The degree also offers students an opportunity to go on to do a PhD in mathematical statistics on completion.
Past students graduating from the MSc in Mathematical Statistics Programme have been highly successful in professional practice and a number have progressed to PhD studies in a number of statistics topics like Biostatistics, Reliability, Survival modelling, Statistical modelling, etc.
Why study Mathematical Statistics?
An MSc Mathematical Statistics should:
- Prepare you for doing a PhD in Mathematical Statistics, Applied statistics, Statistical modelling, etc.
- Help you build expertise in analytical approaches and the classical and underpinning theory of mathematical statistics
- Offer options to focus on applied mathematical statistics if that is your interest and intended career path
- Provide experience in conducting and communicating statistical investigations and the use of statistical software
- Prepare you in conducting independent research
Why is this a good programme to do?
This programme teaches you how to handle data, model data, discover patterns in data and make good decisions based on available data. It also gives you the theoretical and applied underpinnings of modern and classical statistical methods
Why study Mathematical Statistics at Wits?
Wits is one of the top universities in South Africa. It has produced some of the best world-renowned academics. Some of the former lecturers in the school of Statistics and Actuarial science are:
- John Edmund Kerrich, first head of the Statistics department. Famous for experiments in probability performed while interned (in Denmark) during the Second World War. He was one of the 12 founders of South African Statistical Association.
- Herbert Sichel developed the Sichel-testimator for the lognormal distribution's t-statistic. He also made great leaps in the area of the generalized inverse Gaussian distribution which became known as the Sichel distribution.
- Danie Gerhardus Krige was a South African statistician and mining engineer who pioneered the field of geostatistics. The technique of kriging is named after him. Krige's empirical work to evaluate mineral resources was formalised in the 1960s by French engineer Georges Matheron.
- Gordon V. Kass, developed the Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) a a decision tree technique, based on adjusted significance testing (Bonferroni testing).
- Frank Beichelt a professor in the School whose research focuses on probability theory and mathematical statistics. He is the author books on stochastic modelling in reliability, maintenance, and safety analysis etc..
- Paul Fatti - Emeritus Professor - University of the Witwatersrand, a former head of school and respected statistician.
What does Wits have to offer?
Wits offers a variety of statistics courses which gives the student a good foundation to excel in a wide range of areas. The statistics staff are versatile, passionate and progressive in their teaching, supervision and research. The environment and culture is supportive and empowering, giving students the confidence to push their boundaries.