Qun Wang. Photo: Private.

What do you do today?

I work as a methodologist at Statistics Sweden, at the Method department for enterprises and organisations. I think it is a very interesting position, because my everyday work is related to the society. I work quite a lot with innovation surveys, research and development.

What did you study?

In the beginning I studied international business, economic courses and accounting for 1,5 years at Umeå University, directly after finishing high school in China. And then I thought that Statistics are so interesting, so I decided to change into statistics for the rest of my bachelor studies. Then I moved to Stockholm to continue with a Master in Statistics.

In what way do you benefit from the studies in your work today?

Some of the courses are quite directly connected to my everyday work – like sampling and estimation that I do for every survey. I wrote my master’s thesis about Statistical disclosure control, and that is also what I am working quite a lot with. I think it was very connected to my job now. Some of the courses are more theoretical though, that I have not yet used them for my everyday work so far.

How come you chose Stockholm University?

There are not a lot of universities that have this Master’s Programme in Statistics, and I also thought that there would be more opportunities in Stockholm. And I actually got a job offer four months before I graduated. So it was very nice, I didn’t have to think about what I was going to do after my education.

Would you recommend our Master’s Programme?

Yes of course, I think it is very good with a lot of great teachers. I think I really got what I was expecting from it. From my own experience, the thesis was very important. I think it is nice if your thesis is somehow connected to the real work. It will be very beneficial when you look for a job, to solve a real problem in your thesis. Since we spend almost one year writing our thesis, that will be the most important part of the Master’s Programme.