“The School provides plenty of opportunities for you to get involved with maths beyond lectures and tutorials. There are optional talks, research scholarships, mentoring and study support schemes and dedicated social events. St Andrews has an impressive number of sports clubs, music groups and societies, which means that there is always something to do when you are taking a break from studying.”
- Dijon, France
Entry requirements
The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
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- Standard entry grades:
- AAAAB, including A in Mathematics.
- Minimum entry grades:
- AABB, including A in Mathematics.
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- Standard entry grades:
- A*A*A, including A* in Mathematics.
- Minimum entry grades:
- A*AB, including A* in Mathematics.
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- Standard entry grades:
- 38 (HL 6,6,6), including HL6 in Mathematics.
- Minimum entry grades:
- 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Mathematics.
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
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SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing science
- Geography
- Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
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GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
Other qualifications
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Do I need to have studied this subject before?
Yes, applicants are expected to have studied Mathematics at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, or equivalent. Typical successful applicants will have studied Mathematics at SQA Advanced Higher, Further Mathematics as GCE A-level, or equivalent.
Alternative study options
Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:
MA
Statistics is studied up to Honours level in both the Faculty of Science (BSc) and the Faculty of Arts (MA). Students who have a background in the Arts or who wish to study Statistics alongside Arts subjects at St Andrews should apply for the MA. For those interested in studying Statistics alongside science subjects, the BSc in Statistics may be of interest instead. The BSc and MA degree programmes are mathematically identical.
Study abroad
Mathematics students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in Statistics is a four-year course run by the School of Mathematics and Statistics.
During your first year, your studies will focus on mathematics, with the aim of reinforcing your basic skills before embarking upon the study of statistics in your second year. Your second year will focus on a central core of material within statistics which will provide the foundation for advanced study at Honours level.
Alongside statistics, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
During third and fourth year, students may select modules from a range of options on advanced and specialist specific topics. Specialist subject areas may include:
- Bayesian inference
- spatial statistics
- statistical modelling
- times series analysis.
Final-year students must also complete a project on a topic chosen in consultation with teaching staff at the School of Mathematics and Statistics.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Modules
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in statistics alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take one to two statistics modules per semester during your first two years, and four statistics modules per semester during your third and fourth years (known as Honours).
Students will take between one and three first-year modules in mathematics. There is one core compulsory module, 'Mathematics', that can be studied in either semester.
- Mathematics: introduces the ideas and techniques required for further study of mathematics or applications to other sciences.
Students who do not possess at least a B at Advanced Higher or A-Level Mathematics will need to take 'Introductory Mathematics' in their first semester before taking the compulsory 'Mathematics' module. This option is popular for students on different degree routes who wish to study mathematics.
- Introductory Mathematics: designed for students who do not meet the entry requirements for the first-year 'Mathematics' module. Provides a secure base in elementary calculus.
First-year students can take an optional module in statistics as well as modules in pure and applied mathematics:
Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
- Combinatorics and Probability: introduces counting techniques for finite structures and the behaviour of random variables.
- Linear Mathematics: introduces the theory of vector spaces, linear independence, linear transformations and diagonalisation.
- Statistical Inference: introduces techniques for drawing inferences about population characteristics from observed data.
In addition, students must take at least one of the following second-year modules:
- Abstract Algebra: explores the key concepts of modern abstract algebra: groups, rings and fields.
- Analysis: introduces key concepts of real analysis: limit, continuity and differentiation.
- Multivariate Calculus: extends the techniques of calculus in a single variable to the setting of real functions of several variables.
If you decide to take Statistics in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options. Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:
- Bayesian Inference
- Computing in Statistics
- Mathematical Statistics
- Population Genetics
- Quantitative Risk Management.
In your third and fourth (Honours) years, you will choose from a range of 3000-level, 4000-level and (optionally) 5000-level modules. Here are the modules offered during the current session and in previous years:
- Mathematics and Statistics 3000-level modules
- Mathematics and Statistics 4000-level modules
- Mathematics and Statistics 5000-level modules
In your final year, you also undertake a project on a topic chosen in consultation with the teaching staff at the School of Mathematics and Statistics. You will be required to investigate the topic, submit a report and give a presentation.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
In first year, teaching for each module centres on a daily lecture (around 100 to 300 students). Each fortnight, you will have one small group tutorial (8 to 12 students) and one examples class (25 to 60 students) where students undertake exercises and discuss each week’s topics.
In second year, each module typically comprises five lectures (around 100 to 300 students), one tutorial (8 to 12 students), and one examples class (25 to 60 students) per fortnight. Half of the modules also feature computer lab sessions (25 to 60 students).
You will develop increasing independence and initiative as you progress through your degree programme so that by third and fourth year the average teaching load drops to around ten hours of lectures and four tutorials per week, supplemented by private study.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and computer labs, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- preparing coursework assignments
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing for examinations.
Progress is monitored through tutorial assignments, and almost all of the sub-honours modules are assessed by a balanced combination of coursework and written exams. At Honours level, modules may be assessed by written examination alone or a combination of written examination and coursework.
Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.
The School aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of statistics and mathematics. Postgraduate students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials, examples classes and computing classes under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all Statistics staff on the School of Mathematics and Statistics website.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Fees
Scotland
£1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
£9,250
Channel Islands, Isle of Man
£9,250
EU and overseas
£30,160
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take Statistics as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
- UCAS code CG13: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Statistics
- UCAS code GG34: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science and Statistics
- UCAS code GL31: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Statistics
- UCAS code FG83: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Geography and Statistics
- UCAS code GVH6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Philosophy and Statistics
- UCAS code CG23: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology and Statistics
- UCAS code GLH1: Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Statistics
- UCAS code GV35: Master of Arts (Honours) Philosophy and Statistics
- UCAS code CG24: Master of Arts (Honours) Psychology and Statistics
The joint option with Psychology can also be taken as a degree programme with British Psychological Society accreditation.
Careers
Demand for mathematically trained graduates vastly outstrips the supply, and hence career prospects are excellent in a variety of fields.
Recruiters seek numerate graduates who are literate, think logically, write and present well, and can work with relevant technology – St Andrews degrees develop all of these skills.
A mathematics degree is recognised as a substantial achievement in a demanding discipline.
Around 30% of St Andrews graduates continue on to postgraduate study, either in mathematics or related disciplines such as computer science, finance, or physics.
The majority of the remaining graduates gain employment in areas such as:
- technology firms or computer consultancies
- financial services organisations (for example, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and PwC)
- industry
- insurance companies
- merchant banks
- the civil service
- teaching.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3744
- maths@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematical Institute
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9SS
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