About the course

In the MSc by Research in Statistics, you will investigate a particular project in depth and write a thesis that makes a contribution to the field. You will acquire a wide range of research and transferable skills, as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in your chosen field of research. You will become part of a vibrant community of researchers.

The Department of Statistics in the University of Oxford is a world leader in research in probability, bioinformatics, mathematical genetics and statistical methodology, including computational statistics, machine learning and data science. Oxford’s Mathematical Sciences submission came first in the UK on all criteria in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and in 2016 the department moved to a newly-refurbished building in the centre of Oxford.

Much of the department’s research is either explicitly interdisciplinary or draws its motivation from application areas, ranging from biology and physics to the social sciences. The department is also part of a number of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) which admit graduate students; StatML (Modern Statistics and Statistical Machine Learning), an EPSRC CDT in applicable modern statistical theory and methods as well as on the underpinnings of statistical machine learning in association with Imperial; Mathematics of Random Systems. Analysis, Modelling and Algorithms, an EPSRC CDT in the area of probabilistic modelling, stochastic analysis and their applications in association with Imperial and Oxford Mathematics; Systems Approaches to Biomedical Science (SABS), an EPSRC and MRC CDT focusing on quantitative and predictive research at the interface between the mathematical and physical, and the biological and medical sciences.

Assessment

Initially, you will be admitted as a Probationer Research Student in the same way as those intending to do a DPhil. Thus it may be possible to switch between the two. The same standards are applied for admission for the two degrees.

There is a formal assessment of progress on the research project at around twelve months. The MSc by Research thesis is expected to be submitted for examination during the second or third year of the programme and there will be a viva voce examination.

Graduate destinations

After the MSc by Research in Statistics, graduates often move into research and academic careers. Others work, for example, in data analytics, in tech and biotech companies and in the financial sector.