Statistics

Course description

This nine-month part-time distance learning course covers the relevant first-year undergraduate mathematics, and the relevant first and second-year probability and statistical theory. It runs from late September until early June. Exams are online, so you won't need to visit Sheffield.

There are three modules and you'll either be given directed reading from standard textbooks or a fully comprehensive set of course notes, depending on the module, as well as examples and exercises to work through. Tailored course material will also be made available online including additional notes and video lectures.

Our lecturers will give you feedback and comments on your work and each module has an online forum for discussions. You'll need to dedicate around 20 hours a week to your studies.

Progression

An average final mark of approximately 65 per cent on the Graduate Certificate, with at least 60 per cent in each of the three modules, will usually allow you to progress onto the MSc Statistics or MSc Statistics with Medical Applications, provided you meet the University's English language requirements.

Modules

Duration

Nine months, part-time – you'll need to dedicate around 20 hours a week to your studies

Assessment

Around 20 per cent of your assessment will be based on coursework, with the rest based on your final exams.

Your career

This course is designed to prepare you for a masters degree in statistics here at the University of Sheffield.

Employers that have hired graduates from our School of Mathematics and Statistics include Amazon, Barclays, Dell, Goldman Sachs, IBM, PwC, Sky, the NHS and the Civil Service.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:2 undergraduate honours degree in a quantitative subject (e.g. biochemistry, biomedical science, computer science, economics, medicine, engineering) and at least grade B in A Level mathematics, or equivalent.

Preparing for the course - reading material

Below are three of the core texts for A Level mathematics. Next to each one are chapters covering material you should be familiar with before you start the Graduate Certificate. If you are unfamiliar with any of these topics you should work on this material before you start the course. The titles are from the AS and A Level Modular Mathematics series of the Edexcel exam board:

• Core 1 (ISBN 978-0-435519-10-0) – 1: Algebra and functions; 2: Quadratic functions; 3.1-3.3 Equations and inequalities
• Core 2 (ISBN 978-0-435519-11-7) – 8: Graphs of trigonometric functions
• Core 3 (ISBN 978-0-435519-09-4) – 3: The exponential and log functions

If you want to read some material before you start we recommend you look at some of these sections, which will be covered in the first half of your course:

• Core1 (ISBN 978-0-435519-10-0) – 3.4 & 3.5: Equations and inequalities; 6: Sequences and series; 7: Differentiation; 8: Integration
• Core2 (ISBN 978-0-435519-11-7) – 5: The binomial expansion; 7: Geometric sequences and series; 9: Differentiation; 11: Integration
• Core3 (ISBN 978-0-435519-09-4) – 2: Functions; 8: Differentiation
• Core4 (ISBN 978-0-435519-07-0) – 5: Vectors; 6: Integration
• Statistics1 (ISBN 978-0-435519-12-4) – All
• Statistics1 (ISBN 978-0-435519-13-1) – All

Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.