Statistician

A statistician gives meaning to occurrences by assigning numerical values to them. Statistics includes all the ways in which information is collected, processed and interpreted.

Job Characteristics

• Describing and/or summarizing of data obtained from samples and populations.



• Making inferences about population indices on the basis of the corresponding indices obtained from samples drawn randomly from the populations.



• Advising on or applying mathematical principles, data collection and statistical methods, models and techniques, and determining the reliability of findings, especially in such fields as engineering, agronomy, business and medicine, as well as in other areas of natural, social or life sciences.



• Evaluating, processing, analyzing and interpreting statistical data and preparing it for publication.

Requirements
 
Secondary Education
Possession of a HIGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with matriculation exemption is needed for admission to South African universities. Possession of a valid IGCSE or HIGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with passes in at least five subjects and 25 points on the UNAM point evaluation scale, is required to enrol at UNAM.

Compulsory subjects
Mathematics on HIGCSE level (South Africa)
Mathematics with at least a C-symbol on IGCSE level (UNAM)

Tertiary Education
In South Africa prospective statisticians can follow a B. Sc. degree in Statistics or Mathematical Statistics, a B.A. degree with Statistics as a major subject or a B. Com. degree with Statistics or Statistical Methods as major subjects. Statistics can be taken as a major subject of the B.A. or B. Sc. degrees offered at UNAM.

Personality
The prospective statistician should be able to reason logically and be a good problem solver.
Work Opportunities
Opportunities exist at insurance and investment companies, research councils, financial institutions and government departments.
 
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