Research Degrees

PhD students working in an office

Recruitment for October 2025

Applications for funded PhD study to commence 1 October 2025 are now open. Studentships are available for 3 to 4 years for full-time study and up to 6 to 8 years for part-time study. The studentships cover fees, include a stipend (£19,237 per annum for 2024–2025 full-time study), and also include £1,100 travel allowance each year for full-time study, pro-rated for part-time study.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for one or more named projects. Applicants should state clearly which project(s) they are applying for on their application, listing the order of preference. Please list no more than three projects.

Application deadline for both funded and UK self-funded doctoral study beginning October 2025: Monday 27 January 2025.

PhD students benefit from a lively research environment with a full programme of seminars, extensive university training, career development opportunities and support to join an appropriate learned society. The School of Mathematics and Statistics provides a friendly and flexible working environment for all of its staff and students and holds a Silver Athena SWAN award. We support flexible working patterns and welcome applications from women and minority groups. The School ensures that every female PhD student is allocated a female member of staff as a point of contact, and organises networking events for female academic staff and PhD students.

How to apply:

Please read the school's Guide for applicants.
Please read the Graduate School’s Guide for applicants.
Choose from the list of Research projects for 2025.
Submit informal enquiries to the Postgraduate Research Tutor.
Apply by completing an application form and email it to the Postgraduate Research Tutor.

The application form includes a separated Equal opportunities and Higher Education Statistical Agency monitoring form, which is not used as part of the assessment process. Aggregated data from completed application forms will be shared with UK Research and Innovation.

Funded study

Studentships include fees for 3 to 4 years full-time and up to 6 to 8 years for part-time study
Annual stipend (£19,237 in 2024–2025 for full-time)
Annual travel allocation (£1,100 for full-time study, pro-rated for part-time study)
Dedicated work-space and a laptop
Presence at OU Milton Keynes Campus is required for a minimum of 12 face-to-face events on campus each academic year for full-time students, at least 10 of these events must be supervision meetings (6 face-to-face events, at least 5 of which are supervision meetings for part-time students). However, it is strongly recommended that full-time students attend campus at least twice a week.