Why study Biometry at Reading?

Biometry is the application of statistics to medicine, drug development, biology, ecology, agriculture and the life sciences in general. The subject is concerned with the design of experiments and surveys, the storing and organisation of the data collected, and their analysis and interpretation. The methods used draw upon mathematics to establish a theoretical foundation, computing resources for handling data, and an understanding of scientific method for meaningful application. As such, well-trained biometricians are highly sought after, with excellent and diverse career opportunities open to them.

At Reading we teach the UK's only MSc in Biometry. Our staff are enthusiastic and experienced in teaching, research and consultancy. In keeping with our focus on the practical applications of statistics, the aim of our MSc is to train students to work in scientific research teams in the life sciences, producing graduates that meet the key needs of employers. As well as teaching the fundamental theory underlying statistics, we emphasise the practical applications, thus enhancing the transferable skills of our students.

The programme has been in existence for over 45 years, and is continually re-assessed for applicability to the needs of employers, and revised accordingly. Although fundamentally a Masters degree in statistics, the distinctive name of our programme makes it instantly recognisable to prospective employers, many of whom may well be graduates of the programme themselves.

You will need to work hard in your year here, but will be greatly rewarded, achieving a Masters degree in statistics that will benefit you whether you decide to go into biometry or a completely unrelated field.

Accreditation

The MSc in Biometry is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society. Graduates of this programme will be granted the professional status of Graduate Statistician on application to the Society, and students are entitled to free membership of the Society for the year that they are studying for the MSc.

Programme structure

The MSc programme lasts for twelve months from the end of September, starting with a one week pre-term introduction. Lecture courses take place during the Autumn and Spring terms. Written examinations are held in April/May and a dissertation on a topic in biometry is undertaken during the Summer term, and submitted at the end of the programme. The programme may be taken by part-time study over two years.

Students attend courses concerning material that is considered essential for any professional statistician regardless of application area. These are Study Design, Sampling Methods, Practical Bayesian Data Analysis, Linear Models, Generalised Linear Models, Non-linear Modelling, Multivariate Analysis and Modelling Structured Data. In addition, courses related to the application of statistics are studied. These reflect the research interests and expertise of teaching staff. Current modules are Clinical Trials, Epidemiology and Public Health, TIme-to-Event Analysis and Statistical Genetics.

A distinctive feature of the Reading MSc is the series of practical Data Analysis exercises designed to give students experience with the kind of problems that they will meet in their professional life. These exercises also enhance research and communication skills. Students are taught different statistical computer packages and make extensive use of them, particularly as an aid in Data Analysis and in the project.

The dissertation forms one third of the overall assessment for the programme, and is undertaken during the Summer term. Students choose a topic and work closely with their supervisor on a novel research project. Projects are often collaborative with other researchers, in academia or industry.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has awarded a quota of two studentships each year for this programme until 2012/13. UK students are eligible to apply for these awards. The awards cover both tuition and maintenance.

Studentships are sometimes also provided by the pharmaceutical industry or other organisations. If available, procedures for the allocation of these awards are determined by the individual companies/organisations.

Awards of funding are usually subject to attainment of a minimum degree classification. On receipt of an application to the MSc programme it is our policy to invite students to visit the University, to find out more about Applied Statistics at Reading and the programme, and to discuss funding.

International students may wish to consult the British Council Education UK website, or contact them for details of sources of funding.

Career opportunities

People trained in biometry play a central role in industry and public sector research institutes, performing such tasks as

• design and analysis of field trials of new crop varieties
• surveys of the uptake of novel farming methods
• investigating links between environmental exposures and disease
• design and analysis of clinical trials for newly developed drugs
• modelling population and quantitative genetics.

Careers talks are offered by employers anxious to attract graduates from the programme. Given the range of possible applications of statistics, students completing the MSc in Biometry have a wide choice of careers. Students usually apply for and secure a position well before the programme has been completed.

Recent graduates of the programme are now working in the following areas

• as statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry
• as researchers in medical schools and hospitals
• as statisticians in government departments
• as researchers in agricultural institutes
• as statisticians working in developing countries.

Others elect to remain in education, studying for a research degree.

Further information

The programme is designed for students with a degree in mathematics and/or statistics, or other quantitative subject with a considerable amount of statistics. Applicants with degrees in non-mathematical subjects are encouraged to study the examinations of the Royal Statistical Society before proceeding to the MSc.

If you would like to contact us about this programme, please email pgstats@reading.ac.uk.