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

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité

Most courses are taught in English. The compulsory course "Stochastik 1" and a few other courses are only offered in German.
All modules with a German title will be taught in German, and all modules with an English title will be taught in English!

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 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 lecture period in the winter semester usually begins in mid-October and ends in mid-February. The lecture period in the summer semester begins in mid-April and ends in mid-July.

There are two examination periods per semester:

Summer semester
First examination period: mid-/late July to early/mid-August
Second examination period: beginning of October to mid-October

Winter semester
First examination period: mid-/late February to early/mid-March
Second examination period: beginning of April to mid-April

2 May to 31 May (limitation period) for the following winter semester
https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/admission/calendar

The Master of Science in Statistics is an accredited consecutive graduate course of studies and covers a course load of 120 credit points (ECTS) with an average period of study of four semesters.

Compulsory Area (62 CP)

• Stochastik I (10 CP)
• Econometric Methods or Methoden der Statistik (10 CP)
• Multivariate Statistical Analysis or Multivariate Verfahren (6 CP)
• Advanced Econometrics or Statistik für Fortgeschrittene (6 CP)
• Master's thesis (30 CP)

Interdisciplinary Area (10 CP)

Specialisation Area (48 LP)
Students are required to select two of the seven areas of specialisation.
Details of the individual courses are listed in the Module Descriptions ("Modulbeschreibungen", in German).

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.

PDF Download

The study plan recommends the third semester as particularly suitable for an optional study period at a university abroad. To simplify the recognition of academic achievements and examinations completed at the foreign university, it is advisable to conclude a learning agreement in advance.

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

No tuition fees

Approx. 320 EUR per semester

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

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).

Applicants must provide proof of their German and English language proficiency at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

2 May to 31 May (limitation period) for the following winter semester
https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/admission/calendar

Financing options for students: https://www.international.hu-berlin.de/en/coming-to-humboldt-universitat/services-informations/finances

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

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

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.international.hu-berlin.de/en/coming-to-humboldt-universitat/services-informations/accommodation.

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

Career Centre of HU: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/hu-en/career-centre-scientific-further-education/career-centre/career-centre

All consulting services offered by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the School of Business and Economics can be found here:
https://www.international.hu-berlin.de/en/coming-to-humboldt-universitat/programmes/complete-degree-programme.