NOTE: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate and current, if there is a requirement not listed on this page that is listed in the official university calendar, the published Memorial University of Newfoundland Calendar will be considered the final and accurate authority.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers graduate programs leading to four degrees:

1. Master of Data Science (MDSC)

   Given the continuing demand for data scientists, and the expected accelerated growth of this profession over the next few decades, department of Computer Science and Mathematics & Statistics developed a new MDSC program, starting Fall 2022. It is a one-year programme aiming to equip the students with the foundations of data science and providing them with the practical techniques needed to effectively translate data into knowledge, communicate the findings, and help in the decision-making process.

2. Master of Applied Statistics (MAS)
   

   The MAS is a course-based highly structured programme complemented with an applied statistics project. A full-time student with an honours degree in statistics or cognate discipline normally requires one year to complete the degree requirements. No new admissions in Winter.

   This programme starts only in the Fall term and applications made before the Fall deadline will be considered only for the coming Fall term, regardless of the date of application.

3. Master of Science (M.Sc.)
   

   Mathematics:
   Option 1. Research based program. This programme consists of graduate courses and a thesis. A full-time student is expected to complete the degree requirements in two years.
   Option 2. Course based program. This is an intensive three semester (one year) programme based on graduate courses and a project. No new admission in Winter.

   Statistics:
   This programme consists of graduate courses and a thesis. Full-time students should complete the degree requirements within two years.

   All Masters programmes start only in the Fall term and applications made before the Fall deadline will be considered only for the coming Fall term, regardless of the date of application.

4. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
   The PhD programs in mathematics and in statistics consist of graduate courses, a two-part comprehensive examination, and a thesis embodying the results of original research of a high calibre. Students are expected to complete the PhD degree requirements in three to four years. Upon completion of the thesis, a final oral examination and defense of thesis must take place.

The department is also a participating member in two interdisciplinary programs: the M.Sc. in Scientific Computing and the PhD in Theoretical Physics. Students interested in either of these programs should direct their inquiries to the corresponding programme coordinators:

• Scientific Computing Program
• Theoretical physics

Complete regulations concerning programs of study can be found in the Memorial University Calendar. Below we summarize the relevant information for the programs offered by our department.

Master of Data Science (MDSC)

Data science is considered one of the most important, if not the most, professions of the 21st century. With our lives lived increasingly online, almost everyone leaves behind a data trail that is hailed as the gold of the digital age. With the increased generation of data, there is an ever-increasing demand for specialists being able to structure, analyse and process this data, which is done by data scientists.

Given the continuing demand for data scientists, and the expected accelerated growth of this profession over the next few decades, department of Computer Science and Mathematics & Statistics developed a new Master of Data Science program, starting Fall 2022. It is a one-year programme aiming to equip the students with the foundations of data science and providing them with the practical techniques needed to effectively translate data into knowledge, communicate the findings, and help in the decision-making process.

For more information, click here.

Master of Applied Statistics (MAS)

Admission is limited and competitive. To be considered for admission to the Master of Applied Statistics program, an applicant should normally hold at least a high second-class honours degree (or equivalent) from a recognized and respected institution. Although a statistics degree is not strictly required, an applicant shall normally have completed undergraduate courses in statistics which cover the curricula of the following undergraduate courses:

• STAT 3411 Statistical inference
• STAT 3520 Experimental designs I
• STAT 3521 Regression
• STAT 3585 Computational statistics
• STAT 4530 Survey sampling

Applicants without the undergraduate statistics credentials but otherwise qualified for admission may be offered admission to an  undergraduate qualifying year.

The program of study for the degree of Master of Applied Statistics includes the successful completion of:

• The 3-credit hours courses STAT 6509, 6519 and 6545.
• Three additional 3-credit hours courses elective courses chosen from STAT 6505, 6530, 6559, 6561, 6563, 6564, 6571 and 6573.
• STAT 6590 and the series STAT 698A/B and a final applied statistics project report.  This project report must demonstrate a satisfactory general mastery of statistical knowledge.

