The programme will host online Q & A sessions with Directors from Oxford and Imperial to discuss applicants’ questions on the admission process at both institutions. Current StatML students will join the directors to cover a breadth of questions from applicants, ranging from programme specifics to student life. Each session will last 45 minutes and will take place on the below dates:

• Monday 4th November at 1pm UK time, with Dr. Ed Cohen, Imperial’s StatML Joint Director. This session is full and registrations are now closed. If you registered for this session, you will have received an email from StatML CDT Admissions with joining instructions.
• Wednesday 27th November at 9am UK time, with Prof Robin Evans, Oxford’s StatML Co-Director. You can sign up to this session by registering here.
• Wednesday 18th December at 1pm UK time, with Dr. Sarah Filippi, Imperial’s StatML Co-Director. You can sign up to this session by registering here.

Please note that the registration to participate in the sessions will close the day before at the very latest. Early registration is recommended. Refer to the forms to note the exact deadline by which you should aim to have registered to a session to not miss your chance to participate in the Q & A of your choice.

You can also always reach out to us via statmlcdt@stats.ox.ac.uk for Oxford related queries, and statml.io.admissions@imperial.ac.uk

This will be the main admissions round. Shortlisted candidates are likely to have two interviews. The key dates are:

Application deadline – 8th January 2025, midday UK time

First interviews – 29^th January 2025

We will host the first interviews on this day only. Shortlisted applicants will be given a 15 minutes slot and receive an online link. The interviews will be held by two members of the StatML admission team. Where candidates have applied to and have been shortlisted by both institutions, Imperial and Oxford will endeavour to conduct those interviews together, where feasible.       

In the first interviews we will discuss motivation, engagement, and general research interests. Possible interview questions will be shared in advance.

Shortlisted applicants may be notified in the last few days leading up to the interview due to high volume of applications and short admission timeline. We ask you to remain flexible with the timing your interview.

Second interviews/technical interviews – 7^th February to 13^th February 2025

The second interviews will take place between the 7^th and 13^th February. Those interviews will be 30 minutes slots, held online, and conducted by mini-projects supervisors. These interviews will discuss specifics of the mini-projects and may be more technical. You will be informed a few days in advance of your second interview, so we ask that you remain flexible with the timing of your interview.

Decisions sent to successful applicants – We aim to have made the first offers by the end of February 2025. It is possible that additional offers be made to waitlisted applicants after this date.

*Note that even though StatML is a joint programme, admission processes are institution specific and are run separately, so there might be differences between Imperial and Oxford. If you have a question regarding your application, reach out to the institution where you’ve applied, and where you’ve applied to both, do reach out to both.

The programme welcomes applications from individuals who hold (or expect to receive) a masters level degree (or equivalent) in mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, engineering, or in a closely related subject. The minimum requirement for applications is a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in one of theses disciplines or a closely related field.

Whilst the programme is normally intended for full-time study, we welcome applications for part-time study, including from those with established careers or caring responsibilities.

Additionally, we welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds. We are looking for a blend of potential, motivation, academic strength and enthusiasm for the CDT training model. We look at the candidates and their journey as whole. If this resonates with you, we are looking forward to receiving your application! 

No! StatML only offers fully funded places, meaning that stipend and fees are covered by the programme. This applies to part-time students as well. This doesn’t prevent you from applying to scholarships. If a scholarship has been secured, the programme will ensure that it matches what StatML provides.

The programme does not accept self-funded applications. 

The majority of our funded studentships are limited to Home / Republic of Ireland nationals. However, in recognition of the outstanding talent of many overseas students, both Oxford and Imperial offer several highly prestigious international scholarships designed to attract and reward the best students.

Imperial applicants: An additional source of funding open to all applicants, including overseas students through Imperial College is via the President’s scholarship (click here).

To be considered for this scholarship, you need to follow the procedures on the Imperial website (please note this differs to the standard CDT application procedure and there are specific deadlines unrelated to the CDT you need to adhere to).  Furthermore, prior to applying, candidates must have contacted a supervisor in an academic department at Imperial College London who has agreed to supervise their research project and their name needs to be put on the application form.

Oxford applicants: In order to be considered for most University scholarships, students must have applied by the 8th of January 2024.  

Imperial welcomes applications for joint studentships between StatML and the Cancer Research UK convergence science center. Students offered such studentships will join the StatML programme at Imperial and undertake research around the development of novel statistical and machine learning methodology to address unmet needs in cancer. All StatML candidates applying at Imperial will be considered for these studentships if they are interested. Candidates particularly interested in these opportunities can mention their interest to these co-funded project on their cover letter.

Every student will have a home institution, depending on where they have received and accepted their offer. Students will receive their degree from their home institution. Training and related activities will take place at both institutions.    

Please visit the institution specific webpage regarding fulfilling english tests requirements. Links to the requirements: Imperial, Oxford.

1. Send an application to the Admissions Portal for Oxford and/or Imperial.
   • Please note that you will be required to provide supporting documents such as a personal statement/statement of purpose, your most recent transcript, your resume, and your references. You are not expected to write a research proposal, only a personal statement/statement of purpose, and your references should be received by the application deadline, or shortly after at most. 
   • Your personal statement/statement of purpose should include information such as the following:
     • Your motivation for wanting to do a PhD
     • Your motivation for choosing to apply to StatML 
     • Explanation of which domains or questions in statistics and machine learning interest you the most and why. You may want to include any links between theses research interests and those of StatML supervisors.
     • Anything we need to know to better understand you CV/transcript/references (e.g. if you had mitigating circumstances, let us know, but we do not need to know the details of the circumstances).
     • Please read this statement guide (link opens in this tab) for further guidance.
2. Assessment and interviews will take place once applications have been received through the suggested university.
3. Offers will be made by Imperial or by Oxford (depending on where you have applied to).

Yes. Note that the admission process at both institutions is distinct and runs separately. Should you apply to both you could receive 0, 1 or 2 offers. 

No! This is not part of our admission process. You can reach out to academics on our supervisory pool to discuss research and gain insight into StatML if you wish, but there is no advantage in doing so from an admission perspective.