What is the application deadline?

Applications are accepted all year round, but applicants would generally have to apply and be accepted at least one month before the start date of the course. This is particularly true of applicants who would be applying for a student visa. Applications are dealt with in the order with which they are received, and so we encourage early applications. Most of our admissions decisions (especially for funded places) are made by the end of March. Apply early!

What is the scholarship deadline?

We don’t have a scholarship deadline, and offer scholarships to eligible candidates when an offer on the course is made.

Is there a separate scholarship application?

No, all eligible applicants can be considered for a funded studentship – please state that you would like to be considered for funding in your personal statement when you apply.

What level of first degree do I need?

Offers of a scholarship are given to those with (or expecting) a First in their undergraduate degree, and occasionally to applicants with a very high 2:1. Entry criteria for the course is a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent.

Do you interview?

Yes, either face-to-face or online. Interviews are an opportunity for you to find out more about the programme as well as us finding out more about you, your level of maths, and your motivations and research interests.

Should I attend an Open Day?

We recommend participating in one of our Open Days.

Where can I find further information?

Our website has full details of the course structure with links to each of the core and optional modules as well as information on projects and collaborations.

Is it possible to do the MSc without progressing to PhD?

Yes, the course is structured so that all students complete the Masters before progressing on to PhD (subject to meeting the progression criteria) and it is therefore possible to leave at this point in the programme, although it is rare for this option to be taken. Selecting the MSc year only does not come up as an option on the application form, so please therefore apply for the 1+3 programme and state that you wish to apply for MSc only and we will transfer you to this study route if your application is successful. Please note that funding is not available to students who do not wish to undertake the full 1+3 programme.

I already have a Masters – can I go directly to PhD?

If we assess your Masters degree as an equivalent to our own and you meet the other PhD selection criteria, it is possible to enrol directly on to our PhD programme. Note, however, that core CDT funding is not available for this entry route.

A condition of my funding/visa is that I enrol on a PhD programme – is this possible?

Yes, we have an integrated MathSys programme which allows work on PhD to start whilst taking relevant modules from the Masters programme. If you think this option would be appropriate for you, please discuss this with the CDT Administrator prior to making an application.

I plan to self-fund the Masters – is funding available for PhD studies?

We cannot guarantee that funding will be available, but there is always a small possibility that an EPSRC-funded student will choose not to progress to their PhD and as such their funding may become available for the PhD element of your programme. There is also the option of working with an external partner and receiving funding from them. Students have also been successful in applying for other scholarships or funding.

How many students are there on the course?

Our intake of scholarship-funded students is generally ten a year, along with a few self-funding students.

Do you have any international students on the programme?

We welcome international students and benefit from a multicultural cohort including students from Africa, China, Costa Rica, Columbia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Syria.

Is part-time study an option?

Due to the structure of the Masters programme it is not possible to offer this part-time. However, on progression to PhD, part-time study becomes an option.

What are the advantages of joining a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)?

The Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre started in 2007 and we have developed significant experience in supporting CDT students over the years. In the Masters year, each cohort has the opportunity to work closely together and this provides an excellent basis for support that continues throughout the PhD years. CDT students shape the programme and the direction of the Centre, and are involved at many different stages in the making of decisions. We are fortunate to benefit from having our own CDT space within the Maths department, with its own Common Room, kitchen area, teaching room, and offices. There is, as a result, a strong community feeling. Scholarship-funded students are provided with a laptop and have an individual budget for conference travel during the PhD. CDT funding allows us to fund weekly forum lunches and seminars, as well as a Summer School and an Annual Retreat.

How would I be involved with real-world challenges?

You will have opportunities to meet and hear from our external partners during your studies. All Research Study Groups for the core module MA932 will work with an external partner on finding a solution/understanding to a real-world problem faced by the partner. In previous years, Jaguar Land Rover, Pirbright, University Hospital Birmingham, Legion, Thales UK, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Public Health England, and Sciteb (amongst many others) have been study group partners. For more details on these projects, please see here. All individual research projects also have a "real-world" element to them, and there will be an opportunity to work with an industry partner for these. Having an external partner is also a requirement of doing a PhD in MathSys.

Is it possible to speak with a current student?

Yes, if you have questions which would be more appropriate to address to a current student, please forward these to us (complexity@warwick.ac.uk) and we will pass them to one of our students to respond. Some students list their e-mail on their webpage and can therefore be contacted directly. Our Twitter feed (@warwickcomplex) also gives a flavour of Centre activities.

I have a question not addressed here – who can I ask?

Please contact the Centre Administrator in the first instance: complexity@warwick.ac.uk.