Program Overview

Introduction to the CAS Advanced Statistical Data Science Program

The CAS Advanced Statistical Data Science program is a modular continuing education program designed for university graduates from all fields who wish to significantly expand their basic knowledge of statistics, gain insight into the broad field of data science from a statistical perspective, and deepen their knowledge of statistical methods according to their individual needs.

Program Overview

• The CAS in Advanced Statistical Data Science (CAS ASDS) builds on the knowledge from the CAS in Statistical Data Science (CAS SDS) and introduces advanced and specialized methods.
• Participants set their own priorities by attending suitable elective modules, and in a practical module, they apply methods from both CAS programs to their own data and questions.
• The CAS SDS and CAS ASDS together can subsequently be extended to a DAS or MAS degree.

Program Details

Certificate of Advanced Studies in Advanced Statistical Data Science

• Start: September 2025
• Duration: September 2025 - June 2026
• Scope: 16 ECTS
• Frequency: Every two years
• Flexible entry: No
• Individual modules: Can be attended
• Location: Bern
• Language: German, English
• Admission: University degree, successful completion of the CAS in Statistical Data Science, or equivalent prior knowledge. Exceptions can be approved on a case-by-case basis.
• Application deadline: May 31, 2025
• Costs: CHF 6,500
• Special prices: CHF 5,500 for employees (main employment) and enrolled students of the University of Bern
• Sponsorship: Institute of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science

General Information about the Program

• Normally, one course day takes place per week (Friday). The attendance time is divided into theory and practice hours for most modules. In the practice hours, participants apply the learned methods to example data.
• The program uses the statistical software R, which is available free of charge. Participants use R on their own laptops; the University of Bern does not provide computers.
• Most modules are completed with written performance assessments, with the exception of the elective module on the analysis of high-dimensional data, which is completed with a term paper, and the practical module, where the performance record consists of a presentation and a written report.
• Non-passed performance assessments can be repeated once. Participants should definitely keep the dates of the performance assessments free.

Modules

Mandatory Modules:

• Unsupervised learning and dimension reduction
• Linear mixed models
• Analysis of categorical data
• Compute-intensive procedures
• Bayesian statistics
• Prediction
• Practical module with questions from the participants

Elective Modules (three elective modules are required for the CAS ASDS):

• Analysis of high-dimensional data
• Time series analysis
• Analysis of event times
• Experimental design
• Advanced non-parametric methods
• Sample surveys (not offered in this implementation)
• Risk and extreme value analysis (not offered in this implementation)
  • For each implementation, five elective modules are offered in the CAS ASDS.
• In addition to the above-mentioned elective modules, the elective modules "Advanced linear and generalized linear models" and/or "Advanced classification and machine learning" from the CAS in Statistical Data Science can also be credited to the CAS ASDS, provided they have been previously completed and not already credited to another degree.

Sponsorship and Lecturers

The continuing education program in Statistical Data Science is offered by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (IMSV) of the University of Bern. The program is a further development of the former continuing education program in applied statistics at the IMSV. Since 1994, around 500 people have participated in one of these programs. The individual modules are taught by university lecturers as well as experienced practitioners.

Admission Requirements

• A university degree and elementary prior knowledge of statistics in the scope of an introductory lecture at a university are required for admission to all programs of the continuing education program.
• For the CAS in Advanced Statistical Data Science, successful completion of the CAS in Statistical Data Science or equivalent prior knowledge is also a prerequisite for admission.
• Exceptions to the admission requirements can be approved by the program management on a case-by-case basis.
• For persons without a university degree or without sufficient prior knowledge for the program, the program management can make additional requirements for admission to ensure that these individuals can successfully complete the program.

Application and Costs

• The application form is available. The application deadline is May 31, 2025.
• The costs for the CAS program with all mandatory program elements amount to CHF 6,500. For employees (main employment) and enrolled students of the University of Bern, a special price of CHF 5,500 applies.
• The number of course places is limited. The program management decides on the implementation after the application deadline.
• A withdrawal of the application before the application deadline is possible without any costs. In the event of withdrawal after the application deadline, the entire course fee must be paid.

Related Programs

CAS Statistical Data Science

• Degree: CAS
• Start: 09/2024
• Language: German
• Costs: CHF 6,500
• Participants learn the central methods and models of applied statistics, methods for visualizing data, and the basics of programming in the statistical software R.

DAS Statistical Data Science

• Degree: DAS
• Start: 09/2024
• Language: German-English
• Costs: CHF 2,000 in addition to the costs for the two CAS programs
• The DAS program includes the program of the CAS in Statistical Data Science and the CAS in Advanced Statistical Data Science, supplemented by a DAS thesis. In this thesis, participants typically work on problems from their own field of work or related to it.

MAS Statistical Data Science

• Degree: MAS
• Start: 09/2024
• Language: German-English
• Costs: CHF 6,000 in addition to the costs for the CAS/DAS programs
• In addition to the DAS program in Statistical Data Science, the MAS program includes courses from the regular master's program in statistics and data science in the amount of 18 ECTS credits, as well as an MAS thesis.