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Statistics BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Statistics allows you to specialise in the branch of mathematics that focuses on collecting, analysing and presenting large quantities of numerical data. There are many practical applications for statistics, including fields such as science and medicine, government, business and education.

Overview

Statistics students will acquire the analytical techniques, clear logical thinking and deductive reasoning necessary to explore some of these fascinating areas of research.

Entry Requirements

Standard and Minimum Entry Requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

• SQA Highers
  • Standard entry grades: AAAAB, including A in Mathematics.
  • Minimum entry grades: AABB, including A in Mathematics.
• GCE A-Levels
  • Standard entry grades: AAA, including A* in Mathematics.
  • Minimum entry grades: AAB, including A in Mathematics.
• IB points
  • Standard entry grades: 38 (HL 6,6,6), including HL6 in Mathematics.
  • Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Mathematics.

General Entry Requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

• SQA qualifications
  • SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing science
    • Geography
    • Applications of Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.
• GCSE qualifications
  • GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing Science
    • Geography
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.

Other Qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Yes, applicants are expected to have studied Mathematics at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, or equivalent. Typical successful applicants will have studiedMathematics atSQA Advanced Higher, Further Mathematics atGCE A-level , or equivalent.

Alternative Study Options

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:

• MA
  • Statistics is studied up to Honours level in both the Faculty of Science (BSc) and the Faculty of Arts (MA). Students who have a background in the sciences or who wish to study Statistics alongside science subjects at St Andrews should apply for the BSc. For those interested in studying Statistics alongside Arts subjects, the MA in Statistics may be of interest instead. The BSc and MA degree programmes are mathematically identical.
• Direct entry to second year
  • Well-qualified school leavers are able to apply for direct entry to second year of this course. There is also the option to switch to direct entry on arrival at St Andrews.
• Integrated Masters
  • Students interested in this course may also be interested in the Statistics Integrated Masters course, which allows you to graduate with a Master in Mathematics.
  • Students on this programme may apply to change to the MMath degree if they have met the relevant entry Honours requirements.
• Study abroad
  • Mathematics students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.

International Applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course Details

The BSc (Hons) in Statistics is a four-year course run by the School of Mathematics and Statistics.

Teaching

• Teaching format
  • In first year, teaching for each module centres on a daily lecture (around 100 to 300 students). Each fortnight, you will have one small group tutorial (8 to 12 students) and one examples class (25 to 60 students) where students undertake exercises and discuss each week’s topics.
  • In second year, each module typically comprises five lectures (around 100 to 300 students), one tutorial (8 to 12 students), and one examples class (25 to 60 students) per fortnight. Half of the modules also feature computer lab sessions (25 to 60 students).
• Assessment
  • Progress is monitored through tutorial assignments, and almost all of the sub-honours modules are assessed by a balanced combination of coursework and written exams. At Honours level, modules may be assessed by written examination alone or a combination of written examination and coursework.
• Support
  • The School aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Modules

• First year
  • Students will take between one and three first-year modules in mathematics. There is one core compulsory module, 'Mathematics', that can be studied in either semester.
  • Mathematics: introduces the ideas and techniques required for further study of mathematics or applications to other sciences.
  • Students who do not possess at least a B at Advanced Higher or A-Level Mathematics will need to take 'Introductory Mathematics' in their first semester before taking the compulsory 'Mathematics' module. This option is popular for students on different degree routes who wish to study Mathematics.
  • Introductory Mathematics: designed for students who do not meet the entry requirements for the first-year 'Mathematics' module. Provides a secure base in elementary calculus.
• Second year
  • Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
    • Combinatorics and Probability: introduces counting techniques for finite structures and the behaviour of random variables.
    • Linear Mathematics: introduces the theory of vector spaces, linear independence, linear transformations and diagonalisation.
    • Statistical Inference: introduces techniques for drawing inferences about population characteristics from observed data.
  • In addition, students must take at least one of the following second-year modules:
    • Abstract Algebra: explores the key concepts of modern abstract algebra: groups, rings and fields.
    • Analysis: introduces key concepts of real analysis: limit, continuity and differentiation.
    • Multivariate Calculus: extends the techniques of calculus in a single variable to the setting of real functions of several variables.
• Honours
  • If you decide to take Statistics in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options. Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:
    • Bayesian Inference
    • Classical Statistical Inference
    • Computing in Statistics
    • Markov Chains and Processes
    • Sampling Theory

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Joint Honours Degrees

You can also take Statistics as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

• UCAS code CG13: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Statistics
• UCAS code GG34: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science and Statistics
• UCAS code GL31: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Statistics
• UCAS code FG83: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Geography and Statistics
• UCAS code GVH6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Philosophy and Statistics
• UCAS code CG23: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology and Statistics
• UCAS code GLH1: Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Statistics
• UCAS code GV35: Master of Arts (Honours) Philosophy and Statistics
• UCAS code CG24: Master of Arts (Honours) Psychology and Statistics

Careers

Demand for mathematically trained graduates vastly outstrips the supply, and hence career prospects are excellent in a variety of fields.

Recruiters seek numerate graduates who are literate, think logically, write and present well, and can work with relevant technology – St Andrews degrees develop all of these skills.

A mathematics degree is recognised as a substantial achievement in a demanding discipline.

Around 30% of St Andrews graduates continue on to postgraduate study, either in mathematics or related disciplines such as computer science, finance, or physics.

The majority of the remaining graduates gain employment in areas such as:

• technology firms or computer consultancies
• financial services organisations (for example, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and PwC)
• industry
• insurance companies
• merchant banks
• the civil service
• teaching

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.