What Alumni say about Data Science, MathStat and MORSE
"I was initially attracted to MORSE as it gave me the opportunity to study a range of subjects under one degree. I acquired a strong understanding of Economics and Operational Research in the first two years, however I chose to specialise in Mathematics and Statistics in my third year.
I thoroughly enjoyed the range of applications that MORSE allows. In particular, I found medical applications and actuarial modelling very interesting, and they acted as a welcome alternative to the more theoretical content of the course.
Overall, I would recommend the MORSE degree to anyone who has both an interest in theoretical mathematics but is also curious to learn about its real world applications."
Joe Richardson, BSc MORSE 2021, MSc Statistical Science Student, University of Oxford
"Being fascinated by numbers and the logical methodology required to solve problems from a young age, I was certain a degree in Mathematics and Statistics at Warwick would be where I would succeed the most. I strongly believe the combination of these two beautiful sciences put together give you both the theoretical foundations required to intuitively solve problems and the practical understanding to apply these thoughts to the real world.
Throughout your degree you will have the option to choose from countless modules and find an area which you are most attracted to. With the support of the Statistics department as well as your personal tutor you will be able to flourish in a warm, welcoming, and wonderful environment.
Doing this degree has enriched my analytical and problem-solving skills and given me the quantitative foundations for a career in trading. Stepping into a highly competitive field, I am assured that my degree will benefit me in stepping up to the challenges of life after university."
Krupa Raikundlia, BSc MathStat 2021, JP Morgan Equity Derivatives Off-cycle Analyst, London
"It is an incredible rarity to have been part of a statistics department with such scale and autonomy (rather than the more usual situation where you find statistics hidden away in the corner of a mathematics department). For this reason, I've been surrounded by people that share my passion for data and the handling of uncertainly, and have been able to take highly focused modules taught by world-leading academics. The skills and experience I have developed from this have made me a strong candidate for a wide variety of job roles, but more importantly, have been immensely enjoyable to attain.
The courses offered by the Warwick Statistics Department offer a healthy work-life balance, allowing you to develop into a rounded individual. It is wonderful to enter job interviews and not be restricted to talking about just my academic background, but rather sharing involvement in societies, projects, and tutoring. On top of this, I am pleased to have been able to complete a placement year working as a data scientist at AstraZeneca. This provided me with invaluable experience with real-world data and endless talking points for job interviews.
If statistics is your calling, in my opinion, it's hard to think of a better place to be."
Tim Hargreaves, BSc MathStat 2021, Part III MASt Student, University of Cambridge
"I have many fond memories which I cherish from my time as a MathStat student. The Mathematical Sciences Building is modern and well-equipped, and I enjoyed my lectures there. The course has smart and self-driven peers to work with and world-class academics to learn from. The Statistics Department staff are friendly and they offer a wealth of support.
The BSc Mathematics and Statistics course is highly flexible and offers both theoretical knowledge and technical applications. It not only gave me exposure to core maths and statistics theories, but also the freedom to choose from a wide range of modules, such as within the actuarial and financial domain. By staying motivated, focused, and hard-working throughout the programme, I acquired a quantitative mindset and skill that laid the foundation for my postgraduate studies in Risk Management at LSE.
This programme is perfect for any student who derives pleasure from solving quantitative problems and is seeking to expand their knowledge of theoretical mathematics and statistical methods, and to sharpen their programming skills."
Nanette Yu, BSc MathStat 2021, MSc Quantitative Methods for Risk Management Student at London School of Economics (LSE)
"The variety of challenges offered by the Data Science BSc have definitely been my favourite aspect of studying at Warwick. The ability to tackle diverse tasks of a challenging nature, on a daily - or even hourly - basis, ensured I was highly engaged throughout my degree. I regularly found myself switching from weekly maths assignments to large pieces of computer science coursework, or from my independent research-based dissertation to group statistics projects, and the variety offered ensured I was highly motivated throughout.
I am so grateful to be entering the business world equipped with a specialised degree in the subject that is predicted to drive the economy for the foreseeable future, instead of a general maths/statistics and computer science joint honours. I know that the career prospects associated with Warwick, coupled with a demand for individuals who posses the skills the degree teaches, will serve me well in the early stages of my career. For example, I was recently headhunted to interview for a Data Scientist role ahead of 400 applicants, simply because my degree was specialised and I studied at Warwick."
