Medical Statistics

*This subject is available as area of PhD study within other subjects in the Faculty of Science. Please consult our postgraduate advisers for availability.

Medical Statistics, or Biostatistics, is the study of human health and disease, with applications ranging from biomedical laboratory research, to clinical medicine, to health promotion, to national and global systems of health care. Medical statisticians design and analyse studies to identify the real causes of health issues – as distinct from chance variation.

The Medical Statistics specialisation is designed for those wanting a statistics qualification that is more clearly targeted at careers in the medical area.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (BSc(Hons)) - Medical Statistics specialisation

Prerequisite: A major in Statistics, at least 90 points at Stage III, and STATS 210 or equivalent

Requirement:

• 75 points: STATS 770, 773, 781, POPLHLTH 708
• 15 points from STATS 779, 782, or equivalent
• 30 points from 600 or 700 level courses in Statistics or related subjects, as approved by the Head of Department

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) - Medical Statistics specialisation

Prerequisite: A major in Statistics, or equivalent as approved by the Head of Department

Requirement:

• 45 points: POPLHLTH 708, STATS 770, 773
• 15 points from STATS 779, 782 or equivalent
• at least 30 points from STATS 701-787, BIOINF 704, POPLHLTH 702, 707-709, 711
• up to 30 points from 700 level courses in Statistics or related subjects, as approved by the Head of Department

Master of Science (MSc) - Medical Statistics specialisation

Prerequisite: A BSc(Hons) or PGDipSci in Statistics or Medical Statistics and STATS 210

Requirement: Taught Masters

• 30 points: STATS 790 Masters Dissertation 1
• 45 points: STATS 732, 761, 780
• at least 15 points from BIOINF 704, POPLHLTH 702, 707–709, 711, STATS 701–787
• up to 30 points from 700 level courses in Statistics or related subjects, as approved by the Head of Department

Medical Statisticians typically work in collaboration with Scientists and Physicians. They may work in academic institutions, in hospitals, in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, or in the government organisations that fund and provide health care.

The key tasks a Medical Statistician is likely to undertake, include:

• Meeting with medical researchers to identify and understand their needs
• Selecting an appropriate study design to address the medical questions being researched
• Selecting and applying appropriate statistical techniques for analysing medical data
• Analysing and managing statistical data using a range of software packages
• Interpreting results
• Writing up the results and presenting them to the medical community
• Keeping up-to-date with new developments in medical statistics

The career opportunities that open up reflect the level of research being undertaken. At the higher levels, the career steps are similar to those in academia, in other words a graduate will start off as a Research Fellow, then move to the position of Senior Research Fellow, then to Associate Professor. Opportunities also exist to move into consulting roles.

For further information, please refer to the Statistics Handbook

or contact:

Patricia Metcalf
Course Coordinator
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 87715
Email: p.metcalf@auckland.ac.nz

Alternatively, staff in the Department of Statistics, located on Level 2 of Building 303 (38 Princes Street), can help you with general enquiries. Their opening hours are 8.30am - 5pm.

Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86893
Email: gradofficer@stat.auckland.ac.nz
Web: www.stat.auckland.ac.nz

• How to apply