“A statistical estimate may be good or bad, accurate or the reverse; but in almost all cases it is likely to be more accurate than a casual observer’s impression, and like things can only be disproved by statistical methods.”
-Sir Arthur L Bowley

Biostatistics is a branch of science that deals with medical and agricultural research related problems. It is a three-year Undergraduate course, which provides its students with training in statistical techniques, analysis of specific data, methods which help in the designing of experiments.

It is a course that is a mixture of elements from Math, Science and Statistics. It is most inclined towards resolving public health problems and the development of new ways, which help in the prevention of the occurrence of the problem.

There are various MSC biostatistics colleges in India, which are well known and offer multiple programs for the students to choose from, and have a good experience and gain a little insight about how the industry functions.

Why Biostatistics? (Advantages)

Students who are interested and inclined towards pursuing biostatistics as a professional career have a lot of opportunities in various sectors like; Public Health, Biomedical, Pharmaceuticals, and many more.

Firstly, if you are someone who loves to work in a group, and likes to be in a collaborative environment, biostatistics would be a great and smart option to consider. For a lot of professionals, the interdisciplinary nature of the particular field is something that they find as the biggest perk. We can quickly figure out by the name “Biostatistics” itself ,that it is a field which involves two branches; Natural science and mathematics.

Lets list down a few of the reason why one should consider opting biostatistics as an option;

It invites you to do groundbreaking research
Biostatistics addresses real-world problems
It presents constant challenges
The field is poised for rapid growth
Biostatistics enables you to contribute to the greater good
Biostatistics is an Interdisciplinary Field
Eligibility:

Students wishing to pursue this course need to have completed their 12th standard from a recognised educational Board.
A minimum aggregate score of 50% is necessary.
The student needs to opt for Biology and Statistics as two of the main subjects.
A background in Math will also be considered as an added advantage.


What after Biostatistics?

Once a student has completed his/her graduation course, he/she has a lot of options which can be considered. The student can directly get working in any of the two, either private or government sector.

But for students who want to continue their studies, the master program will always be an option.

Lets now see, what attributes does a biostatistician carry with the degree in hand. After completing the course, a student would be able to;

Design and analyse randomised controlled trials.
Design principles for observational studies.
Design and study the concepts of inference relevant to biostatistics.
Fit linear and logistic regression models, interpret output, and conduct diagnostics
model and evaluate data from time to time.
Use methods to determine the sample size for a study.
Apply Bayesian methods for analysing data
Apply Adaptive methods for designing clinical trials.

Pursuing M.Sc in biostatistics in India has been now considered by a lot of students who see a great future in the industry. The professional course has a lot of career opportunities, and thus, is one of the most popular and growing fields in the country.