Statistics and Data Science (Master’s)

Start-up meeting: The start-up meeting in spring 2025 will be on Monday 10th of january, 10:15 -12:00 at Science building, 4th floor at seminarroom "Deltat" (4A9f).

Attendance is mandatory. At the meeting, important information about the master's program will be given. If compelling reasons make it impossible for you to attend the meeting, please email: studie@math.uib.no.

Checklist: Follow the steps in our checklist to make sure you’re on track: uib.no/en/checklist.

This programme provides a thorough knowledge of methods and techniques in statistics and data science. Through the programme, the candidate will be trained as a professional statistician who is able to draw data-based conclusions and describe uncertainty. 

You can choose from among the following specialisations: 

• Data Analysis 
• Financial Theory and Insurance Mathematics (Actuarial science) 
• Mathematical Statistics 

Analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data and an understanding of what is behind the numbers are key aspects of the programme. Since statistical methods are based on mathematics, the programme will also provide a good knowledge of mathematical methods.

If you choose the Financial Theory and Insurance Mathematics specialisation, you will gain actuarial qualifications.

The Department of Mathematics is in the Science Building on the University’s city centre campus. Our social environment is friendly and informal, with students and staff from around the world. We have an active student association (Matematisk Fagutvalg), which has its own social room and organizes social happenings.

As a master’s student, you will get your own desk in a reading room together with the other Master’s students. You will work closely with an academic supervisor whose expertise is in the field of your thesis topic. By agreement with your supervisor, you will choose a thesis topic and draw up a progress plan containing important milestones for your project. During the two years of the programme, you will take courses and write a thesis. Some of the courses are mandatory within the specialisations, while the other courses are chosen by agreement with your academic supervisor. 

This master’s programme trains candidates who are highly sought-after in industry, research, insurance, healthcare and management.  

Our graduates work within the fields of:  

• AI 
• Oil-related business  
• Management 
• Finance and insurance  
• Analysing risk management  
• Education 
• Energy-related business 
• Medical statistics 

and many more businesses, where you need analytical skills, computational skills and/or to be able to process large amounts of data.  

Students with citizenship from countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must pay tuition fees. Some applicants may be exempted from this rule.

In order to apply for the Master’s Programme in Statistics, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics or the like. You must hold a minimum of 60 ECTS in relevant courses such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Theoretical Statistics andStatistical Methods, and at least one of the courses Stochastic Processes and Statistical Inference Theory.

Your last Mathematics/Statistics course should not be older than 10 years. It is important to document the content and learning outcomes of the central mathematics subjects, either with attached course descriptions or with links to websites where course descriptions can be found.

This programme is only open for applicants residing in Norway and for Nordic citizens.

Teaching language: Norwegian and English

The programme consists of a course component worth 60 ECTS and a master’s thesis worth 60 ECTS. You can alternatively choose a 30-ECTS thesis, which will then increase the course component to 90 ECTS.  

Mandatory courses:  

Data Analysis: Theory of Statistical Inference (STAT210, 10 ECTS), Stochastic Processes (STAT220, 10 ECTS), Statistical Learning (STAT260, 10 ECTS), and at least one of the following: STAT200, STAT201, STAT202, STAT211, STAT221, STAT230, STAT231, STAT240 or STAT250 

Financial Theory and Insurance Mathematics: Theory of Statistical Inference (STAT210, 10 ECTS), Stochastic Processes (STAT220, 10 ECTS), Life Insurance Mathematics (STAT230, 10 ECTS), Non-Life Insurance Mathematics (STAT231, 10 ECTS), Theory of Finance (STAT240, 10 ECTS), Statistical Learning (STAT260, 10 ECTS), and at least one of the following: STAT200, STAT201, STAT202, STAT211, STAT221 or STAT250 

Mathematical Statistics: Theory of Statistical Inference (STAT210, 10 ECTS), Stochastic Processes (STAT220, 10 ECTS), Probability Theory (STAT221, 10 ECTS), Real Analysis (MAT211, 10 ECTS), Statistical Learning (STAT260, 10 ECTS), and at least one of the following: STAT200,  STAT201,  STAT202, STAT211, STAT230, STAT231, STAT240 or STAT250 

Other courses are chosen in agreement with your academic supervisor. Courses must be at the 200- or 300-level. By agreement with your advisor, you may take up to 10 ECTS at 100-level.  

The master’s programme includes a combination of lectures, exercises and seminars. For specific requirements, visit the individual course websites. 

You can spend your first or second semester as an exchange student at one of our partner universities.

The study programme provides a formal basis for further doctoral studies within the field.

Study plan for Master's Programme in Statistics and data science