Complexity Sciences

Page contents

• Programme overview
• Entry requirements
• Staff research interests

Programme overview

Have you ever wondered how animals move collectively in flocks, swarms and shoals? Or how the brain learns and remembers information? Or how different plants, species or even transport systems evolve and adapt according to their environments? These are just a few examples of the numerous strands of research undertaken at the Bristol Centre for Complexity Sciences (BCCS), a Centre for Doctoral Training funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The BCCS cultivates interdisciplinary research across a range of modern engineering, social, life and molecular science subjects. Combining new and traditional methods from a variety of disciplines, our complexity sciences research focuses on the development of innovative mathematical methodology, tools and concepts which can be applied and tested on important real-world problems.

You will be exposed to a variety of cutting edge theoretical techniques and will be given the opportunity to apply these techniques in two diverse projects before deciding on your three-year PhD project.

Please note: this programme is subject to funding approval for 2014/15.

Programme structure

Our four-year PhD programme starts with a taught component during the first year to allow you time for exploration and to provide a greater depth of experience and understanding in complexity sciences, before you decide on a final PhD project which is undertaken in years 2, 3 and 4. During the taught component you have the added benefit of working with potential PhD supervisors before deciding on the final project.

Year One (Taught Component)

During the first half of the taught component you will study a range of mathematical sciences including:

• Network Theory;
• Control Theory;
• Nonlinear Dynamics;
• Big Data;
• Mathematical Modelling.

Alongside this theoretical training you will also be exposed to a variety of disciplines and problems across Engineering, Biological Sciences and Social Sciences where the mathematical theory can be applied.

During the second half of the year you will work on two distinct 12-week research projects, which provide the opportunity to develop novel theoretical approaches and apply them within specific real-world systems.

One of these 12-week projects often serves as a springboard for the final PhD project.

Years Two to Four (PhD study)

Upon successful completion of the taught component, you will move into a host department to work on your PhD, which is usually defined by the main supervisor of the project. All PhD projects are supervised by at least two members of staff, to provide both a theoretical and applied perspective to the research. There are also many links with potential supervisors at other institutions or in industry. While working on the PhD you remain enrolled with the BCCS.

Throughout the PhD programme you are actively encouraged to participate in a personal development programme of activities including transferable skills workshops, outreach events, teaching the Additional Research Skills lectures, producing the BCCS newsletter, and other social arrangements. As a result there is a strong sense of community and successful integration both horizontally (within the same year) and vertically (across different years and with staff).

Key research interests

The BCCS brings together expertise from across the university with highly esteemed potential supervisors in a wide variety of areas such as:

• Biological Sciences
• Synthetic Biology
• Social Medicine
• Transportation
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Engineering Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Neuroscience
• Social Sciences
• Physics

Please see our website for an up-to-date list of BCCS-affiliated staff.

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Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject.

For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see our International Office website.

Admissions statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

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Key research interests

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