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PGCertPS in Data Science and Statistics

The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies (PGCertPS) is a flexible qualification that you can customise to match your study goals. See what your options are if you want to focus on Data Science and Statistics

Explore the world through data

Data Science and Statistics provide valuable insights into the world around us. They have applications in diverse fields, ranging from finance and ecosystem conservation to astrophysics, marketing, healthcare, agriculture, and linguistics.

Explore a wide range of courses, including data analysis, machine learning, statistical modelling, artificial intelligence, and data visualisation.

You can also complement your statistics or data science courses with courses offered by other faculties, such as the Wellington School of Business and Government.

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The university experience exceeded my expectations in every respect. I got to know people from all across the country, while studying subjects I have a passion for.

Jeremy Welsh

Graduate of the Wellington Faculty of Engineering

Recommended course combinations

Data Science focus

The following courses will help you develop the skills to visualise, summarise, analyse, and interpret data—and make sense of information from all areas of life, from business and health to the natural world.

Statistics focus

The following courses will teach you how to collect, analyse, and interpret data.

Explore all available courses

The PGCertPS is made up of courses worth 60 points. If you want to focus on the area of Statistics and Data Science, at least 40 of those 60 points need to be from courses offered by the Wellington Faculty of Engineering.

You can choose courses from across the Faculty to build a cohesive package that suits your professional goals and previous study experience. Follow the links listed below to see what postgraduate courses are offered within each general area of study:


Get in touch

If you’re keen to find out more about the PGCertPS, fill in our form—we’ll put you in touch with an academic adviser from your area of interest.

Go to the form
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Financial support

Furthering your education can be a big investment, both time-wise and financially. Many organisations offer tuition reimbursement programmes or other forms of financial support for their employees’ education. This can greatly reduce the financial burden of postgraduate study and make it easier for you to focus on your education.

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Asking your employer for support

Read our blog story about how pursuing postgraduate study can be a win-win for you and your employer.

See the story

Choose a different area of focus

The PGCertPS gives you the flexibility to choose courses from across the University to build a customised qualification. You can choose a main area of focus, or you can keep your qualification broad and pursue your own unique course of study across multiple subject areas.

Apart from Data Science and Statistics, you have the option of five other areas of focus:


Qualifying for a different postgraduate certificate

If the combination of courses you choose meets the requirements for another postgraduate certificate at this university, we’ll encourage you to take that programme instead of the PGCertPS.

Most postgraduate certificates can act as a stepping stone into a higher qualification, such as a postgraduate diploma or a Master’s degree. If you are thinking about further study in the future, a postgraduate certificate is a great way to get a taste for a programme and decide if it’s right for you.

The main existing postgraduate certificate offered by the Wellington Faculty of Engineering is the Postgraduate Certificate in Actuarial Science:

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PGCert in Actuarial Science

Hone your professional skills and develop practical competence in using actuarial science to solve real-life problems.

Explore the PGCertActSc

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Find out more about the PGCertPS

Get more details about the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies—including when you can start and how you can apply for it.

Go to the PGCertPS page