Mathematical Statistics

(revised 10 January 2014)

The graduate program has for its purpose to give the student fundamental knowledge within the mathematical statistics, orientation about current problems and applications, deeper insight into one or several parts of the subject, and preparation for being able to carry out research work.

The aim of the program until the licentiate degree is to give the student the ability to independently take part in research and development work. 

The aim of the program until the doctoral degree is to give the student the ability to critically and independently plan, lead, carry through, and present research and development work.

The qualifications needed for being accepted into the graduate school in mathematical statistics is an undergraduate or Masters degree in engineering, with suitable courses in mathematical statistics. 

Even people who have acquired the equivalent background in some other way are eligible.

Student with an undergraduate degree from a Faculty of Science or its equivalent are eligible to the graduate school.

The doctor education comprises 240 credits (hec) and the licentiate education 120 credits; one year's full time study should give 60 credits. 

The graduate education consists of

Education in the graduate program consists of advising, lectures and seminars.

Parts of the education may be located to another university or research institute, domestic or in foreign countries. 

Each graduate student is given an adviser (= principal adviser) and at least one assistant adviser, for scientific advice and support. 

An examiner is selected for each graduate student.

Besides Mathematical Statistics in general, the education may be specifically directed towards Biostatistics or Industrial Statistics.

The study course is determined by the student, adviser and examiner in consultation. For an education with specific direction it shall, to a considerable degree, cover topics that are relevant to it. 

For the doctoral degree the course comprises 120 credits; it shall include courses that cover

For the licentiate degree the study course comprises 60 credits; it shall include courses that cover the areas I-III to the extent 15, 15, and 7,5 credits respectively.

The studies begin with a broadening and deepening in the subject area. Undergraduate courses in mathematical statistics, which have not been counted in the undergraduate program, may, after the agreement of the examiner, be included in the study course. 

Advanced courses in other subjects may be included in the study course.

Up to 15 higher education credits may be counted in the study course for the participation in statistical consulting, but not as a part of the item II above.

Doctoral students are required to gain 15 credit points in the field "Generic and Transferable Skills" during their post-graduate studies: 9 credit points before their licentiate degree and 6 credit points after their licentiate degree. 

Besides the course package "Generic and Transferable Skills", it is required that the doctoral student should

The student shall contribute to the scientific activities by participating in and taking responsibility for seminars (in particular, by gaining 15 credits for courses mentioned in the item III of Section 5 above), and taking part of guest lectures even if these have no direct connection to the study course. 

The student should participate in a number of scientific meetings, such as workshops, summer schools and conferences.

For the licentiate degree, it is required that the student completes an independent project worth 60 credits, writes an essay on it and presents it in a seminar. The essay is graded on a pass/fail basis.

For the doctoral degree, it is required that the student writes and defends publicly a scientific doctoral dissertation worth 120 credits. The dissertation should be of such quality that it fulfils the standard requirements for publication, either in its entirety or in abridged form, in a scientific journal of good quality. The dissertation is graded on a pass/fail basis. The grading is based both on the contents of the dissertation as well as the defence.

For the licentiate degree, the following is required:

For the doctoral degree, the following is required:

The names of the degrees without a specific direction are 

Licentiate of Engineering in Mathematical Statistics, and 
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematical Statistics, 

and for education with specific direction 

Licentiate of Engineering in Mathematical Statistics with Specialization 
in Biostatistics/Industrial Statistics, and 
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematical Statistics with Specialization in 
Biostatistics/Industrial Statistics. 

For students with a BSc or equivalent degree, "Engineering" above is 
replaced by "Philosophy".

A student that is accepted into the graduate school has the right to an adviser: four years for full time students for the doctoral degree, two years for students for the licentiate degree; part time students receive the proportional amount of advising over the longer period of time. 

The prefect selects an examiner, whose task it is to approve the study course, decide about higher education credits and grades for different courses, and confirm that the requirements for exams are fulfilled. 
The adviser and the examiner cannot be the same person. The examiner, adviser and student work together to form a plan for the student's progress through the program.

There are exams, either written or oral, for the different courses. The exams are judged on a pass/fail basis by a course examiner, who also suggests the point value of a passed course. 

Course examination can also take other form: e.g., by letting the student take responsibility for one or several seminars.

The grade for the doctoral dissertation is determined by a grading committee, that is appointed for each dissertation defence. The grade for the licentiate essay is decided by the examiner.

The student shall at least once a year give an accounting of her/his progress​