Statistics (MSc) 2022 entry
The MSc in Statistics prepares students with a strong quantitative background for further postgraduate studies or a future career in the private sector.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Science (MSc)
Course dates
- Start date: 5 September 2022
- End date: 30 September 2023
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year full time or two years part time.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in mathematics, statistics or a closely related subject area. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £10,395
Overseas: £21,390
Application deadline
Thursday 11 August 2022. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement (optional)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The MSc in Statistics is a one-year taught programme run by the School of Mathematics and Statistics, which is well equipped with personal computers and laptops, a parallel computer and an on-site library.
Highlights
- Provides students with a broader skill set for entry into the commercial analysis market.
- Covers various theoretical and applied statistical areas at an advanced level.
- Provides opportunities for students to put their statistical knowledge into practice.
- Continual assessments and the dissertation enable students to apply their statistics knowledge.
- Students are prepared such that they may go onto to pursue research in statistics.
Teaching format
The course consists of two semesters of taught courses followed by a dissertation undertaken over the summer months. The available statistics modules consist of a mixture of traditional lecture courses with end-of-semester exams and short intense courses with a large proportion of continuous assessment.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2021-2022 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2022 entry.
Modules can be chosen from across the School's undergraduate and postgraduate-level modules. At least three-quarters of your credits must come from postgraduate-level modules.
- Bayesian Inference
- Classical Statistical Inference
- Computing in Statistics
- Computing in Mathematics
- Design of Experiments
- Financial Mathematics
- Markov Chains and Processes
- Population Dynamics Models in Mathematical Biology
- Population Genetics
- Quantitative Risk Management
- Sampling Theory
- Spatial Statistics
- Time Series Analysis
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
- Advanced Bayesian Inference
- Advanced Combinatorics
- Advanced Data Analysis
- Applied Statistical Modelling using GLMs
- Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems
- Estimating Animal Abundance and Biodiversity
- Independent Study Module
- Knowledge Discovery and Datamining
- Mathematical Oncology
- Measure and Probability Theory
- Medical Statistics
- Modelling Wildlife population dynamics
- Multivariate Analysis
- Professional Skills for Mathematical Scientists
- Semigroups
- Software for Data Analysis
- Spatial Models and Pattern Formation in Mathematical Biology
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
During the final three months of the course, students complete a dissertation to be submitted by the end of August. Dissertations are supervised by members of teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the progress of the dissertation.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2022 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
There are a number of different seminars held each week in the School of Mathematics and Statistics. These include:
Pure Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
Statistics
Funding
There are many potential scholarships or support schemes available to postgraduates.
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
Find out more about postgraduate scholarships.
After the MSc
Research degrees
The MSc in Statistics prepares students for further postgraduate studies in statistical research, and many graduates of the programme continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
The School of Mathematics and Statistics has active research groups in:
- Applied Mathematics (Vortex Dynamics Group, Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group, Mathematical Biology Group)
- Pure Mathematics (Analysis Group, Algebra and Combinatorics Group)
- Mathematical Biology (Mathematical Oncology, Cell Migration and Tissue Growth)
- Statistics (Statistical Ecology, Statistical Medicine and Molecular Biology, and Statistical Methodology).
Careers
MSc in Statistics graduates hold positions at leading universities or companies in areas as diverse as business administration, financial markets, biomedical research, fisheries laboratories, wildlife conservation and many more.
Recent graduates at Masters level have found employment in:
- large consulting firms and major financial institutions including Scottish and Southern Energy, RBS, Aviva, Lloyds, TSB, PwC, Capital One, Vodafone, American Express, Goldman Sachs, Tesco Bank and many others.
- biomedical research, clinical trials and pharmaceuticals.
- wildlife and conservation managers including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
"There is close contact between lecturers and students, providing opportunities to ask questions and have discussions. The coding exercises and hands-on work with statistical methods are a great opportunity to learn relevant skills. Postgraduate students come from a huge variety of backgrounds, so you are in touch with people from many disciplines. "
- North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Contact
School of Mathematics and Statistics
University of St Andrews
Mathematical Institute
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9SS
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2344
Email: maths-pgstats@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.