Program Overview

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Data is everywhere, and our BSc Statistics course combines a well-rounded mathematical core with specialist modules in statistics and data analysis, giving you a solid foundation for practical problem-solving in all sorts of areas. Topics on this course include:

• Pure and applied mathematics, including calculus, algebra and differential equations
• Theory and practical techniques for modelling, visualising and analysing statistical data
• Computational methods, including coding in Python, SQL, Matlab and the R statistical programming language

This mix of mathematical and statistical skills strikes a balance between fundamental theory and practical applications, giving you the potential to apply your knowledge in areas as diverse as finance, economics, government, medicine, biology, marketing and social media. All our degrees feature an employability component in every year, explicitly training sought-after skills and incorporating careers day events and seminars from speakers in industry.

Professional accreditation

This programme will meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation, awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, when it is followed by subsequent training and experience in employment to obtain equivalent competences to those specified by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for taught masters degrees. Why we're great.

• 85% of our Department of Mathematical Sciences graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023).
• We are continually broadening the array of expertise in our department, giving you a wide range of options and letting you tailor your degree to your interests.
• We coordinate mathematics and statistics support for universities within the Eastern region of the UK.

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Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

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Placement year

Alternatively, you can spend your third year with an external organisation, learning about a particular sector, company or job role, applying your academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receiving inspiration for future career pathways. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and the placements team. If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.

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Our expert staff

As well as being world-class academics, our staff are award-winning teachers. Many of our academics have won national or regional awards for lecturing, and many of them are qualified and accredited teachers – something which is very rare at a university. Our department is committed to providing you with the academic support you need to succeed. Our flexible policy means some staff are always available, whilst others maintain regular drop-in times. Staff are always happy to arrange appointments for longer discussions, and no issue is too big or too small. Our innovative research groups are working on a broad range of collaborative areas tackling real-world issues. Here are a few examples:

• Our data scientists carefully consider how not to lie, and how not to get lied to with data. Interpreting data correctly is especially important because much of our data science research is applied directly or indirectly to social policies, including health, care and education.
• We do practical research with financial data (for example, assessing the risk of collapse of the UK’s banking system) as well as theoretical research in financial instruments such as insurance policies or asset portfolios.
• We also research how physical processes develop in time and space. Applications of this range from modelling epilepsy to modelling electronic cables.
• Our optimisation experts work out how to do the same job with less resource, or how to do more with the same resource.
• Our pure maths group are currently working on two new funded projects entitled ‘Machine learning for recognising tangled 3D objects’ and ‘Searching for gems in the landscape of cyclically presented groups’.
• We also do research into mathematical education and use exciting technologies such as electroencephalography or eye tracking to measure exactly what a learner is feeling. Our research aims to encourage the implementation of ‘the four Cs’ of modern education, which are critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

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Specialist facilities

• We have a Maths Support Centre , which offers help to students on a range of mathematical problems. Throughout term-time, we can chat through mathematical problems either on a one-to-one or small group basis
• We have a dedicated social and study space for maths students in the department, which is situated in the STEM Centre
• We host regular events and seminars throughout the year
• Our students run a lively Mathematics Society, an active and social group where you can explore your interest in your subject with other students

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Your future

Clear thinkers are required in every profession, so the successful statistician has an extensive choice of potential careers. Statistics graduates are highly employable in a wide range of places, working in business, pharmaceutical industries, banking and computing among others. The Royal Statistical Society offers further information on careers in statistics. Our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

• KPMG
• British Arab Commercial Bank
• Johal and Company

We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. “After graduating I spent couple of weeks travelling around Europe and then started work at KPMG Malaysia where I’m part of the consulting team, specifically working on IT transformation. My role involves assessing an organisation’s IT landscape to identify the gaps and recommend best practices for improvement. Thanks to Essex I gained skills in data visualisation and data analytics using R which help me better understand data management and transformation that contribute to my work.” Intan Zurainie Ismail, BSc Statistics, 2017