Postgraduate taught 

Advanced Statistics MSc

Advanced Statistics Project and Dissertation STATS5091P

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Credits: 60
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Summer
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This project provides Master's-level students in Statistics with an opportunity to carry out an independent piece of statistical analysis, and to present their investigation in the form of a dissertation.

Timetable

Supervisory meetings to be arranged at certain fixed points, typically, weeks 2, 5/6 and 8/9, with additional weekly support sessions.

Excluded Courses

Statistics Project and Dissertation (STATS5029P)

Statistics Project and Dissertation with Placement (STATS5XXXP)

Assessment

Interim assessment (20%, including a presentation and mini-viva) + dissertation (80%).

Course Aims

The aims of this course are:

■ to give students experience of working independently on an advanced piece of statistical analysis, including developing new statistical methodology as appropriate;

■ to develop written and verbal presentation and communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ integrate the knowledge and skills they have gained from other components of their degree programme in order to carry out an extended piece of statistical analysis;

■ investigate and describe in detail the background to the project;

■ formulate the aims of the analysis and specific questions of interest in appropriate technical and non-technical language;

■ explain the role of statistics in answering the questions of interest;

■ identify relevant statistical methodology, if necessary including methods not formally introduced in other components of their degree programme;

■ formulate an appropriate analysis plan, and update it as required;

■ implement their chosen methods using statistical packages and programming as required;

■ check the validity of the assumptions underpinning their chosen methods;

■ interpret the results and write appropriate conclusions in technical and non-technical language;

■ explain clearly the implications and limitations of the analysis;

■ defend their analyses and conclusions in a mini-viva;

■ present the work of the project in the form of a written report in a well-structured, precise and clear manner.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.