The only formal requirement for entering the MaStat program is that you have obtained a master’s degree or a degree equivalent to it. There are no prerequisites about the field of your degree. However, we require all students to some basic knowledge of mathematics, probability, statistics and programming and this is tested with the admission test which every applicant has to pass before they can enter the MaStat program.
Like with all entrance tests, the applicants are supposed to acquire the prerequisite knowledge themselves. The website of the admission test contains links to online courses (with exercises) as well as an unofficial Self-evaluation test which is representative for the actual Admission test in terms of the level and scope of the questions.
No, the Master of Statistical Data Analysis is a regular program, which cannot be followed via distance or online learning.
The Master of Statistical Data Analysis offers no scholarships, but students from developing countries who enroll in our program may be eligible to a highly competitive master grant for Students from Developing Countries.
If you believe you are eligible to receive dispensations for certain courses, then please send an email to Stijn Vansteelandt, detailing:
Dispensations are automatically granted to students who obtained a credit for a course of the UGent Master in Statistical Data Analysis within the last five years. If the credit is older than five years, then a dispensation can be given after positive evaluation by the curriculum committee.
Students without a Flemish degree must respect these deadlines. All practical details about applying are explained on the webpages of the central administration of Ghent University.
No, because most courses in the second semester build on the basic courses in the first semester, students can only enter the program at the start of the academic year in September.
Yes, many of our students in fact do, so you can request a working student status at your registration. However, please keep in mind that the MaStat is quite intensive with many group assignments and working students cannot have an individual program. If you have a full-time job, then we recommend spreading the program over 3 to 4 years. Ideally, you combine the MaStat with a part-time job and then you can spread the program over 2 to 3 years.
Yes, you only need to decide one year at a time how many courses you will take. If the program turns out too heavy, then you may want to consider withdrawing from one or more courses. If you do this sufficiently in time, then you are be eligible to partial reimbursement. Furthermore, by doing so you prevent failure for too many credits, which could prohibit re-enrolment in the longer term if it persists to happen (please see the Education and examination code for details).
This first of all depends on which major track you choose to follow: Statistical Science or Computational Statistics (see the descriptions in the Study guide). In general, the compulsory courses in either major track provide the basis for the elective courses, so it is a good idea to do the compulsory courses as early as possible.
For the Statistical Science major track the recommended order is:
For the Computational Statistics major track the recommended order is:
No, we are quite flexible about attendance in both lectures and lab sessions. Attendance is not compulsory but it remains recommended. Also, there is no individual-based teaching for students who cannot attend class. All teaching materials, assignments, feedback and programming code are provided on online course platforms for all students to download. Our alumni generally find the lectures and lab sessions very useful, so we recommend following these as much as possible.
Both options are possible. All MaStat teachers provide a list of topics related to their research interests, but we encourage every student to come up with their own topic.
Yes, you can contact Veronique Storme, who is the president of the Alumni Society of the MaStat. Alumni can you give feedback about their experience with our program, job expectations or life as a statistician in general.
Send an e-mail to mastat@ugent.be.