During the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the size and complexity of data collected in industry, academia and government. This “data deluge” has had wide-ranging effects throughout society and has given rise to the new field of data science, of which statistics is a core component. The University of Haifa’s International Master of Science program in Statistics equips students with the skills required to design quantitative studies and to analyze and draw meaningful conclusions from data. The program is geared toward students from universities and colleges in Israel and abroad who have a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics or a related field such as Mathematics, Computer Science or Engineering. All courses are taught in English.

The head of the program is Prof. Philip Tzvi Reiss <reiss@stat.haifa.ac.il>;.

Admissions criteria

A minimum average grade of 80 in undergraduate studies is required. Candidates who are not native speakers of English, and who have not previously studied at an institution of higher education where the language of instruction is English, must submit official TOEFL scores or equivalent. The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is: 570 on the paper-based test, 230 on the computer-based test or 89 on the internet-based test.

For students not holding a Bachelor’s degree in statistics, a list of background material to prepare for Master’s-level studies can be found here.

Program of study

The M.Sc. in Statistics is offered with or without a thesis.

The non-thesis track consists of 40 course units, detailed below. It can be completed on a full-time basis within 12 months (4 courses in each of the fall and spring semesters, and the consulting project during the summer semester), or on a part-time basis over approximately two years. The overall grade is based on coursework (80%) and the consulting project (20%). Overseas students ordinarily complete the program in one academic year.

The thesis track consists of 36 course units (the fall and spring courses listed below). It can be completed on a full-time basis over approximately two years, or on a part-time basis over approximately three years. The overall grade is based on coursework (50%) and the thesis (50%).

Courses

Fall semester

Spring semester

Topics covered in each of these courses are listed here.

Under exceptional circumstances, up to two alternative courses in statistics or related fields may be substituted for courses listed above, with permission of the head of the program.

Summer semester

Final Project: Data Science Practicum (4 units, for students in the non-thesis track)

To apply, and for further information

Overseas students should apply via the University of Haifa International School: visit this website or contact the admissions office at infograd@univ.haifa.ac.il.  

Israeli students should apply through the Department of Statistics by contacting Ms. Hana Abraham at student@stat.haifa.ac.il.

The program brochure is here. The University of Haifa International School’s blog is a good source of general information about graduate life at the university.