Master of Science in Statistics – Joint Master's Programme Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

The Master of Science in Statistics programme embraces the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of the subject and is composed of a consortium of faculty and universities including: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (School of Business and Economics and Department of Mathematics), the Freie Universität Berlin, the Technische Universität Berlin and the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The programme is designed for students with a university degree (Bachelor's, Master's or diploma) in a quantitative subject.

Compulsory Area 

The compulsory area is intended to establish a solid mathematical foundation in probability theory and mathematical statistics.

Specialisation Area

Two out of the seven areas of specialisations below need to be chosen:

• Statistical Inference
• Econometrics
• Quantitative Methods of Financial Markets
• Survey Statistics
• Applied Microeconometrics and Economic Research
• Statistics in the Life Sciences
• Data Science

Interdisciplinary Area 

The interdisciplinary area accounts for general studies aspects such as language courses, interdisciplinary and professional courses from abroad, internships and much more.

The Master of Science in Statistics is an accredited consecutive graduate programme comprising 120 ECTS credits and typically completed over four semesters.

Compulsory Area (62 CP)

Students complete core modules including

• Stochastic (10 CP)
• Econometric Methods or Statistical Methods (10 CP)
• Multivariate Statistical Analysis (6 CP)
• Advanced Econometrics or Advanced Statistics (6 CP) and
• Master’s thesis (30 CP).

Interdisciplinary Area (10 CP)

Specialisation Area (48 CP)

Students choose two out of seven specialisation tracks. Detailed course information is provided in the official module descriptions.

Statistical Inference

This focuses on modern statistical methods to infer population properties from data. Students learn to formulate problems, compute solutions, and apply methods in research and projects, with flexible training in theory and application.

Econometrics

This covers statistical tools to analyse economic data. It emphasises microeconometrics, panel data, treatment effects, and time series. Students apply methods in projects, assess current research, and conduct their own research.

Quantitative Methods of Financial Markets

This teaches statistical and econometric tools for financial market analysis. Topics include option pricing, ARIMA, GARCH, point processes, and risk models like VaR. It prepares students for finance and insurance roles.

Survey Statistics

This focuses on analysing population data and covers survey methods like calibration, weighting, small sample estimation, missing data, and panel analysis. It prepares students for roles in official statistics.

Applied Microeconometrics and Quantitative Economic Research

This introduces methods for analysing economic data using statistics and machine learning. The emphasis is on decision-making, treatment effects, and practical application with programming. It enables independent project work.

Statistics in the Life Sciences

This covers Biometrics and Psychometrics with applications in medicine and psychology. Includes methods for censored/dependent data, small samples, clinical study design, and multiple testing. It prepares students for roles in biomedical or pharmaceutical research.

Data Science

This equips students with statistical and machine learning skills for data analysis, visualisation, and predictive modelling. It focuses on real-world applications, optimisation, and project-based learning for data-driven solutions.

Freie Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité

Internships are not compulsory, but they are encouraged. An internship can be recognised in the interdisciplinary elective area with up to 10 CP.

An entry requirement to the Statistics Master's programme is a university degree ("Hochschulabschluss") with a quantitative focus, for example, in economics, social sciences, industrial engineering, mathematics, including financial and business economics or physics. In particular, a minimum of 30 credit points (ECTS) need to have been acquired in mathematics (analysis and linear algebra), theory of probability, statistics, econometrics or in comparable training during undergraduate studies ("Erststudium"). This is a compulsory requirement in the admission process. Details can be found in the programme-specific admission rules (German: Fachspezifische Zugangs- und Zulassungsregeln des Master Statistik).

Approx. 360 EUR per semester

Approx. 900 to 1,200 EUR
(Living costs mainly depend on personal requirements and habits.)

The Career Service sends e-mails listing current student jobs and internship opportunities to all students. The university offers various student assistant positions.
See also

• stat.de, at Recent Posts
• Stellenticket of the HU

Financing options for students: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/university/international/coming-to-hu/welcome-centre/financess

Students are also eligible to apply for a "Deutschlandstipendium": https://deutschlandstipendium.hu-berlin.de/en.

Career Centre of HU: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/study/during-your-studies/electives-from-other-disciplines/career-centre

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is trying to assist as many students as possible in finding accommodation by allocating them to student dormitories in Berlin:
https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/university/international/coming-to-hu/welcome-centre/finances.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in student accommodation: exchange-students@hu-berlin.de.