We live in an information age. Computers allow us to collect and store information in quantities that previously would never have been dreamt of. However, data is useless until people can start to make sense of it. If you’re interested in looking critically at numerical information without being misled, then Statistics could be the ideal major for you.

Statistics is the human side of the computer revolution – statisticians take raw undigested data, often in very large sets, and make sense of it to solve problems and provide valid information in almost every area of life. As a Statistics student you’ll study how to ask the right questions, how to design ways to collect and analyse data, and how to present information in meaningful ways.

You can take courses in the following topics:
- Applied statistics
- Data analysis
- Operations research
- Probability
- Statistical computing
- Statistical theory

You can also choose to keep your Statistics major general, or you can follow either the Applied Statistics pathway or the Statistics and Probability pathway, in order to focus your studies further:
- Applied Statistics: For students who are primarily interested in the practice of statistics.
- Statistics and Probability: For students who are interested in both the applications of statistics and the theory underlying the practice of statistics and probability, including stochastic modelling. If you’re intending to progress to postgraduate study you should take this pathway.

You can study Statistics as a postgraduate specialisation in either Faculty of Science or Faculty of Arts programmes.
Statistics applies to almost any field, ranging from scientific research to business management and media analysis. From designing an experiment to evaluate a new medical treatment to analysing data gathered by an ecologist, the diversity of applications is immense.
There are different options to consider when choosing your postgraduate qualification in Statistics. While the taught masters is a programme with a professional focus and essential to work as a professional statistician, the research masters is an advanced programme to develop your research skills with the intention to progress to doctoral study in Statistics.

Areas of research interests open to exploration include:
- Analysis of survey data
- Astrostatistics
- Bayesian statistics
- Biostatistics and novel regression methodologies
- Case control sampling and extension
- Experimental design and quality improvement
- Forensic statistics
- Human genomics and bioinformatics
- Linear and non-linear statistical modelling
- Medical statistics
- Sample survey theory
- Statistical computing
- Statistical computing and the “R” statistical programming language
- Statistical ecology and bioinformatics
- Statistical genetics
- Statistics education
- Operations research and stochastic processes
- Non-parametric statistics

The Department of Statistics is the birthplace of the R Project. Founded in 1996 by Associate Professors Robert Gentleman and Ross Ihaka, R is a free programming language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is taught around the world and is used by Ivy League universities, Google, Uber, and many more.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (BSc(Hons)) in Statistics
a) completed the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science from this University including at least 90 points above Stage II or the equivalent as approved by Senate or its representative
and
b) met the prerequisites listed in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Schedule and attained a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher in 45 points above Stage II in the relevant prerequisite or equivalent.