Programme Specification: MSc Statistics and MSc Statistics (Research)
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Awarding Body
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body,
e.g. ESRC; BPS etc
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Name of final award
Programme Title
Duration of the course
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Based in the Department/Institute:
Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements (See Subject Benchmark
Statements)
UCAS Code
First written/last amended
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The programme aims to:
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LSE
 Royal Statistical Society accreditation leads to graduate
statistician status.
 MSc Statistics (Research) is an approved programme of the
ESRC DTA 1+3 (UK/EU only).
MSc
Statistics and Statistics (Research)
 MSc Statistics - full-time, 9 months; part-time, 21 months
 MSc Statistics (Research) - full-time, 12 months; part-time,
24 months
Statistics
Mathematics, statistics and operational research (Mmath)
(2009)
G4U5
30 November 2010 / 12 November 2012
Provide students with intensive training in statistics, particularly those areas applicable to the social
sciences;
Prepare students for research in statistics or careers as professional statisticians;
Enable students to analyse and critically interpret data, build statistical models of real situations and use
of a variety of statistical software packages, with particular emphasis on the 'R' software package.
Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Knowledge and understanding:
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Knowledge and understanding of advanced topics in statistics;
Advanced, critical understanding of the main theories and methods within the students’ chosen statistical
specialisms;
Appreciation of current areas of research in chosen specialisms;
The ability to work independently, in planning and presenting of succinct, logical arguments and precise
statistical analysis;
An advanced understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a range of quantitative techniques for
empirical research.
Skills and attributes:
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IT for general and academic purposes;
Research-report writing;
Oral presentation of research;
Competence in quantitative techniques to an appropriate level;
The ability to analyse and interpret data, particularly those arising in the social sciences and economics.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
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Teaching based on lectures, seminars and computer classes;
Students taught by internationally-recognised research-active expert statisticians;
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Active learning: compulsory regular coursework on all modules, group and individual projects on some
modules;
Coursework based not only on statistical methodology and theory, but also on real data analysis in the ‘R’
software suite.
Assessment strategies:
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Compulsory coursework;
Assessment on most modules based on a standard exam only; on some, partly based on project work.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc Statistics and MSc Statistics (Research) programme regulations.
Additional information
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Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, which has included a
substantial amount of statistics and mathematics. Well-qualified applicants who do not meet this requirement will
be considered on merit.
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Indicators of quality
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Buoyant demand by well qualified applicants for the programme and high qualifications required for
admission.
The high fees paid by students taking the programme.
Consistently good examination results and favourable remarks by External Examiners.
Student questionnaires and feedback via student liaison committees.
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
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Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and learning
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Termly student-staff meetings to discuss current teaching and learning experience in each individual
course and react promptly to any identified problem;
Continual development of syllabi to ensure that the courses are always based on, and efficiently reflect,
current research in their areas of study;
The Teaching and Learning Centre is available to monitor and observe teaching and offers constructive
advice on how to improve the standard of teaching and quality;
Departmental TLAC review once every five years;
The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee oversees all graduate programmes and ensures that significant
changes to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages, so that curricular
changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.
Also see the School’s internal quality assurance mechanisms.
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