MSc Biostatistics and Data Science
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Key Information
Campus location
Stockholm, Sweden
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
SEK 360,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* non-EU/EEA/Swiss is 360000 SEK.
Introduction
The master's program in Biostatistics and Data Science offers a unique combination of biostatistics and data science. Students with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or related disciplines, are provided with the skills to solve problems in biology, medicine, and public health. The program is offered jointly by KTH, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm University.
Biostatistics and Data Science at KTH, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University
In this two-year master's programme, you will learn the key skills required to work as a biostatistician or data scientist. You will get training in statistics, computational science, and programming, along with the theoretical and practical education to apply these skills to challenges in biology, medicine, and public health. In addition, you will learn the analytic techniques used in data science to prepare you for the data-driven challenges of modern medical research and a career as a data scientist. During your two years in Stockholm, you will study a tailored selection of courses from three universities with prominent research in their respective fields: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University.
The programme is delivered by a team of teachers who are internationally recognised for their research in developing new biostatistics and data science methods, and for their collaborative research with scientists from other disciplines to improve health outcomes.
The first year begins with rigorous courses in statistics, exploring probability theory and statistical inference, and statistical modelling with a heavy focus on modelling biomedical data. Additionally, you will get an introduction to computer intensive methods in mathematical statistics. These courses give you the basis for elective courses in machine learning and statistical learning that you will take in the second half of the year. You will also get an introduction to human biology, physiology, and genetics, and an introduction to medical research, emphasising its multidisciplinary nature and the role of biostatistics and data science in medical research and society.
The second year introduces topics in biostatistical science that complicate or extend the concepts and methods covered in previous courses, for example, incomplete or missing data, correlated or clustered data, and Bayesian inference. Courses in the second year build upon previous courses by giving an overview of methods for designing and analysing medical research studies in three areas: pre-clinical studies and animal research, clinical trials, and observational studies.
In the final semester, you will conduct a degree project, which involves participating in research projects in an academic or industrial environment.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
KTH offers four different scholarship opportunities for master's studies. The KTH Scholarship covers the tuition fee of a one or two year master’s programme. The KTH One-Year Scholarship is aimed at current KTH master's programme students and covers the tuition fee of the second year of studies. The KTH Joint Programme Scholarship is aimed at students in certain joint programmes and covers the tuition fee for the study period spent at KTH. The KTH India Scholarship is aimed specifically at students from India.
- KTH Scholarship
- KTH One-Year Scholarship
- KTH Joint Programme Scholarship
- KTH India Scholarship
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers a number of scholarships for students from targeted countries coming to Sweden.
KTH associated scholarship organisations
KTH cooperates with the following organisations providing scholarship opportunities for prospective KTH students.
- COLFUTURO (Programa Crédito Beca) for students from Colombia
- LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) for students from Indonesia
- FUNED for students from Mexico
Scholarship portals
IEFA database
The IEFA database offer a comprehensive scholarships search, grant listing and international student loan programmes.
Studyportals
The Studyportals scholarship database lists over 1,000 scholarship and grants for students worldwide applying for studies in the EU.
Scholars4dev
Scholarships for Development is a database of scholarships open to students from developing countries.
WeMakeScholars
WeMakeScholars helps students from India secure education loans from banks and NBFCs. They also lists more than 26,000 international scholarships from different trusts, foundations and govt. bodies.
Deferment of student loans in the United States
KTH is an accredited institution at the US Department of Education and holds a Title IV 'Deferment Only' status (OPE ID 03274300). US students may defer payments on existing federal student loan accounts while enrolled in a master’s programme at KTH. The 'Deferment Only' status does not allow students to take out federal student loans for enrolment at KTH. However, the accreditation facilitates grant and loan opportunities for US students as many private student loan institutions in the US use this designation as a requirement to grant new loans. Students who wish to defer payments must contact their lending institution in the US.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Curriculum
The two-year master's programme in Biostatistics and Data Science consists of three terms of courses and one final term dedicated to the master's degree project. Each term consist of approximately 30 ECTS credits. The courses presented on this page apply to studies starting in autumn 2024.
Year 1
- Mandatory courses 45 credits:
- Theory of statistical inference 7,5 credits, SU
- Categorical data analysis 7,5 credits, SU
- Biostatistics 1 7,5 credits, KI
- Survival analysis with aplications in medicine 7,5 credits, KI
Conditionally elective courses:
- Statistical unsupervised learning, 7,5 credits, SU
- Statistical aspects of deep learning, 7,5 credits, SU
- Statistical information theory, 7,5 credits, SU
- Statistical models, 7,5 credits, SU
- Below you find all courses organized by KTH.
- Among the conditionally elective courses 15 credits has to be studied.
Mandatory courses
- Probability Theory (SF2940) 7.5 credits
- Computer Intensive Methods in Mathematical Statistics (SF2955) 7.5 credits
Year 2
Mandatory courses 45 credits:
- Biostatistics 2, 7,5 credits, KI
- Study design and analysis in medical research, 7,5 credits, KI
- Degree project in biostatistics and data science, 30 credits, KI
Conditionally elective courses 15 credits:
- Bayesian methods, 7,5 credits SU
- Survival analysis, 7,5 credits SU
- Statistical Learning, 7,5 credits SU
- Mathematics and statistics for infectious disease outbreaks, 7,5 credits SU
- Below you find all courses organized by KTH.
- Among the conditionally elective courses 15 credits has to be studied.
- Only one of the courses Modern methods of statistical learning, Machine Learning or Statistical learning can be studied.
Conditionally elective courses
- Machine Learning (DD2421) 7.5 credits
- Machine Learning, Advanced Course (DD2434) 7.5 credits
- Modern Methods of Statistical Learning (SF2935) 7.5 credits
- Topological Data Analysis (SF2956) 7.5 credits
- Statistical Machine Learning (SF2957) 7.5 credits
Program Outcome
In this two-year master's program, you will learn the critical skills required to work as a biostatistician or data scientist. You will get training in statistics, computational science, and programming and theoretical and practical education to apply these skills to biology, medicine, and public health challenges. In addition, you will learn the analytic techniques used in data science to prepare you for the data-driven challenges of modern medical research and a career as a data scientist. During your two years in Stockholm, you will study a tailored selection of courses from three universities with prominent researchers in their respective fields: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University.
In this two-year master's program, you will learn the critical skills required to work as a biostatistician or data scientist. You will get training in statistics, computational science, and programming and theoretical and practical education to apply these skills to biology, medicine, and public health challenges. In addition, you will learn the analytic techniques used in data science to prepare you for the data-driven challenges of modern medical research and a career as a data scientist. During your two years in Stockholm, you will study a tailored selection of courses from three universities with prominent researchers in their respective fields: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The combination of biostatistics and data science gives graduates an excellent profile for challenging and rewarding careers in industry (for example, biomedical, healthcare, insurance, and pharmaceutical sectors), government (for example, public health agencies), and academia. There is a shortage of trained biostatisticians and data science professionals, both in Sweden and internationally. After graduating from this program, you will find excellent opportunities for doctoral studies, both in developing new biostatistics and data science methods and applying your knowledge and skills in biostatistics and data science to address research topics in biology, medicine, and public health.