Graduate Application Form

Applied Mathematics MPhil/PhD (Full-time)

Sep 2010 Entry

Personal Information

Interview

Disabilities

Graduate Application Form

Title: MR

First (Given) name: STEPHEN Preferred first name: Stephen

Middle name: KEVIN

Surname/Family Name: BRITTON Previous surname:

Date of birth: 16/01/1988(22 on entry) Official agent ID:

Agent name:

Permanent Address Contact Address

Address Line 1: 30 REGATTA COURT

Address Line 2: OYSTER ROW

Address Line 3: CAMBRIDGE

Country: UNITED KINGDOM (ENGLAND)

Postcode: CB5 8NS

Evening Tel: 01223313170

Daytime Tel: 07598955238

Mobile:

Fax number:

Email: [email protected]

Address Line 1: 30 REGATTA COURT

Address Line 2: OYSTER ROW

Address Line 3: CAMBRIDGE

Country: UNITED KINGDOM (ENGLAND)

Postcode: CB5 8NS

Evening Tel: 01223313170

Daytime Tel: 07598955238

Mobile:

Fax number:

Email: [email protected]

UK Residents

Non-UK Residents

Any dates on which you would not be available for interview?

Will you be in the UK prior to commencing postgraduate study?

If yes, please give dates:

If no, can you travel to the UK specifically for an interview?

Disabilities: Do you receive a disabled No

Criminal Convictions

Special Needs: student’s allowance?

Do you have any criminal convictions? No

School Leaving Qualifications

Undergraduate/Graduate Qualifications

Summary of marks achieved so far

Summary of marks achieved so far

No examinations or assessments have been taken to date.

Professional/other relevant qualifications

UG Educational History

UG Completed/Certified Qualifications

English Language Proficiency

Qualification Name of Institution Dates attended Subjects & Class/Individual Grades

Irish Leaving Certificate

Ardscoil na mBraithre, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Rep. of Ireland

01/09/2000 - 01/06/2005

Mathematics (Higher Level) A1 Physics (Higher Level) A1 Chemistry (Higher Level) A1 English (Higher Level) A1 History (Higher Level) A2 Irish (Higher Level) A2 French (Higher Level) B1

Qualification Title of Programme/Field of Study Result Dates Institution BAmod Theoretical Physics First Class Honours, Gold Medal 01/10/2005 -

01/06/2009 University of Dublin, Trinity College

Qualification Title of Programme/Field of Study Result Dates Institution

Certificate of Advanced Studies in Mathematics

(MASt to be retrospectively awarded) Theoretical Physics Distinction

01/10/2009 -

01/06/2010

University of Cambridge

Awarding Body Qualification Dates Grade/Level Type of Membership (if appropriate)

Name of school From To MOA

Date Body Exam Subject Grade Result Centre No School Score

Have you been taught and examined in English? YesYes Have you ever taken an English language test?

Name of testing system:

Dates:

Date taken:

[[The above two lines could be substituted with ‘Comments and breakdown of scores for each section of the test’ if not IELTS]]

[[The Band score lines could be substituted with the box above and a free text field here if not sat IELTS]]

Would you like to receive information about King’s English Language programmes?

Employment Details

Overall Reading Writing Speaking Listening

Employer Position held Nature of work FT/PT Dates

School of Mathematics, Trinity College

Dublin Grader Grading 2nd year undergraduate assignments PT 01/10/2008-

01/05/2009

Fee Status

Resident outside the EEA?

Funding

Personal Statement and Supporting Information

0 characters (incl spaces)

Research Proposal

I would like to study string theory.

36 characters (incl spaces)

Reference 1

School of Mathematics, Trinity College

Dublin Tutor Tutoring 1st and 2nd year undergraduates PT 01/10/2007-

01/05/2009

CRANN Student

researcher

Laboratory work on deposition of carbon

nanotubes FT 01/06/2008-

01/09/2008

Country of Birth Country of Permanent Residence:

In which Country are you currently living?

United Kingdom (England)

Nationality:

If you are not an EU national, is one of your parents?

If you are not a UK national and are permanently resident in the UK, have you been granted any of the following by the Home Office?

If the country you now live in is different to your country of permanent residence, please state when you entered it and for what purpose:

From To Country Purpose

Source of Funds: Other

If grant awarding body, please specify : If employer, please specify:

If other, please specify :College or departmental studentships

Do you wish to be considered for the King’s Graduate School Funding Scheme? Y

Reference 2

Other information

Details of any other postgraduate programmes you are applying to Referee Name: Dr Sergey Frolov

Institution/Company: Trinity College Dublin

Position: Lecturer

Relationship to you: Project supervisor and lecturer Address Line 1: School of Mathematics Address Line 2: Trinity College Address Line 3: Dublin 2

Country: Ireland (Republic of) Postcode:

Telephone: 00353 1 8964027 Email: [email protected] Predicted Grade:

Reference details:

Referee Name: Dr Sinead Ryan Institution/Company: Trinity College Dublin Position: Senior lecturer

Relationship to you: Lecturer and also lectured a course for which I graded the assignments Address Line 1: School of Mathematics

Address Line 2: Trinity College Address Line 3: Dublin 2

Country: Ireland (Republic of) Postcode:

Telephone: 00353 1 896 1267

Email: [email protected]

Predicted Grade:

Reference details

How did you find out about King’s?

