The University of Exeter is advertising a competitive PhD on the likelihood of persistent extreme weather under climate change. UK and international applicants may compete for funding. The deadline is 13 January 2027. Applicants should consider the research fit and financial conditions together before deciding whether to apply.
Research Focus
The project develops data-driven methods based on large-deviation theory. It examines rare events of unusual duration or severity and links local extremes with atmospheric regimes. Climate simulations and observational datasets support the analysis. Read the project description as a starting point for identifying a question that interests you, rather than assuming that every possible method will appear in the eventual thesis.
Location and Academic Team
The university base is Exeter, United Kingdom. The research concerns weather and climate extremes. Mathematics and Statistics hosts the opportunity. It forms part of UNRISK. Dr F Kwasniok and Dr J Catto are named supervisors. The work includes Met Office and JBA Risk Management collaboration.
Who Can Apply
Relevant preparation includes mathematics, statistics, physics or meteorology; prior weather and climate experience is helpful but not mandatory. Check the current programme requirements for the precise qualifications and supporting documents needed. A relevant subject or an eligible nationality does not by itself guarantee admission or an award.
Funding and International Conditions
UNRISK offers 15–18 awards across the programme, covering full tuition, a UKRI-rate stipend, £6,000 individual research support and £5,000 cohort training per student. International awards are limited, with visa and Immigration Health Surcharge expenses remaining personal costs. Confirm the applicable stipend and written award terms before making financial commitments.
Exploring the Research Problem
For optional preparation, imagine comparing a short, intense event with a less intense event that continues for much longer. Write down which question you are trying to answer before deciding how to compare them. Ask whether the definition of the event or the length of the observation period would change the interpretation of its rarity. This hypothetical example explores research fit and is not a prescribed assessment, a project dataset or a practical forecast for a real location.
You could then consider what would justify extending an estimate beyond the examples actually observed. Identify the assumption that permits the extension and explain what evidence would make you doubt it. Distinguish uncertainty about the calculation from uncertainty about whether the underlying assumptions remain appropriate. A careful discussion of these limits can show an interest in rare-event research without implying that a long record, an advanced method or a visually smooth curve automatically makes an extrapolation reliable.
Presenting Evidence of Preparation
If you have studied a mathematical or statistical method, explain a concrete problem that helped you understand both its usefulness and its limitations. Describe the question, your individual contribution, the comparison you made and the evidence behind the conclusion. If your prior work concerns another application area, identify the transferable quantitative skills rather than claiming experience in weather research you have not undertaken. A well-explained small project can give the reader useful evidence of your reasoning and help you identify the skills you would like to develop.
If supporting materials are requested, make your individual contribution clear when discussing work completed with other people. Distinguish a class exercise, an unpublished report and a peer-reviewed research output instead of presenting them as equivalent achievements. Explain what your evidence can establish and what remained unresolved, including any limitation that would matter to the conclusion. Adapt these preparation suggestions to the actual application questions, since optional advice does not add requirements to the programme’s document checklist or guarantee a particular assessment outcome.
How to Apply
Use the current programme instructions to establish the submission route and complete supporting-document checklist. Review the exact project title and academic contacts wherever the form asks you to identify your research preference. An informal academic conversation can clarify fit, but it does not replace a formal application or constitute an admission or funding offer.
- View scholarship details and follow the linked institutional application instructions.
- Identify this named project and check the current academic and funding requirements.
- Submit through the specified route by 13 January 2027 and retain confirmation.
Before Submitting
Information was checked on 23 October 2026. Reconfirm the deadline and current terms before submission, particularly where your ability to enrol depends on receiving an international award. Keep a copy of the final form and any written clarification that materially affects your eligibility, financial expectations or decision to accept an offer.