Mathematical Sciences

This 12-month course aims to provide high-level training in mathematics and research skills to prospective PhD students.

It is focused on three areas of mathematics which are of very high importance, both academically and to society:

• Scientific Computation
• Statistics
• Mathematical Finance

These are areas in which Imperial has established strengths. You will also undertake a research project which will account for most of your time during the year.

The combination of a research project, expert teaching in an area of mathematical sciences and rigorous training in research skills will provide you with an excellent foundation for future study to PhD level.

You will take three compulsory taught modules from one of the following streams:

SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATION

• Numerical Solution of ODEs
• Computational Partial Differential Equations I
• Scientific Computation
• Computational Linear Algebra
• Fluid Dynamics I and II
• Hydrodynamic Stability
• Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
• Vortex Dynamics
• Applied Stochastic Processes
• Mathematical Biology I and II
• Partial Differential Equations
• Advanced Topics in Scientific Computing

STOCHASTICS AND FINANCE

• Stochastic integrals: an introduction to Itô calculus
• Stochastic processes
• Stochastic differential equations
• The Malliavin calculus
• Advanced topics in volatility modelling
• Lévy processes
• Dynamic portfolio theory
• Advanced topics in stochastic analysis

In addition, every student on the course will attend two optional modules. These may be modules from the above list not already submitted for examination, any modules offered by the London Graduate School in Mathematics and Finance or the following courses from the MSc Mathematics and Finance:

• Algorithmic trading and machine learning
• Advanced credit risk modelling

ADVANCED PATTERN DETECTION AND SIGNAL ANALYSIS

Students attend lecture courses throughout the year and must register for assessment in a total of 90 hours of core modules which will be chosen from the following list. Assessment for the core modules will either be by examination or project work or a combination of both, depending on the module.

• Probability for Statistics
• Fundamentals of Statistical Inference
• Applied Statistics
• Computational Statistics
• Advanced Statistical Theory
• Bayesian Statistics
• Non-parametric Smoothing and Wavelets
• Multivariate Analysis
• Graphical Models
• Machine Learning
• Statistics for Extreme Events
• Financial Econometrics
• Pricing and Hedging in Financial Markets
• Statistics in Retail Finance
• Bayesian inference in Astronomy
• Medical Statistics
• Official Statistics

In addition, every student on the course will attend 60 hours of optional modules. These may be modules from the above list not already submitted for examination, or any Basic or Advanced courses offered by the London Taught Course Centre.

RESEARCH PROJECT

You will spend much of the year working on a research project in your chosen area. This project will account for more than half of your work in the year. Although this project must be separate from a subsequent PhD, your PhD would normally lead on naturally from this work.

To support you in your project work, you will also receive training in research skills. This includes:

• a lecture on ‘Reading Scientific Literature’
• subject-based reading groups
• seminar programmes
• exercises in scientific writing and scientific presentation
• short courses offered by the Graduate School

If you have any queries about the admissions process, please email: admissions.enquiries@imperial.ac.uk

The Andrew Jennings Scholarship
Student Status Eligibility - Open pre-enrolment only

Value - £2,000 towards maintenance costs

Number Available - 1

Further Eligibility Criteria Information

The Andrew Jennings Scholarship is awarded by DecisionMetrics in the memory of a founding member, Andrew Jennings. DecisionMetrics is a credit risk analytics business and this award is intended for a student who has an interest in retail credit risk.

This award is open to all Home/UK and EU applicants who have been made an offer to study an MSc in Statistics degree within the Department of Mathematics at Imperial College London, starting in October 2015.

Duration1 Year

Application Deadline Date 31-MAR-2015

Selection Process

To apply please submit a short essay entitled "Why I am interested in credit scoring", which should be no more than one A4 page in length, to the Department of Mathematics by 31 March 2015. Your essay will be used along with your admission application and references to assess your academic merit and potential.

You must have received an offer to study an MSc degree in Statistics by 31 March 2015.

Applications will be ranked within the Department of Mathematics and the scholar demonstrating the most academic potential will receive the award.

Outcome of the Award

The successful applicant will be notified by email no later than 1 June 2015. If you have not received confirmation of an award by this date please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application.

Before applying

1. You must quote your College Identifier (CID) number when corresponding with the College.
2. The scholarships we offer are limited and highly competitive. You must have sufficient funding in place before enrolling on your course.
3. Unless otherwise stated, the scholarships advertised are only available to prospective students applying for full-time courses.
4. The award period will generally commence on the first day of the academic year which you have applied for (e.g. 1 October 2012).
5. Scholarship applications will only be considered following an offer of admission. Only if you fulfil all the eligibility criteria (that is, if you meet the requirements) of the scholarship, will you be considered.
6. If there is no separate scholarship application form to be submitted, we will use your admission application form and references provided. These documents may therefore also be passed to stakeholders involved in the selection process.
7. Please do not send in supporting documents unless the scholarship application process specifically asks you to do so.
8. Funding deadlines are strictly adhered to and any application received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Successful award recipients