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Admission is limited and competitive. To be considered for admission, an applicant should normally hold at least a high second-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) with a strong component in the proposed field of specialization. Applicants without the required foundation in the field of specialization but otherwise qualified for admission may be considered for the  .

There are two programs leading to the degree of Master of Sciences in Mathematics: one thesis based (Option 1) and the other course based (Option 2).

Every candidate for any of the M.Sc. programmes in Mathematics is required to complete successfully MATH 696A/B,  in addition to

Option 1: The successful completion of two courses from MATH 6160, 6310, 6332, 6351, and at least three additional 3-credit hour graduate courses chosen from the departmental course offerings, excluding Math-6299. A thesis is required as per General Regulations, Theses and Reports.

Option 2: The successful completion of Math-6299,  three courses from MATH 6160, 6310, 6332, 6351, and at least three additional 3-credit hour graduate courses selected from the departmental course offerings. A project demonstrating a satisfactory general mastery of mathematical knowledge is also required. Such a project will be reviewed by a facluty member other than the advisor.

M.Sc. in Statistics

An applicant to this programme shall normally have completed a bachelors degree in statistics or cognate area with strong concentration of statistic courses.

Every candidate for the M.Sc. in Statistics is required to complete successfully

• Stat-6510 Mathematical Statistics.
• One of Stat-6500 Probability or Stat-6560 Continuous Multivariate Analysis.
• Stat-697A/B Graduate Seminar Series in Statistics.
• At least four additional 3-hour credit graduate courses (this requirement is waived for students who already have completed the MAS programme).
• A thesis as per General Regulations, Theses and Reports.

In addition to the previous requirements, each M.Sc. student is required to present at least a seminar on a topic chosen by his/her supervisor before the completion of their programme. All thesis based Masters students are required to present a seminar on the thesis topic before submitting the thesis for review.

Subject to the recommendation of the supervisory committee and the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee one of the elective courses from the departmental course offerings can be replaced by an equivalent 3-credit hours course offered in another department.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Every candidate shall complete at least two courses in the area of specialization. At any time during the completion of the programme any candidate may be required to take additional courses at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

Every candidate shall also complete a Comprehensive Exam, consisting of two parts:

• The qualifying review consists of three written examinations and takes place in either the last week of August (for students who enrolled in the Fall) or the first week of December (for students who enrolled in the Winter term) following the student's admission to the programme. Its main purpose is to ensure that the candidate has a reasonably broad general knowledge of mathematics or statistics, as appropriate.
• The intermediate review is a process that starts with the submission of an written research proposal authored by the candidate, and culminates with  an oral presentation on the topic of the proposal immediatelly followed by an oral examination on such topic, although questions of a general nature relating to the field of specialization are also permitted. It must take place no later than the end of the candidate's seventh semester in the doctoral program. Its purpose is to ensure that the candidate has specialized knowledge in his/her chosen area sufficient to do original research of a high level.

Admission to the PhD programme is limited and competitive. A Master's degree in mathematics or related area from a recognized university is required for entry into the PhD program. Memorial University students currently registered on the Masters programme in mathematics (Option 1) who have a minimum grade of A in all courses (no less than 4 courses) during the first two semesters of their programme may be eligible to be transferred into the PhD programme at the beginning of the third semester and write the comprehensive exams (part I) at the end of the academic year. Such transfer must be initiated by the student's supervisor, supported by the supervisory committee and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Admission to the PhD programme is limited and competitive. A Master's degree in statistics from a recognized university is normally required for entry into the PhD program. Memorial University students currently registered on the Masters programme in statistics who have a minimum grade of A in all courses (no less than 4 courses) during the first two semesters of their programme may be eligible to be transferred into the PhD programme at the beginning of the third semester and write the comprehensive exams (part I) at the end of the first academic year. Such transfer must be initiated by the student's supervisor, supported by the supervisory committee and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

To be eligible to submit the thesis to the School of Graduate Studies for external review, the student shall give a departmental seminar on the final version of the thesis, followed by a request for feedback from the Faculty. The thesis seminar should be advertised for at least one week, and an abstract and the outline of the presentation highlighting the scientific contributions on the thesis must be provided. This presentation shall not be replaced by any other presentation given during the course of the student's programme.