The Department of Statistics was established in 2006. The Department currently offers a Four-year B.Sc. (Honours) in Statistics under the National Education Policy 2020 from academic year 2023-24. Besides this, Two-year regular M.Sc. Statistics, Five Year Integrated M.Sc. (Statistics), and Ph.D. (Statistics), programmes are also offered. In addition, a UGC-innovative programme namely, M.Sc. Quantitative Finance is to be re-started from AY 2025-26.
The Department received financial grants for development of infrastructure and research from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India under FIST program (2012-17) and from the University Grants Commission (UGC) – under Special Assistance Program (SAP) – DRS – I level (2016-21).
Vision of the Department
The Department envisions imparting both core theoretical and applied knowledge in Statistics, aligned with national and international standards. Our aim is to empower students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to become skilled professional statisticians who contribute meaningfully to society.
Mission of the Department
- To provide an excellent teaching and learning environment for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Statistics.
- To promote research in both theoretical and applied statistics that addresses societal needs.
- To offer hands-on training in statistical techniques through case studies and real-life data applications.
Moreover, the Department offers a wide range of opportunities to enhance students’ creativity, knowledge, skills, and employability through initiatives such as eminent lecture series, industry-institute interface programs, and internship-based projects. The research-oriented projects included in the M.Sc. curriculum further support students in pursuing careers in higher studies, startup ventures, industry roles, or government sectors.
The Department is supported by seven faculty members with diverse research expertise, who are actively engaged in research and regularly publish in national and international journals. Several of them have also secured research projects funded by recognized scientific bodies.
The Department of Statistics offers multidisciplinary courses for undergraduate students under the NEP 2020 framework, along with a variety of softcore (elective) courses for postgraduate students in accordance with the CBCS regulations, accessible across various Departments and Centres of Pondicherry University. In addition, the Department facilitates summer and winter internships for undergraduate and postgraduate students from other universities and institutes.
I am proud to share that our alumni have established themselves in prestigious positions across the globe. Many are serving as Senior Biostatisticians in leading pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Pfizer, pursuing postdoctoral research abroad, and holding academic positions as Assistant Professors in State and Central Universities, including NITs. Others have taken on influential roles such as Scientists in ICMR, Deputy Directors in the Indian Statistical Services, officers in NSSO-MOSPI, Assistant Managers (Statistics) in NABARD, and Research Officers in RBI.
I am confident that our future graduates will continue this legacy and play pivotal roles in policy formulation at both national and international levels, contributing meaningfully to the development of humanity and the betterment of society.