Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Study Details: 1 year
Our MSc Statistics course will teach you the theories behind a variety of statistical techniques and how to apply them in scenarios that professional statisticians face every day.
Statistical skills open all kinds of doors, and through our MSc Statistics course you’ll develop the knowledge and experience needed for roles spanning finance and consultancy, healthcare, data science, public administration and research.
Whether you want to advance your understanding of the topics you found most interesting during your undergraduate studies or gain the skills needed to achieve your goals, you’ll develop a detailed working knowledge of important statistical techniques and concepts.
You’ll explore topics including linear and generalised linear modelling, Bayesian statistics, time series and machine learning. You’ll learn how to collect data and design experiments, and the role of statistics in clinical trials. You’ll also develop the ability to analyse and draw meaningful conclusions from data, and grow your programming skills using the statistical computing software R.
You’ll spend around a third of your time working on your dissertation, under the supervision of an active researcher who is an expert in their field. This may focus on investigating a data set, or a more theoretical or methodological topic. You’ll blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills, mastering project planning, data acquisition, problem specification and analysis skills. You’ll also learn how to present statistical information, and gain experience communicating your findings verbally and in writing.
Examples of recent dissertation topics include:
Dissertation topics are often provided by external clients, such as pharmaceutical companies or sports modelling organisations. Distance learning students also often come with projects designed by their employer.
This course is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject with relevant modules.
We look for applications that demonstrate background within mathematics (particularly calculus and linear algebra), probability (and/or stochastic processes) and statistics (eg Linear modelling, multivariate methods, machine learning, time series etc). Typically we require a selection of modules from each of the three areas to cover each year of undergraduate study and at least 50% of the degree to be in a mathematical subject.
Applications with employment history in statistical or data science fields are also welcomed, including for distance learning courses. In such cases we consider the balance of both relevant parts of the employment history and academic qualifications.
Employers hire our graduates because of their ability to analyse problems and reach solutions in a clear, precise and logical way. Our courses are designed to give you the skills that will help you succeed in a range of careers, spanning areas such as:
Strong mathematical skills open all kinds of doors, whether you want a job that involves doing lots of complex calculations, or one where you help businesses, charities and policymakers to find the best solutions to real-world problems.
Our graduates have been hired by a variety of employers, such as BAE Systems, Barclays, Dell, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, IBM, Lloyds, PwC, Unilever, the Civil Service and the NHS.
You’ll cover advanced topics and gain extensive research training, which is also great preparation if you’d like to pursue a career in research. Sheffield mathematics graduates have secured PhDs at many of the world's top 100 universities.
Core modules:
The Statistician's Toolkit
Bayesian Statistics and Computational Methods
Machine Learning
Sampling Theory and Design of Experiments
Time Series
Medical Statistics
Dissertation
Optional modules:
With the approval of the MSc Course Director and School up to 30 credits of modules can be replaced with up to two modules from this group.
Machine Learning and Adaptive Intelligence
Data Modelling and Machine Intelligence
Optimisation: Theory, algorithms and applications
Economic Evaluation
Epidemiology
Qualitative Research Design and Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Critical Appraisal Techniques
A QS world top-100 university Studying at the University of Sheffield means you’ll get the future that follows a degree from a Russell Group Universit...
Wed 29 Apr 2026