Seminars and training

Taught Academic Courses

Mathematical science courses are provided by the School of Mathematical Sciences and also by the London Taught Course Centre (LTCC) for PhD students in the Mathematical Sciences.  Courses start from late September onwards and you should check start dates early.  Postgraduate Astronomy courses are provided in-house.

See the following pages for more details of modules provided by the School: undergraduate modules; MSc Mathematics modules; MSc Astronomy and Astrophysics modules. Note that some modules are taken by both undergraduates and postgraduates and so may occur in more than one of these lists.

All first year research students in the School must attend, and be examined on, postgraduate courses to a total of 30 credits. As part of this, all first year PhD students in the Mathematics Research Centre are required to take at least four modules at the LTCC. LTCC modules each count as 7.5 credits for these purposes, and a typical MSc module counts as 15 credits. Exceptions may be made for students who have already taken relevant postgraduate courses.

You should discuss with your supervisor which courses you should attend. It’s important you do this soon after you arrive. Sometimes it may be beneficial to take more than the minimum quota of postgraduate courses, up to a maximum of 60 credits. The appropriate Postgraduate Tutor should be informed early in the academic year of the courses being taken. Include your exam results in the end of year report (see "Assessment and progression").

Seminars 

  • Astronomy Unit. As a PG research students in the Astronomy Unit you are expected to participate in the weekly Astronomy Seminars and more specialized discussion groups as part of their training. You should also attend the Postgraduate Astronomy Seminar.
  • Mathematics Research Centre. As a PG research student in mathematics or statistics, you are expected to attend the regular seminars and discussion or study groups run by relevant research groups. You are also encouraged to attend the Queen Mary Internal Postgraduate Seminar (QuIPS) which is a series of talks organised and given by postgraduate students in the Mathematics Research Centre.

Most seminars held in the School of Mathematical Sciences are preceded by tea and coffee available in the Common Room (room 102) and/or by refreshments afterwards. There are numerous seminar series held jointly with other London institutions. Talk to your supervisor and others in your research area to investigate seminars and conferences of interest. All Research Council sponsored students should attend a subsidised Research Council Graduate School during their second or third year. Other students may also wish to investigate this possibility.

Skills and training

Research Councils recommend that postgraduate students undertake 10 days worth of transferable skills training per year. This can include computer skills, mathematical typesetting, language skills, communication skills and many other areas. You are expected to keep a record of all the courses and conferences you attend and record it on the School’s Personal Development Plan form at the end of each year. You can find the form on the postgraduate web pages.

The School of Mathematical Sciences holds a Postgraduate Research Day each year in May. All third year research students give short talks on their research and all second year research students enter a poster in the Ann Cook Poster Competition. Both activities have been found to be very useful training opportunities by those who have taken part, whatever their intended careers.