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Description Contents Requirements Funding

This is a three year research programme culminating in submission and examination of a dissertation, or thesis, containing substantial original work. PhD students carry out their research under the guidance of a supervisor, and research projects are available from the wide range of subjects studied within the Department. Students admitted for a PhD will normally have completed preparatory study at a level comparable to the Cambridge Part III (MMath/MASt) course. A signifcant number of our PhD students secure post-doctoral positions at institutions around the world and become leading researchers in their fields.

Prerequisites

Students must be well prepared before they can begin a PhD. Many students in DAMTP are admitted after taking the Cambridge Part III (MMath/MASt) course and others will have completed a comparable four-year undergraduate course. Some may already have carried out a small-scale research project. All of our students therefore begin their PhD work with a good grasp of advanced material, on which they can build as their research progresses.

Research Areas

Research in DAMTP can be divided into the following broad areas: Applied and Computational Analysis, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Fluid and Solid Mechanics, Mathematical Biology, Quantum Information, High Energy Physics, and General Relativity and Cosmology. The boundaries between such areas are not rigid, however, and many members of staff will contribute to more than one area (this is regarded as a key factor in the continuing success of DAMTP). There are active seminar programmes across all subject areas, attendance at which is an important part of PhD student training.

PhD Supervision

Each PhD student in DAMTP has a supervisor who is responsible for guiding their research and monitoring their progress. Each student is admitted to work within a particular subject area, and often with a specific supervisor. Some students will work in close collaboration with their supervisor, or as part of a larger research group, while others may work more independently (with their supervisor's approval). Collaborative projects may involve other researchers or groups outside Cambridge, in the UK or worldwide.

Progress during the course

Students in DAMTP are admitted on a probationary basis in the first instance and are assessed for registration after roughly one year of work. Two assessors are assigned to consider the academic progress of each student, including a record of their attendance at seminars and other related activities. Each student receives a detailed appraisal and interview during the fourth term of their research and progress continues to be monitored throughout their PhD through regular on-line supervision reports.

Students are encouraged to give talks and seminars within the department, and to present their findings at conferences or meetings, once the time is right. Many students submit a prize essay at the beginning of their fifth term and the best essays each year meet the standards expected of publishable work. We regard it as particularly important that our students submit their work for publication in leading journals, as well as to web-based archives, and many will already have several papers in circulation when they come to write their dissertation. Additional support and advice for students is available at any stage of their PhD through a system of designated departmental advisors, as well as from members of the DAMTP Graduate Education Committee.

Working Environment

DAMTP is part of the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, or CMS. The site is shared with the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and also with the Isaac Newton Institute and the Betty and Gordon Moore Library (the main university mathematical science library). CMS provides a modern, comfortable and well-equipped working environment for PhD students, facilitating day-to-day contact with academic staff and other students.

Additional training and opportunities

All students in DAMTP can benefit from a wide variety of additional courses and training opportunities. There is no taught element to the PhD degree in terms of university regulations, but some students are required to attend relevant taught courses (e.g. Part III lectures) as a condition of their funding. In addition to the wide range of lectures and seminars on offer in DAMTP and CMS, the Department actively promotes and encourages Researcher Development and transferable skills training (e.g. sessions on improving communication skills, organisational and leadership skills, teaching in small groups, presenting work at seminars or conferences, and applying for postdoctoral positions). Some of these workshops are coordinated with the centrally run Researcher Development Programme which is open to all students of the University, others are run by the Faculty of Mathematics.

The course is exclusively by research.


One to one supervision	The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. The department also produces a Research Students Handbook that describes in detail how these principles apply within DAMTP.

One to one supervision

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

The department also produces a Research Students Handbook that describes in detail how these principles apply within DAMTP.

Placements

Students funded by CASE awards may spend time on industrial placements as part of their PhD.

Feedback

Students can expect to receive an online feedback report from their supervisor each term.

Assessment

Thesis

Assessment for the PhD is by submission of a dissertation and oral examination only. There is no standard format for the dissertation in Mathematics (i.e. no prescribed word limit). Candidates should discuss the format appropriate to their topic with their supervisor.

Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
IELTS (Academic) 7.0
TOEFL Internet Score 100
£50 application fee
First Academic Reference
Second Academic Reference
Transcript
Personal Reference

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Those wishing to do a PhD in DAMTP are strongly encouraged to apply by the end of January for admission in October. However, later applications will still be considered where possible (up until the general, University deadline). It is also important to note that earlier applications may be necessary in certain subject areas (HEP and GR), as described below. Certain funding opportunities may also depend on meeting earlier deadlines.

Applicants wishing to explore the possibility of a later start date (January or April) should contact DAMTP prior to submitting an application. Applicants will usually only be considered for admission in January or April in exceptional circumstances.

Applicants are encouraged to make informal contact with potential supervisors prior to making an application. Applicants should clearly state in the relevant field of the application form the subject area in which they intend to undertake research. If possible they should mention which research group(s) in DAMTP they would like to consider their application.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. The Department makes every effort to take decisions on applications at the earliest opportunity. In some cases, however, it may take some time for a decision to be made. Applications may need to be viewed by several potential supervisors before a final decision can be reached. Once a decision has been taken on your application, the result will appear on your CamSiS Self-Service page.

Applicants to the High Energy Physics (HEP) and General Relativity and Cosmology (GR) groups should note that we anticipate making some offers to outstanding candidates in March. These offers will be made on the basis of academic track record, and the applicant may also be invited to an interview at that stage and be asked to sit a written admissions test. In order to be considered for the March round of offers, you must submit your application to the Graduate Admissions Office by 15 December at the latest. This applies equally to applicants of UK, EU and Overseas funding status. In addition to the March round of offers, it is expected that some additional PhD places in the HEP and GR groups will be offered in June, once the Part III Mathematical Tripos results are available. Because of the very high level of preparation required, the great majority of successful applicants for PhD places in these research groups will be taking or have taken Part III Mathematics.