Ben Barlow, BSc Data Science 2020, Business Intelligence Analyst at Account Technologies, London
"In some ways, choosing to study Data Science was a bit of a gamble, since we were the first cohort to be given the opportunity. However, on reflection, when looking back at it after two years, I can honestly say it is one of the best decisions I have made. Despite the very specific sounding name, the course involves an interesting mix of statistics and computer science - two subjects that compliment each other very well, and provide a solid foundation for a wide range of careers ranging from software engineering to finance.
There is a great deal of flexibility offered in module selection, allowing you to keep your options open at first, but specialise as you gradually discover the areas in which you are most interested. Despite the course being challenging, there is still ample time to join some of the many societies and sports clubs offered, which personally have given me many amazing memories and have greatly enhanced my university experience!"
Enis Nazif, BSc Data Science 2017, MSc Statistical Science Student at Oxford
"I can’t deny I was conflicted about applying for MORSE. Is it a recognised degree? Will everyone read ‘MORSE’ and assume it’s related to Morse code? After applying for internships in my second year and being very successful in the application, I realised it is definitely a degree worth having, especially if you plan to enter the world of finance. All the employers know about MORSE and have a good idea of how prestigious it is. This not only was a relief, but it boosted my confidence in interviews. Knowing that I was the type of candidate they were looking for made the whole process a lot easier, and I received multiple offers from well-established firms.
If you are career driven and want to gain the skills required for a life in the city, I would say MORSE is for you. Its flexible nature along with the massive support system available allow you to thrive on a challenging course. I have made lots of friends and would happily recommend this course."
Francesca James, BSc MMORSE 2016, Consultant at Willis Towers Watson, Leeds
"Whilst studying my A-levels I decided I wanted to be an actuary, so I chose MORSE because of the exemptions it provides for the actuarial examinations.
However, I changed my mind after the first year and, thankfully, MORSE is amazingly flexible - I learned four different major subjects during the first year to widen my horizons and gradually find what suited me best.
If you are a student enjoying maths, statistics, economics or any financial related subjects but don't know exactly what to do after graduation, MORSE is definitely a great choice for you. This course helps students build fundamental knowledge and offers a wide range of potential career choices.
I always felt supported by my department and reassured that there was always a person to ask for help."
Alexandra Lin, BSc MORSE 2016, Analyst at BlackRock International, Edinburgh
"MMORSE is a wonderful combination of Mathematics, Optimisation, Statistics and Economics, allowing you to explore each of these areas in the first two years and then specialise in what you find most interesting.
I chose to follow the Statistics with Mathematics stream, which has provided me with deep understanding of statistics and probability theory. I thoroughly enjoyed my degree and my personal highlights from it are:
- the Erasmus year at LMU Munich
- my fourth-year dissertation in the field of applied probability
- the opportunity to teach students during my Master's year."
Desislava Ivanova, MMORSE 2016, Quantitative Research Analyst at UBS, London
"I have just finished my 4th year of the MMORSE degree and like many of the 4th year students I have ended up studying more statistics than any of the other 3 subjects. Although very challenging in terms of quantity and difficulty of work, MORSE is a very rewarding course and I feel that I have learnt many skills that are applicable to a wide variety of jobs. Next year I will be beginning a PhD with the Oxford Warwick statistics program and MORSE, especially the fourth year dissertation, is perfect preparation for this.
At the beginning of my degree I hadn’t considered doing a PhD, however MORSE and the lecturers in the statistics department have given me the confidence to continue on to further study. Despite the high workload, I have still found time for the social aspects of university. I have played football regularly on a Wednesday and Saturday in the Warwick intramural leagues and in my 4th year was the treasurer of Matchday society which organises trips to Premier League football matches."
Jack Carter, BSc MMORSE 2016, PhD student at OxWaSP (Oxford Warwick Statistics Programme)
"As described in the course title, you will learn fundamental knowledge of different fields in the first year. Although challenging, you can find which profession you are most interested in. I was a MMORSE student at first. Before entering the university I wanted to work as an actuary after graduation and MMORSE is the one that provides exemptions of some actuarial exams. However, after two years' study I found that my interest lies in statistics and only wanted to focus on this area. The three-year version would be appropriate for me, so I transferred to MORSE.
