Postgraduate Study - PhD

Almost one third of maths student go on to further study, in many cases the further study of mathematics. Do you have an insatiable thirst for knowledge? If you want to conduct original research and make a contribution to a specific area of mathematics, then a PhD may be for you.

Role:

As a PhD student your experience of university will be very different from your undergraduate degree. PhD students work under a supervisor, an experienced academic, who will guide you through your research. Gone are the days of lectures and structured learning; the ability to work independently is a must. In contrast to your undergraduate degree, you will be discovering new and often unexplored areas of mathematics and advancing the boundaries of human knowledge. If you want to eat, sleep and breathe mathematics, and work in academia or mathematical research, then a PhD is for you.

Skills required:

• Passion for and strong competency in mathematics
• Communication and teaching skills
• Ability to work independently
• Hard work ethic

Advantages:

• The opportunity to fully immerse yourself in mathematics and specialise in the area of your choice
• One of the few career paths that allows mathematical research for its own sake
• The only way to get into a career in academia and many industrial research programmes
• May allow higher level entry into organisations, for example entry as an associate instead of an analyst, compared to those with only first degree
• Some highly specialist and well paid roles in the workplace are only open to those with a relevant postgraduate qualification. A common example is a quantitative analyst in finance/banking.

Things to consider:

• This is not an easy option. Expect to work hard for 3-4 years to qualify for your PhD.
• You must study for the right reason; that is, you must study because you want to do mathematics.
• Finances can be tough. Although some funding is available, you may have to pay. If this is what you want to do then you will have to accept, in the short-term, a lower income than your peers in industry.
• As part of a bursary agreement, you may be required to teach on top of your studies.