Biostatistics is the science of analyzing and interpreting biomedical data. Scientific challenges from clinical and biological research require the development and competent application of novel statistical methodology. Currently such challenges emerge, for example, in personalized and evidence-based medicine, in infectious disease and environmental epidemiology, and in the rapidly expanding fields of molecular biology, e.g. genomics, proteomics, epigenomics.

The Master Program in Biostatistics leads to a so called "specialized" master, implying that it is a useful and direct continuation of a bachelor degree in all fields that include quantitative aspects. It is based on the cooperation between the Institute of Mathematics and the Department of Biostatistics of the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute of the University of Zurich (UZH) and offers the only - to date - specialized program for the training of biostatisticians in Switzerland.

Carreer outlooks for biostatisticians are generally excellent. Graduates of the program will be highly qualified for a position in biomedical and epidemiological research institutes and in the pharmaceutical industry. See Links for job offers.

Excellent graduates can continue their studies within the PhD Program in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, which is part of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School.