Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Arts (Statistics) focuses on understanding and interpreting evidence and using data to support decisions under uncertainty.
• Students develop both statistical theory and practical quantitative skills for real-world statistical analysis.
• The programme reflects the growing importance of data across business, government, science, health, environmental management and technology.
• Students learn to use statistical software and modern data-analysis techniques, including data visualisation, regression, statistical modelling and data mining.
• Massey highlights the relevance of statistics to questions such as financial decisions, medical-treatment effectiveness, marketing performance and interpreting complex data.
• The degree is suitable for students who enjoy quantitative problem-solving, teamwork and working with modern information technology.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The BA combines the Statistics major with the University's BA core, electives and any optional minor or second major.

The Statistics major contains 120 credits. Massey's current course structure includes the following areas:

100-level Statistics:

• 161101 Statistics for Business – charts and summary statistics, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, regression, time-series analysis and quality management.
• 161111 Applied Statistics – statistical literacy, data collection, sampling, experimental design, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and regression; students use Excel and RStudio.
• 297101 Statistical Data Science – introductory programming and statistics for transforming, visualising and modelling data; data cleaning, data wrangling, visualisation, predictive modelling, probability, sampling and reproducibility.

Massey recommends taking either 161111 Applied Statistics or 297101 Statistical Data Science in the first year.

Further Statistics study includes:

• 161250 Data Analysis – statistical concepts, data exploration, hypothesis testing, model evaluation and presentation of conclusions.
• 161251 Regression Modelling – simple and multiple regression, linear models, diagnostics, inference, polynomial regression, time-dependent models, variable selection, nonlinear and weighted regression.
• 161228 Statistical Modelling for Experiments – statistical inference and modelling, experimental design and analysis of controlled experiments.
• 233214 GIS and Spatial Statistics – geospatial data, GIS software, mapping, spatial statistical techniques, kernel smoothing, kriging and spatially correlated data.
• 161307 Reproducible Visualisation for Statistics – reproducible data visualisation, mapping, time-series forecasting and visual inference.
• 161308 Bayesian Computational Statistics: Towards Causal Thinking – Bayesian computational methods and causal thinking, with applications including ecology, genetics, nutrition science and psychology.
• 161324 Data Mining – preparing, cleansing and visualising complex datasets, supervised and unsupervised modelling, ensemble methods and data-mining software.
• 161331 Biostatistics – statistical methods for biological and medical data, including nonlinear regression, binary/count data, mixed-effects models and statistical software.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The primary specialisation is:

• Statistics – Bachelor of Arts major.

Students may also add an optional minor. Massey states that the minor must be in a different subject from the major and can be selected from subjects offered through the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science, subject to the relevant regulations.

Programme Highlights

• 120-credit Statistics major within a 360-credit Bachelor of Arts.
• Combination of statistical theory and practical data analysis.
• Training in statistical software including Excel and RStudio.
• Exposure to data science, regression, data mining, visualisation, biostatistics, spatial statistics and Bayesian methods.
• Strong quantitative and analytical focus.
• Applications across business, government, science, health and environmental fields.
• Distance and online study option.
• Manawat? campus option.
• Optional minor or double-major pathway within the BA structure.
• Recommended mathematics preparation before starting the Statistics major.

Career Outcomes

Massey states that Statistics skills are useful across:

• Government: policy analysis, Census, law and national defence.
• Business: economics, engineering, marketing, computer science, data mining and business analytics.
• Physical sciences: astronomy, chemistry and physics.
• Health and medicine: genetics, clinical trials, epidemiology and pharmacology.
• Environment: agriculture, ecology, forestry and animal populations.

Massey's mathematics and statistics subject information also identifies potential roles such as:

• Data analyst or consultant
• Data analyst
• Market research analyst
• Policy analyst
• Statistician.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current Statistics BA page lists Manawat? and distance/online study.
• International students may study on campus in New Zealand or online outside New Zealand.
• The latest 2026 International Prospectus lists February and July starts for Statistics, with a three-year duration.
• The 2027 Massey academic calendar gives 22 February 2027 as the Semester One start and 12 July 2027 as the Semester Two start.
• A basic mathematics background is recommended, with Year 12/NCEA Level 2 mathematics as the example threshold.
• Year 13/NCEA Level 3 mathematics is recommended.
• Students without the recommended mathematics background may need preparatory mathematics courses.
• Statistics courses have prerequisites and restrictions, so course planning is important.
• Students who have already completed a bachelor's degree may request replacement of 230111 T? Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 T? Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of their choice, subject to Massey's Special Permission process and supporting evidence.
• The 2026 regulations include transitional provisions for students enrolled in the Statistics endorsement before 1 January 2026; these arrangements expire on 31 December 2028.

International Student Visa Requirements

For international students completing the Statistics BA online from outside New Zealand, Massey expressly permits international students to study online outside New Zealand. A New Zealand student visa is therefore not required merely because the student is enrolled in this online programme while remaining outside New Zealand.

Students who intend to study on campus in New Zealand generally need an appropriate New Zealand student visa. The current Fee Paying Student Visa requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of tuition payment or an acceptable arrangement/scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable insurance.
• Health and character evidence where required.
• Evidence of genuine intention to study.
• Evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase onward travel.