Due to the flexibility, in my final year, I selected seven statistics modules. These modules gave me a broad training in statistical methodology, statistics in finance and medical research, and computational statistics. And, undoubtedly, what I learnt from MORSE is a good preparation for my MSc course in Applied Statistics. So whether you have decided which stream to take or not, MORSE should be the best choice for you!."
Xuewen Yu, BSc MORSE 2016, MSc student in Applied Statistics at Oxford
"When I came across the MORSE degrees, I knew that they were perfect for me! Knowing that I wanted to become an actuary, the MMORSE degree was ideal as it allowed me to tailor the course towards this end goal via the Actuarial and Finance stream. This gave me access to modules that would provide me with relevant knowledge and more exemptions from the actuarial exams.
MORSE is a highly sought after degree by many of the top financial companies, who recognise the diversity of subjects involved, and that by gaining the degree you automatically hold a desirable skill set.
During my third year I was fortunate enough to receive a graduate actuarial job offer, completing my third year as a MMORSE student before graduating. No matter what you chose to do after University, MORSE is an incredible degree to have under your name."
Annika Cove, BSc MMORSE 2016, Graduate Actuarial Analyst at Aon, London
"I can safely say that I have not looked back on my decision to fulfill the MMORSE degree at Warwick. MMORSE will give you freedom to tailor the course as to how you want, so you can focus on areas of particular interest along with discovering new strengths.
It is challenging but also intellectually stimulating and will open doors to a whole host of career related prospects.
MMORSE has lead me into a career as an actuary (backed with the all-important actuarial exemptions) and I will be forever grateful for the unforgettable experience and invaluable knowledge acquired over the years I studied at Warwick."
Prajay Avlani, BSc MMORSE 2016, Graduate Actuarial Analyst at RenaissanceRe (Syndicate 1458), London
"I chose MORSE over a maths degree due to the flexibility it offers me. I loved maths before University, but once I started this course, I soon realised the amount of proofs and theoretical thinking was too intense for me, and so I chose a more financial economical & business route (a subject I didn’t think of studying at University).
I chose MORSE because the options available for me in 2nd year span the Maths, Business, Statistics and Economics departments, and gave me chances to explore interesting and challenging modules. The work is hard and takes time to adjust to University level standards, so along with vibrant social scene at Warwick, you will definitely be busy! I strongly recommend applying as it is highly-valued by employers, sets you in good stead for working life as I’ve gained computer, analytical and organisational skills. eriously consider MORSE as it opens so many more doors!"
Sam Longbottom-Smith, BSc MORSE 2016, Graduate training programme at Lloyd’s, London
"I was told about MORSE by my 6th Form maths teacher and it was one of the best pieces of advice I got while applying for universities.
Having experienced the maths side of MORSE, I am glad that I did not go directly down the straight maths route. There are too many other engaging ways of applying maths to other topics, especially in economics.
The course caters to a wide degree of interests, and the flexibility means that you can concentrate on what you specifically want to do.
I don't know any other courses with so much choice in the final year."
Freddy North, BSc MORSE 2016, Assistant Tax Advisor at EY, Cambridge
"Daunted about one of the subjects encompassed by MORSE? Then don't worry! The best thing about the degree is the ability to pick the modules you're most interested in after first year.
I hadn't done any Economics beforehand and I found the Mathematics modules tough, however the excellent teaching and support system helped me through. The work is sometimes challenging but the future prospects and social side of University life make it worth it.I have had a great time here and I'm very glad I took the chance applying to an unfamiliar degree!"
Emily Smith, BSc MMORSE 2015, Actuary at Towers Watson, London
Pictured presenting her 4th year dissertation about quality assessment for high-dimensional genomic time course data
"Exciting, challenging and, most importantly, stimulating - this would be my answer if someone asked to summarise my time spent at Warwick in three words. Both university and Statistics department goes to great lengths to make sure all students get support for any issue they might have, which makes the learning process that much easier and also more enjoyable.
However, university life does not stop when you finish all your homework here at Warwick! Students have plenty of opportunities to join different student societies, sports clubs, or even create their own. These two sides complement each other beautifully making university life a great experience, which you do not want to end. However, after you graduate, you are left with amazing memories, a great degree, and, most likely, with you dream job already lined up for you."
