Statistics BSc at Nottingham

[shurka]

DD has an offer for this course and was really keen to go to Nottingham, but was put off by the offer-holders event because it was tailored to the Maths BSc, with mention of the Statistics BSc suspiciously lacking. When she asked a few questions it seems Statistics as single honours is a very new course, only running a few years with just a handful of undergrads doing it. The maths admissions tutor who was running the event described it as "a bit niche", although many of the modules are shared with the maths BSc students. Is anyone familiar with the department or course?

Sorry that you haven't received any responses.

Is she able to connect with anyone else applying through TSR?

I teach at the university, but a different school to Maths. My thoughts are - yes, statistics is a bit niche, whichever uni is chosen. I would have thought most students study a maths degree and then take a specialist masters course afterwards. But your DD must have considered this already; does she have a specific career in mind?

Having said that, Nottingham is a great place to study and live and the maths department is well though of, so getting a degree here will be beneficial (if she felt the rest of the uni experience at Nottingham is right).

I’d guess that the person she spoke to on the open day didn’t teach on the statistics course, so might be worth looking on the website and getting in touch with someone relevant to the course if there are specific questions.

Just wondering if she could look through the course structure of the statistics degree compared with the statistics course - ideally with someone who has studied university level maths. It doesn't look very different to me (if the person on the maths course chose more statistics related options in later years),

Isn’t the title of the course suggesting is vocational as opposed to maths that’s considered a broader launchpad? Will statistics close down some opportunities for grad work? Not because of her ability but because employers think it’s niche? I know someone with a Statistics Masters. Had a very high powered job. His employer paid.

Frankly, I don't understand the 'niche' comment. As it says in the course intro: "Statistics plays an essential role in data analytics, healthcare modelling and artificial intelligence. On this accredited degree, you will learn the fundamentals of statistics and data analysis. You'll study advanced techniques in probability and uncertainty modelling. You'll also explore core areas of applied statistics."

At other unis, dd applied for either "Maths and Statistics" or "Statistics and Economics" or (at Warwick) "Maths, Operational Research Statistics and Economics" but, at Nottingham, the Statistics course seemed to be the closest equivalent.

It's possible that the "niche" remark was just a throwaway comment from a pure maths specialist who has little interest in statistics, or it could mean something more specific. Either way, it seems to be a very new course, with few applicants.

Worth adding that those others she's applying to are all well established, oversubscribed courses as far as we can tell.

New course that’s undersubscribed might tell you something . Of course statistics is widely used and the course is marketed, from what you quote, as vocational. That’s the difference between it and other courses. However a maths grad can do all the jobs mentioned. And they do. Plus possibly lots more not listed.