Studies & Degrees in Statistics
Statistics Study Programs
Statistics is the science of learning from data. Statisticians design methods for gathering data, build mathematical models to analyse and interpret them, and use software to explore and visualise the results. The Department of Statistics of the University of Chicago describes the modern discipline as developing principles and methods for modelling uncertainty, designing experiments and surveys, and analysing and interpreting data, with mathematics at its heart.
A statistics degree therefore combines three things: mathematics (calculus, linear algebra and probability), statistical methods (inference, regression, sampling, experimental design, time series) and computing. The first year of the Grado en Estadística at the Universidad de Sevilla, for example, consists of linear algebra, calculus, probability, descriptive statistics, computer science and mathematical programming. Many students add courses in a field where the methods are applied, such as computer science, the life sciences or the physical sciences.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees in the United States. The University of Washington offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in Statistics and three tracks: mathematical statistics, applied statistics and data science. Duke University has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Statistical Science. The University of Chicago lists a BA, a BS, a joint BA/MS and a minor. Not every university has a statistics major: at Stanford University, students who want a concentration in probability and statistics are directed to the Data Science major, and the department offers two minors.
- Spain. Statistics is an official bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Estadística of the Universidad de Sevilla lasts four years, is taught in Spanish on campus and includes a final degree project of 12 credits.
- Latin America. At the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Guayaquil, the Estadística programme lasts 8 semesters, is taught on campus and leads to the title of Ingeniero Estadístico. In Lima, the Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos trains specialists in mathematics, statistics, operations research and scientific computing.
- Master's degrees and doctorates. The master's is the usual professional qualification. The University of Chicago presents its master's in Statistics as a foundation for careers that use data in finance, marketing, technology and the sciences, and as preparation for doctoral study. The University of Washington has a full-time master's and a PhD aimed at research careers. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- Certificates. Purdue University offers a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics for students who hold a bachelor's degree in another field.
- United Kingdom. The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) accredits undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in which statistics and data are a central component. An accredited degree supports progression to its Graduate Statistician (GradStat) status.
Where to study statistics
SpainExchange lists 137 active schools for statistics. The United States has 57, Spain 20 and the United Kingdom 16, followed by Canada (5), Australia (4), and Brazil, Ghana and India (3 each). Examples in the United States are Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Purdue University, the University of Washington, Duke University, Yale University and the University of Michigan. The list also includes London Metropolitan University, UNSW Sydney, the University of Madras, ESPOL in Ecuador, the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Peru and, in Spain, the Universidad de Cádiz.
Programmes are normally taught in the language of the country. When comparing them, look at the balance between mathematical theory and applied work, the software and programming taught, the options in data science or biostatistics, and whether a placement or final project with real data is included.
Careers
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mathematicians and statisticians work in any field that benefits from data analysis, including education, government, healthcare, and research and development. Biostatisticians work in pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies and hospitals. The BLS projects overall employment of mathematicians and statisticians in the United States to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The Universidad de Sevilla groups the career profiles of its graduates in a similar way: public administration and official statistics institutes; health and the natural sciences; economics and finance, including insurance, banking and market research; and teaching and research.
Frequently asked questions
Is statistics the same as data science?
They overlap. Several statistics departments now teach both: the University of Washington has a data science track inside its statistics degree, and Duke University offers an interdepartmental major in Data Science next to its majors in Statistical Science.
Do I need a master's degree to work as a statistician?
Often, yes. The BLS states that mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree, although some positions are open to holders of a bachelor's degree.
How long does a statistics degree take in Spain?
Four years. The Grado en Estadística of the Universidad de Sevilla has 240 ECTS credits: 60 of basic training, 138 compulsory, 30 optional and 12 for the final degree project.
How much mathematics does a statistics degree include?
A great deal, especially at the start. Expect calculus, linear algebra and probability in the first year, together with programming.