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Applied Statistics

MSc, PG Cert

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

MSc

  • One year full-time, on campus
  • Two years part-time, on campus

PG Cert

  • One year part-time, on campus
Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

This applied statistics course is ideal if you are considering a career move into statistics, or if your work already involves aspects of data collection and exploration, interpretation of statistics, or modelling and forecasting time-dependent phenomena. It delivers a strong theoretical background but is also practically oriented to develop your ability to tackle new and non-standard problems with confidence.

  • Why choose this course?
    • This course offers you a comprehensive curriculum covering frequentist and Bayesian methods, statistical machine learning and advanced computational techniques.
    • It has a favourable staff-student ratio to ensure high-quality teaching and support, with time for one-on-one consultation as needed.
    • It is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), so that our graduates may be eligible to attain Graduate Statistician (GradStat) status.
    • It benefits from being led by experienced statisticians and mathematicians with active research interests in theoretical and applied statistics.

  • What will I learn?

    We emphasise the mutual dependence of practice and theory throughout the course, with a focus on hands-on application through real-world datasets to equip you with the skills to analyse and interpret complex data and communicate findings effectively.

    You will learn to formulate real-world problems as statistical models and implement them using statistical software. You will also gain a solid grounding in core statistical methodologies, including:

    • regression
    • ANOVA
    • generalised linear models along with an introduction to Bayesian modelling
    • a wide variety of advanced computational statistics and machine learning methods.

  • How will I learn?

    Teaching on this course is through a combination of lectures (pre-recorded), seminars and practical computing sessions. In lectures an overview of the topic engages you with the material through theory, worked problems and example applications. Seminars are focused around discussion and problem-solving while computing sessions allow you to gain practical experience in the analysis and modelling of data.

    This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, so that you can fit your studies in around other work or family commitments. You will also be supported by comprehensive resources, including a dedicated subject librarian and high-quality recordings of lectures.

    We offer this course as a Master’s and a Postgraduate Certificate. For the Certificate, you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation. 

  • How often will I attend classes?

    MSc full-time: Four evenings a week, October to July.

    MSc part-time: Two evenings a week, October to July.

    PG Cert part-time: Two to three evenings a week, October to July.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • We bring together research and teaching across computer science, mathematics and statistics which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.
  • We have active research groups in Algorithms, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Logical Methods, and two research centres: Birkbeck Institute for Data Analytics and Birkbeck Knowledge Lab, that host visiting speakers and organise seminars you can attend. 
  • 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.
  • You will be studying alongside a diverse group of passionate and enthusiastic students from various backgrounds, careers and cultures, including professionals in data science, finance, economics and computer science.

Modules and Teaching

  • One year part-time or one year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

    Course structure

    MSc:

    You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

    • two core modules (30 credits each)
    • four option modules (15 credits each)
    • a project (60 credits).

    The core modules provide a broad education and training in statistics while the option modules allow you to orient your studies towards your own particular interests and career objectives. The project is a sustained, independent investigation involving the application of statistical techniques to a specific problem.

    You will graduate with one of the following depending on your choice of modules:

    • MSc Applied Statistics
    • MSc Applied Statistics and Computational Data Analytics (Bayesian Methods and Computational Statistics are compulsory).

    PG Cert:

    You must complete two core modules worth a total of 60 credits. These cover:

    • probability and distribution theory
    • statistical inference
    • Markov chains
    • introductory time series and forecasting
    • multiple linear regression
    • generalised linear modelling
    • experimental design.

    You will apply the theory and principles that you learn to the analysis and modelling of data in a wide range of contexts and gain experience in the use of a statistical package such as R.

    MSc core modules

    MSc indicative option modules

    MSc Applied Statistics project

    PG Cert core modules

  • Teaching

    We encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to help ensure you have the best learning experience and provide a range of different modes of learning to help you juggle study with work and other commitments.

    Find out more about our teaching and teaching hours.

    What are the methods of teaching?

    A combination of lectures and staff-assisted practical computing sessions using modern statistical software with an integrated programming capability. Computing packages used include R (and additionally SAS and WinBUGS where required for particular aspects of the course). Individual and small-group tutorials are provided as necessary.

    Lectures present theory, worked problems and example applications to the class as a whole. Workstation sessions allow you to gain practical experience in the analysis and modelling of data. They are therefore self-paced and very informal, with students working individually using detailed guidance notes while members of staff provide tutorial assistance.

  • How will I be assessed?

    Written examinations during the daytime in May/June, assessed coursework throughout the year.

    Those on the MSc programme will undertake a project to be completed by 1 September.

    Please see individual modules for more details.

    Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences

A world-leading centre in algorithms, data science, artificial intelligence, and logical methods, and a centre of excellence in research.

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Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above, with mathematics or statistics as a main subject.

Other degrees or professional qualifications may also be acceptable, such as the Birkbeck Graduate Certificate in Statistics for Data Science or the Graduate Diploma of the Royal Statistical Society.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £12,195 per year
Full-time international students: £24,390 per year

PG Cert: One year part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £4,000 per year
Part-time international students: £8,130 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MSc Applied Data Science, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including the ability to:

  • understand and apply computationally intensive statistical methodology
  • abstract the essentials of a practical problem and formulate an appropriate statistical or mathematical model
  • solve problems using an analytical and systematic approach
  • understand advanced, abstract material
  • learn independently by study of a range of sources including learned journals
  • develop self-motivation, time management and organisation.

Studying this course will prepare you for a career path in a range of professions including:

  • actuary
  • data analyst
  • data scientist
  • economist
  • financial manager
  • financial risk analyst
  • machine learning engineer
  • operational researcher
  • research scientist
  • statistician.

Graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at various organisations including G-Research, CodeMagus, the Centre for Policy Studies and Imperial College London.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

Related courses

Study routes for Applied Statistics (MSc, PG Cert)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time