Decisions and guidelines

SAMFAK 2009/135

Doss 3:1:1

The Master Programme in Statistics comprises 120 higher education credits. (Master Programme in Statistics)

GOAL DESCRIPTION/PURPOSE

The goal of the two-year Master Programme in Statistics is to provide students with the capacity to work independently as statisticians. This requires a good knowledge of methods and an ability to develop and adapt methods chosen to the practical problem at hand. As statisticians normally work with other occupational categories, there is also a need for a good ability to communicate with non-statisticians, both orally and in writing, about the possibilities and limitations of statistical analysis.

The programme prepares students both for research-level education in statistics and for professional careers.

GOALS EXPRESSED AS EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Upon completing the programme students are expected to

- have an overview of and be critically able to judge and discuss the principles of estimation and inference that underpin basic statistical theory;

- have a deeper knowledge of statistical inference and be able to discuss and analyse its possibilities and limitations;

- have a deeper knowledge of the use of statistical methods in empirical applications, be able to interpret, analyse, and critically evaluate results on the basis of scientific and ethical considerations;

- orally and in writing be able to communicate about the possibilities and limitations of statistical analysis;

- evince an ability critically, independently, and creatively to identify and formulate problems of significance for statistical science.

Entry requirements

ELIGIBILITY

Bachelor degree comprising 60 credits/90 higher education credits from the subject area of statistics or the equivalent.

SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY

All students applying to the programme must demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of English. This can be done in at least four ways:

- International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Minimum score: 6.0. More information at www.ielts.org.

- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Recommended minimum score: 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), 79 (Internet-based test). More information at www.toefl.org. The TOEFL code for Uppsala University is 0247.

- Cambridge CAE, CPE.

- Previous certificate of upper-secondary education or higher in the Nordic countries

- Students with degrees from universities where English is the sole medium of instruction according to the latest edition of the International Handbook of Universities.

Layout of the programme

CONTENT

The Master Programme in Statistics is a two-year programme comprising 120 higher education credits. The programme prepares students for careers in advanced positions in private and public activities, such as analyst/investigator at government ministries, analyst in banking and finance, methods statistician at biomedical companies, etc.

The Master programme prepares students well for these positions.

SET-UP OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme comprises four terms of full-time study. The programme is based on course modules worth 7.5 higher education credits that are given at a half-time rate. During Term 1, besides applied courses, a course in statistical theory and a course in programming are given, and in Term 2 a further course in statistical theory is given. Term 4 is devoted to a degree project (Master's thesis) worth 30 higher education credits.

Students wishing to conclude their studies after one year replace coursework worth 15 higher education credits in Term 2 with a degree project.

Courses in the programme are given in collaboration primarily with the Department of Statistics, Stockholm University, but also the Departments of Mathematical Statistics at Stockholm/Uppsala and the Department of Economics, Uppsala.

BASIC STRUCTURE AND PROGRESSION IN THE PROGRAMME

The programme builds on knowledge from the basic level in the Statistics Programme and entails a further development of student skills and greater depth in the academic area.

The foundations of statistics are the theory of probability and the theory of inference. Knowledge from these courses is used in the methods-oriented courses. As many methods are not implemented in the programme package, a course is also given that includes statistical programming.

Progression in the programme entails a higher level of intellectual maturity and deeper insights into the complexities of the subject. This, together with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and to independently formulate and solve problems, is demonstrated in a concluding degree project (Master's thesis).

TRAINEESHIPS: COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

During the programme opportunities are provided to experience a term of supervised training at a public authority, an organisation, or a company that can provide work assignments of value to the selected specialisation and future career plans. The traineeship term comprises 30 higher education credits in the degree.

STUDIES ABROAD

In the two-year Master programme, one or two terms may be spent at a foreign university within the framework of the exchange programmes that the Department and/or the University offers. Following review, credits from studies at foreign universities can be counted as part of a course or as a whole course in the programme.

Instruction

The programme is grounded in science and is tied to research, and students are provided with opportunities to continuously develop their methodological competence and a scientific approach. Students are expected to assume more and more responsibility for their own learning the further they progress in the programme and to successively acquire occupationally relevant and research-based knowledge and skills. Knowledge is conveyed and acquired through instruction, individual studies, seminar discussions, and independent work that is presented both orally and in writing.

Instruction is in English.

Degree

The programme leads to a one-year Master's degree or a two-year Master's degree with statistics as the major field. The two-year Master's degree requires the completion of 120 higher education credits with at least 60 higher education credits in statistics, including independent work (degree project) worth 30 higher education credits. The one-year Master's degree requires the completion of 60 higher education credits with at least 30 higher education credits in statistics, including independent work (degree project) worth 15 higher education credits.

The one-year Master's degree is called "Filosofie magisterexamen" in Swedish, and "Degree of Master in Social Science (One Year)" in English. The two-year Master's degree is called "Filosofie masterexamen" in Swedish, and "Degree of Master in Social Science (Two Years)" in English. Up to 30 higher education credits may consist of traineeships in the two-year programme.

Other directives

LANGUAGE

Instruction is in English.

OTHER REGULATIONS

Following review, courses previously completed at the corresponding D level may be counted in the two-year Master programme for students admitted to the programme.