General description

Biostatistics as a discipline is driven by the interaction between problems from medical research and rigorous mathematical analysis. Complex scientific challenges require the development of new and appropriate statistical methods.
Currently such challenges emerge, for example, in environmental and infectious disease epidemiology, evidence-based medicine and especially in the rapidly expanding fields of genetics and genomics. -
A statistician aiming to be successful at applying methodological developments in the life sciences has to be proficient in a wide variety of modern statistical techniques such as regression of correlated data, treatment of missing values, analysis of longitudinal and event time data, model selection and model validation, to name but a few.
The Master Program in Biostatistics is based on the cooperation between the Institute of Mathematics and the Division of Biostatistics of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Zurich (UZH) and offers the only - to date - specialized program for the training of biostatisticians in Switzerland. -
The Master Program in Biostatistics is a specialized master and is hence open to students with (Bachelor) degrees from different fields with sufficient mathematical and statistical component in the curriculum such as, for example, mathematics, statistics, computer science and physics. The program provides students with a deeper scientific understanding and the capability to carry out independent scientific work in biostatistics.

Admission requirements

The Master in Biostatistics is a spezialized Master.
Please find the details for applications on: https://www.biostat.uzh.ch

Specific requirements

The study program in Biostatistics 90 is a spezialized Master.
Please find the details for applications on: https://www.biostat.uzh.ch

Educational goals

The specialized study program in Biostatistics 90 at Master's level provides students with an advanced education in science, the ability to work independently in science and a profound understanding of modern Biostatistics and its relevance. Students will be prepared for work in research, industry or office as well as for a doctorate in Biostatistics or a closely related discipline.

Career possibilities

Carreer outlooks for biostatisticians are generally excellent, as for statisticians and professionals with quantitative skills in general. Graduates of the program will be highly qualified for an occupation at universities or research institutes and in the pharmaceutical industry.

ECTS credits

90 ECTS Credits

Degree

Master of Science UZH in Biostatistics

Program structure

The required ECTS credits have to be gained from compulsory modules (Pflichtmodule) and elective modules in statistics/biostatistics (Wahlpflichtmodule), these can in certain cases be in mathematics, and, elective modules in a field of application (Wahlmodule). The master's thesis comprises 30 ECTS credits and the master's exam 5 ECTS credits.

Major/minor subject combinations

The specialized Master's study program in Biostatistics 90 can be taken as a single major or be combined with a minor study program 30 at Master's level. A major study program in Biostatistics can not be combined with a minor study program in Applied Probability and Statistics.

Examination and assessment regulations

The student's achievement is assessed at the end of each module.
Achievements are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, whereby 6 denotes the highest grade of achievement and 1 the lowest. A grade below 4 is insufficient.
Achievements can also be graded with 'passed' or 'failed'.

Language of instruction

English