Fiona_Steele The MSc in Statistics provides students with intensive training in statistics applicable to the social sciences, econometrics and finance. The aim of the programme is to foster an interest in applied statistics and equip students for work as professional statisticians.

The MSc also provides an opportunity to study specialist courses in related disciplines. There are excellent prospects for employment and further study for our graduates. Former MSc in Statistics students have taken up positions in consulting firms, banks,and in the public sector where there is a shortage of well-qualified statisticians. Many go on to take higher degrees.

The research branch of the Statistics programme is open to students wishing to take the dissertation option.

Professor Fiona Steele
MSc Statistics Programme Director

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirement is an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, with a significant mathematical content. Well-qualified applicants who do not meet this requirement will be considered on merit.

Details of how to apply

For further practical details of how to submit an application, including the word limit on your personal statement, please see our MSc FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions

To submit your application please visit our Graduate Admissions website here.

Course Structure

Our taught postgraduate courses are based around lectures, with problem classes and computer workshops. Most courses are assessed by a two-hour exam in the summer term although some contain an element of course work.

The courses in the programme are divided into two categories: compulsory courses and optional courses. Students must take courses to the value of four full units.

Compulsory courses and options (MSc Statistics)

i. One compulsory course:

ST425 Statistical Inference: Principles, Methods and Computation (F) (Lent Term Week 0 Exam)

ii. Optional courses to the value of three full units from the following:

ST405 Multivariate Methods (H)
ST409 Stochastic Processes (H)
ST411 Generalised Linear Modelling and Survival Analysis (H)
ST416 Multilevel Modelling (H)
ST418 Nonlinear Dynamics and the Analysis of Real Time Series (H)
ST421 Developments in Statistical Methods (H)
ST422 Time Series (H)
ST426 Applied Stochastic Processes (H)
ST435 Advanced Probability Theory (H) (Lent Term Week 0 Exam)
ST442 Longitudinal Data Analysis (H)
ST443 Machine Learning and Data Mining (H)
ST444 Statistical Computing (H)
EC484 Econometric Analysis (F) (Department of Economics)
Statistics students taking EC484 will be required to register in early September in order to attend the econometrics component of the pre-sessional course EC451. Students must pass an exam taken at the end of the pre-sessional in order to proceed to EC484. In addition, please note that there will be a mid-term exam in Lent Term Week 0.
MA407 Algorithms and Computation (H) (Department of Mathematics)
MG4C6 Mathematical Programming: Theory and Algorithms (H) (Department of Management)
MY456 Survey Methodology (H) (Department of Methodology)
MY457 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (H) (Department of Methodology)
SA481 Basic Population Analysis (H) (Department of Social Policy)

Please note: Other courses may be taken with permission, except for: ST433, ST436, ST437, ST438, ST439, ST440, MA415, MA416, MA420 and any courses indexed FM. The total value of non-ST courses (including any selected from the list of optional courses ii) cannot exceed one full unit and any unlisted courses are taken with the permission of the Programme Director and the course lecturer.

H = Half Unit; F = Full Unit.

Compulsory courses and options (MSc in Statistics: Research)

MSc in Statistics (Research) branch is similar to the MSc in Statistics nine-month programme but involves a compulsory dissertation (ST499) which replaces one unit’s worth of optional courses.

i. Two compulsory courses (both full unit):

ST425 Statistical Inference: Principles, Methods and Computation (F) (Lent Term Week 0 Exam)
ST499 Dissertation (F)

ii. Optional courses to the value of two full units, as listed above for the MSc in Statistics, plus the following:

MY400 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (H) (Department of Methodology)

Programme Regulations

MSc Statistics

MSc Statistics (Research)

Winton
MSc Prizes

Two prizes sponsored by Winton Capital are awarded to MSc students each year.

Winton Prize for Academic Excellence in MSc Statistics/MSc Statistics (Financial Statistics)

Awarded to the MSc Statistics or MSc Statistics (Financial Statistics) student with the highest overall marks in their exams. One prize of £500 awarded.

Winton Prize for Best Dissertation in MSc Statistics/MSc Statistics (Financial Statistics)

Awarded to the MSc Statistics or MSc Statistics (Financial Statistics) student with the highest mark on their dissertation. One prize of £500 awarded.

This agreement is applicable until 2017.