University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy (Faculty of Medicine)
Master's Programme in Applied Biostatistics
Gothenburg, Sweden
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
SEK 318,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* no fees are charged for EU and EEA citizens
Key Summary
About: The Master's programme in Applied Biostatistics at Sahlgrenska Academy (University of Gothenburg) teaches statistical theory, modelling, and practical applied analysis for health, medicine, and life science. You'll learn design, clinical and population methods, R programming, AI and machine learning, and result interpretation. The programme runs for two years and is taught in English.
Career Outcomes: Graduates receive a Master of Medical Science (major in Applied Biostatistics) and can work in pharmaceuticals, life science, biotech and medtech, government agencies, regional health data units, universities. Roles include biostatistician, data analyst, clinical trial statistician, epidemiological analyst. You can also pursue doctoral studies.
Do you like numbers and have a keen eye for analysis? Are you passionate about understanding complex data and using it to find answers to important questions in health, medicine, and life science? Then you should apply for the Master’s programme in Applied Biostatistics. Our programme provides you with the knowledge needed to work both nationally and internationally. We offer an international study environment where you will meet students from all over the world with different academic backgrounds.
Today’s society is becoming increasingly digitalized, and vast amounts of data are being collected that require analysis – especially in the health and life science fields. How should we interpret and understand all this complex data? How can we use the data to develop pharmaceuticals, treatments, and medical devices? These are some of the challenges we face today. Biostatisticians play a crucial role here. Through their expertise in handling and analyzing data, they contribute to advancing research and creating societal benefits. There is a great demand for biostatisticians today.
The programme provides you with knowledge of key theories and models in statistics. You will study for two years. The language of instruction is English. The goal is to give you practical experience and the tools you need to work independently as a biostatistician. You will learn to handle all steps in the data analysis of health-related data. This includes the design and analysis of various types of studies, related to basic medical research, clinical research, and population studies.
We provide you with the knowledge of basic and advanced statistical methods and models, how they can be used, how to interpret the results, and what conclusions can or cannot be drawn. You will also learn to program in R, which is an important and widely used tool for data management, analysis, and visualization. Additionally, you will gain knowledge of AI and machine learning and how these can be used as methods to analyze data and create a more efficient workflow.
We welcome all students with background in health sciences, economics, natural sciences, and engineering, with an interest in data, statistics, and life sciences to apply for the programme. We offer 25 places each fall.
Programme overview
Semester 1
- Introduction to biostatistics, 9 hp
- R programming for applied biostatistics, 6 hp
- Study and experimental design, 7.5 hp
- Regression analysis, 7.5 hp
Semester 2
- Causal inference, 7.5 hp
- Health data and questionnaires, 7.5 hp
- Statistical learning, 7.5 hp
- Advanced statistical methods, 7.5 hp
Semester 3
During the third semester, you will take two mandatory courses as well as elective courses. You can choose to take an internship course or study abroad.
- Survival analysis, 7.5 hp
- Machine learning and AI, 7.5 hp
- Elective courses, 15 hp
Semester 4
- Master’s thesis in Applied Biostatistics, 30hp
After graduation, you will receive a Master of Medical Science, with a major in Applied Biostatistics. The job market is promising for biostatisticians, and there are several career paths to pursue:
- the pharmaceutical industry, life science companies
- government agencies: the Swedish Medical Products Agency, National Board of Health and Welfare, the Public Health Agency of Sweden
- universities and other research organizations: RISE, the Institute for Infectious Disease Control
- biotech and medtech companies
- Sweden’s regions: Register Center organizations, regional data and analysis units
- non-governmental organizations
- consultant
As a biostatistician, you often work in interdisciplinary teams consisting of many different professional groups. There is a need for biostatisticians who can act as a bridge between healthcare professionals, researchers, policy planners, data scientists, and mathematicians. You help to formulate a hypothesis, choose the study design and method for data analysis, and analyze and interpret results aimed at developing:
- pharmaceuticals
- medical treatments
- medical devices
- public health guidelines
You can also choose to pursue further studies and research in health, medicine, or life science, where you can use your knowledge in biostatistics. With the programme, you are well prepared for doctoral studies.