Mathematics PhD

From geometry and partial differential equations to fluid dynamics (including meteorology), data science (including statistics) and modelling within the life sciences, mathematics at Surrey offers an extraordinary range of research opportunities that lie at the heart of the critical scientific questions of our age.

Our staff are leaders in their fields, and they offer support for innovative research in a lively, inspiring and intellectually stimulating environment. Our research cuts a broad swathe through both pure and applied areas of mathematics, and we’re unique in the strong emphasis we place on research at the interface between pure and applied mathematics.

As well as developing cutting-edge mathematics, our research also involves innovative applications in areas such as data analytics, wave energy, drug development, ecology, biological systems, theoretical physics, climate change and meteorology, crime forecasting and prevention, and machine learning.

We work closely with other academics, industries and research groups, ranging from internal collaborations with the Surrey Sleep Centre, the Surrey Institute for People-Centred Artificial Intelligence and the School of Veterinary Medicine, to partnerships with other institutions from around the globe. Our national and international collaborators include Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and the ETH Zurich, plus leading businesses, such as AstraZenica and Offshore Wave Energy Limited, and government agencies, such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the MET Office and Surrey Police.

We’re part of the MAGIC network, which provides a large selection of PhD courses in pure and applied mathematics, so you’ll be able to explore these fields during your time with us. We’re also a host department for the SCENARIO NERC Doctoral Training Partnership.

We also have a joint Mathematics PhD course in partnership with the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy.

Our PhD in Mathematics will give you extensive training for a career as a professional mathematician, ready for a future in academia, industry, government, or a wide variety of other fields.

You’ll work closely with one or two supervisors, who you’ll meet on a frequent basis to discuss your research and your career development. They’ll oversee your progress, guide your critical thinking and offer advice throughout your studies.

During the first few months of your PhD, you’ll enrol and attend a series of induction events, and work with your supervisor to design a personal development plan, which you’ll update throughout your PhD.

You’ll complete a number of taught modules, including assessments, to broaden your mathematical knowledge. Most of these will be completed in your first year, with some completed in your second year. These include taught courses from MAGIC, the London Taught Course Centre and the Academy for PhD Training in Statistics, plus our own masters-level modules. You’ll also get training when attending department research seminars aimed at both staff and PhD students. On average, you’ll be attending approximately one or two research seminars a week.

In your second year, you’ll complete a PhD Confirmation Report and pass an internal viva examination. You’ll present your research in your research group seminar and be encouraged to design a research poster. You’ll usually start working on your first research paper together with your supervisors in your second year.

The last year or two of your PhD is all about advancing your research and completing your thesis. You’ll have regular meetings with your supervisor, who’ll work closely with you to help you manage your writing and make you critically reflect on the research you’ve done. Often, you’ll write and submit more research papers in this time, too.

We encourage all PhD students to take part in research summer and winter schools, and to present work at national and international conferences. We can support your travel to these events, too.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

You’ll be assessed in the first 15 months of your PhD through a Confirmation Report and a viva with two internal examiners. Your PhD overall will be assessed through your thesis and a viva, normally with one internal and one external examiner. You’ll also do short take-home examinations for online MAGIC courses and the assessments for any MSc modules you take.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.