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College of Science and Engineering
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME PROPOSAL
“PhD with Integrated Study in Mathematical Analysis and its Applications”
The College Research and Training Committee is asked to approve the new programme of
‘PhD with Integrated Study in Mathematical Analysis and its Applications’.
Rationale
The University recently approved the degree title of “PhD with Integrated Study” for
which the regulatory framework is given in Appendix 1. This paper contains a proposal
for an award, “PhD with Integrated Study in Mathematical Analysis and its Applications”,
together with suitable exit qualifications. The degrees are jointly overseen and jointly
awarded by the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University. In order to meet the
requirement that the programme have the same name at both institutions, it shall be
known as “PhD in Mathematical Analysis and its Applications”.
This award is related to the funding of an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in
Mathematical Analysis and its Applications: Maxwell Institute Graduate School in
Analysis & Applications (MIGSAA), a collaboration between the School of Mathematics
at UoE, and the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt
University within the context of the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences (MI) and
the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering and Mathematics. The University of
Edinburgh is the Lead University.
Structure of the programme
Admission and matriculation arrangements
Incoming students will be expected to have an M-level (MMath, MSci, MSc, Cambridge
Part 3) qualification or a very strong Bachelor’s degree in a mathematical subject.
The MIGSAA admissions group (to include the Director, Deputy Director and
Mathematical Sciences PG admissions tutors from both UoE and HWU) will consider
applications. Administration for admissions will be handled by UoE in accordance with its
usual procedures. Students will matriculate at both UoE and HWU.
Taught Element inc. First Year Training
Each student will take eight assessed 15 credit modules over semester 1 and 2 and a 60
credit project over the spring and summer.
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Compulsory modules:
Course Title
SCQF Credits
SCQF Level
MIGSAA Research Skills
15
12
MIGSAA Taster Project
15
12
MIGSAA Extended Project
60
12
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Optional modules: Students must normally take 6 of the following 13 available modules:
Course title
MIGSAA Applied Analysis and PDEs 1: Dynamical Systems
MIGSAA Applied Analysis and PDEs 2: PDEs and Finite
Elements
MIGSAA Applied
Mathematics Methods 1: Asymptotic Methods
MIGSAA Applied Mathematics Methods 2: Numerical Methods
MIGSAA Pure Analysis 1: Measure and Integration
MIGSAA Pure Analysis 2: Functional Analysis
MIGSAA Probability 1: Introduction
MIGSAA Probability 2: Applications
MIGSAA Advanced PDE1
MIGSAA Advanced PDE2
MIGSAA Geometry and topology 1
MIGSAA Geometry and topology 2
MIGSAA Applied Mathematics Models 1: Continuum Mechanics
SCQF
credits
SCQF
level
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
12
12
11
11
11
Delivery of the majority of these modules will be by the Scottish Mathematical Sciences
Training Centre (SMSTC) team with support from potential supervisors and other
researchers within the Maxwell Institute. Assessment will be by the SMSTC team with
moderation by the MIGSAA Progression Board. Advanced PDE1 and Advanced PDE2
will be delivered and assessed by MI academics. Assessment of all modules is
consistent with established SMSTC procedures (see Appendix 2).
Where it is agreed with the MIGSAA Director, students may on occasion substitute other
suitable courses in accordance with established EPSRC procedures. Equivalence will
also be determined in accordance with these procedures.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance is ultimately the responsibility of the MIGSAA Cohort Director in
conjunction with the Management Group.
Relevant procedures include the following:
 For courses that will be delivered via SMSTC, the SMSTC course approval process
is followed, which contains quality-assurance measures.
 For new courses, the Management Group directly approves the proposed
syllabus and course materials.
 The course programme is periodically reviewed by the MIGSAA Management
Group, which monitors the overall effectiveness of the suite available.
 Feedback from the students is gathered by the Cohort Director and communicated
directly to the lecturers concerned; in addition, a periodic update is given by the
Cohort Director to the Management Group.
Most MIGSAA courses are continuously assessed. Grades are recorded by the MIGSAA
administrator. Each year every student is issued with a summary of their progress
through the programme.Progression Requirements
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The student will have to complete the first-year MIGSAA training consisting of the
requisite number of courses including research skills, taster project and extended
project, all to a standard indicative of the desirability of continuing on to a PhD research
project. First year training will be assessed and the results monitored by the Cohort
Director in conjunction with the Director of Training. A full progression board held at the
end of the first year will decide if students should continue to the full PhD programme.
Subsequent progression will be as per the existing regulations of either UoE and HWU
depending on where the student’s lead supervisor is based. Progression will be
monitored by the MIGSAA Management Group.