9. Agreeing to these terms and conditions and supplying your UK bank details

a) All scholarship and bursary payments will be made to the UK bank account details held on your Student e-Service account. You are able to log into your Student e-Service account and make changes to your bank details at any time after you’ve accepted your admissions offer.
b) By submitting your bank details via the Student Funding tab in Imperial’s Student e-Service portal, and/or bursary form, you are confirming that you agree with the terms and conditions of the award.
c) It may take a few weeks to set up your bursary payments and your UK bank account (if applicable); therefore you should bring sufficient funds to cover your living expenses during this time. Initial payment dates may vary; it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of when payments will be made.
d) The award is subject to you fulfilling any outstanding conditions of admission.
e) Funds will only be released in line with your registration at College and you will need to ensure your bank details are up to date.
f) Payment Dates: Payments are normally made on the 7th day of each month; bank details should be updated before the 24th day of the preceding month to ensure payment is not delayed. Undergraduate payments will commence from 7th November. Postgraduate payments will commence on the 7th of the month following your registration.

10. Please make sure that you have completed all the steps necessary to register for the academic year in which you wish to receive payment. Please note that new award holders will also need to have fulfilled all of their conditions of offer before they are able to register.

11. All Imperial scholarships are subject to satisfactory academic progression. If the duration of your scholarship is longer than 12 months, it will be renewable annually.

12. Awards will not generally be made to those already holding a full scholarship from another source; please inform Student Financial Support, and/or any other department which has offered you an award, immediately if you are granted more than one award, even if you have already accepted our award. If you wish to hold several partial awards concurrently, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

13. Scholarships are not generally awarded to students who are writing-up.

14. Applicants wishing to study at UK partner institutions are not eligible for Imperial College London scholarships.

15. Undergraduate Financial Support / Imperial Bursary Package

a) To be eligible to receive an Imperial Bursary you must have been assessed for means tested funding from Student Finance England (or equivalent funding authority) and have a household income below the Imperial household income threshold for your cohort. You must contact us if this is not the case. Any previous study may affect your entitlement.
b) The College reviews household income information (which it receives from Student Finance England, etc.) on a continuous basis. A change in your household income may result in a change in your Imperial Bursary. Any overpayments will be reclaimed.
c) The Imperial Bursary is available for each year of your course excluding repeat years of study and NHS funded years for Medical courses. If you change from a 3 year to a 4 year course at Imperial you will be awarded a further year’s bursary. You should contact us about any course changes as soon as possible.
d) Students on paid placements might not be eligible for the Imperial Bursary.
e) To be eligible for the Imperial Bursary, we must receive your household income from the Student Loans Company by 1 May following the start of your academic year.

16. If you have been offered funding by the Research Councils, please ensure that you have read the most up-to-date postgraduate funding guide; you will need to adhere to the terms and conditions laid out there.

17. Deferrals, withdrawals and interruption of studies

a) You must inform the Student Financial Support team immediately of any interruptions to your study, particularly if they are likely to affect your attendance and registration status at College.
b) If you withdraw from your course or take an interruption of study (IOS) you must notify us immediately by contacting us here. If you take an IOS your bursary will be postponed until you re-register.
c) Bursaries and scholarships are not transferable. If you transfer to another institution or withdraw from the College, any payments due to you will be cancelled and any overpayments are recoverable.
d) We will not provide scholarship or bursary support for any period of repeat study.
e) Awards cannot be deferred.

18. Student Financial Support may at any time, at their discretion, withdraw or recover an award for breach of any of the above conditions.

19. The College reserves the right to place a limit on financial support where a student is in receipt of other funding.

20. Information on students is shared within the Imperial College community and donors (where applicable and relevant to your award) in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

a) Where awards have specific eligibility criteria (e.g. satisfactory academic progression), supporting evidence may be shared with named donors in order to verify continued eligibility.
b) Award recipients may be expected to meet with donors.

21. If you are in receipt of an award to study that is restricted to students on the basis of nationality or residency; please note that, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, you must not intend to exercise in Great Britain skills you have obtained as a result of your training at the College and you must not be ordinarily resident in an EEA state.

22. These terms and conditions are the formal rules which regulate centrally funded awards. As such, there are no appeal procedures associated with funding from the Student Financial Support team.

This award is for students starting in the academic year 2015-16 and cannot be deferred.

For further information on the MRes in Mathematical Sciences course, please contact:

• Email: mres.inmaths@imperial.ac.uk 

For further information on doing a PhD course please contact:

• Email: mathsphd@imperial.ac.uk

The Department of Mathematic is offering six 4-year studentships, covering all three areas: Scientific Computation, Advanced Pattern Detection and Mathematical Finance. These will cover the stipend and fees of a Home or EU student, both for the MRes and for a subsequent 3-year PhD. Students wishing to do only an MRes will not be considered for these.

If you wish to apply for this funding you need to make it clear on your application, in the funding section, that you intend to do first an MRes and then a PhD in the Mathematics Department.