MSc Statistics

Mathematics

Discover a diverse range of statistical tools, applications and methods.

Overview

Statistical ideas, tools and methods are used in almost all employment sectors, including banking and finance, government, medical research, the pharmaceutical industry and internet companies.

This one-year, full-time programme provides outstanding training in both theoretical and applied statistics. The variety of elective modules to choose from, allows you to develop your specialist interests, providing depth and exposure to a diverse range of statistical applications and methods.

Streams

We offer six streams on our MSc in Statistics programme:

  • MSc Statistics (General)
  • MSc Statistics (Applied Statistics)
  • MSc Statistics (Biostatistics)
  • MSc Statistics (Data Science)
  • MSc Statistics (Statistical Finance)
  • MSc Statistics (Theory and Methods)

The formal qualification received will include the name of the specialist stream and therefore can be used to indicate to employers or future research supervisors what they have specialised in during their MSc. For example: MSc Statistics (Applied Statistics).

A limited number of places exist for each specialist stream. If you are unsuccessful in applying for one of these, you will automatically be considered for the general stream.

Study programme

A common set of core modules in the autumn term ensures that all students obtain advanced knowledge in the fundamental areas of probability theory, statistical inference and applied and computational statistics.

A large and diverse set of elective modules is offered in the spring term, which provides the flexibility for you to develop your own specialist interests.

During the summer term, you complete a research project with a member of academic staff on a state-of-the-art research problem that suits your interests.

The assessment for your degree is made up of two-thirds core and optional modules, and one-third research project.

Professional accreditation

Our MSc in Statistics is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society.

Graduates from accredited degrees can apply to the Royal Statistical Society for the professional award of Graduate Statistician. Graduates from non-accredited courses may also apply for this status and will be considered on an individual basis.

Our accreditation agreement with the Royal Statistics Society is until the 2022-23 academic year.The Department expects to be accredited into the future.

Careers

This course equips students with a range of transferable skills, including programming, problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific writing, project work and presentation. Many graduates go on to undertake roles in employment and research sectors.

Structure

This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.

Page last reviewed on 22 October 2021.

Structure

Teaching and assessment

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.

Entry requirements

Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, physics or computer science.

We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.

The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.

For guidance see our Country Index  though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.

If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact therelevant admissions team.

All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.

For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.

Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.

View the Department of Mathematics's competence standards [pdf]

We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.

Department of Mathematics

E: mathsmsc@imperial.ac.uk

How to apply

How to apply

You may be asked for a short interview (in person or via Skype) as part of the application process. These will normally be reserved for applicants who have been out of education for a significant period of time or those who do not come from a background in Mathematics or Statistics.

When you apply, you will be able to choose your stream of choice.

If you are applying for the general stream of this course, we are only able to consider your application if you choose this as your first course choice.

If you are applying for one of the specialisation streams, please select the stream as your first course choice and we will automatically consider you for the general stream if your chosen specialisation is full.

Apply online

All applicants mustapply online.

Visit our Admissions website fordetails on the application process.

You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.

Application fee

If you are applying for a taught Master's course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.

The fee applies per application and not per course:

  • £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
  • £135 for MBA applications

There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.

If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.

Find out more about the application fee and waiver

An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.

Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, Visas and more.

Visit the FAQs

Tuition fees

2022 entry

£17,500

Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.

Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.

Fee status

Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.

Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.

Find out more about how we assess your fee status.

EU/EEA/Swiss students

The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.

EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).

UKCISA has also provided some information in response to Questions for students starting their course from the 1 August 2021.

2022 entry

£30,000

Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.

Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.

Fee status

Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.

Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.

Find out more about how we assess your fee status.

EU/EEA/Swiss students

The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.

EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).

UKCISA has also provided some information in response to Questions for students starting their course from the 1 August 2021.

If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.

For 2021-22 entry, the maximum amount is £11,570. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.

Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.

You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.

A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.

Further information

Studying at Imperial