Zygymantas Sirka, 3rd year Bsc MORSE 2015, Goldman Sachs, New York City
"MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics) certainly requires hard work and motivation.
But it is worth it since it allows you to go into a wide-range of careers and is a degree that is highly-valued by a wide range of employers.
Doing an inter-disciplinary course like MORSE is great for keeping your options open."
Bethan Copsey, 4th year BSc MMORSE 2015, Medical Statistician, Oxford Clinical trials research unit, PhD programme
Pictured presenting her 4th year dissertation about using coalescent theory to model yeast reproduction
"Coming into my first year at Warwick, I had a completely different view on mathematics than I do now. At A-level I much preferred my pure maths modules, whilst not really enjoying the statistics side of the subject – which I found to be a process of churning out answers without any understanding of the hows or whys. Not long into my first year however, I found out that pure maths was no longer concerned with calculations but rather rigorous proofs of quite abstract ideas and this difference is something I wasn't prepared for and as such, really struggled with. Statistics modules on the other hand, in complete contrast to A-level statistics, developed ideas motivated by examples from finance, biostatistics and medicine to name but a few, which I really enjoyed. There is also the option of studying a language as part of your degree, which I have availed of every year."
Liam Mohan, 4th year BSc MMORSE 2015, Trainee Actuarial Consultant with Hymans Robertson LLP, London
"The opportunities available have made all the difference when thinking about what to do after graduation. Between extra curricular activities and a research project, being involved has opened many opportunities. By the time I graduate I’ll have been a MORSE student for two years and a MathStat student for another two.
If anything, I think this says how wonderfully flexible the course is without compromising on your ability to specialise. The optional modules, in particular the unusual ones, help make to most of your degree."
Tom Suchen Jin, 4th year BSc MMathStat 2014, Oxford Warwick Statistics Programme (OxWaSP)
Pictured presenting his 4th year dissertation about Characterisation of CT noise in projection and image space in 3D printing quality assessment
"MORSE is a one of kind of degree that few universities have tried emulating with the same amount of success and reputation. The diversity of the courses provided by leading departments in the UK and the applications of Mathematics in real life situations, whilst providing a solid mathematical foundation, were particular highlights for me during my studies.
The teaching is provided at a high standard, with modules and lecturers being suitably exciting to eventually pursue a PhD in Statistics at the university. The knowledge and skills acquired at Warwick, both curricular and extra curricular, have aided me extremely well at my current job at Amazon."
Christopher Nam, BSc MMORSE 2009 & PhD in Statistics 2013, Forecasting Research Scientist at Amazon HQ, Seattle
"The MMORSE degree at Warwick was one of the best things that has happened to me. It provided me with a solid background for applying statistical methodology and theory in incredibly many and different areas.
MMORSE helped me create a map of the statistical field and made me confident to know where and what to look for when presented with a new data set. As I always wanted to pursue a PhD in Statistics, I had to chose wisely the area to specialize in.
MORSE is probably one of the best degrees to help you do this due to its diverse and cross-collaborative nature. Furthermore, the experience of all lecturers and researchers in the department has been invaluable for finding out the thousands of applications of statistics theory. They also supported me throughout my PhD application process and I am more than grateful for all their time and effort.
Zhana Kuncheva, BSc MMORSE 2012, PhD student at Imperial College London
"Having studied Maths, Further Maths and Economics at A Level I found that the mix of subjects offered by MMORSE made it the perfect degree for me. Having completed MMORSE now it is clear to see that I made the right choice as it helps you guide yourself into your chosen career; whilst also giving you the opportunity to participate in extra curricular activities, in my case playing for the mens tennis team. This enabled me to secure an internship, and then a graduate job at CitiGroup where I am now a trader of CLOs (Collateralised Loan Obligations.) My understanding of mathematical models and finance, due to the wide variety of modules I could choose from, has provided me with the knowledge, skills and qualities needed to excel in this type of fast pace and hard-working environment."
Steven Tubb, BSc MMORSE 2012, Trader of CLOs at CitiGroup, London
"I initially chose to study MMORSE because of the wide variety of disciplines covered, as I wasn't yet sure in which field I want to specialize. The course gave me the freedom to take modules from more than 5 academic departments and decide whether I want to acquire more theoretical or practical knowledge. After graduating, I went on to do a MSc in Computing Science at Imperial College and am currently working as a Software Engineer."
