Department of Statistics

M.Sc. Statistics (Regular): The question paper for the entrance examination for admission to the M.Sc. Statistics programme will consist of 100 Multiple Choice Questions in Statistics and Mathematics with the following breakup. Statistics: Data Presentation and Interpretation, Descriptive Statistics, Relational Statistical Methods (Theory of Attributes, Correlation & Regression), Probability Theory (including Bayesian approach), Random Variable (including Bivariate case), Mathematical Expectation (Including conditional cases), Probability Inequalities (including Laws of large numbers), Distribution Theory (usual discrete and continuous probability distributions), Probability Distributions (based on Special functions), Sampling Distributions, Theory of Estimation (including Interval estimation), Testing of Hypothesis (including Non Parametric methods), Applied Statistics (Sampling, SQC, Design of Experiments), Time series analysis and Index Numbers, Vital Statistics and Official Statistics at B.Sc. Main level: No. of questions – 75; Mathematics: Algebra, Sequences and series, Matrices and Determinants, Differential and Integral Calculus, at the B.Sc. allied level, No. of questions – 25.

M.Sc. Statistics (Five year Integrated): The question paper for the entrance examination for admission to the M.Sc. Statistics, Five year integrated program course will consist of 100 Multiple Choice Questions at HSC level Mathematics.  

M.Sc. Quantitative Finance: The entrance examination is similar to that of any standard All India Management Admission tests (on the lines of CAT/GMAT/GRE) with 100 Multiple Choice Questions in General English, Reasoning, Problem Solving and decision making, basics of Computer Science, General Knowledge and Contemporary Business Issues.

Ph.D. Statistics: The question paper for the entrance examination for admission to the Ph.D. (Statistics) program will also consist of 100 Multiple Choice Questions in the following topics at M.Sc. main level: Matrix Theory, Distribution theory, Probability theory, Statistical Inference, Multivariate Analysis, Statistical Quality Control, Operations Research, Reliability and Survival Analysis, Design of Experiments, Sampling Theory, Stochastic Processes, Linear Models and Regression Analysis, Statistical softwares (R, SPSS and MS Excel), Demography and Official Statistics, Econometrics, Biostatistics.

PG Diploma in Statistical and Research Methodology: No entrance test for this course.

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Placements, Alumni Networking and Skill Development:
The Placement activities of the Department are taken care of by a Placement Cell which comprises of student members and a faculty advisor.  This cell provides regular orientation programs on Selection, Guidance and Planning of career. Semester wise road map on placement process has been implemented by the department. The placement cell organizes campus recruitment programmes every year and takes the pride in facilitating placement for eligible students in Multinational Companies and other companies in the private sector. The department has Alumni networking cell comprising a faculty coordinator and student members. The objective of this cell is to make use of the good offices and contributions of old students to the current student community. This network will provide the dynamics and paradigm shifts in the environment of current job market. It further educates, train and mould the students for changing needs in different professional skills. The department is operating Skill Development Cell with the motive of creating statistical professionals in data analysis through the theoretical knowledge of statistics. To achieve this, the department has three advanced level statistical laboratories equipped with licensed software packages. The course curriculum is designed in such a way that proper weightage is given on software training related to data analysis.
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Best Practices

Right now Pondicherry University is offering the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) as like western and European Universities. This system benefits the students to have the learning process as per their interest and choice and give them opportunity to get knowledge in inter disciplinary areas. Under this system, there are two types of core papers namely Hard core and Soft core papers. Hard core is mostly related to the essential contents of statistics at Master’s degree program. Soft core papers can be either internal or external. Internal soft core papers are offered by the department whereas external soft core provides the opportunity to choose courses from other departments not related to statistics Master’s degree program. Students can select the courses purely on their choice.   

The department inculcates many best practices for overall development of the students, research scholars and faculty members. Academic planner of the department is provided in the beginning of the academic year which contains information regarding time tables of class works, internal examinations, two terms attendance reports per semester, consolidated marks of internal examinations, project work guide allocations, faculty adviser allotment, list of internal and external soft core papers, schedule of program committee meetings, plans for educational tours, departmental academic programs, schedule of co-curriculum activities, schedule of invited and eminent lecture programs, etc. It also provides the career and co curriculum schedule. Semester wise road map on these things will help the students to design their stay period on the campus in the best optimal way. Student interaction programs such as Fresher's day; Farewell day; subject related program such as National Statistics Day; Birthday celebrations of eminent statisticians; University-Industry interface; Workshops and training programs on popular statistical tools and methodologies; Special orientations programs like personality development; communications and soft skills development; Different event management issues like Stress, Time, learning resources,  career strategies; etc are some of the other best practices of the department for overall development of the students. 

As a part of effective functioning, faculty members of the department are actively involving in the following coordination activities

• Dr.P.Tirupathi Rao: Head of the Department, Chairman-Board of Studies in Statistics, University Nodal Officer-AISHE, MHRD and the university administrative assignments from time to time

• Dr.P.Dhanavanthan: coordinator for DST-FIST, UGC innovative programs, M.Sc. Quantitative Finance, Library Development and Procurement of Statistics Books. 

• Dr.J.Subramani: coordinator for Research development and publication works

• Dr.Kiruthika: coordinator for student examinations, infrastructure development, financial auditing, software and hardware maintenance of statistical laboratories.

• Dr.Navin Chandra: coordinator for invited talks, special lecture series, student -expert interaction programs, stock and assets auditing

• Dr.Sudesh Pundir: coordinator for Academic Planner, program committees, planning and execution along with fund raising for academic programs such as workshops/ conferences/ seminars.

• Dr.R.Vishnu Vardhan: coordinator for statistical software training, statistical consultancy, student placements, student skill development, career planning and guidance

• Dr.V.S.Vaidyanathan: coordinator for  student affairs, alumni networking, department-university communications,  curriculum development and  syllabus updating