Study Statistics at Otago

Why study Statistics?

Statistics is a discipline concerned with understanding patterns and relationships in data in the presence of variation and uncertainty.

How do we discover the “truth” or signal hidden in the noise?

• You can use statistics to solve real world problems.
• You work with researchers from many disciplines.
• Statisticians are key contributors to decision-making in business and government.
• You examine problems and work with researchers from many disciplines.
• Statistics will help you understand your chosen area of study. If you specialise in chemistry, psychology, health sciences, or economics and finance you will need to collect and interpret data.
• Statisticians are in short supply. You will improve your employment opportunities.

Statistics at Otago

The Department offers several pathways for studying statistics. Many students take a single paper in statistics, others include statistics in their degree as either a major or minor subject. We encourage all students majoring in statistics to also take papers in another field of interest to them, be it arts, science or commerce. Having knowledge of an area of application is extremely useful, and data are virtually everywhere!

In the statistics programme you learn:

• how to design research studies and collect reliable data;
• how to build thoughtful statistical models which allow us to understand the key features in a complex system;
• how to use the statistical models to answer research questions;
• how to produce informative and engaging graphical representations of data;
• the mathematical underpinnings of statistics;
• the computation skills necessary to do all these things; and
• skills in communicating statistical concepts and analyses to a range of audiences.

Career opportunities

Anywhere data are collected, analysed or interpreted, you find people with statistical training. Because the world is becoming more and more data-focused, the demand for graduates has outstripped supply. Statisticians use computational skills, statistical knowledge, quantitative abilities and communications skills to help make decisions in the face of uncertainty.

Examples include evaluating the environmental effects of air, water, and soil pollutants, and designing and analysing studies to determine whether new drugs and medical procedures are safe and effective. By working in statistics, you can combine your interest with almost any other field in science, technology, or business. In New Zealand, statisticians are employed in Crown Research Institutes, Government Departments such as Inland Revenue, ACC, and Conservation, and companies such as Fonterra, Meridian Energy, and Spark.

Background required

Almost any school background will allow entry to a statistics programme. Because you will need to study at least one first-year mathematics paper, senior high school NCEA Mathematics to Level 3 standard is highly recommended.

Statistics major

In order to complete a Statistics major within three years of university study, you need to complete a statistics paper (for example, STAT 110 Statistical Methods) in your first year.

Then, there are two paths to a statistics degree:

• Applied Statistics has minimal mathematics requirements (MATH 160 Mathematics 1 or COMO 101 Computational Mathematics) and may be particularly attractive if you wish to supplement statistics with a joint major in another subject area. At second and third year, you will select courses from a menu of applied statistics papers.
• Statistics includes papers on statistical theory and has additional mathematics requirements. This second path allows the possibility of further study in statistics at the Honours or postgraduate level.

Honours

A student with a BSc or BA in Statistics can extend their knowledge by studying for this extra one-year degree consisting mostly of 400-level papers and a research project. An Honours degree is the standard qualification for entrance to a PhD programme, both in New Zealand and overseas.

Combined degrees

Combined degrees are a popular choice for both undergraduate and Honours programmes. Statistics can be combined as a double degree with Commerce subjects such as Finance or Marketing Management. Another option is to take Statistics as a double major within either the Arts or Sciences programmes – you could usefully combine Statistics with social sciences such as Sociology or Politics (this would be a BA double major or a major/minor combo) or you could combine it with life sciences such as Genetics, Zoology or Plant Biotechnology (as a BSc double major or major/minor).

The breadth of possibilities gives you an indication of just how flexible and versatile Statistics really is.

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
• Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
• Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
• Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (PGDipApStat)
• Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Key information for students

• Domestic students
• International students

Contact us

Email maths@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/maths

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2020 Calendar and supplementary material.