Operational Research and Applied Statistics (MSc)

Why study this course

This programme is designed to equip you with the necessary analytical skills, methods and ways of thinking to tackle and analyse complex organisational problems, help make better decisions and become confident statistical analysts.

A range of study options

Available on a one year full-time or three-year part-time basis.

Develop transferable skills

Acquire transferable operational research and statistical skills that are highly sought after in a broad range of sectors.

Research expertise

Learn from experts in the fields of Operational Research and Statistics.

Industry experience

Gain valuable work experience on placement opportunities available with industrial partners in the UK and abroad.

Our MSc in Operational Research and Applied Statistics aims to equip you with the necessary analytical skills, methods and ways of thinking to tackle and analyse complex organisational problems, help make better decisions, and to become confident statistical analysts.

This course is ideal training and experience for those looking for career opportunities in areas such as Operational Research, management science, statistics, management consultancy, business analytics, supply chain management, government operational research/statistics.

You will undertake case studies and project work which will give you the opportunity to put your skills into practice and provides valuable experience of working in the field. The dissertation project, typically undertaken with an industrial partner, will allow you to work with complex data in a creative manner and a problem-solving environment, as well as to communicate your ideas and findings effectively.

This part-time course is available over three years.

Where you'll study

School of Mathematics

Our intellectually exciting degrees are accredited to meet the educational requirements of the Chartered Mathematician designation.

Get in touch
+44 (0)29 2087 4811
Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4AG

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as engineering, mathematics, or science, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
A reference (academic or professional) to support your application. Your referee should comment on your academic ability, work ethic, and general character. References should be signed, dated and less than six months old at the time you submit your application.
A personal statement which expresses your willingness to engage with staff and students for mutual benefits and describes your motivation to establish or accelerate a career in operational research and statistics.

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

access to computers or devices that can store images
use of internet and communication tools/devices
curfews
freedom of movement
contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

As a part-time student you will typically need to be in the University for lectures and workshops for the equivalent of one day per week over 24 weeks each year. You will usually complete the taught component of the programme over two years with up to a further year to complete the project dissertation.

The programme will prepare you with essential techniques in Operational Research and Applied Statistics, and then allow you to select from optional courses in topics such as supply chain modelling, healthcare, and Statistics and Operational Research for Government (delivered with input from the Office for National Statistics and Welsh Assembly Government).

You will have the opportunity to put the theory into practice, through case studies and project work in the ‘real-world’. An important feature of the MSc is the project dissertation, allowing you to work with an external company.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.

Year one

If you are a part-time student, you will complete a number of core and optional modules in year one.

Optional modules for year one

Module title	Module code	Credits
Computational Methods	MAT004	10 credits
Time Series and Forecasting	MAT005	10 credits
Supply Chain Modelling	MAT006	10 credits
Statistics and Operational Research in Government	MAT007	10 credits
Healthcare Modelling	MAT009	10 credits
Financial Mathematics and Modern Actuarial Risk Theory	MAT011	10 credits
Credit Risk Scoring	MAT012	10 credits
Foundations of Operational Research and Analytics	MAT021	20 credits
Foundations of Operational Research and Analytics	MAT021	20 credits
Foundations of Statistics and Data Science	MAT022	20 credits
Foundations of Statistics and Data Science	MAT022	20 credits
Further Operational Research	MAT031	10 credits
Stochastic Search and Optimisation	MAT061	20 credits
Statistical Programming with R and Shiny	MAT514	10 credits
Mathematical Methods for Data Mining	MAT700	10 credits

Year two

If you are a part-time student, you will complete any outstanding taught and optional modules in year two.

