Course description

This postgraduate degree will give you all the expertise you need to become a practising medical statistician. You will cover all relevant theory but with an emphasis on understanding, applying and adapting it to real-life circumstances. Your analysis skills will be developed on real medical data sets, using statistical software such as Stata, R, SAS and WinBUGS.

An important factor in the success of a practising statistician is the ability to communicate with others. To develop these skills, you will work on two mini-projects and will be introduced to consultancy skills throughout the course. The mini-projects involve analysing data arising from real problems and data sets and presenting a report on the findings.

Your choice of option module allows you to specialise in one particular area:

• If you choose to study the 'Genetic Epidemiology' option module, your degree will be an MSc in Medical Statistics with specialisation in Genetic Epidemiology
• If you choose to study the 'Health Technology Assessment' option module, your degree will be an MSc in Medical Statistics with specialisation in Health Technology Assessment
• If you choose to study the 'Further Topics in Medical Statistics' option module, your degree will be an MSc in Medical Statistics

Entry requirements

"Studying the MSc in Medical Statistics at University of Leicester has been a transformative experience. The comprehensive course structure lays a solid statistical foundation and has built on my exposure to real-life applications in the field. I have not only developed essential skills for a statistician, but have also been exposed to opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. The warm and accommodating environment, combined with supportive, dedicated and passionate staff, makes it an exceptional place to study. The small, tight-knit community feels like a family."
Amber (UK), student 2023/24

“The MSc in Medical Statistics at the University of Leicester has been a game-changer in my life. It has equipped me with advanced analytical skills and a new perspective on approaching medical data. The rigorous curriculum and supportive faculty have provided me with opportunities I never thought possible, including gaining PhD admission while still on the course. This programme is ideal for anyone looking to excel in the field of medical statistics.”
John (Ghana), student 2023/24 

"The MSc Medical Statistics course at the University of Leicester gave me the invaluable foundation needed to pursue the career I love as a Biostatistician. The thing I enjoyed most about the course was the variety of topics taught and examination styles to accompany each topic, enabling me to develop my written, presenting and coding skills. I am also extremely grateful for the lecturers, who are world-leading experts in the field of medical statistics, and made me feel supported and valued throughout. As well as being given the fundamental knowledge and tools to become a statistician and statistical programmer, the course equipped me to become a sound researcher and networker. I have taken these essential qualities with me to exceed in my job and embark on a part-time PhD in the field of prognosis research, the topic on which I wrote my MSc dissertation."
Laura

"As an MSc student in Leicester, you truly become inaugurated as part of a community that installs a deep connection that you carry with you throughout your career. The summer module options are a great way to really focus your interests, and for me, this was in Survival Analysis. The modules are all taught by experts in their respective fields, and their passion for the subject matter really shines through. Pre-MSc, I’d never have thought I’d have the capacity to undertake a PhD. However, as a testament to the quality of teaching, training and guidance on offer, I was equipped with the skills and confidence to go on to successfully graduate with a PhD in the development of flexible parametric models for competing risks and tools to facilitate in the understanding and communication of cancer survival. Following my PhD, along with my training on the MSc and through the support and advice of senior academic staff, I went on to secure an exciting position in pharma as a Study Statistician."
Sarwar