Applied Statistics with Medical Applications (MSc) - 2013/2014 entry

While practically orientated, this programme proceeds from a strong theoretical background so as to develop the ability to tackle new and non-standard problems with confidence. The mutual dependence of practice and theory is emphasised wherever possible.

The programme is ideal if you are considering a career move into statistics and would like to work as a medical or pharmaceutical statistician, or if your work already involves aspects of data collection, management and exploration, and the interpretation of statistics in the healthcare industry.

• Covers both theory and application of modern statistical modelling techniques required to solve applied problems in industry, the public services, scientific research and commerce.
• Medical applications pathway equips you with specialist statistical techniques for use in support of evidence-based medicine and public health policy decision-making.
• Accredited by the Royal Statistical Society – graduates may be granted Graduate Statistician (GradStat) status. 

This is a named pathway for the MSc Applied Statistics generic degree programme.

The core modules in the first year provide a broad education and training in statistics at postgraduate level, while the second-year option modules and project may be selected to further your own interests and career objectives.

Year 1

Take two core modules: Probability and Stochastic Modelling; and Statistical Analysis. These cover statistical inference, probability and distribution theory, statistical modelling and optimal experimental and sample survey design. You will apply the theory and principles involved to the analysis and modelling of data in a wide range of contexts and gain experice in the use of modern sophisticated statistical computer packages. The first year corresponds to the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Statistics.

Year 2

Choose four option modules (half-modules) offered from four main specialist streams:

• Further Applied Statistics (e.g. topics in Bayesian statistics, advanced multivariate analysis, mixed models, medical statistics)
• Operational Research (e.g. topics in optimisation, forecasting and stochastic methods)
• Stochastic Processes and Applications (with particular emphasis on applications in mathematical finance and dynamic asset pricing)
• Computer-Intensive Statistical Methods (e.g. simulation and simulation-based inference, re-sampling methods, smoothing, kernel density estimation, statistical data mining).

To obtain the MSc Applied Statistics with Medical Applications, the two half-modules Medical Statistics and Analysis of Dependent Data must be taken from the Further Applied Statistics stream.

You also complete a project (double module). This will be a sustained, independent investigation involving the application of statistical techniques to a specific problem in a medical context.

You will have access to a wide range of study resources, including University of London seminar programmes in probability and statistics, and excellent library facilities close by in Bloomsbury. Extensive computing facilities include PCs and UNIX platforms.

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in Mathematics and Statistics.

Graduates can go on to work as medical statisticians, biometricians or pharmaceutical statisticians, either in public sector organisations, research organisations or industry.

There are many career pathways for statistics graduates – for examples, see the 'Careers in Statistics' section of the Royal Statistical Society website.

• You should apply as early as possible. We need to receive your supporting documents, i.e. your transcript, before we can proceed with your application.
• Please note that you will be applying for the MSc Applied Statistics in the first instance.
• Interviews by arrangement.