STEM

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• a graduate training scheme

University

You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate degree in:

• statistics
• mathematics
• economics
• operational research
• psychology

You may be able to apply for jobs if you have a degree in a subject that included statistics as part of your course, for example social science or geography.

Courses that give you the chance to spend a year in industry or get work experience through placements, internships or real business projects may give you an advantage when you are looking for graduate jobs.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

College

You may be able to start by doing a T level in Digital Business Services. This could give you some of the skills you need to apply for a trainee position with a company.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You could start in a junior data analysis role through a data technician advanced apprenticeship.

You could go on to complete a data analysis higher apprenticeship or data scientist degree apprenticeship.

If you want to work in health data analysis you could do a medical statistician degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Volunteering and work experience

You can develop your professional skills and gain real work experience by helping community organisations and charities. For example, with the Royal Statistical Society.

Other routes

You can apply to join the Government Statistical Service (GSS) as a trainee through the Civil Service Fast Stream programme. You'll need a good degree or postgraduate qualification.

The GSS also directly recruits graduates and people with relevant experience into positions like statistical officer.

More information

Further information

You can find out more on careers in statistics from the Royal Statistical Society.

View all vacancies in this region

You can use your skills to work in a lot of different areas, for example healthcare, finance, environment, sports and e-commerce.

With experience, you could:become a manager; move into teaching and academic research; work as a freelance consultant; become a data scientist to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve businesses

For other roles linked to Data Scientist, employers such as SSE have roles as a Data Analyst Apprentice.

You can find out more on careers in statistics from the Royal Statistical Society.