We are proud of our commitment to create a fair and inclusive environment, which recognises diverse needs and offers equal opportunities to all our students and staff.  Our CDT is a place where everybody should feel able to balance the requirement of a demanding course of studies with the demands of everyday life commitments.

We are keen to attract applications from a wide variety of backgrounds but we recognise that people from different backgrounds will have received very different educations and different advice before they reach graduation. We are committed to recruiting students with the potential to excel in the Mathematics of Planet Earth, not simply those who have had the most opportunities. If you consider that your background could have adversely affected your education, please let us know in your application so that we can ensure full weight is given to your academic potential.

The programme is normally intended for full-time study. However, we will consider sympathetically requests for flexible arrangements including part-time study when there are special circumstances, such as parental or other caring responsibilities, or a disability. Such arrangements will be discussed and agreed after an offer is made for a place on the course.

All students receive their own laptop at the beginning of the programme, making flexible work easier. However this must be balanced against being present to take a full and active part in cohort activities and CDT life.

As founding member of the Athena Swan Awards, Imperial has worked to raise the profile of women in science for many years, and this year became one of only three UK Universities to attain Athena SWAN Silver status. Reading University has had since 2008 Athena SWAN Bronze status.

The  School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the University of Reading was awarded an  Athena SWAN Silver award in 2010, renewed in 2014, while the  Department of Mathematics of Imperial College holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award since 2013. The awards recognise and celebrate good employment practice for women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education and research.  Both Mathematics departments are supporters of the Good Practice Scheme of the London Mathematics Society. In particular, we are aware of the dramatic drop in female representation in the passage from undergraduate to graduate studies, and proactively seek to redress the balance.

Amongst other aspects of our effort to promote equality, fairness, a supportive work environment, and the career development of its staff and students, we have procedures to support parental leave and flexible working. We will hold informal sessions supporting both parents and women for CDT staff and students, including networking events for all CDT women during the PhD stage.

Useful external links:

Athena swan
LMS Women in Mathematics
European Women in Mathematics