University Courses

To work as a medical statistician, most companies require at least an MSc in Statistics, or an MSc with a significant statistical component, or a relevant subject. To work as a statistical programmer, most companies require at least a BSc in Mathematics or Statistics or a relevant subject.  Exact educational requirements can vary by company, so we would always recommend checking the job description for each role to confirm what qualifications are required.

Below are some useful links and information about university courses:


Undergraduate

Before doing an MSc, you will need to complete an undergraduate degree. Consider searching for BSc degrees in “Mathematics” or “Statistics” or similar subject areas e.g. a combined degree.  It is also worth considering whether the course offers the opportunity to do a placement year. For more information about student placements click here.

The following websites are good places to start your search:

 
 
Are you interested in doing a placement whilst at University? Read about the experiences of placement students and see what placements are available here.
 

Postgraduate

Consider searching for MSc degrees in “Statistics” or “Medical Statistics” or similar subject areas e.g. biostatistics, applied statistics or statistics with medical applications. 

The following websites are good places to start your search:

 

Alternatively, you could consider completing a Medical Statistician Level 7 (MSc integrated) Apprenticeship, which enables BSc qualified employees, to study towards an MSc in Medical Statistics, whilst they work on the job. Read more about apprenticeships here

Funding opportunities

We are delighted to announce that PSI will be sponsoring two MSc students for the 2026/27 academic year.

Each sponsorship will contribute up to £12,858 towards one year of tuition fees for a Master's degree related to Medical Statistics. This funding is available to UK home fee status students who are not currently receiving other financial support (excluding loans) and who have demonstrated a genuine passion for medical statistics and an interest in the pharmaceutical industry.

This initiative reflects PSI’s commitment to supporting the next generation of statisticians and encouraging careers in the pharmaceutical sector.

As part of the sponsorship, recipients will be encouraged to engage with the PSI community — for example, by contributing articles to the student newsletter and exploring opportunities to volunteer on a PSI committee.

 Interested students should submit a CV and cover letter including the following to msc_funding@psiweb.org by 11:59pm on 1st March 2026:

The cover letter should be no more than 500 words. It must include the following:

  • The course you intend to pursue including the university, whether you intend to undertake the course full or part time and your status of acceptance to the course. 
  • Your motivation for pursuing an MSc related to medical statistics. 
  • Any prior experience you have in medical statistics. 
  • An outline of your career aspirations and what you hope to achieve after completing the MSc. 

Contact careers@psiweb.org if you have any questions!

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Upcoming Events

PSI Training Course: Effective Leadership – the keys to growing your leadership capabilities

This course will consist of three online half-day workshops. The first will be aimed at building trust, the backbone of leadership and a key to becoming effective. This is key to building a solid foundation. The second will be on improving communication as a technical leader. This workshop will focus on communication strategies for different stakeholders and will involve tips on effective communication and how to develop the skills of active listening, coaching and what improv can teach us about good communication. The final workshop will bring these two components together to help leaders become more influential. This will also focus on how to use Steven Covey’s 7-Habits, in particular Habits 4, 5 and 6, which are called the habits of communication. The workshops will be interactive, allowing you to practice the concepts discussed. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. There will also be reflective time where you can think about what you are learning and how you might experiment with it.

PSI Career Young Virtual Event (Q1 2026)

This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.

Inclusive and Impactful Conference Contributions

This webinar brings together three bitesize complementary sessions to help PSI contributors create conference presentations and posters that communicate clearly and inclusively. Participants will explore how to refine their message, prepare materials effectively, and adopt practical habits that support confident, accessible delivery. A focused, supportive session designed to elevate every contribution.

AIMS SIG - Open-Source Lunch Bites

Our monthly webinar series allows attendees to gain practical knowledge and skills in open-source coding and tools, with a focus on applications in the pharmaceutical industry. This month’s session, “Graphics Basics,” will introduce the fundamentals of producing graphics using the ggplot2 package.

Joint PSI/EFSPI Visualisation SIG 'Wonderful Wednesday' Webinars

Our monthly webinar explores examples of innovative data visualisations relevant to our day to day work. Each month a new dataset is provided from a clinical trial or other relevant example, and participants are invited to submit a graphic that communicates interesting and relevant characteristics of the data.

Strategic role of statisticians for JCA

Join our Health Technology Assessment (HTA) European Special Interest Group (ESIG) for a webinar on the strategic role of statisticians in the Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA). The introduction of the JCA marks a new era for evidence generation and market access in Europe. As HTA requirements become more harmonized and methodologically demanding, the role of statisticians has evolved far beyond data analysis. Today, statistical expertise is central to shaping clinical development strategies, designing robust comparative evidence, and ensuring that submissions withstand the scrutiny of EU-level assessors. In this webinar, we explore how statisticians contribute strategically to successful JCA outcomes.

Statisticians in the Age of AI: On Route to Strategic Partnership

A 90-minute webinar featuring two case studies from Bayer and Roche demonstrating how statisticians successfully integrated into AI programs, followed by interactive discussion on strategies for elevating statistical expertise in the AI era.

PSI Career Young Virtual Event (Q2 2026)

This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.

PSI Career Young Virtual Event (Q3 2026)

This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.

PSI Career Young Virtual Event (Q4 2026)

This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.

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