Statistics opens the door to understanding our world by exploring data and modelling uncertainty. As our capacity to collect data accelerates, the need for statistical expertise has never been greater. Every day, over 328.77 million terabytes of data are generated globally, and the total volume of data worldwide is expected to reach 181 zettabytes by 2026, more than doubling from 2022 levels. This explosion of information outpaces our ability to interpret it meaningfully without advanced quantitative tools.

More than a decade ago, Hal Varian, Chief Economist at Google, famously predicted that “the sexy job in the next ten years will be statisticians.” That foresight has proved correct—and remains relevant today. In a data-driven world, statistics is indispensable across every discipline that grapples with uncertainty and complexity, from climate science and public health to economics, artificial intelligence, and national security.

Statisticians are in high demand across diverse sectors, including global tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon, financial institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical firms, healthcare providers, and academic institutions. Moreover, statisticians are at the forefront of addressing critical challenges such as climate change, pandemic preparedness, cybersecurity, and economic inequality.

By completing the Bachelor of Statistics at ANU, you’ll gain the analytical skills and modelling expertise to make sense of an increasingly complex world. You will be equipped to extract insights from data, make informed decisions, and help solve some of humanity’s most urgent problems—through the lens of statistical reasoning and data science.