Complex Systems Modelling - From Biomedical and Natural to Economic and Social Sciences

The Complex Systems Modelling MSc programme provided the perfect vessel to combine my previous pursuits, and the staff at King's provided a first-rate educational experience. The programme culminated with an individual research project which merged the concepts I had encountered in an attempt to tackle pertinent problems from the field. Studying at King's gave me the opportunity to explore new areas of research and pinpoint a subject I was passionate about. It also afforded the social benefits of a diverse student body.

King's is ideally situated in the middle of one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, with campuses providing easy access to all that London has to offer. I had the chance to meet people from around the world in the melting pot that is the graduate student housing. Due to my experience at King's, I have decided to continue my education by pursuing a doctoral degree in complex networks. Thanks for a great year King's!

After completing my undergraduate degree in Spain, I decided to continue my studies abroad, and King's College London seemed like the perfect choice. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to study in a culturally enriching and international city and, what's more, I was fortunate enough to receive a departmental bursary which definitely helped me to cover my living expenses.

King's is not only one of the world's leading universities; it is also one of the few to offer an MSc programme fully devoted to Complex Systems. From the beginning, the Mathematics Department felt like home, staff were always willing to help in both academic and administrative matters. I have had the opportunity to meet students from all over the world who had very different academic backgrounds, and that made my experience even more interesting.

One of the programmes highlight is that many of the modules cover state-of-the-art topics, taught by experts in the field from the Disordered Systems Group. Moreover, the summer project is a chance to get involved and develop actual research, and I think this will be a highly distinguishing feature on my CV.

I joined the King's Disordered Systems group in January 2007, and I work on interdisciplinary applications of statistical mechanics to economics and biology, quantum integrability and other areas of interest. I obtained my first degree in Physics at the University of Barcelona and received my Ph.D in Theoretical Physics at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, under the supervision of Desire Bolle. Hereafter I was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oxford and University of Rome.

The research activities of the King's Disordered Systems group concentrate on the analysis and development of mathematical theories and models with which to describe the statics and dynamics of disordered (or 'complex') systems in physics, biology, financial markets, and computer science. Such systems are characterised by microscopic (usually stochastic) dynamic elements with mutual interactions without global regularity; but with a significant degree of built-in competition and incompatibility, resulting in the existence of many locally stable states for the system as a whole, and a highly non-ergodic 'glassy' type of dynamics.

A postgraduate qualification in Mathematics is extremely desirable. King's graduates are highly sought after both nationally and internationally in research institutions and higher education, as well as in a wide range of professions.