Applying for the 1+3

28 March 2023: Please note that due to the volume of applications and very limited number of funded places, we are no longer able to accept applications from international students for funded places. We are still able to accept applications from Home-fee students, and EU students who have settled or pre-settled status.

Applications are made on the central Admissions website. The 2023 cohort will be the last cohort recruited to the MathSys II CDT. Please read all of the information below before applying.

Prospective international applicants for the 1+3 MSc leading to PhD programme are advised that because of the 1+3 structure of the MathSys course, it will be necessary to apply for a visa twice: once for the MSc year and once for the PhD element of the course. This means that the applicant will bear two sets of visa application costs and two sets of NHS Health surcharges. The CDT is unfortunately unable to provide any financial support for these costs (even to students who are awarded a funded place).

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend one of our Open Days.

Applying for the 1+3 MSc leading to PhD programme

Applicants should have mathematical and practical motivation, and hold or be anticipating a strong First class degree (or a very high 2:1) in Maths, Statistics, or an analytical subject with a demonstrably high proportion of mathematical content. Most successful applicants hold a First (or international equivalent). The MSc element of the programme involves a significant amount of computation, and whilst training in this is provided, applicants with existing programming skills are more likely to be admitted. We recommend that successful applicants undertake some preparation in advance.

If you are interested in applying for a place on our 1+3 MSc leading to PhD programme in Mathematics of Systems, you can submit an online application via the University of Warwick Online Application Portal. The programme code is P-G1PF. Successful applicants at this stage will be interviewed to interview, part of which involves answering some questions designed to determine your level of mathematical and computational ability.

Please read the Postgraduate step by step guide for help with the application process. When applying, please clearly state in your personal statement that you wish to be considered for the MathSys 1+3 course, and whether or not you wish to be considered for a funded place. Limited funded places are available.

Application deadlines

If you’re a UK resident, there are no application deadlines for postgraduate taught courses. But places are limited, so you should submit your application as early as possible. Competition for funded places is high and you are encouraged to submit your application before the end of January.

If you’re from outside the UK, you may need to get a student visa. To make sure you have time to do this, the application deadline for all courses starting in September/October is 31 July however places are limited so you should submit your application as soon as possible.

Applications can only be considered once all supporting documentation has been received.

There is no application fee.

Applying for a funded place

If you wish to apply for a funded place, please select EPSRC as the source of funding in your application and list the CDT details as per the screenshot below.
The last question about sharing your details with the funding body is optional – it is ticked “yes” in the screenshot but you can choose “no” by not ticking the box.

Contact details: MathSys CDT Administrator: complexity@warwick.ac.uk, telephone: 02476 523673

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for the Mathematics of Systems 1+3 MSc leading to PhD course are:

Applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, a strong First Class or very high Upper Second Class Honours degree in Mathematics, Statistics, or an analytical subject with a demonstrably high proportion of mathematical content from a UK university, or the equivalent qualification and grade from a non-UK university.
International applicants must have, or be expected to achieve, an English language test certificate that meets our Band A English language requirements. Please see our Study pages for the English Language qualifications accepted by the University of Warwick.
Two references from academic staff who have taught you on your current or most recent degree.
The University will accept professional references if you have been out of higher education for over two years. These must be submitted by your current or most recent line manager. Please note that personal references, such as those from family and friends, are not acceptable.
Please note: if any of your qualification documents are not in your current name, you will also need to provide evidence of your change of name. This can be uploaded in the same file as your qualification documents within the application system.

Application checklist

For an application to be complete and ready to be considered by the CDT, applicants must ensure they have completed all of the following:

Completed and submitted the online application form via the University of Warwick Online Applications Portal
Received email notification of your Applicant ID Number from the University of Warwick Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Clearly stated in your personal statement that you wish to be considered for the MathSys 1+3 course (course code P-G1PF), or the PhD-only course if applicable (course code P-G1PG).
If you wish to be considered for a funded place on the 1+3 course, please ensure that you have clearly stated in your personal statement that this is the case.
Provided information in your application on your general motivation for the course, what you hope to achieve on the course, and how your education and experience to date would make you suitable for the course.
Provided contact details of two academic referees, and advised them in advance that they will be contacted by the University of Warwick to submit a reference to support your application to study.
Provided transcripts of your previous qualifications, and of any marks you have achieved to date on any current study you are undertaking.
Provided an up-to-date CV (this can be uploaded under 'Additional Information' on the Qualifications page of the online application form).
For EU and international candidates, you should also provide a certified English translation of your transcripts and certificates if they are not in English, and confirmation of your English Language Proficiency.

What happens after I apply?

Your online application and supporting documents will be considered by our Admissions Tutors. If your application is taken forward to the next stage, applicants will usually be interviewed. Interviews often take place during an Open Day. The application review process usually takes several weeks and we appreciate your patience.

Applicants will generally be interviewed by two members of MathSys staff, and a joint decision reached by them. Admissions decisions will be communicated to you via the central Postgraduate Admissions Service. Information about funding is made directly from the MathSys CDT, as our scholarships are managed internally by the CDT and not by the university admissions teams.

Please note that an offer of a place does not guarantee an offer of funding.