Master of Science

in Statistics
Majors:
Biometrics Social, Behavioural and Educational Statistics
Business Statistics Industrial Statistics General
Statistical Methodology All Round Statistics

Faculty of Science

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INTERFACULTY PROGRAMME

Discover KU Leuven
Situated in the heart of Western
Europe, KU Leuven has been a
centre of learning for nearly six
centuries. Today, it is Belgiums
largest university. Founded in
1425, it is one of the oldest and
most renowned universities
in Europe.
As a leading European research
university and co-founder of the
League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of
programmes in English, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.
The university caters to more than 40,000 students, of which 16% are international
students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuvens doctoral schools organise
internationally oriented PhD programmes for over 4,000 doctoral students.
The university is located in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Leuven is
a modern, bustling and safe student city with a long and rich history. Cultural and
recreational opportunities abound. KU Leuvens central location offers a truly international experience. Major European capitals such as Brussels, Paris, London and
Amsterdam are only a (very) short train journey away.

Leuven Statistics
Research Centre (LStat)
Leuven Statistics Research Centre (LStat) grew
in 2007 out of the University Centre for Statistics
(UCS), itself created in 1988. It is an interfaculty
institute that coordinates KU Leuvens research
groups concerned with statistics. Today, about
25 such groups (across 11 different faculties)
are included in LStats activities, which mainly
involve teaching, research and consulting within
and outside the university.
For additional information, please visit LStats
homepage: lstat.kuleuven.be

Admission requirements
All candidates must have successfully completed an academic Bachelors degree
with at least two courses in statistics.
As courses are taught in English, proven proficiency in English is required for non-native
English speakers. The easiest way for international applicants to demonstrate proficiency
in the English language is by means of the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL). The TOEFL is administered in more than 90 testing centres throughout the
world. For information about TOEFL tests, services, policies or procedures, please
consult: www.ets.org/toefl
Applicants may also choose to take the International English Language Testing
System (IELTS) exam. For more information about IELTS testing consult the website:
www.ielts.org
For more information on degree and language requirements and detailed instructions
on how to apply, see: lstat.kuleuven.be/masterBologna/howtoapply
Deadline for application
The deadline for applying is 1 March. However, EEA (European Economic Area)
students with the required background and language fluency may register until the end
of September. Admission is granted by the Steering Committee on an individual basis.

Career prospects
As a statistician, you can pursue a career in academic research, industry, banks or in
government institutions. Depending on your area of specialisation, you will, for instance,
design and implement clinical trials in the biomedical sector, co-ordinate research into
new medicines, develop and analyse psychological tests and surveys, perform riskanalyses in the financial sector, manage R&D projects and quality assurance or develop
statistical software. The applications of statistics are very diverse, as are your professional
options.

Programme
The Master of Science in Statistics programme consists of 120 ECTS points. Generally
speaking, the programme takes two years to complete, but this may be substantially
reduced depending on your prior knowledge and qualifications.
This Masters programme is organised in collaboration with the Master of Statistics at
Hasselt University. Subject to approval by the Steering Committee, students may select
a number of electives from courses offered in Hasselt.

Basic Courses (30 ECTS):

Fundamental Concepts of Statistics
Generalized Linear Models
Multivariate Analysis

BIOMETRICS
32
Statistical Consulting
Survival/Reliability
Experimental Design
Clinical Trials
Epidemiology
Bayesian Data Analysis
Meta Analysis
Multilevel, Longitudinal &
Mixed Models

SOCIAL, BEHAVIOURAL
AND EDUCATIONAL
STATISTICS
32

Survey Methodology
Structural Equations
Experimental Design
Applied Distribution Free statistics
Sampling Theory
Bayesian Data Analysis
Meta Analysis
Multilevel, Longitudinal
& Mixed Models
Multilevel Analysis

BUSINESS STATISTICS 32
Datamining & Neural
Networks
Financial Mathematics
Advanced Econometrics
Advanced Time Series
Analysis
Total Quality Management
Survey Methodology
Sampling Theory
Structural Equations
Survival/Reliability

Choose 30 ECTS from

Statistical Modelling, Survival Data Analysis, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Bayesian Data
Statistical Inference, Advanced Non-parametric statistics , Robust Statistics, Statistics
a list of optional courses which can be consulted at www.kuleuven.be/ma/emastat

Masters Thesis (24 ECTS) + Ethics Course (4 ECTS)

For detailed descriptions of this programmes courses and for the

course timetable, please consult www.kuleuven.be/ma/emastat

 Linear Models: Regression Analysis and Analysis of Variance

Statistical Software

INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS 32
Datamining & Neural
Networks
Stochastic Models
Total Quality Management
Statistical Consulting
Survival/Reliability
Experimental Design
Chemometrics
Bayesian Data Analysis

GENERAL STATISTICAL
METHODOLOGY
32
Datamining & Neural
Networks
Advanced Time Series
Analysis
Survival/Reliability
Experimental Design
Sampling Theory
Bayesian Data Analysis
Meta Analysis
Multilevel, Longitudinal
& Mixed Models

Analysis II, Optimization and Numerical Methods,

of Extremes, Capita Selecta in Statistics and from

ALL ROUND STATISTICS 62

From main courses of
other options

A one-year fast track!

For example, for someone with a quantitative master or PhD degree, who also received
already a solid initial training in statistics, it is possible to compose a tailor-made one-year
programme, based on well-motivated exemptions for initial and foundational courses.
Such a fast track can be followed in any one of the majors of the Master of Statistics.
Evidently, the precise content of such a one-year programme is built on an individual
basis and LStat faculty and staff shall be glad to provide additional information and assistance.

Quantitative analysis for the social sciences (QASS)

Quantitative Analysis for the Social Sciences is a dedicated track within the Social,
Behavioral and Educational Statistics major. Whereas the full Master of Science in Statistics
programme is a 2 year programme, the QASS track is a one year ( 60 ECTS) programme.
COMPULSORY COURSES (26 ECTS):

From Problem to Analysis

Sampling Theory
Survey Methodology
Multilevel Analysis
Loglinear Analysis, Latent Class
and Logistic Regression

ELECTIVES (12 ECTS)

Uni- and Multidimensional Scaling
Structural Equations
Network Analysis
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
and Fuzzy Set Analysis
Event History Analysis
Mixed Models

MASTER'S THESIS (22 ECTS)

The global admission requirements for the QASS track are:
Successful completion of an academic Masters degree with at least two courses
in statistics.
As courses are taught in English, proven proficiency in English is required for
non-native English speakers.
The admission committee ultimately decides on eligibility for this reduced-length track.
The usual on-line application procedure should be used: www.kuleuven.be/application/
Please add a motovation letter in which you state clearly that you would like to take the
one year QASS track.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Oude Markt 13 box 5005
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
tel. + 32 16 32 40 10 fax + 32 16 32 40 14
onderwijscommunicatie@kuleuven.be
www.kuleuven.be

Learn more
www.kuleuven.be/ma/emastat
General information
International programmes: www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes
International Office: www.kuleuven.be/english

This brochure provides the most complete information available concerning this Masters programme offered
at KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time.
Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information provided in this brochure. The most
recent information on all our academic programmes can be consulted at www.kuleuven.be/coursecatalogue
Last updated: February 2013
Copyright: D/2012/1082/120

v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13 bus 5005, 3000 Leuven

Faculty of Science
Administrative Office
tel. + 32 16 32 14 01
info@wet.kuleuven.be