Please inform us how you initially found out about postgraduate study at King’s:

Name of Institution Country Programme Title

University of Cambridge United Kingdom (England) PhD

University of Oxford United Kingdom (England) PhD

University of Durham United Kingdom (England) PhD

Imperial College London United Kingdom (England) PhD

Queen Mary College London United Kingdom (England) PhD

My first introduction to physics was through popular science novels. In

particular I had especial interest in topics related to fundamental physics. In this way I learned of the general ideas of String Theory, which captured my enthusiasm and interest at the time. When I began my theoretical physics study I had intended to head towards High Energy Physics and in the last year of my undergraduate degree I decided that String Theory is where my main interest lies.

I began my academic pursuits as an undergraduate in the University of Dublin, Trinity College, where I played an active role in all aspects of university life.

Academically, I believe that I acquitted myself well; I graduated with a Gold Medal and First Class Honours. I was also awarded prizes for my examination results each year, those of greatest note being elected a scholar of the college in 2007 and being awarded the Hamilton Prize by the Royal Irish Academy in 2008.

In my final year I undertook a research project in Lie Algebras in Particle Physics, which involved researching the topic and then producing an essay, intended to serve as an introduction to the subject for my peers. This project gave me the chance to confirm to myself that I would enjoy and be capable of completing a PhD programme.

I am currently studying for the Certificate of Advanced Studies in

Mathematics (for which a MASt will be retrospectively awarded) in the University of Cambridge and I am taking the High Energy Physics courses (Symmetry and

Particles, Quantum Field Theory, Advanced Quantum Field Theory, The Standard Model, String Theory, Supersymmetry) as well as General Relativity. These topics should serve as a good background for a PhD.

However, my academic work has not been restricted to exams and studies. For two years, I worked with the University of Dublin's Voluntary Tuition Programme, in which undergraduates voluntarily tutor secondary school pupils from less privileged areas. I tutored in mathematics, physics, chemistry, English, and Irish. I also was one of two tutors for the Peer Tutoring Initiative run by the Faculty of Science in

Theoretical Physics.

I wish to take a PhD in String Theory as I would like to enter into research and teaching as a profession.

Dr. S. A. Frolov School of Mathematics Trinity College Dublin Dublin 2, Ireland

e-mail: [email protected] phone: +353 1 896 4027 fax: +353 1 896 2282

January 4, 2010

Applied Mathematics Programme Kings College London

United Kingdom

Letter of support for Mr. Stephen Kevin Britton

Dear Madam/Sir,

I strongly support Mr. Stephen Kevin Britton’s application to your graduate programme.

I know Stephen since 2006 when he took the course of advanced mechanics with me. Stephen has strong interest in theoretical physics research, and this is his motivation for applying to your programme.

Stephen is a bright student with excellent potential to become a good researcher. In my mechanics class he was my best student with excellent abilities to express himself orally and in writing. Stephen got the highest mark (93.8%) for the mechanics scholarship exam and received Trinity College scholarship as a true reflection of his achievements.

Last year he was studying Lie algebras and groups and their applications to theoretical physics under my supervision, and I was very pleased with his performance, creative abilities and independence of mind. We met every week to discuss this project, and he definitely showed understanding of this complicated subject.

During his studies of Lie algebras he used Mathematica to perform complicated computations, and this is a necessary skill to do successfully theoretical physics. He also wrote an excellent report based on his studies of Lie algebras, and I’m thinking about putting it on my web site so that other students could access it and learn the basics of this important subject. To prepare the report Stephen used LaTeX that is also a necessary skill in modern science.

I can also add to my strongest support of Britton’s application that if I’d have a PhD position I’d offer it to Stephen.

Sincerely

Dr. Sergey A. Frolov

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN

TRINITY COLLEGE

SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS

Telephone: +353-1-896 1267 FAX: +353-1-896 2282

WWW: http://www.maths.tcd.ie/~ryan Email: [email protected]

Dr. S. Ryan

L H CB

S

Dublin 2 Ireland

January 6, 2010

Graduate Studies, King’s College London, U.K.

Reference for Stephen Britton To whom it concerns,

I am very happy to recommend Mr. Britton for a PhD place at King’s College.

Stephen was an undergraduate in Theoretical Phyiscs at Trinity College. Entry to this course, from school, is highly competitive. There are typically only thirty places open each year so it is already a mark of Stephen’s ability that he was accepted to the course.

Stephen took one of my courses, Numerical Computing in his junior freshman year. This course aims to provide students with an introduction to the C programming language and to numerical analysis methods. Stephen showed a natural ability at problem-solving and in particular he was able to translate his strong mathematical ability to problem-solving using numerical methods. He handed in excellent assignments throughout the year and was placed in the top 5% in his year at the summer examination.

I also know Stephen in my capacity as course director for the Theoretical Physics degree. I believe he a gifted and enthusiastic student. Stephen has impressed all his lecturers with his natural ability and dedication to the subject. He is consistently placed in the top 2-5% of his class, a remarkable achievement.

He completed his degree with a high first, placed second in his (very high-achieving) class and was awarded a gold medal based on his degree mark. The gold medal is reserved for the top students in any degree. Stephen is also a Scholar of Trinity College, an award based on special examinations taken in the second year of study. He went on to take Part III of the Tripos at Cambridge which I know he is enjoying and also excelling in.

I am sure he will be an excellent postgraduate student. In addition, Stephen is very personable and friendly. I know that he was popular with his classmates and I am certain that he is excellent

candidate for a PhD place.

Yours sincerely,

Sin´ead Ryan