Major Advising Page: Statistics
Studying abroad as a statistics major or statistics certificate student can enrich your educational experiences and open up future career opportunities. Study abroad will allow you to further your knowledge of statistics by experiencing other institutions’ data analysis practices.
Statistics majors and certificate students can study abroad during any term in their college career, including winter or summer. There are some important factors to consider. If you begin your planning early, you can find a way to include an international experience into the heart of your work in statistics, or help you develop understanding in your discipline area. The information below will help in your planning and conversations with a statistics advisor.
Course considerations
Generally, it can be challenging to find statistics courses abroad. Students are encouraged to consider taking college or breadth requirements while studying abroad.
The Statistics department recommends that students:
- avoid taking any Regression Analysis courses abroad
- take no more than two quantitative courses in a single semester
- consider taking courses in their domain/discipline area
If you do not see a needed statistics course equivalent under a program’s academic tab, we recommend more closely exploring the program’s available courses. The existing course equivalents are not exhaustive, and many programs may have relevant coursework. New course equivalents are established in consultation with the Department of Statistics as outlined in Study Abroad Academic Policies.
Map your experience as a
statistics student
Given the sequential nature of the statistics major, it is essential that you start thinking about study abroad as early as possible.
Once you have some program ideas, be sure to consult with your Statistics advisor. The more complex or ambitious your undergraduate program is (the number of additional majors or certificates, honors in the major, athletic or other heavy extracurricular involvement, etc.), the more you will need to plan in advance to fit study abroad in your academic career.
Certificate students: Given the sequential nature of the statistics major, it is essential that you start thinking about study abroad as early as possible.
Freshman year
As a freshman, going abroad can enhance your understanding of your major field of study and help you make a more informed decision regarding this choice.
Sophomore year
Second semester of your sophomore year could be a good time to go abroad, especially if you came into UW-Madison with quite a few AP credits and have reached junior or senior standing already. This may be a good option for students who are looking to complete more than one major and/or certificate; it ensures you won’t run into problems later as you try to complete specific requirements.
Junior year
This is the most popular year to study abroad. By junior year, you are able to explore your interests in more depth. At this point, many students have a better, more defined idea of your strengths and know which areas you wish to enhance through study abroad.
Senior year
Statistics majors can study abroad during senior year as long as they’ve made certain that any specific classes needed for graduation can be completed through the program they’ve chosen to attend. You’ll need to carefully discuss the courses you are taking if you are considering completing the major abroad.
Ask questions
- What courses do I need to take to complete my major, certificate, and degree requirements?
- What elective courses would be appropriate to take on my program?
- Are there Statistics courses that I must take on the UW-Madison campus?
- What programs have Statistics students pursued during previous semesters?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- Why do I want to study abroad?
- How long do I want to study abroad for — a few weeks, a semester, a year?
- How does studying abroad fit into my academic, personal, and/or professional goals?
- What career skills or proficiencies will I strive to acquire or enhance on my program?
Discover programs that are right for you
The following are programs that may be of interest to you! Durations and courses vary and may count toward electives or degree requirements. If you do not have specific requirements, there’s more flexibility in program type and location.
These opportunities are not an exhaustive list of all programs.
In this section
Semester and academic year programs
Australia
Czech Republic
England
- London School of Economics (semester and summer)
- University of Bristol
- University of Leeds
Hong Kong
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (semester and summer)
- University of Hong Kong
New Zealand
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Short-term programs
England
London School of Economics (semester and summer)
International Internships
International internships allow you to apply your academic skills to the real world and gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning UW–Madison course credit.
As you consider your academic and professional goals for studying abroad, explore the different internship options, including UW Signature internships, internship-focused programs, part-time internships, or applying for credit for an external internship.
Check with your academic advisor to see if earning credit for your internship abroad can fulfill a major or certificate requirement.
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Gavin Wang (Singapore)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
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