Statistics

Do you like analyzing information to draw conclusions? Well, you might be facing the possibility of studying a university degree that allows you to develop in all these branches. This is Statistics and we will clear up any doubts you may have about it.

Are you clear on what exactly Statistics is?

Statistics is a branch of mathematics that is responsible for studying the scientific methods necessary to collect, organize and analyze data, so that decisions can be made on an empirical basis. This science interprets numerical data to obtain conclusions based on probabilities.

Since Ancient Times, populations such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Chinese, Jews, Greeks, Romans and the indigenous peoples of Mexico used statistics to prepare censuses of their respective populations and thus facilitate tax management, among other matters of interest.

In Spain, during the Modern Age, statistics was also used to prepare population censuses. This is how the censuses of Pecheros (1528); the Censo de los Obispos (1587); the Censo de los Millones (1591); and the Censo del conde de Aranda (1768) stood out.

According to a study prepared by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), during the Modern Age, mathematicians such as Pascal and Fermat laid the foundations of Probability Theory, used to study random phenomena (those that can have several results and in which the appearance of a particular result cannot be predicted, for example the roll of a die) which then began to be applied to demographic and economic events, since many of them behave as random phenomena.

The same study by the INE indicates that it was the German professor Gottfried Achenwall (1719 – 1772) who coined the term statistics. Achenwall thought that Statistics as a science of collecting and analyzing data was a very useful and powerful tool for the politicians and rulers of a nation.

In modern times, the work of Adolphe Quételet stands out, who uses this science with the intention of discovering the natural laws that governed certain social and demographic events such as the crime rate or marriage rate etc. of a region, according to the same work by the INE.

Nowadays, all countries have a statistics office in order to have first-hand information that allows them to have data on the unemployment rate, price indices, economic activity (gross domestic product, industrial activity), statistics on health and education, tourism, population etc.

What is the profile of a statistician like?

If you want to study the Statistics degree, you must keep in mind that it's not just about having skills for mathematics and numbers in general. It is also important to be a person with a high capacity for analysis and use of logic for problem solving.

Below we present what the ideal profile of a statistician is. Although there are many qualities one must have, we present the most important ones:

Aptitude for making decisions: In Statistics there is a lot of data you are going to encounter, some more accurate than others, so you must have the ability to make the most suitable decision about which is the most accurate of them for the study you are conducting.

Mathematical aptitudes: The use of mathematics and numbers is the most common thing in the Statistics degree, so if you are good at this subject, you should have no problem choosing this career.

Aptitudes for writing reports: Having writing skills and good writing is essential to be able to prepare the reports on the results you obtain after a statistical study.

Ability to work in a team: You must have communication skills to be able to understand the requirements of the group of people you are going to work with and thus be able to reach an accurate conclusion about what is needed.

Researcher: It's not just about sitting down to do calculations. It is also important to thoroughly investigate what the problems that arise are and to have an answer for each of them.

Frequently asked questions about the Statistics degree

What is the duration of the degree?

In general, the Statistics degree lasts 4 years in most of the universities where it is taught. However, there are exceptions and in some of them the degree lasts 5 years and up to 6 years, as is the case of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

What is the price of studying Statistics?

Depending on the university we choose to study Statistics, its price will also vary. For example, in a university like the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the price of the first year is €2.551, while in the universities of Granada, Jaén and Sevilla the first year is €757.

What cutoff grade do I need to get into Statistics?

The highest cutoff grade currently to study Statistics is at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, with 12,871. From there the numbers vary, with the lowest being the universities of Extremadura, Jaén and Salamanca with a cutoff grade of 5.

General subjects in the Statistics degree

As we always mention, subjects may vary between each university. However, in general terms, the following will be the most common if you decide to study Statistics.

• Mathematics
• Algebra
• Descriptive Statistics
• Computer Science
• Calculus
• Economics
• Programming
• Multivariable Calculus
• Survey Design
• Public Statistics
• Sampling Methods
• Statistical Software
• Linear Programming
• Probability and Inference
• Databases
• Industrial Statistics
• Medical Statistics
• Financial Optimization

Career opportunities and salary of a Statistician

On average, a statistics professional can be earning a gross annual salary of €24,720.

Salary varies depending on the city. Currently, in Spain, the place where a professional is best paid is Tarragona, where a statistician earns €32,050 per year.

Regarding the career opportunities for those who decide to study Statistics, as explained by Universidad Complutense de Madrid, they can be:

• Engineering: control processes, data mining, communication networks, experiment design, reliability, logistics, inventory management, expert systems, pattern recognition, etc.
• Economics and business: productive sectors, labor market, econometrics, economic situation analysis, market studies, marketing, financial markets, risk control and assessment, etc.
• Health: epidemiology, biostatistics, genomic statistics, bioinformatics, clinical trials, biomedical signal analysis, etc.
• Politics and society: demography, political and electoral studies, social research, international relations, integration studies, justice, etc.
• Earth and environmental sciences: monitoring of the Kyoto Protocol, climatology, seismology, genetic selection of plants and animals, crop estimation, marine sciences, etc.
• Other areas of possible application: literature, linguistics, level and quality of life, media studies, education, services, forensics, sports, public administration, etc.

How can I know if Statistics is for me?

As we have already mentioned, it's not only about having skills for mathematics and numbers in general. You must also be a person with a high capacity for analysis, with a passion for research and for seeking answers to the problems being raised.

If in addition to all of the above, you are also a person who knows how to communicate, you are organized and know how to work as part of a team, then Statistics is one of those degrees you should consider when choosing your career.