3 global leaders of statistics preparing students for global graduate success

In a world with a data boom of seemingly all sorts, advanced statistical skills give you the tools to dig into them. From sociologists to Fortune 500 companies, everyone’s looking for experts who can turn the quintillions of bytes of data we create every day into a goldmine. With the sophisticated and precise techniques we have today, you can be one of the world’s most in-demand professionals unearthing hidden patterns, making sound predictions, and ultimately, solving complex problems across diverse fields.

For instance, an Indian graduate with a strong foundation in advanced statistics could use time series analysis to forecast agricultural yields, mitigating food shortages in a country heavily reliant on agriculture. Similarly, in Qatar, where the sports industry is booming, advanced statistics can be employed by analysts to assess player performance and identify areas for improvement, maximising a team’s competitive edge.

By mastering probability, inference, linear modelling, and other traditional and modern statistical theories and methods, you’ll gain the ability to seize new and exciting opportunities in industry, healthcare, government, commerce or research. If this is something that aligns with your goals, then consider these three leading universities that are offering vigorous graduate programmes in statistics:

Taking place in New York City, Columbia University’s MA in Statistics programme prepares graduate students for careers or further study in statistics and related quantitative fields. Source: Columbia University

Columbia University

Transforming complex data into impactful insights is one of, if not the most coveted skill across industries today. Columbia University’s Master of Arts in Statistics programme equips you with precisely that crucial know-how, right from the heart of New York City. From machine learning and data science to finance, engineering, and biomedicine, the programme cultivates robust technical skills that gear you up for today’s data-driven employment landscape. 

Such readiness for industry or academia is thanks to two facts. The MA is one of the longest-running of its kind and offered by one of the nation’s oldest Statistics departments. It’s with this rich legacy, paired with diverse courses and mentored research opportunities, that the MA ensures its continued relevance and competitiveness in the ever-evolving world of statistics. What further sets it apart is how the MA matches every student with a faculty advisor. They provide access to career coaching and unparalleled opportunities for networking and practical experiences, the kind that are exclusive to NYC alone.

The MA starts with three core courses in probability, inference, and linear regression models and six electives, half of which are often taken from another department, before ending with a capstone course. Whilst you can tailor the MA to your interests and career aspirations, the curriculum naturally supports four primary learning paths: statistical machine learning/data science, traditional statistical modelling, financial modelling and mathematics of finance, and preparation for PhD studies in statistics or related fields. 

Whichever path you choose, you’ll learn from distinguished faculty members. They are dedicated mentors and exceptional educators, many of whom are esteemed leaders in their respective disciplines. These are the people behind seminal advancements such as the development of likelihood ratio tests by Wald and Wolfowitz in the 1940s, pioneering work on decision theory by Raiffa and Robbins in the 1950s, and ongoing research in probability theory, mathematical finance, Bayesian statistics, and machine learning, with applications across epidemiology, bioinformatics, neurobiology, astronomy, and more. Apply to the MA in Statistics today. 

The MSc in Statistical Science at the University of Oxford balances teaching advanced fundamental concepts in statistics and preparing students for diverse careers. Source: University of Oxford/Facebook

University of Oxford

If you’re looking for wide-ranging high-level training in applied and computational statistics, statistical machine learning, and the fundamental principles of statistical inference, the Master of Science in Statistical Science from the University of Oxford is for you. The University’s Department of Statistics provides a vibrant academic environment for students to thrive in. It is a world leader in research in areas such as computational statistics and machine learning, statistical methodology, probability, bioinformatics, statistical genetics and statistical epidemiology.

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), an impressive 78% of the submissions were judged to be 4*—the highest score available for research quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour.

The Department is situated centrally in the historic city of Oxford, with its dreaming spires, ancient colleges, and open parks set around the river Thames. 63% of students are from outside the UK, and the Department’s modern facilities provide a welcoming place to meet and learn together.

In the Statistics master’s programme, students learn from world-leading experts in statistical science and machine learning, including its applications. The degree combines rigorous theoretical learning with hands-on practical experience, providing a strong basis for various data-driven careers.

This twelve-month full-time degree will equip you to choose the most appropriate statistical method to solve a given data analysis problem, implement the analysis on a computer, and communicate your results clearly and succinctly. What’s more, the programme carefully balances the teaching of advanced fundamental concepts in Statistics with setting you up for a wide variety of careers at the intersection of cutting-edge disciplines.

ETH Zurich’s statistics programme builds an excellent foundation for future careers in various sectors including universities, research institutes, pharmaceuticals, insurance, finance, marketing, and more. Source: ETH Zürich/Facebook

ETH Zürich

ETH Zürich ranks well in global league tables. The latest QS World University Rankings ranks it seventh among the world’s top universities, and the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 ranks it 11th. A university primarily devoted to the sciences, it has produced 22 Nobel laureates among its alumni, including Albert Einstein himself.

Under the Natural Sciences and Mathematics department, the institution has a Master of Science in Statistics that applies the core theoretical developments of statistical modelling, applied statistics and mathematical statistics to practical scenarios. Subject-related and free electives are interwoven into this, creating room to specialise and deepen your knowledge in specific areas. A real consulting case culminates at the end of their programme, allowing students to apply their learning to a real-world context.

The Master of Science in Statistics requires 90 credit points, broken up into 60 credits from core courses, elective courses from both statistics or mathematics and free electives, and 30 credits from the thesis. This usually takes three or four semesters to complete. 

Students conclude their programme with a master’s thesis, which allows them to demonstrate the ability to work independently while keeping to a structure. For this, students will use what they have learnt, from analysing and interpreting data to planning effective data collection. Their work can be applied (data analysis) and theoretical (method development). 

 *Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International