Optional modules for year two

Module title	Module code	Credits
Computational Methods	MAT004	10 credits
Time Series and Forecasting	MAT005	10 credits
Supply Chain Modelling	MAT006	10 credits
Statistics and Operational Research in Government	MAT007	10 credits
Healthcare Modelling	MAT009	10 credits
Financial Mathematics and Modern Actuarial Risk Theory	MAT011	10 credits
Credit Risk Scoring	MAT012	10 credits
Foundations of Operational Research and Analytics	MAT021	20 credits
Foundations of Operational Research and Analytics	MAT021	20 credits
Foundations of Statistics and Data Science	MAT022	20 credits
Foundations of Statistics and Data Science	MAT022	20 credits
Further Operational Research	MAT031	10 credits
Stochastic Search and Optimisation	MAT061	20 credits
Statistical Programming with R and Shiny	MAT514	10 credits
Mathematical Methods for Data Mining	MAT700	10 credits

Year three

If you are a part-time student, you will complete your dissertation project in year three.

Core modules for year three

Module title	Module code	Credits
Dissertation	MAT099	60 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

The methods of teaching we employ will vary from module to module, as appropriate depending on the subject matter and the method of assessment. We teach using a mixture of lectures, seminars, computer workshops and tutorials.

You will apply the skills you develop through presentations, research assignments, case studies and the summer project.

How will I be assessed?

During the course your development will primarily be monitored via tutorial sheets, with other means where appropriate.

Written examinations, often in combination with an in-course element forms overall assessment.

How will I be supported?

All of our students are allocated a personal tutor when they enrol on the course. A personal tutor is there to support you during your studies, and can advise you on academic and personal matters that may be affecting you. You should have regular meetings with your personal tutor to ensure that you are fully supported.

You will have access to the Trevithick Library, which holds our collection of mathematical and computer science-related resources, as well as to the other Cardiff University Libraries.

We will provide you with a copy of the Student Handbook, which contains details of each School’s policies and procedures. We also support students through the University’s virtual learning environment, Learning Central, where you can ask questions in a forum or find course-related documents.

Cardiff University also offers a wide range of support services which are open to our students, such as the Graduate Centre, counselling and wellbeing, financial and careers advisors, the international office and the Student Union.

Feedback

We offer written and oral feedback, depending on the coursework or assessment you have undertaken. You will usually receive your feedback from the module leader. If you have questions regarding your feedback, module leaders are usually happy to give advice and guidance on your progress. We aim to provide you with feedback in a timely manner after you have submitted an assessment.

What skills will I practise and develop?

You will study a variety of problem-solving techniques, allowing you to build and use mathematical and statistical models, alongside skills to develop your abilities to communicate effectively to others.

This course has particular value in developing transferable skills including critical analysis and evaluation, the ability to undertake original and creative research, team working and the development of IT and presentational skills.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Due to the duration of this programme only Welsh and EU domiciled students who meet residency requirements (English domiciled students are excluded) are eligible for a postgraduate loan. See more information about eligibility for UK Government Postgraduate loans.

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Year	Tuition fee	Deposit
Year one	£5,725	None
Year two	£5,725	None

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

Year	Tuition fee	Deposit
Year one	£14,725	£2,500
Year two	£14,725	None

More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Funding

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2025 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2025/26.

Careers and placements

This programme prepares you for a career in areas such as operational research, management science, statistics, risk analysis, financial modelling, actuarial risk and credit scoring, management consultancy, business analytics, supply chain management, government operational research /statistics.

Our School of Mathematics has well established and strong links with many employers of Operational Researchers and Applied Statisticians, who regularly offer projects and/or recruit our students.

If you prefer to continue on a more academic career pathway, you may choose to continue your studies with a PhD.

Placements

Our programmes give you the opportunity for you to put the theory into practice, through case studies and project work in the ‘real-world’. An important feature of the MSc is the project dissertation, allowing you to work with an external company. Some of these placements will be abroad given our strong international connections. Cardiff School of Mathematics already has well established links with many organisations that employ Operational Researchers and Statisticians including Welsh Government, Sainsbury’s, British Airways, Network Rail and Welsh Water amongst others.

Next steps

Open Day visits

Register for information about our upcoming dates.

Make an enquiry

Contact us for more information about this course.

International

Learn more about our truly global university.

Apply now