the Academy for PhD Training in Statistics, plus our own masters-level modules. You’ll also get training when attending department research seminars aimed at both staff and PhD students. On average, you’ll be attending approximately one or two research seminars a week.

In your second year, you’ll be required to complete a confirmation report and pass an internal viva examination. You’ll present your research in your research group seminar and be encouraged to design a research poster. You’ll usually start working on your first research paper together with your supervisors in your second year.

The last part of your PhD is all about advancing your research and completing your thesis. You’ll have regular meetings with your supervisor, who’ll work closely with you to help you manage your writing and make you critically reflect on the research you’ve done. Often, you’ll write and submit more research papers in this time.

We encourage all PhD students to take part in research summer and winter schools, and to present work at national and international conferences. We can support your travel to these events.

Assessment

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

You’ll be assessed in the first 15 months of your PhD through a confirmation report and a viva with two internal examiners. You’ll also do short take-home examinations for online MAGIC courses and the assessments for any MSc modules you take.

Location

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.