Gergana Ivanova, BSc MMORSE 2012, MSc in Computer Science at Imperial College London 2013, Software Engineer at Softwire, London
"Doing a MORSE degree at Warwick develops a wide range of skills that are attractive to employers from different industries and professions. With my MORSE degree, I got a job as a software developer at Delcam, a leading CADCAM supplier in the manufacturing industry, even though I had very little past experience at writing code. Two of the most important skills that I developed doing MORSE are a strong problem solving ability and good analytical skills.
I use this skill every day in my job to understand code, find ways of implementing new features, to diagnose faults in the code, and to learn new programming skills. I'm glad I took MORSE at Warwick as it helped me get a job in a profession that I enjoy and that I was not qualified for."
Mark McCorrie, BSc MMORSE 2012, Software Developer at Delcam, Birmingham
"I have always been keen on working with numbers, and when I discovered MORSE I knew that this is the course I want to study further at University level. MORSE graduates have well rounded knowledge highly applicable in almost all areas of industry. Although this course is pretty intensive, I must say, it is so much fun! I met new people and made new friends which are very important for me.
MORSE staff members, professors, lecturers, tutors are professionals in their areas and are very supportive. I am very thankful for all knowledge, skills and experience I got from studying MORSE. University life shouldn’t be only about studies, it is a time when you have a chance to discover your potential and enhance all your existing skills."
Gaini Bishekova, BSc MORSE 2012, Consultant in the Advisory Department at Ernst & Young DC, London
"When I was taking my A levels, I wanted to be an actuary because I liked Mathematics, and thought MMORSE would be an ideal degree because it allowed me to get exemptions for actuarial examinations. I ended up changing my mind lots of times about what I wanted to do after graduation - but thankfully, MMORSE was flexible enough and provided me with sufficient mathematical and statistical background for other jobs I was interested in, and allowed me to chose modules I was interested in doing.
I even did a Introduction to Secondary School Teaching course when I was considering becoming a teacher, and had the opportunity to go to Africa to teach for six weeks during summer!"
Keegan Kang, MMORSE 2012, PhD student in Statistical Science at Cornell
"I chose MORSE because the variety and flexibility of the course appealed to me over a straight maths degree. From the outset, the course was challenging, especially the first year maths which required a very different way of thinking.
The nature of the course allowed me to choose modules that I found interesting, especially in later years when there was more focus on individual preference. I discovered medical statistics, which I found to be the most engaging and practical of all my modules. I completed my fourth-year dissertation in meta-analysis, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the enthusiasm and support of my supervisor led me to apply for graduate school."
Mareli Augustyn, BSc MMORSE 2011, MSc in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 2012, Medical Statistician at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford
"When applying to university I wanted to ensure the skills I learnt would be useful when it came to finding a job afterwards. This was difficult since despite knowing that I wanted to do something analytical, I didn’t really know what career path I wanted to go down. MMORSE was therefore perfect – offering a good understanding of theoretical topics but more importantly providing the skillsets required to apply technical ability to solve real-world business problems.
The broad range of modules and flexibility of the course not only serves to increase your employability, but also gives you the opportunity to work out where your strengths and interests lie."
Toby Holland, BSc MMORSE 2011, Insight Analyst at dunnhumby, London
"The most enjoyable part of MMORSE to me was that it provided me with a very broad coverage of basic knowledge in maths and stats and a wide variety application backgrounds of those knowledge. After I finished MMORSE, I felt that I'd like some further development in skills of solving real and relatively complicated problems independently, so I went into PhD in Scientific Computing, which is not a computer science course, but using computers to solve mathematical problems.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to do an internship in quantitative modelling at the IMF. I am feeling blessed to have chosen MMORSE as my degree course. The topics studied in the course are playing a crucial role in helping me to find clues for solutions of my research today."
Fan Zhang, BSc MMORSE 2006, PhD in Scientific Computing at Warwick 2011, Internat. Monetary Fund, Washington DC
"It is the breadth and depth of the demanding MMORSE degree, and the specialism I took in my fourth year in Statistics and Operational Research, that allows me to hold (in my opinion!) one of the most interesting jobs in the Ministry of Justice.
