Statistics

Description

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Training is provided through individual supervision of research, by advanced seminar courses and conferences, and by generic courses. The PhD degree usually involves a qualifying dissertation submitted during the second year of study, which is helpful training for writing the PhD thesis.

The research interests and strengths of the internationally well known members of the group are wide ranging. In particular, at present the research focus is in areas such as multivariate nonparametric statistics, nonparametric smoothing including both kernel- and wavelet-based methods, time series analysis, multivariate modelling, statistical computing, linear and non-linear regression, and neuroscience.
The Group also has close links with the Medical School and actively contributes research work to the projects in Medical Statistics.

Contents

Research interests of staff

* Dr Biman Chakraborty specialises in: multivariate nonparametric methods, statistical computing and graphics, linear and nonlinear regression
* Dr Apratim Guha specialises in: time series analysis, multivariate modelling, neuroscience
* Dr Prakash Patil specialises in: nonparametric smoothing, including kernel- and wavelet-based methods, public health including randomised cluster trials
* Dr Richard Riley specialises in: medical statistics
* Dr Hui Li - specialises in: environmental and natural resource economics and applied econometrics

We are internationally renowned for our world-leading research, which involves international and multidisciplinary collaboration. We have strong research groups in algebra, analysis, combinatorics, continuum mechanics, initiatives and infrastructures, mathematical biology, mathematics education, nonlinear systems, numerical analysis, statistics, and theoretical and computational optimization.

The main interests of this group are multivariate nonparametric statistics, nonparametric smoothing and wavelet based methods, time series analysis, mutual information, statistical computing, applications in bioinformatics, medical sciences, economics and neuroscience. The group also has strong inter-disciplinary research links with other internationally acclaimed research groups.

Visit our Statistics research website for further information.

Teaching and Learning

Training is provided through individual supervision of research, by advanced seminar courses and conferences, and through MAGIC taught courses (see below). The PhD degree involves a qualifying dissertation submitted during the second year of study. We expect students to give seminars, attend conferences and present papers, preparing them for professional life.

A successful PhD student will produce independent and original research work which should contribute to knowledge in the chosen field. This should be an exciting and extremely rewarding experience.

The School of Mathematics is a founding member of MAGIC, the 'Mathematics Access Grid: Instruction and Collaboration'. This is an interactive video conferencing resource, which is used to present lectures to postgraduate students across the whole of England. Our postgraduate lectures are broadcast to about 20 English universities and our students have the opportunity to collaborate with students and academics in other universities. This is a very exciting development and means that postgraduate students will have access to lecturers not available on their own campus.

All PhD students must take five 10 credit graduate level courses during their first three years of study. These are typically MAGIC courses, but they can also be courses presented at Summer Schools or final year undergraduate courses.

We have a vibrant postgraduate society called BUMPS which provides an active social network for research students.

Our webpage for current postgraduate students includes:

* a comprehensive guide for PhD students
* a list of recent theses

Requirements

Ensure your qualifications meet our entry requirements for research degrees

To gain admission to a research degree programme (with the exception of the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine (MD)) an applicant must comply with the following entry requirements:

* Attainment of an Honours degree (normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent) in a relevant subject awarded by an approved university, or
* Attainment of an alternative qualification or qualifications and/or evidence of experience judged by the University as indicative of an applicants potential for research and as satisfactory for the purpose of entry to a research degree programme.

In addition:

* Admission and registration for a research degree programme may be conditional on satisfactory completion of preliminary study, which may include assessment.
* In some cases you will also need to have completed a Masters degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject.

Please note

* Entry onto many programmes is highly competitive, therefore we consider the skills, attributes, motivation and potential for success of an individual when deciding whether to make an offer.
* Specific entry requirements are given for each programme. Any academic and professional qualifications or industrial experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases form an integral part of the entrance requirements. If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated in the online prospectus, please contact the relevant school or department to discuss whether your application would be considered.
* After we have received your application you may, if you live in the UK, be invited for an interview or to visit us to discuss your application.

English Language Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa.

The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Funding

Scholarships and studentships

We award up to ten home/EU EPSRC doctoral training grants each year to eligible students. In exceptional circumstances fully-funded School doctoral training grants may be awarded. Additional income can often be generated by tutorial and marking work.

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

See the University of Birmingham Website for more details on fees and funding.