Statistics and Data Science Leiden University

Overview

The two-year master's programme Statistics and Data Science provides you with a thorough introduction to the general philosophy and methodology of statistical modelling, data analysis and data science, with a focus on applications in the life and behavioral sciences!

The master aims to educate multidisciplinary researchers and professionals that can combine theory and application. The programme consists of a core set of courses shared by all students and elective courses which allow students to specialize in a certain application area or research domain such as Medical Statistics, Data Science, Psychometrics and Sociometrics and Official Statistics (the EMOS specialization).

You will gain knowledge of statistics and data science methods as used in the life and behavioral sciences, and obtain practical skills such as programming, consultation, and written and oral communication of research results.

This programme is a joint collaboration between three faculties of Leiden University: The Faculty of Science (FWN), the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science (FSW), and the Biometris institute of Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

Together these institutes have expertise in a wide area of statistics and data science.

What you will learn

The goal of the programme is to provide the students with a broad training in applied statistics and data science and their role in science and society. The graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and understanding critically, independently, and structurally to model and evaluate complex phenomena arising in a variety of situations. They will be well equipped to pursue a career in science, in industry or in the public sector. Qualification to become a PhD candidate is a definite possibility.

Students will gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of statistical models and techniques, which will allow them to develop new statistical and data science methods with application to a broad range of research fields.

Students learn practical skills such as programming, statistical consultation, and written and oral presentation of analysis and research results.

Career prospects

Students graduated in Statistics and Data Science are in high demand: almost all students find jobs within six months after graduation, but a large group is immediately employed! About half of the students find jobs at companies and research institutes outside university, and the other half start a PhD project.

There is a large demand for applied statisticians and data scientists at both the master's and the PhD level. Job opportunities can be found in, but are not limited to, biomedical research institutes, health care, TNO Institutes, agricultural research institutes and companies, bio-technology companies, pharmaceutical industry, educational testing service (ETS, CITO), the national institute of public health and the environment (RIVM), social survey institutes such as Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP), the National Forensic Institute (NFI), marketing companies, banking, food industry and other industries.

Examples of jobs

• Applied Statistician
• Data Scientist

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.