Raison d’être

The Scottish Mathematical Sciences Training Centre (SMSTC) is one of six taught course centres in the mathematical sciences which EPSRC funded after the 2004 International Review of Mathematics highlighted the need for mathematical sciences PhD students to have a greater breadth and depth of knowledge of their subject.

SMSTC has provided a broad range of high-quality courses in core mathematics and statistics for
first year PhD students since autumn 2007. The primary aim is to broaden students' mathematical
perspective with the ultimate goal of bringing their experience into line with that offered in competitor countries and of making the recipient of a UK PhD in the mathematical sciences more competitive in the academic employment market.  Course content has evolved in the light of staff and student evaluations.

Participating institutions

• Aberdeen
• Dundee
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Heriot–Watt
• St. Andrews and
• Strathclyde.

Stirling is an associated institution.

Operation

SMSTC provides eight streams, each headed by a Stream Leader, and the material is taught "live" 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 stream pages, and each stream is assessed (typically by means of 2-4 take-home assignments).  Participating departments have agreed to provide local tutorial support.  There are two pan-SMSTC symposia annually, usually in October and February.

A typical beginning PhD student will normally be expected to take three streams, and  spend about 75% of their time studying the course material during the first six months of their PhD programme.

History

SMSTC's first academic year began in October 2007, although a lot of work had already taken place by then in producing course material and setting up the original wiki website and video-conference equipment.  The first EPSRC grant funded four cohorts of students (it ran until September 2011), and EPSRC provided extra funding for an equipment refresh in spring 2011.  This new equipment has been used for SMSTC lectures from October 2011, and is a much higher broadcast standard.  EPSRC have provided follow-on funding for an additional five years (from October 2011 - September 2016), with the expectation that all the taught course centres should become self-sustaining after this time.

Management Structure

SMSTC is funded by EPSRC, and its management is undertaken by its Academic Steering and Management Group (ASMG).  Its membership includes a Director, Deputy Director and a maximum of nine other members so as to provide representation of all the participating institutions and across the main subject areas of the mathematical sciences in which training is provided.