Postgraduate study at Oxford Statistics offers the chance to work across a broad range of research, from statistical theory and methodology, probability and machine learning to applications in areas including genetics, epidemiology, computational biology, finance and the social sciences.
Much of the department's research is interdisciplinary, bringing statistical approaches to questions in other fields and drawing new research questions from them in turn. Postgraduate students are part of the wider academic life of the department, with seminars, lectures and reading groups alongside opportunities to work and collaborate with researchers across Oxford.
Postgraduate courses in the Department of Statistics
The courses shown below are offered at postgraduate-level:
- Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment) (full time and part time)
A doctoral course designed to equip a new generation of students with advanced skills to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues with AI.
- MSc in Mathematical Sciences (full time)
Designed to give students with a keen interest in the mathematical sciences the chance to study a selection of diverse areas including algebra, number theory, combinatorics, applied maths and statistics
- MSc in Statistical Science (full time)
A taught graduate course offering advanced training in applied statistics, statistical inference, machine learning, and computational methods, with a final dissertation based on independent research.
- PGDip in Statistical Science (full time)
A taught graduate course offering advanced training in applied statistics, statistical inference, machine learning, and computational methods, without a dissertation.
- DPhil in Statistics (full time)
A research-based course focused on advanced topics such as probability, statistical methodology, machine learning, protein informatics, statistical genetics, epidemiology and data science, culminating in a thesis that contributes original research to the field.
- MSc by Research in Statistics (full time)
A research-based course focused on a specific project, with a thesis contributing to areas like computational statistics and machine learning, statistical theory and methodology, econometrics and population statistics, probability, protein informatics, statistical genetics and epidemiology, and computational biology and bioinformatics.
- Statistics and Machine Learning (EPSRC CDT) (full time and part time)
The Statistics and Machine Learning (StatML) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) aims to train the next generation of researchers and help solve real-world problems in government, medicine, industry and science.
Find out more information on how to apply and funding for postgraduate courses at Oxford.
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Tom Rainforth has been awarded the title of Professor of Statistics and, as of 1 September 2026, is also a Fellow of Jesus College.
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New evidence suggests vast hidden magma systems inside Mars
Researchers from the Departments of Earth Science and Statistics have found evidence that Mars once hosted enormous, Earth-like magmatic systems deep below its surface – even though the planet lacks the plate tectonics long considered essential for this kind of geological complexity. The findings open up new possibilities for how rocky planets become habitable.