If an applicant's background in statistics, mathematics or computing is inadequate, satisfactory completion of a qualifying program will be required before admission to the Masters course. The course is designed to train graduates for employment as statisticians in government departments, research organisations, insurance companies, medical institutions and industry. Recently the program has become available in distance mode.
Extensive use is made of the Web, bulletin boards and other electronic media.
Rapid developments in computer technology have had a major impact on the nature and extent of statistical work in both the public and private sectors. Hence development of relevant computing skills forms an integral part of the course. There is also available a Postgraduate Diploma and a Postgraduate Certificate. The PG Diploma consists of six units from the Master of Applied Statistics program including 3 core units one of which is to be STAT810 and the PG Certificate consists of any 3 units from the program. Postgraduate students attending on-campus have access to a postgraduate laboratory of networked PCs that provide various statistical and other packages.