Dependence modelling using truncated vine copulas with applications (NIKOLOULOPOULOSA_U26EMP)

Primary supervisor - Dr Aristidis K. Nikoloulopoulos Multivariate response data abound in many applications including insurance, risk management, finance, psychometrics, health and environmental sciences. Data from these application areas have different dependence structures. While a multivariate distribution fully encodes this dependence, the tractable families used in practice often impose restrictive marginal or dependence structures. Copula functions alleviate these constraints by separating the margins from the dependence structure. Although classical copulas are naturally suited to low-dimensional settings, vine copulas extend the framework to high dimensions. We have shown that a vine copula displays (tail) dependence in all bivariate margins provided that the pair-copulas in the first level possess (tail) dependence; higher-level pair-copulas may be independence copulas without loss of overall (tail) dependence. This insight justifies truncating the vine after the first level, creating a parsimonious model that retains the essential dependence structure. In this project, we will make use of truncated vine copulas with both observed and latent variables in the aforementioned application areas. The project requires a 1st class degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science. This project is offered on a self-funding basis. It is open to applicants with funding or those applying to funding sources. Details of tuition fees can be found here. A bench fee is also pay

IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each component) or equivalent - check course page for specific requirements

International students: £26,400 per year

UK students: £5,181 per year

UK/Home: £5,181 per year

International: £26,400 per year

1 June 2026

Rolling admissions - apply early

• Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom