CDT Programme

CDT students have quite a structured programme of training in the first year. They attend a number of core modules and a variety of other training activities to help them prepare for PhD research in later years.Students also undertake research and write a first-year project, which will often lead to the basis of the main PhD thesis.

There are also a number of optional modules available to students such as the Academy for PhD Training in Statistics (APTS) and summer schools, as well as regular seminars and reading groups.

The CDT Director is the main point of contact for academic queries, issues, and guidance until students are assigned a Project Supervisor (normally by the end of Term 2).

On successful completion of the first year, students are upgraded to the full PhD and their main focus is the PhD research.

Core Modules

Milestones in Probability and Statistics (term 1): a module that aims to expose students to the whole breadth of probability and statistics, through the discussion and presentation of seminal papers and their impact on the wider subject. Students will be trained in reading research papers, working in groups, and presenting research ideas, whilst developing an appreciation of the importance of cross-fertilisation among different disciplines.

Statistical Frontiers (term 1): consisting of 1h presentations on a number of research topics by relevant academics, aiming to introduce students to the research areas active in the department.

Graduate Topics Modules (term 2): students will be expected to choose at least two Graduate Topics modules, each module consisting of three 10h graduate-level lecture courses, with themes covering the broad spectrum of research interests in the department. Details of topics will be decided in the summer before the cohort arrives, taking into consideration the interests of the incoming cohort.

Examples of the Modules and Topics in Term 2 of 2024 include:

ST922: Graduate Topics in Applied Probability and Mathematical Finance

Topic 1 – Levy processes and self-similar Markov processes

Topic 2 – Jump processes and applications in Finance

Topic 3 – BSDEs with applications in mathematical finance

ST923: Graduate Topics in Computational Stochastics and Machine Learning

Topic 1 – Simulation and Inference for stochastic processes

Topic 2 – Sequential Monte Carlo

Topic 3 – Statistical Foundations of Machine Learning

ST924: Graduate Topics in Probability

Topic 1– Mixing Times for Markov Processes

Topic 2 – Introduction to Large Deviations

Topic 3 – SPDEs

ST925: Graduate Topics in Statistics

Topic 1 – Model Uncertainty and Bayesian Model Averaging

Topic 2 – Introduction to nonparametric estimation

Topic 3 – Stochastic dynamic modelling

·Research Integrity training.

·Graduate Teaching Assistant Training.

Optional Modules

In addition to the core modules, students can take any of the existing modules offered by the Department of Statistics from our existing Masters programmes. The Institute of Mathematics also makes available some of their modules. Further training opportunities offered to first-year students include modules from Academy for PhD Training in Statistics (APTS) or the Taught Course Centre (TCC) or similar, or summer schools such as the European Summer School in Financial Mathematics (all subject to acceptance onto the module/summer school by the organisers).

Following the taught component, at the end of the first year, students will have the opportunity to choose a supervisor with whom they will define the topic of their studies. Indeed, as opposed to most CDTs, the Warwick CDT in Mathematics and Statistics is not limited to a single subject so that any generally suitable topic in statistics (interpreted broadly to include probability and mathematical finance) or at the intersection between statistics and cognate disciplines will be considered.

First Year Project

Mini-project (term 3 and summer): students can choose from a wide selection of mini-projects covering the whole spectrum of probability and statistics.These projects often lead into the main research of the PhD thesis, but students also have the opportunity to amend and change the research topic if appropriate.

Examples of previous projects have included:

Supervision and Support

Appropriate support to students during their time within the Department underpins our ethos.Throughout the PhD journey at Warwick there are a number of different support networks and provisions, including but not limited to:

Postgraduate Support Team

This dedicated professional team provides guidance in navigating the PhD journey and includes the CDT Director, CDT Administrator and Postgraduate Support Officer.This team can be contacted at: stats.pg.support@warwick.ac.uk

Personal tutor

All students will be allocated a personal tutor for the whole duration of their studies. The role of the personal tutor is only pastoral, as additional support when necessary.

Academic advisor

The CDT Director will act as your academic advisor at the start of your studies. They will help you navigate and choose modules based on your interests and strengths.

They should advise on any optional training choices and guide the student through the process of selecting a project.

Project supervisor

Once project supervisors are agreed (beginning of term 2), the project supervisor replaces the academic advisor. It is expected that the project supervisor will be the PhD supervisor, with the decision confirmed as part of the upgrade process.

PhD supervisor

PhD supervisor is allocated at the point of the upgrade decision. It is normally expected to be the project supervisor.

Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)

SSLCs are committees made up of elected student representatives, also known as Course Reps, and administrative and academic members of staff. They are student-led and provide an area for students and staff to discuss ideas and solve problems connected with teaching, learning and student support.

SSLCs allow students to have a say on their course, their department, and their resources and are a great way to input into your university. They also provide an opportunity for the department to consult with students and receive feedback on new proposals.

Students are elected to the position of course rep by their peers, and represent their course and year in the SSLC.

There are separate committees that PhD students also have representation on including the ‘IT Committee’ and the ‘Welfare Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee’.

Wellbeing

Alongside the Postgraduate Support Team, the Department also has a dedicated Student Support and Progression Officer providing welfare support to Statistics Students as required.This position also works alongside the University’s Wellbeing Support Team and Network

Conferences

All funded CDT students are provided with a generous Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) worth £5,000 for the duration of their PhD. This currently includes:

·Provision of a laptop for the duration of the PhD

·Up to - £2,000 - Travel/conferences

·Up to - £2,000 – Study visit in the 3rd Year

You will be notified in your offer letter from the department if you are being offered an RTSG.

Examples of conferences that currents students have attended include: