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What is a Ph.D. in Mathematics worth?

Hello, I'm not exactly sure this is where I should write this, so if it is in the wrong place, please excuse me.

I'm quite a good student when it comes to Maths, top of the class really, always enjoyed it. I know it is a bit early to be thinking about this, and some people even point fingers, but I think it is important to plan ahead. After a heated argument with me, myself and I, I have decided to go to LSE (hopefully) to study Pure Mathematics and later pursue a Ph.D. in the subject.

My questions are:

What can you do with a Ph.D. in Maths?
How narrow is the research that you have to do for your thesis?
What is your opinion on doing a Ph.D./Ph.D. in Maths?

Thanks :smile:

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Reply 2
Original post by NoHejOlka
Hello, I'm not exactly sure this is where I should write this, so if it is in the wrong place, please excuse me.

I'm quite a good student when it comes to Maths, top of the class really, always enjoyed it. I know it is a bit early to be thinking about this, and some people even point fingers, but I think it is important to plan ahead. After a heated argument with me, myself and I, I have decided to go to LSE (hopefully) to study Pure Mathematics and later pursue a Ph.D. in the subject.

My questions are:

What can you do with a Ph.D. in Maths?
How narrow is the research that you have to do for your thesis?
What is your opinion on doing a Ph.D./Ph.D. in Maths?

Thanks :smile:


Not go into industry
Very
If you want to teach, very good, else not a good idea.
A few bob
Reply 4
Something you will have plenty of time to assess once you get to second/3rd/4th year of your undergraduate degree

it's going to be very different to what you know now...

so much will change between now and then about how you view maths that it's not really worth thinking about yet.


EDIT... yeh i'm confused now - did you mean you already have a maths degree and are going there for a masters then maybe phd ... or you are about to start undergrad... as far as I can see they dont even have a straight maths Bsc/msci ... never mind one entirely on pure maths
(edited 11 years ago)
I don't think LSE do a pure maths course.
Reply 6
Original post by ben-smith
I don't think LSE do a pure maths course.


That's weird, because I can swear that I saw it listed in the prospectus. Oh well, I would really love to go there, but maybe I have misread the course. Either way, my second choice is Cambridge. It doesn't really matter where, as long as it is the Maths.
Original post by chapmouse
300k starting salary


Seriously?

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Reply 8
Original post by MarinaAlex

yep
Even IF LSE offered a Pure Math course, why would you want to go there? It is not particularly good for math. The best unis for math are COWI (Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Imperial) - go to one of those! (Specifically, go to Warwick! :wink:)
Reply 10
any job you want
600k starting
Original post by scherzi
any job you want
600k starting


But you said 300k?

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Reply 12
Right let's clear up some misconceptions.

You can earn a lot of money from a Maths PhD, since certain highly specialised jobs, such as a 'quant' in an investment bank require one. Other types of high-paying careers include quantitative research (e.g. as a 'scientist' building weather models for insurance companies), or in medical statistics, or engineering (e.g. a lot of Formula 1 jobs are by engineers / math doctorates).

Most people who do Pure Maths won't be in that bracket. They choose to do their PhD because they are exceptionally intelligent, and exceptionally bright. As someone has already pointed out, an A-Level (or equivalent) student won't know enough mathematics to be able to understand what a first year in an undergrad degree contains, let alone a PhD. I don't mean you won't be able to do the questions; you probably won't even understand what even the course names mean!

By the time you get on to consider a PhD (probably at the beginning of your last year is when you can really start to make an informed decision).

To answer the other question, yes a maths PhD is so specialised, probably only a few people in the entire world will be able to make much sense of it. But that's fine. If it's worth reading, people will make the effort :smile:
Reply 13
Thank you for all of your responses :smile: Well I'm considering Cambridge and Imperial as well. Applying to unis is only 1,5 year away so I want to make sure I know what the benefits are if I follow the path that I have chosen for myself!
Original post by NoHejOlka
Thank you for all of your responses :smile: Well I'm considering Cambridge and Imperial as well. Applying to unis is only 1,5 year away so I want to make sure I know what the benefits are if I follow the path that I have chosen for myself!


