The Statistical Science research programme at ÂÒÂ×Ðã aims to develop research students who can eventually make original contributions to the subject. Students are initially registered for the MPhil degree. No sooner than one year, they are transferred to the PhD degree with retrospective effect if they show a capacity for original work. The typical length of the PhD programme is three years for full-time students and five years for part-time students; an MPhil might be achievable in less.
The admissions process for the MPhil/PhD in Statistical Science operates on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline for applications. Candidates should apply at least two months in advance of their intended start date.
- Entry Requirements
The MPhil/PhD is accessible to students with, or expecting to achieve, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree, or a UK Master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science or a related quantitative discipline. Overseas qualifications of an equivalent standard are also acceptable.
In addition to the academic requirements above, all students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate. For the MPhil/PhD in Statistical Science, applicants much reach at least the ÂÒÂ×Ðã standard level. Further information on this requirement is available at the link below.
- Research Areas and Supervisors
In applying for admission to the MPhil/PhD programme, candidates are expected to prepare an outline proposal of their work. This is crucial in identifying potential supervisors. Thus, candidates should peruse the research interests of staff before applying. A list of staff members currently accepting applications for PhD supervision is given below, including an indication of their current research interests and a link to their personal webpage.
It may be helpful to contact a potential supervisor before submitting a formal application. For more information on how to contact potential supervisors and write a research proposal please see ÂÒÂ×Ðã's guidance document.ÌýApplications on which no potential supervisor has been specified will still receive consideration, however, in such cases it would be especially important to demonstrate in your reasons for applying that your academic interests align with the Department's active research areas.
Researcher Research Interest Keywords Ìý Gareth Ambler Medical statistics, formulation and validation of risk prediction models, methods to handle missing data, hierarchical models, clinical trials Ìý Gianluca Baio Bayesian statistical modelling for cost effectiveness analysis and decision-making problems in the health systems, hierarchical/multilevel models and causal inference using the decision-theoretic approach Ìý Julie Barber Medical statistics, randomised trials and large epidemiological studies, statistical issues in design and analysis of trials Ìý Dr Alessandro Barp Computational Statistics, General Theory and Methodology, Biostatistics Ìý Tom Bartlett Statistical genomics and more generally statistics for cell biology (N.B. not population genetics), sparse multivariate models (frequentist or Bayesian), stochastic networks Ìý Alexandros Beskos Sequential Monte-Carlo, Markov chain Monte-Carlo, Bayesian statistics, computational statistics, Monte-Carlo algorithms in high-dimensions, inverse problems, inference, applications and simulation for stochastic differential equations, fractional and white noise in econometrics, hidden Markov models, biostatistics Ìý François-Xavier Briol Computational statistics, Monte Carlo methods, kernel methods, machine learning, statistical emulators, Gaussian processes Ìý Richard Chandler Environmental applications, climate projections, uncertainty analysis, space-time modelling Ìý Codina Cotar Probability theory applied to physics and biology, optimal transport theory, statistical mechanics Ìý Petros Dellaportas Machine learning, Bayesian statistics Ìý Jim Griffin Bayesian statistics, regression, time series, computational methods for Bayesian inference, high-dimensional and nonparametric statistics, bioinformatics, applications: economics, finance, ecology, the environment, and sport science Ìý Serge Guillas Uncertainty quantification of computer models, functional data, time series, high-dimensional statistics, environmental statistics Ìý Jeremias Knoblauch Machine learning, robustness, Bayesian inference, Generalised Bayesian methodology, variational methods, time series Ìý Brieuc Lehmann Uncertainty quantification of computer models, functional data, time series, high-dimensional statistics, environmental statistics Ìý Baptiste Leurent Medical statistics,Ìýmissing data, multiple imputation, clinical trials, cluster-randomised trials, health economics Ìý Samuel Livingstone Bayesian computation, Monte Carlo, Markov chains, encrypted statistics Ìý Sebastian Maier Computational stochastic optimisation, quantitative risk management, decision making under uncertainty Ìý Ioanna Manolopoulou Bayesian statistics, semi- and non-parametric modelling, mixture modelling, state-space models, health data science, heterogeneous data Ìý Giampiero Marra Penalized likelihood based inference, copula regression modelling, generalized additive modelling, endogeneity, non-random sample selection, observed and unobserved confounding, generalized regression, computational statistics, parametric and nonparametric survival modelling, simultaneous equation modelling, applications in various areas Ìý Paul Northrop Extreme value modelling; statistical methods for the environmental sciences, e.g. off-shore engineering, climate science and hydrology Ìý Rumana Omar Medical statistics, biostatistics, missing data, clustered data (e.g. multicentre studies, repeated measurement studies), risk prediction models, trial (not early phase drug trials) methodology Ìý Menelaos Pavlou Risk prediction modelling, analysis of clustered data, informative cluster size, missing data, penalised regression, methods for comparing institutional performance. Ìý Yvo Pokern Stochastic differential equations, Gaussian Markov random fields, Bayesian inverse problems Ìý Javier Rubio Bayesian Statistics; Model Selection; Survival Models; Longitudinal Models; Biostatistics; Computational Statistics Ìý Kayvan Sadeghi Graphical models, random network modelling, social networks, causal inference Ìý Ricardo Silva Causal inference, variational methods, graphical models, Bayesian inference Ìý Emma Simpson Extreme value analysis, focused on dependence modelling in multivariate, spatial and spatio-temporal settings and environmental applications. Ìý Terry Soo Probability theory, ergodic theory Ìý Katerina Stavrianaki Flood risk, multi-hazard risk assessments, statistical seismology, stochastic modelling, seismic hazard and rock mechanics Ìý Ardo van den Hout Methods for longitudinal data, multi-state models, joint models, mixed-effects models, spline models, biostatistics, medical statistics Ìý Alexander Watson Lévy processes and applications, optimal control and stopping problems, models of fragmentation and growth, branching processes. Ìý Hilde Wilkinson-Herbots Stochastic models in genetics Ìý Jinghao Xue Statistical machine learning, multivariate and high-dimensional data analysis, statistical classification, pattern recognition and image analysis Ìý - Curriculum
Unlike the taught Statistics MSc programme, the MPhil/PhD has no required curriculum. However, students are expected to agree on a customised programme of study with their supervisor, which may involve specialisation courses (either at ÂÒÂ×Ðã or at the London Taught Course Centre) or independent reading. Attendance at research seminars is encouraged, and students who have been upgraded to PhD status are required to present their research in a separate seminar stream once per year. Finally, the ÂÒÂ×Ðã Graduate School has its own requirements for training courses.
- Funding
Some departmental funding is usually available. ÂÒÂ×Ðã also offers a number of scholarships and other funding for UK, EU and overseas students undertaking research studies at the University. Further information, including eligibility criteria and application deadlines, can be found at the links below.
- Contact Details
For more information on the programme please contact:
MsÌýMarina Lewis
stats.pgr-admissions AT ucl.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7679 1868Please note that all professional services staff areÌýcurrently working away from the officeÌýand are thereforeÌýunable to take phone calls on the number above.