Course details

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years. As well as your supervised original research, through your doctoral programme you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal and professional skills. Doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

This course is also offered at overseas and Manukau location.

Statistics

Areas of study: As the largest statistics department in Australasia we are able to offer a wide range of postgraduate courses. The teaching staff in our department are well known for research in sample survey theory, biometrics, linear and nonlinear models, medical statistics, nonparametric statistics, applied probability, statistical ecology, bayesian inference, forensic science, stochastic operations research, time series analysis, fisheries modelling, bioinformatics, statistics education and industrial statistics.

What you will learn

Investigation - asking questions, designing ways to collect data to answer those questions, collecting data, making sense of what that data says to produce reliable answers - this is the subject matter of statisticians and a set of general life-skills. Statistics is relevant to a range of areas, including mathematics, computer science, medical research, research in biology, social research, engineering, forensic science and image reconstruction.

Career opportunities

Statistics graduates, particularly those with a good postgraduate degree, are in demand in the sciences, in business, and in the arts. Good quantitative skills are highly transferrable across a wide range of industries and countries - and support many graduates’ dreams to travel and work in other countries. Our recent graduates have found employment in industry, research institutes, medical research teams, government departments, market research companies, insurance companies, investment banks, and in universities. For many of these jobs, a postgraduate degree has been essential.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On entry to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.

Entry criteria

• Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours
• GPE 5.5
• Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.