the pgdip/msc in applied statistics and datamining is a commercially relevant programme of study providing students with the statistical data analysis skills needed for business, commerce and other applications. the pgdip/msc in applied statistics and datamining is a taught programme run by the school of mathematics and statistics. the course is aimed at those with a good degree containing quantitative elements who wish to gain statistical data analysis skills. **highlights** - commercially relevant course. - course content is aligned to the requirements of the commercial analysis sector. - dissertation topics are generated in part by commercial partners. - teaching involves widely used commercial software packages (sas, spss). - the popular open-source tool r is also used.