Since May 2016, the Master's programme in Survey Statistics has been part of the "European Master in Official Statistics" (EMOS) programme of the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). So far, only 21 selected Master's programmes worldwide carry this designation. In Germany, only five universities have access to the EMOS label so far: the Free University of Berlin, the Technical University of Dortmund, the University of Bamberg, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Trier (cf. Zwick 2017).

The Master's Programme in Survey Statistics is offered by the universities in Bamberg, Trier and the Free University of Berlin in joint cooperation. In addition to Ms Haensch (University of Bamberg), Mr Simon Lenau (University of Trier) received the first EMOS certificate within the framework of the Master's programme in Survey Statistics at the end of 2016. Within the framework of the Master's programme in Survey Statistics, students can also receive a certificate from the Free University of Berlin if they have achieved the appropriate performance. The Master's programme in Survey Statistics thus offers students a solid and high-quality education across all faculties, also by means of teleteaching events, with a statistical-methodological orientation and various specialisation options in survey methodology, survey statistics, computer-assisted statistics and a freely selectable area of application from Master's modules of other faculties. In addition to theoretical-statistical training, there is also a strong focus on practical relevance in the form of a research project or an internship with a statistical orientation in an official authority or in the private sector.

A supplementary qualification in relation to official statistics can be obtained within the framework of the Master's programme in Survey Statistics through the EMOS certificate: The EMOS certificate is considered "proof of special statistical knowledge" in the field of public official statistics (Destatis 2017). The main objective of the EMOS programme is to train qualified professionals with regard to statistical services and data production in official statistics (cf. Eurostat 2015). Conversely, obtaining an EMOS certificate in the field of official statistics often leads to preferential employment, such as at the Federal Statistical Office: "Studying an EMOS master's programme or presenting an EMOS certificate is an advantage when applying for a traineeship or an advertised position at the Federal Statistical Office." (Destatis 2017).

In order to obtain an EMOS certificate, students must complete further achievements in addition to the EMOS Core modules. For students who started their studies before the winter semester 2017/2018, the module handbook, which is valid until the summer semester 2018, as well as the old examination regulations(298.2 KB, 12 pages) (last amendment statute of 4 October 2017) apply:

An internship or research project of at least six weeks, creditable in the Master Survey Statistics in the form of a six-week internship (8 ECTS) or two six-week internships/one three-month internship (16 ECTS), and the Master's thesis related to public official statistics must be completed, for example at a statistical office, a central bank or at another body related to official statistics.

The following compulsory or elective modules to be completed in the Master's degree programme belong to the EMOS Core modules:
 

Have the attached application form(118.7 KB) confirmed in advance by the teaching department that the internship position and the topic of the Master's thesis can be credited towards the EMOS certificate.

If all requirements for the EMOS certificate are met, the certificate can be applied for at the following e-mail address: silvia.foertsch(at)uni-bamberg.de

After successful completion of an EMOS programme, students have knowledge in the following mentioned areas (cf. Eurostat 2015):

• Knowledge of the structure, system of official statistics and its role in providing quality statistical services to society.
• The know-how regarding the handling of different data sources, data collection processes and data quality.
• Correct implementation and interpretation of methods in various subject-specific areas such as sociology or economics and understanding of the methodological backgrounds affecting the individual subject areas.
• Knowledge of various statistical methods such as sample selection procedures, small area estimation, the non-response problem or time series analyses and the ability to apply these. The ability to work with different statistical programs such as SAS, R, SPSS or STATA.
• Skills in handling highly confidential data and presenting it appropriately using various tools such as professional graphs.