University
University of Otago
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Statistics
This course is available
On-Campus
Level of Study
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma
Duration
1 year
Next start date
Expected Feb 2024
Campus
University of Otago
Summary
The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) is a one-year programme which builds on an undergraduate science degree. The diploma encompasses both papers and a research topic, and can be taken full-time. It provides possible to the Master of Science (MSc) degree by thesis only.
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.
Entry criteria
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following condition
- have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in the subject or subjects of study proposed
- have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the diploma
- have a qualification acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and produce evidence satisfactory to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of ability to proceed to the diploma.
English language requirement
- IELTS Academic - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0). IELTS Online is also accepted.
- Internet-based TOEFL - Score of 90 with a minimum writing score of 21
- Paper-based TOEFL - score of 587 (TWE 4.5)
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) & Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Minimum of 176
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.
- LanguageCert - International ESOL: C1 Expert (LRWS) with a high pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill OR C2 Mastery (LRWS) with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill
- NZCEL - NZCEL 5 Academic endorsement
- University of Otago Language Centre ‘English for Otago’, English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes (EPAP) - Grade C or higher
- University of Auckland English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes - Successful completion of the English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) with a B Grade
- University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) - Successful completion of the certificate with a B Grade
- English NZ's Accredited Pathway Assessment - English NZ’s Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2).
Studying in NZ
Disclaimer