I'd see how you get on at uni first; the maths is a completely different level to A-Levels - though very enjoyable. :smile:
Original post by NoHejOlka
Hello, I'm not exactly sure this is where I should write this, so if it is in the wrong place, please excuse me.

I'm quite a good student when it comes to Maths, top of the class really, always enjoyed it. I know it is a bit early to be thinking about this, and some people even point fingers, but I think it is important to plan ahead. After a heated argument with me, myself and I, I have decided to go to LSE (hopefully) to study Pure Mathematics and later pursue a Ph.D. in the subject.

My questions are:

What can you do with a Ph.D. in Maths?
How narrow is the research that you have to do for your thesis?
What is your opinion on doing a Ph.D./Ph.D. in Maths?

Thanks :smile:


If I understand you correctly, you are applying to the LSE for an undergraduate degree in maths?

If that's the case, DON'T!

I've said this many times before, LSE has a worldwide reputation for certain subjects, even top for Economics but when it comes to maths, it certainly would not be the clear choice.

The plain reason is that LSE does not offer any science subjects, ie Chemistry, Physics or the Biological Sciences so their maths degree is rather limited.

COWI is the acronym for the largest four universities on the UK and they DO offer the full spectrum of topics. These include Pure, Applied, Mathematical Physics, Numerical, Stats and Discrete.

LSE's strength in maths is Discrete (their expert is / was Prof. Norman Biggs). They also do stats related to business and possibly some Pure but not much else.

If you are studying in a UK school at the moment, you won't have had much exposure, if at all any, to pure maths. This is a branch that is roughly divided into two areas, Analysis and Algebra.

You have to ask yourself, why do you want to do a PhD? To extend your understanding of maths or to single yourself out from the thousands of other maths grads to get a job?

So first things, first. Get into a uni that gives you a flavour of all areas. Then you'll be able to find out:

1. If you really are good at maths.
2. Which area or areas you'd like to specialise.

As for what you can do with a Pure maths PhD, again it depends on which area. For a specific job that requires a PhD, if it's anaylsis, you could be a quant in a bank, earning £50-60 starting, going up to around £300K (though the best paid in a bank is still not a technical person but a salesman)!

Unfortunately I don't know of any job that specifically asks for a PhD in algebra, unless it's research at a uni. Because it's so abstract, there aren't many applications to it and so not used much outside academia. One exception could be Crytography where GCHQ / MI5 could be interested.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 16
Original post by dugdugdug

Unfortunately I don't know of any job that specifically asks for a PhD in algebra, unless it's research at a uni. Because it's so abstract, there aren't many applications to it and so not used much outside academia. One exception could be Crytography where GCHQ / MI5 could be interested.


Number theory, but pretty much same difference :smile:

Agree with all of this, good advice!
Reply 17
Original post by shamika
To answer the other question, yes a maths PhD is so specialised, probably only a few people in the entire world will be able to make much sense of it. But that's fine. If it's worth reading, people will make the effort :smile:

Took the words out of my mouth!

Except I disagree with your last point - I think that would only apply to truly exceptional candidates in a handful of areas.


The really smart people are attracted to really hard maths: Algebra, Number Theory.. at the same time, these have DIRE job prospects (There are also comparatively few studentships too).


Also, like everyone said. Don't go to LSE. COWI for maths.


Finally, it's what you make of it too. Good jobs are rare and hard to come by (Honestly, trust me!).
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 18
Original post by jj193
Took the words out of my mouth!

Except I disagree with your last point - I think that would only apply to truly exceptional candidates in a handful of areas.


The really smart people are attracted to really hard maths: Algebra, Number Theory.. at the same time, these have DIRE job prospects (There are also comparatively few studentships too).


Also, like everyone said. Don't go to LSE. COWI for maths.


Finally, it's what you make of it too. Good jobs are rare and hard to come by (Honestly, trust me!).


What's the bit you disagree with? :confused:
People keep mentioning the magic 'cowi'

i'd like to point out that there actually is a collaboration in teaching between Oxford, Warwick, Imperial.. but also Bristol and Bath. Bristol and Bath both have very worthwhile maths!

http://tcc.maths.ox.ac.uk/

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