Here I am employed by a team of Operational Researchers, on the UK Civil Service Analytical Fast Stream Programme, and currently seconded to work with a team of Economists. Studying MORSE has provided me with a solid technical understanding of methods used in assorted disciplines but also a considerable ability to apply these in the real world and communicate them to both technical and non-technical audiences - this is precisely why I chose to study the MORSE degree at Warwick."
Sam Cuthbertson, BSc MMORSE 2011, Assistant Statistician at the Ministry of Justice, Whitehall, London
"MORSE gave me exposure to a range of disciplines and provided the flexibility to specialise in the areas that interested me.
This challenging degree has enabled me to secure a role in the Finance department of an investment bank."
James Thomas, BSc MMORSE 2011, Finance Department at Deutsche Bank in London
"MORSE is not just a pure statistics course, but also an all-round programme which equips you with lots of quantitative skills and programming techniques. You will get to learn its application in different areas such as economics, finance and medicine.
It is also a flexible course that there are many choices of modules to choose from. If you like Maths and Statistics and would like to carry on dealing with numbers in your future career, then MORSE is a good stepping stone for you."
Wendy Nga Yeung, BSc MMORSE 2011, Graduate Transport Planner at MVA in Hong Kong
"I am about to begin a fully funded PhD studentship for Cancer Research UK at their institute in Cambridge, where I will also be a member of the university. My work will involve a large statistical and computational element as well as working at the expanding interface between statistical sciences, molecular biology and cancer research, often in collaboration with the experimental groups at the institute. I could not have arrived at this position without the excellent teaching and support I received while at Warwick which allowed me to realise my potential and study the areas I was interested in.
A degree in Statistics has given me exciting opportunities to look at in many fields and so I would strongly recommend that those who enjoy it pursue it further."
Alex Tunnicliffe, BSc MMathStat 2011, PhD student in Cambridge
"There is no point hiding from the fact that MORSE is a tough degree course. Don't let this put you off though. The challenge was highly enjoyable and rewarding, with the valuable opportunity to study a very wide range of different and relevant areas.
By studying MORSE at Warwick, you'll be working alongside similarly talented students and you'll be given excellent support from the academic staff. I have chosen to undertake a career in the technology sector as an analyst, and this shows that the course can lead to a huge range of possible careers. I am very pleased that I made the decision to study MORSE and would definitely recommend it to anyone with a strong numerical background and the motivation to study a wide range of topics."
Parit Shah (right), BSc MMORSE 2011, Technical Analyst at KPMG in London, pictured with his brother (also a MORSE graduate)
"The days which I spent in Warwick were enjoyable and memorable. The friendship of my schoolmates and the dedicated support and guidance of my tutors made me feel like at home. The 4 year MMORSE programme not only gave me a broad overview on various prospects, but also equipped me well with different skill sets which are valuable to my future career. After gaining the degree with Actuarial and Financial Mathematics specialism, I went on to pursue a further Master’s degree in Finance at the University of Cambridge.
With the growing passion in the financial industry, I started my career in the Regional Actuarial department at HSBC Insurance in Hong Kong, where my daily role involves pricing products and valuing liabilities for the life business. Here I find my work both exciting and challenging where I can apply most of the numerical and analytical techniques which I have learnt at Warwick to real life situations. I am now continuing my home study with the support of the company to acquire the actuarial professional qualification and striving towards my career goal."
Victoria Koo, MMORSE 2010, BSc Master's in Finance at University of Cambridge, HSBC Insurance in Hong Kong
"Doing a statistics degree at Warwick enabled me to 'try out' a huge variety of statistical areas until I found my favourite - medical statistics. I was also fortunate to be able to do two research projects which was an amazing opportunity and planted the research seed into my head! I would be lying if I said that I found my degree easy. However, it makes me very proud to say that I have a degree from Warwick. Not only that, my degree enabled me to go straight into a job without needing an MSc thus illustrating the calibre of the degree that Warwick offers. If you like statistics, and like hard work then Warwick is the place for you!"
Laura Bonnett, BSc MMathStat 2008, Medical Statistician in Liverpool
* Alumni employment information usually mentions the first job title after graduation only.