Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics (Research)

This course is a three to four year programme culminating in the submission and examination of a single research thesis. Students joining the course will often have completed prior study at a level comparable to our Part III (MMath/MASt) course and many have postgraduate experience. Our students, therefore, begin their PhD research with a good understanding of advanced material, which they build on in various ways throughout the course of their PhD studies.

Structure of the PhD
Students are required to undertake a minimum of nine terms of research (ie three years). Students are not registered for the PhD in the first instance but are instead admitted on a probationary basis. All students are assessed for registration towards the end of their first year of full-time study (usually June). This assessment is based on a short written report which is reviewed by two assessors. In the fifth term, there may also be a further assessment of progress, for which students submit a longer piece of written work and receive an oral assessment.

Research areas
The topic of the research thesis may be chosen from the wide range of subjects studied within DPMMS. It is expected that applicants to the PhD course will investigate the research interests and expertise of our academic staff prior to making a formal application. This may be done by consulting the dedicated page on finding a supervisor, as well as research pages of our website, and individual profiles of our academic staff.