Statistics

Arguably the most important science, since all other sciences are dependent upon it, statistics enables us to learn from data. It is statistics that provides the reasoning that informs decision making in business, policy making and so many other areas of life.

Our BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics can help you gain recognition from the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)

BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics
Other statistics related qualifications can be found in our online prospectus

Meet some of our Academics

Dr Heather Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in statistics, talks about her research in medical statistics, particularly epidemiology or population health. She reveals how statistical methods can be used by epidemiologists and public health authorities to assess the safety of vaccines and prescription drugs.

Teaching underpinned by research

The Open University doesn’t just teach: it’s a global leader in research and innovation too, with OU research and development ranking in the top third of UK universities. The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics has a long and distinguished record of conducting high quality, internationally leading research. These researchers contribute to our state of the art curriculum material ensuring our teaching is up to date, informed by scientific research.

You can get a flavour of our published research in Mathematics and Statistics through our Open Research Online (ORO) website

Meet some of our Students

This could be life changing for you, as it was for me.
Neil McIvor
Who is currently Deputy Director, Statistical Services Division and Deputy Head of Profession for Statistics at the Department for Work and Pensions. He holds an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from The Open University Read more

The effort that I put in to studying at the OU in my mid-30s in order to become a qualified mathematician meant that as I turned 40 my career really accelerated, and I now have the opportunity to make a contribution to the railway industry at an international level.
David Worsley
Who is the Risk & Value Manager for Network Rail's London North Eastern Route, and is also a Visiting Lecturer at the Centre for Railway Research at Newcastle University. He has a Diploma in Statistics, Certificate in Mathematics, and a Certificate in Quantitative Studies for Business from the Open University. Read more