M.Sc. Applied Statistics


Aims of the degree programme

The M.Sc. Applied Statistics has a dual aim. On the one hand, it qualifies its graduates to work in positions with a primary focus on statistics/quantitative methods in public institutions (especially statistical institutes and central banks), in research institutes (especially those focussing on the economic and social sciences), or in private companies (e.g. in the financial sector). On the other hand, graduates are thoroughly prepared to take on Ph.D. studies and make substantial contributions to (statistical) research. The Economic and Social Statistics Department frequently recruits graduates of the M.Sc. Applied Statistics, as their competence profile is unique at least in the German-speaking countries. Graduates found very attractive Ph.D. student positions outside Trier University as well.


Competences of graduates

Students gain a deep understanding of core, application-focussed statistical methods. Additionally, they are introduced to state-of-the-art, specialised methods and techniques of their chosen specialisation track (one out of four), ideally preparing them for their pursued job profile. During their studies, students thereby assemble a very flexible toolkit, opening up diverse career paths. The core focus area of the degree programme are computer-intensive survey statistics. Specifically, students are trained in survey sampling, variance estimation, as well as Monte Carlo simulation methods, including adjoining areas. Another, interdisciplinary focus area is data science. Students get familiar with applications and problems of official statistics in the course of the specialisation European Master in Official Statistics. The last of the four specialisation options is geostatistics, which focusses on applications in the context of geoinformatics and environmental remote sensing. Throughout their studies, students will become professional users of the statistical programming language and environment R, the lingua franca of statistics. This simultaneously lays a sound foundation for other programming languages later on.


Research at the Department

Thanks to the experience of the Economic and Social Statistics Department (which offers the degree programme) in international research projects, it is part of a world-wide research network. Students therefore benefit from international perspectives on topics in lectures as well as from insights into actual, on-going statistical research.


Additional benefits

The student body of the M.Sc. Applied Statistics degree programme is very international, facilitating the early establishment of an international network. Trier University is located in the Vierländereck of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. Relevant national and international institutions are comparatively close by: examples are Eurostat in Luxembourg, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in Wiesbaden, and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt am Main. In addition, students benefit from an excellent student-lecturer ratio in the programme. The M.Sc. Applied Statistics is one of only 31 degree programmes (as of 10/02/2025) that also offer the certificate European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS).


Contact

If you have any questions regarding the M.Sc. Applied Statistics, please do not hesitate to contact its academic student advisor Dr. Florian Ertz via statistics@uni-trier.de.