Statistics

The Department offers a wide selection of statistics papers. Statistics can be studied alone or in combination with other subjects to produce course structures that develop students’ skills in useful ways. Statistics students are regarded highly by potential employers for their logical analytical training.

These sections outline the requirements for completing an ordinary or Honours degree in Statistics. If you have any questions about statistics papers or course structure, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.

A major in Statistics
A minor in Statistics
A double major in Maths and Stats
Honours in Statistics
Combined or Double Honours
Diplomas available as alternatives to Honours

A Major in Statistics

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Statistics are made up of 360 points and normally can be completed in three years. The 360 points must include 180 above 100-level, of which at least 72 will be in papers above 200-level. Each 3-year degree must also satisfy what is called a Major Subject Requirement. You can fulfil such a requirement in Statistics for a BSc or BA with one of two recommended themes:

BSc or BA in Statistics with a “Statistics” theme:
100-level: STAT 110 or 115; MATH 160 and 170.
200-level: STAT 261, MATH242 or MATH251, plus 36 points from 200-level STAT (or above).
300-level: STAT 362 plus 54 points from 300-level STAT (or above).
Other papers approved by the Head of Department may be substituted for up to 36 points at either the 200-level or 300-level.

BSc or BA in Statistics with an “Applied Statistics” theme:
100-level: STAT 110 or 115; MATH 160 and MATH170.
200-level: STAT 241 plus 36 points from 200-level STAT (or above).
300-level: STAT 341 plus 54 points from 300-level STAT (or above).
Students who are not enrolled in a combined degree programme must also fulfill the requirements for an approved Minor.
Other papers approved by the Head of Department may be substituted for up to 36 points at either the 200-level or 300-level.

A Minor in Statistics

Minor in Statistics:
100-level: STAT 110 or STAT 115
200-level: 54 points of 200-level STAT (i.e. three papers)
300-level: 18 points of 300-level STAT (i.e. one paper)

A Double Major in Mathematics and Statistics

To get a double major in a BA or a BSc, one must fulfil the requirements of each major. Some students can accomplish this in 3 years, but it generally takes longer.

Double Major in Mathematics and Statistics
100-level: STAT 110 or 115; MATH 160 and MATH 170.
200-level: 54 points from 200-level MATH;
54 points from 200-level STAT, including STAT 261.
300-level: 72 points from 300-level MATH;
72 points from 300-level STAT, including STAT 362.

Honours in Statistics

There are two other first degrees you can obtain: a Bachelor of Science with Honours, BSc(Hons), and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, BA(Hons). Requirements for these are as follows:

BSc(Hons) or BA(Hons) in Statistics:
Prerequisites STAT 110 or STAT 115, MATH 160 and 170.
Second Year STAT 241, STAT 261 plus 18 further 200-level points from STAT, and 36 approved points from MATH.*
Third year STAT 362 and 54 further 300-level points from STAT.*
Fourth year 144 approved pts at the 400-level, with at least 90 pts from MATH or STAT, of which at least 54 pts are from STAT.
* STAT papers and other approved papers to a value of 270 points must be taken over the second and third years.

Admission to Honours Mathematics or Honours Statistics
To gain admission in your second year to an Honours programme in a subject with a second year entry point, you must normally complete a first year of at least 144 points, at a reasonably high standard.

You may obtain provisional entry to Honours in cases where you have not achieved all the prerequisites in your first year and/or the 48 points. Admission will be confirmed or denied after one further academic year.

If you achieve very high marks in your NCEA Level 3 and scholarship exams, you may gain provisional direct entry to Honours in various programmes including Mathematics and Statistics.

Have a look at the Honours page.

Combined or Double Honours

Combined Honours: This is a blend of papers from two subjects, and is completed in four years. Also you must take at least 144 points each year. A combined Honours in Mathematics and Statistics is possible and provides you with very marketable skills. Combining Honours in Mathematics or Statistics with many other subjects, both in arts and science, is increasingly common among our honours students because of the breadth of the degree. For some sample programmes, see the following section.

Double Honours: This is the most demanding of all courses and takes five years. Your second and third years each consist of at least 144 points of approved papers chosen from both subjects, followed by two consecutive fourth year courses.

Postgraduate diplomas

If you have an ordinary degree then you may consider taking one of our postgraduate diplomas in Statistics:

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (PGDipApStat)
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)

More details

Check these out:

Complete descriptions, details and resources for all Stat papers.

See a chart of available papers, their prerequisites and semesters.

Taking Stats in combination with other subjects.

See what other Stats students are taking. See where previous graduates have ended up and how statistics is helping them in their careers.