Why study Statistics?
Statistics is a discipline concerned with understanding patterns and relationships in data in the presence of variation and uncertainty.
How do we discover the “truth” or signal hidden in the noise?
- You can use statistics to solve real-world problems.
- You work with researchers from many disciplines.
- Statisticians are key contributors to decision-making in business and government.
- Statistics will help you understand your chosen area of study. If you specialise in chemistry, psychology, health sciences, or economics and finance you will need to collect and interpret data.
- Statisticians are in short supply. You will improve your employment opportunities.
Career opportunities
Anywhere data are collected, analysed or interpreted, you find people with statistical training. Because the world is becoming more and more data-focused, the demand for graduates has outstripped supply.
Statisticians use computational skills, statistical knowledge, quantitative abilities and communications skills to help make decisions in the face of uncertainty.
Examples include evaluating the environmental effects of air, water, and soil pollutants, and designing and analysing studies to determine whether new drugs and medical procedures are safe and effective.
By working in statistics, you can combine your interest with almost any other field in science, technology, or business.
In New Zealand, statisticians are employed in Crown Research Institutes, Government Departments such as Inland Revenue, ACC, and DOC, and companies such as Fonterra, Meridian Energy, and Spark.
