Course details

Summary

Learn how to make sense of the information that surrounds us with Massey’s Bachelor of Science (Statistics). We live in an information-rich age. Vast quantities of data are collected on almost every conceivable subject. We use statistical methods to make sense of this raw data, turning it into knowledge.

Science of evidence

Statistics is the science of evidence. It allows us to quantify risk and make effective decisions even when we are uncertain about the world around us. Is this new treatment effective against breast cancer? What adverts should my website display in order to increase my revenue? How can I better interpret that weak distress signal coming from a vessel far out at sea?

Sought-after skills

The Bachelor of Science (Statistics) from Massey will give you these sorts of skills - skills that are sought-after by employers from many different industries. If you enjoy working with numbers, you will love studying statistics. It is a broad area of study, that involves much more than the organisation and display of data. Careful analysis of underlying questions and critical examination of the sources of data are part of the art of statistics. Modelling the variability in data to calculate the reliability of answers is part of its science.

Theory and practical relevance

As a Massey statistics student you will learn the key theories of statistics, and the quantitative skills to conduct robust statistical analyses that are effective in the real world. You have the option of completing a double major or minor in a wide range of subjects, from volcanology and earth sciences, to infectious diseases and population ecology.

Topics
Some of the topics taught in statistics courses include:

Probability models; Data analysis; Statistical models; Statistical inference;
Biostatistics; Experiments and surveys; Multivariate models; Statistical methods of quality improvement; Data mining; Simulation; Forecasting and time series.

Complementary skills that set you apart

If you are studying other science subjects or looking at studying business, studying statistics as a complementary subject is a great idea. The extra quantitative skills that you get from the statistics qualification can set you apart from other graduates when applying for jobs.

Careers

Statistics is set to become an increasingly important discipline over the next 20 years. With a major in statistics you can expect to be highly sought after in the workplace and will rarely have trouble finding a job. Recent graduates have found employment in a remarkably wide variety of areas including:

• Scientific research
• Health services
• Environmental management
• Commerce (particularly finance and marketing)
• Social sciences
• Quality improvement
• Industry
• Teaching

Employers include government agencies like Statistics New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes, schools, hospitals and medical research institutes - and private companies both large and small. Opportunities for statisticians exist worldwide, with a number of our students taking up overseas positions in places like Hong Kong and the USA shortly after graduation.

Careers for statisticians can be advertised under a wide variety of titles, such as:

• Biostatisticians
• Business systems analyst
• Data analyst
• Health informatics analyst
• Market researcher
• Modeller
• Quality assurance specialist
• Risk analyst/consultant
• Statistician
• Survey sampling analyst
• Test analyst

Entry criteria

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

It is strongly recommended (but not compulsory) that students beginning their study of statistics have a sound background in mathematics at NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent).. If students choose to enrol in the first year mathematics course 160.101 Calculus, they must have obtained 16 credits in NCEA Level 3 Calculus (Mathematics with Calculus) or 24 credits in NCEA Level 3 Mathematics or have completed 160.103 Introductory Mathematics or 160.131 Maths for Business I.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170