I can honestly say unequivocally, that for statistics, the University of Sheffield is the place to be!
What made you want to study your course?
As a professional engineer I regularly engage with the concepts of statistics and probability, and it is also a field that I find inherently interesting. Unfortunately, my formal education in statistics was somewhat lacking, and I found that many technical introductions were not overly accessible. Moreover, the field of statistics can be somewhat difficult to navigate without a guide. I had hoped, correctly as it turns out, that a formal program in statistics would help remedy some of those issues.
What made you decide to study at the University of Sheffield?
The program was recommended by a former student who had graduated several years prior – post PhD – to upgrade their statistical skills. From their description of the program, it appeared to be exactly what I was looking for. Flexible, yet rigorous, and geared towards those with a Bayesian mindset.
What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?
As cliché as this is to say, it’s impossible to give just one answer to this question. The structure of the program for distance learners was exceptional in that assessments were coordinated across classes, with deadlines known in advance which helped facilitate time allocation. The faculty were very knowledgeable, and yet, incredibly approachable. Perhaps my favourite thing about the program was that it was rigorous, and I am a much more capable student of statistics for having gone through it.
What skills have you developed during your course?
No one can make it through Bayesian Statistics without having learned how to identify, and manipulate, kernels of the more ubiquitous probability distributions. But beyond the improved maths skills, I believe the greatest improvement of all has come by way of a better appreciation for the philosophy behind the methods.
What would you say to a student thinking about studying your course at Sheffield?
To put it succinctly: you will not regret your decision. I’ve had the fortunate privilege of studying engineering and applied mathematics at one of the best universities in Canada. With that as my comparison I can honestly say unequivocally, that for statistics, the University of Sheffield is the place to be!
What are you planning to do after your degree?
I’m not quite sure! The beautiful thing about statistics is that it has countless applications across disciplines. In the immediate, I will use my newfound skills to inform my engineering decisions, and in the long run, I hope to parlay my degree into an occupation with greater emphasis on statistics.