Information that feeds into the end of Year 1 progression board decision will be:




Grades for the Year 1 courses that the student has taken
Taster project grade and report by supervisor(s) / examiner(s)
Extended project grade and report by supervisor(s)
Feedback from Cohort Director on other relevant aspects of training
If a student has not passed the relevant compulsory courses and completed 180 credits
by the end of the first year, a tailored plan of remedial action is determined by the Cohort
Director, in consultation (where appropriate) with the MIGSAA Progression Board. If
failure is persistent, the first exit point listed below may be invoked.
Supervisory Team
Year 1:
Lead supervisor: Director of MIGSAA (currently Professor Anthony Carbery, School of
Mathematics, University of Edinburgh)
Co-supervisor: Deputy Director of MIGSAA (currently Professor Dugald Duncan, School
of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot--Watt Univeristy)
Year 2-4:
Lead and Co-supervisor to be confirmed before Year 2 commences. Normally the
supervisors will be affiliated with different Partner Universities.
MIGSAA will be responsible for arrangements for monitoring progress in Year 1 and
thereafter the arrangements for monitoring progress on the student’s research project
and other programme requirements will be those of the Partner University of the Lead
supervisor.
Regulations
In the first year the academic regulations of UoE will apply. In subsequent years the
regulations of the institution of the lead supervisor will apply. Where the first supervisor
is an Edinburgh academic then there will be a second supervisor from Heriot-Watt (and
vice-versa).
Training in subsequent years
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The project for the PhD dissertation (540 credits) will begin in Year 2 and may build on
the Year 1 extended project. Over years 2-4 students will also be expected to undertake
90 credits of advanced level courses and other research activities from a list to be
approved periodically by the MIGSAA Management Committee and Advisory Board, and
which is adjusted to represent the interests of students and staff. Additionally, students
will be required to attend training in generic skills and to participate in MIGSAA activities
throughout their period of study. All training will be recorded on the CDT training log by
the MIGSAA Administrator.
Determination of final award
To be eligible for award of the PhD, students must have completed the required 90
credits of advanced level courses and have attended the required generic skills training
and MIGSAA activities, in addition to having their PhD dissertation approved according
to the regulations of the institution of the lead supervisor.
Exit awards
In the unlikely event that a student does not progress to Year 2 of study but nevertheless
passes 60 / 120 / 180 credits from the MIGSAA first year training programme, they shall
be eligible for the award of a General Postgraduate Certificate / General
PostgraduateDiploma or Master of Science by Research (MScR).
Fees
The standard PhD fees rate of UoE, as the lead institution, will apply. Fees will be
distributed as per Memorandum of Agreement.
Additional costs, including the costs of providing the taught courses and other MIGSAA
events plus additional managerial and administrative support, are covered by the
MIGSAA grants, EPSRC ref EP/L016508/1 and SFC ref 242635599. To ensure parity
between institutions, there will be an equal number of overseas match-funded students
at each institution over the period of the CDT.
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Appendix 1: Regulatory framework for the PhD with Integrated Study
The degree programme should comprise a total of 720 credits, of which at least 540
should be at SCQF level 12 (thus equivalent to the PhD) and at least 690 at SCQF level
11 or above (thus ensuring that taught components are consistent with the requirements
for Masters). The prescribed period should be for four years with a further “writing-up”
period of up to 12 months (pro-rata for part-time study), where permitted by the external
sponsor. (For EPSRC only, the submission due date for student theses is calculated as
end date of funding plus one year.)
The programme PhD with Integrated Study should be available, subject to approval by
the relevant College Committee, to a cohort of students following a programme which
requires a structured programme of study which integrates research with assessed
taught postgraduate training in a range of skills and subject focused modules, up to a
maximum of 180 credits.
The outcome of the assessment of the training and skills component may be used in
determining progression on the programme, or eligibility for an exit award at
Masters/Diploma/Certificate level, providing that the student has attained the
requirements for the award as set out in the University regulations. For the award of PhD
with Integrated Study, the research component must meet the assessment criteria for a
PhD in the current University regulations.
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Appendix 2: SMSTC Assessment Procedures
Excerpted from SCOTTISH MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES TRAINING CENTRE – SMSTC:
Notes for Lecturers and Stream Leaders – revised September 2014
SMSTC provides 16 modules, each headed by a Stream Leader, and the material is taught
"live" by a team of lecturers by videoconferencing in two 10-week terms during the season
October–April. Lectures are based on comprehensive printed notes, which are available to
download from the module pages, and each module is assessed independently.
Each module's assessment regime consists of 1 or 2 assignments, taking an expected total
of 10-12 hours of work.