Statistics and Data Science

The introductory phase provides thorough fundamental knowledge of statistics. Students will become familiar with data, statistical analysis, and, first and foremost, statistical concepts and reasoning. Apart from topic related subjects, such as regression and analysis of variance, a lot of attention is devoted to group based project work.In the first semester students of Epidemiology & Public Health Methodology and Biostatistics have 5 compulsory subjects, a group project and one optional subject.The students of Bioinformatics have 6 compulsory subjects and a group project.In the second semester the focus shifts from univariate models for continuous data to discrete data models and nonparametic approaches, as well as to correlated responses, combined with the discovery of associations. Within the second semester 3 subjects, 2 group projects, and an optional subject are common to all specializations. Additionally, students of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology & Public Health Methodology are offered a compulsory subject specific for the pecialization and an optional subject. Students of Bioinformatics are offered 1 compulsory subject which is specific for the specialization of Bioinformatics.The second year offers more specialized subjects, within each specialization. Contributing components to the master’s dissertation project of Biostatistics, Biostatistics ICP, are three group projects (3+3+3 ECTS) and the individual dissertation project (17 ECTS). Contributing to the master’s dissertation project of Bioinformatics are two individual projects (5+7 ECTS) and the individual dissertation project (17 ECTS). The master’s dissertation project of the Epidemiology & Public Health Methodology study consists of two group project (6+3 ECTS) and the indivual dissertation project (17 ECTS). For each specialization, this master’s dissertation project is linked with an internship, scheduled in the second semester (May-August).The university decree for Flanders is built around a credit point system that is based on the principles of ECTS. ECTS is the European Credit Transfer System. Each year of a full-time degree programme counts 60 credits. Ideally, these credits are equally spread over two semesters, i.e. 30 credits per semester. Given that the expected total study load per year ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 hours for a fulltime programme, 1 credit represents a study load of 25 to 30 hours. Study load includes time spent in class, personal work and exams.