1. Is there a midyear intake of postgraduate students into postgraduate programmes of the Department of Statistics?

The department has only one intake of students for the postgraduate cohort per year (applications close end September), successful applicants commence studies end January of the following year.

2. Is part-time enrolment possible for postgraduate students in the department?

The University of Pretoria does not offer studies on a part-time basis.

3. I obtained my qualifications in a country outside of South Africa. How does this affect my application for postgraduate studies?

You are welcome to apply to the program of your choice, however, you need to have your qualifications validated by SAQA – without SAQA validation, your application will not be considered.

In addition, it is the prospective candidate's full responsibility to obtain a valid study permit/visa to allow them to study in South Africa.

4. Is funding available for full-time/part-time students?

Unfortunately the Department of Statistics is not able to fund any students to study on a full-time basis. Students are encouraged to apply for funding with the NRF and other funding agencies.

5. Can I assume that by applying to the programme that I will automatically be admitted?

No. The Admissions Committee considers all applications equally and a variety of factors (such as supervisory capacity for example) influence admittance (over and above the minimum posed requirements as described in the postgraduate brochure). Meeting minimum requirements does not imply nor guarantee admission.

6. Can I request/expect to be placed within a certain research group/supervisor?

Any successful student may request to be placed within a certain research group/supervisor, however, the final decision is at the discretion of the HoD to ensure a balanced research atmosphere within the department. At the honours level, this is not arranged.

7. Is distance learning possible for postgraduate studies?

All postgraduate programs within the Department of Statistics is full contact - we do not offer any distance learning opportunities.

• Please note all prospective students need to apply directly on the UP website prior to closing dates for applications.

8. What are the differences between the BCom Honours Statistics and Data Science, BCom Honours Mathematical Statistics, BSc Honours Statistics and Data Science, and BSc Honours Mathematical Statistics degrees?

The core of these degrees relate completely to what subjects and focus was completed in an applicant's undegraduate degree. In short, the main difference between these degrees is which type of undergraduate degree you completed.

For UP undergraduate students:

If you completed a BSc undergraduate degree or another type of undergraduate degree (for example, BA Law) with WST modules, you can only apply for the BSc Honours in Mathematical Statistics program.

If you completed a BCom undergraduate degree with WST modules, you can only apply for the BCom Honours in Mathematical Statistics program.

If you completed a BCom undergraduate degree with STK modules, you can only apply for the BCom Honours in Statistics and Data Science program.

If you completed another undergraduate degree with STK modules (for example, BA Law), you can only apply for the BSc Honours in Statistics and Data Science program.

For students of other universities, please get in touch with the department for advice.

Please also consult the postgraduate brochure for descriptions of modules and compilation of the honours programs.

9. How do I know which modules to enroll for?

The postgraduate brochure indicates some background and context for available modules presented in any given year. Note that not all modules are necessarily available/presented in a semester which might be due to capacity constraints. Please ensure you discuss with a faculty student advisor if you have questions regarding credit loading. There will be an opportunity at the start of each year during compulsory research orientation to discuss module options.