Undergraduate
The Department of Statistics offers three undergraduate degrees: BSc Actuarial Science|, BSc Business, Mathematics and Statistics| and BSc Statistics with Finance|. The Actuarial Science degree applies mathematical skills to a range of applied subjects and helps to solve important problems for insurance, government, commerce, industry and academic researchers. Recent graduates have gone on to work in the areas of insurance (life and general), as well as banking, finance and statistics. The BMS degree is a quantitative programme with a strong business-related component. Our students receive a thorough grounding in mathematics and statistics, and can choose to specialize in a variety of fields such as economics, finance, information systems, accounting, or demography. BMS graduates are broadly employable, and recent graduates have gone on to work in the areas of insurance, banking, accounting, statistics, civil service, postgraduate studies and business consultancy. The Statistics with Finance degree provides students with in depth understanding of statistics, mathematics, finance and the interaction among the three and prepares students for further study, or for financial or banking careers, particularly in areas requiring the application of quantitative skills.
MSc
There are also two taught MSc programmes: MSc Statistics| and MSc Risk & Stochastics|. The MSc in Risk and Stochastics offers in-depth instruction in advanced mathematical risk theory and its ramifications in insurance and finance. The course builds on the successful BSc in Actuarial Science within the Department of Statistics. The programme is LSE's timely response to the strong developments in the interface of insurance and finance, which is manifest in mergers across the industries, in countless novel products, and in the strong impact of modern financial mathematics on insurance mathematics. The MSc in Statistics provides an excellent grounding for employment in the private or public sectors in Statistics, related quantitative fields or for academic research. The proof of the growing need for statistical modelling in many fields is the very strong career opportunities for our MSc graduates. Focusing on statistical methodology and its interface with economics, finance and social science, the MSc has an emphasis on the most successful statistical methods as well as cutting-edge new developments offering hands-on experience in real data analysis using the R Package.
Beginning in 2012/13, there will be a new stream for the MSc Statistics programme called MSc Statistics (Financial Statistics).|
MPhil/PhD
The Department of Statistics also offers opportunities for doctoral research(MPhil/PhD|) and a dedicated Research students section can be accessed via the left-hand menu.
Teaching environment
In support of all students studying within the Department of Statistics there is a dedicated administrative team that can be found on the 6th floor of Columbia House. Office opening times are from 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00 Monday to Friday. In addition, each programme of study is run by an academic member of staff acting as Course Tutor (BSc) or Programme Director (MSc and MPhil/PhD). Course Tutors and Programme Directors oversee all aspects of the academic management of courses offered by the department. Details of all Staff| and research students| in the Department of Statistics can be found on the Who's Who| pages. Some useful contacts include:
Head of Department: Dr Irini Moustaki
Course Tutor (BSc Actuarial Science): Dr Angelos Dassios
Course Tutor (BSc Business, Mathematics & Statistics): Dr Wicher Bergsma
Course Tutor (BSc Statistics with Finance): Dr Wicher Bergsma
Programme Director (MSc Statistics): Professor Piotr Fryzlewicz
Programme Director (MSc Risk & Stochastics): Dr Umut Cetin
Programme Director (MPhil/PhD): Dr Pauline Barrieu
Departmental Manager: Imelda Noble
Undergraduate Administrator: Tom Hewlett
MSc Administrator: Sabina Allam
Research Administrator: Ian Marshall
On joining the School, undergraduate students will be assigned a member of academic staff in the department as an academic adviser. Academic Advisors offer guidance on difficulties with the course, course options, finances and life at university. A full list of Academic Advisors for the current academic year can be accessed via the course homepage on Moodle. For MSc students this role is taken on by the Programme Director. Similarly research students are allocated first and second supervisors who are both responsible for offering academic guidance and advice, along with helping with more practical queries and concerns.
Students also have the opportunity to raise concerns about any issue they are facing through the Staff Student Liaison Committee (SSLC). This committee provides a forum within which academic staff and students can raise and discuss issues relating to: teaching within the department; the content and design of courses; departmental administration; and the facilities provided by the department and the School. There is a separate committee for each undergraduate degree programme and taught Masters, as well as one for the department's MPhil/PhD programme. Please click here for the latest SSLC guidance for chairs and members|.
For more details on all of our programmes of study please refer to the student Handbooks|. These include information on all aspects of the teaching and learning experience within the Department of Statistics, along with a wide range of information about LSE.
For current students Moodle| is LSE's online virtual learning environment and contains teaching resources for staff and students. Most courses have their own Moodle page where you can find course material, study information and much more. Department of Statistics Moodle Pages are: