Overview
The aim of the PhD programmes in the Department of Mathematics is to offer an advanced research training in mathematics of high quality and to prepare doctoral students for their future career. The breadth of expertise in the Department, together with a thriving culture of research, international visitors, seminars and workshops, makes the Department one of the best universities in the UK to undertake a postgraduate research programme.
PhD Programmes
The Department offers two PhD programmes, PhD in Mathematics and PhD in Interdisciplinary Mathematics. Other programmes are offered by (maths-related) Doctoral Training Centres who have their own web-sites and are not described here. The PhD in Mathematics is aimed at those students who wish to specialise in Mathematics, whether it be in pure and/or applied mathematics. The PhD in Interdisciplinary Mathematics is aimed at those whose interests lie at an interface between mathematics and its applications. Students studying for this programme will have a supervisor in the Mathematics department as well as in a second University Department in MiR@W (Mathematics Interdisciplinary Research at Warwick) given that the focus of the Interdiciplinary Mathematics PhD is the application of mathematical techniques to problems in another discipline.
PhD Training
All students are required to undergo training in Year 1 and are encouraged to make use of further training opportunities available in subsequent years. Training ranges from gaining a broader knowledge of mathematics through taught modules, seminars and workshops, to enhancing your professional and transferrable skills. Our aim is to produce excellent PhD students who have undertaken high quality original research and who are well-prepared for a career, either in academia or elsewhere.
Supervision and Progression
It is the role of the supervisor(s) to guide the student and discuss the research and progress on a regular basis. A student's progress will additionally be monitored by a PhD Progress Board at various stages during the studies to ensure that supervision and support mechansims are working and that satisfactory progress is being made. The primary purpose of the Board is to help both the student and the supervisor work together so that an excellent PhD thesis is produced by the student in a timely fashion. Membership of the Board comprises the Head of Department (Chair), the Director of Graduate Studies, the Director of MSc Studies and at least one other senior academic. The Board will meet formally three times a year (in March, June and September) to discuss students' progress and provide advice for the supervisors (or students) as required. In the worst case scenario, failure to make satisfactory progress towards the PhD may lead to a recommendation to remain on, or to transfer to the MPhil degree, or to withdraw from postgraduate studies. Such recommendations are made for the mutual benefit of all concerned parties.
Completion
Students are expected to submit their thesis in around 3.5 years which reflects the length of the funding available for many of the funded students. An extension beyond four years of registration will only be given by the University in exceptional circumstances (e.g. medical).