Programmes

Double Degree with the University of Bologna

The department has recently reached an agreement on a double degree with the Faculty of Statistical Sciences, University of Bologna, under which up to five of our single honours statistics students will spend their third year there. Crucially staff in Bologna will teach in English. For further details see Bologna leaflet.

Since September 2008, the department has also offered combined honours degree programmes with the Department of Accounting and Finance. Two degrees, BSc (Hons) Accountancy and Statistics (UCAS code GN34) and BSc (Hons) Finance and Statistics (UCAS code GN33) are available to well-qualified students.

These degree programmes reflect the synergy that already exists between Statistics and Accounting & Finance. Accountants routinely use some statistics as an integral part of their work (e.g. in audit), while finance is underpinned by statistical and mathematical theories. Those carrying out research in either accounting or finance are required to use advanced statistical methods of inference and modelling. Many statistics graduates already find satisfying careers in the financial sector, where they must pick up considerable knowledge of financial markets and theories to inform the modelling they carry out.

The financial sector, locally and throughout the United Kingdom, is very keen to recruit more, and more mathematical, graduates. It has recently begun to work intensively with selected universities in order to encourage more interest in financial careers from students in the mathematical sciences, e.g. through dedicated Careers Services events.

The Department offers a diverse range of 4 and 5 year Honours degree programmes, most of them accredited by the Royal Statistical Society. These include both single Honours degrees which explore the whole range of modern statistics and combined degrees with one other subject. The box on the right provides links to the various possibilities.

We also offer a 3 year designated degree in Statistical and Mathematical Studies.

Our degree programmes provide opportunities for students to learn about the fundamental principles and methods of probability and statistics as well as develop the skills required to implement these methods in real contexts using statistical software packages. Students in Statistics gain experience of applying statistical methods to analyse and model data collected from research in a wide variety of disciplines and hence gain an appreciation of the importance of Statistics in those disciplines. Statisticians must be able to i nterpret the results of statistical analyses; to present those results orally and in written reports, and to work both independently, and as part of a team.

All statisticians also need to be able to use computers and software, including word-processing, spreadsheet and database packages as well as specialised statistical software and our degree courses provide training in these aspects.

Our teaching is done in lectures, tutorials, and data analysis laboratory classes but, an important part of our degrees involves students working on statistical projects, often as part of a team with scientists from other scientific subjects such as Geography, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Psychology, Biology, Environmental Sciences and many others.