SWDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods studentship

Applications close on 14 January 2025 (12:00 noon UK time) and the studentship will start on 1 October 2025

Apply

To apply for the SWDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods pathway please use the online application form. Simply click on the ‘online application’ link below for PhD Mathematics and Statistics :
Online application
Within the Research section of the application form, in the following fields, please add:
  • Proposed project title/studentship title: add your project title
  • Proposed supervisor: add the potential supervisor’s name
  • Studentship code: add SWDTP 25-10 AQM

Application guidance

It is important that you follow the instructions above or your application for this studentship may be missed and therefore will not be considered.
Before applying, please ensure you have read the Doctoral College’s general information on applying for a research degree .
For more information on the admissions process, please contact research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
Centre for Mathematical Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering) and Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (Faculty of Health)
The Advance Quantitative Methods (AQM) pathway is for social science researchers who wish to learn and develop advanced quantitative methods and apply them to answer substantive questions from their discipline. It is also well-suited for statistically trained researchers whose interests are more methodological. You will be part of an interdisciplinary research group interested in the development and application of advanced quantitative methods to address research questions in social sciences. Projects may involve applying statistical methods to address social science problems, or developing novel statistical methods for analysing social-science data.
The AQM pathway at the University of Plymouth is part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) South West Doctoral Training Partnership for the South West (SWDTP), offering opportunities for funded PhD studentships.
Research in AQM at Plymouth is carried out in various research centres, including the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) , the Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS) and the Big Data group . Joining this pathway, you will benefit from insights from a number of disciplines and research groups, including data science, health, psychology, mathematics and statistics.
Successful applicants will be part of a large, vibrant, highly collaborative community of PhD students with good interdisciplinary links, providing opportunities for research, training, and collaboration.

Initial enquiries

For more details and informal enquiries, please contact Dr Yinghui Wei .

How to apply

The ESRC SWDTP encourages collaboration across the universities of the partnership and with external organisations.
Closing date: 14 January 2025 12:00 noon (UK time)
Start date: 1 October 2025
The studentship is supported for three to four years depending upon the pathway and includes full home tuition fees plus a stipend which is currently £19,237 per annum (2024/2025 rate). There are limited number of places for international students.

Eligibility

Information on the eligibility criteria for full awards can be found on the South West DTP website.

Application process

We strongly encourage you to discuss your proposed research topic with an academic staff member in your field. You can explore the member lists of Postgraduate research areas , search staff profiles using subject-area search terms (e.g. citizenship) or an individual's name or search by using the SWDTP Potential Supervisor Database.
Since the AQM is an interdisciplinary pathway and projects could focus on topics in different subject areas, please discuss with your potential supervisor the PhD programme title you need to submit a formal application for.
You will need to submit the following documentation in order for us to consider your application:
Your application will only be considered if it contains the above and you have met our minimum criteria. If we need further details or additional documentation, we will contact you.
For full details on the studentship process, please visit the South West Doctoral Training Partnership: How do I apply for a studentship? page.