UCC Postgraduate courses

Statistics

Course Fact File
CodeHDST
Duration1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time
Teaching ModeFull-time, Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
QualificationsHDip
NFQ LevelLevel 8
EU Fees €6,130
See Fees and Costs for full details.
Non-EU Fees€18,490
Closing DateNot open to applications
Non-EU Closing DateN/A
Start DateN/A

Course Outline

The Higher Diploma in Statistics course is designed for graduates whose degrees have substantial mathematical content, and who want to develop their expertise in the application of statistical methods and broaden their career opportunities. The course may also be taken as a foundation for entry into the MSc Degree in Statistics. The course may be taken over one year (full time) or two years (part-time).

There is a continuing demand by employers for numerate graduates. There are many new opportunities in commerce, government, industry, medicine and research for graduates who have added to their first degree with the training in quantitative and computing skills provided by the Higher Diploma in Statistics.

The Higher Diploma in Statistics consists of coursework divided into nine core modules. These modules are a blend of theoretical and applied statistics.

Modules (60 credits)

  • Probability and Mathematical Statistics (10 credits)
  • Statistical Theory (10 credits)
  • Introduction to Regression Analysis (5 credits)
  • Data Analysis I (5 credits)
  • Generalised Linear Models (5 credits)
  • Time Series (5 credits)
  • Survival Analysis (5 credits)
  • Current Topics in Statistics I (5 credits)
  • Statistical Consulting (10 credits)

The applied modules also equip you with advanced practical software-oriented skills in popular statistical software packages such as R, SAS and SPSS.

Students taking the part-time option take 25 credits in year 1 and the remaining 35 credits in year 2.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

Students attend an average of 12 lectures, three tutorials and three computer practicals per week over the 24-week academic year. All modules have elements of continuous assessment which you submit throughout the course.

Lectures, tutorials and computer practicals take place between 9 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday.

Assessment

Five modules (30 credits) are examined exclusively by continuous assessment. The remaining four modules (30 credits) are examined by both continuous assessment (worth 20% of the module mark) and end-of-year written examinations (worth 80% of the module mark).

The continuous assessments can be written home-work, computer practical assignments, in-class tests, written data analysis reports or computer practical examinations.

Who teaches this course

Staff of the Department of Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences provide all teaching in this course. Biographical details, teaching and research interests of staff members current teaching on the course can be found using the following links:

Why Choose This Course

This course provides you with a thorough theoretical grounding in statistics as well as a giving you practical experience of analysing real data.

Skills and Careers Information

The course offers you the opportunity for further study at master’s degree level or employment in areas such as medical research, the pharmaceutical industry, government departments/agencies, sales and marketing research,  finance and banking, the insurance industry and software development and support.

Requirements

Applicants for this programme should normally have obtained at least Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) which included a substantial component of Mathematics or mathematically-based material.

Applications will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) from:

(i) BA or BSc (General) graduates who have graduated with commendation and have Mathematics as a degree subject;
(ii) BA or BSc Graduates with Third Class Honours in an appropriate area;
(iii) Other graduates whose degree programme included a substantial component of Mathematics or mathematically-based material, and who have at least two years' experience in the application of Statistical methods.

This programme is not open to graduates who have taken honours Statistics as a degree subject.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

  • In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
  • Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Vsit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is €6,130.

The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,490.

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits 

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment 

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay? 

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

  • Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
  • Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

The closing date for non-EU applications is N/A

Apply Now

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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