Study Data Science & Statistics

BSc Mathematical Statistics, BSc Data Science or BSc Applied Mathematics, 3 years (NQF 7); Honours (NQF 8) is effectively the entry qualification for most analyst roles.

Pay in South AfricaR440–600ka year · typical R520k · limited evidence Work abroad4.5 of 5best: United Kingdom, Ireland AI outlookTransformingAI is reinventing the daily work

Getting inHighcompetition for places · 3 years BSc + 1 year Honours is the practical minimum

R52 050 to R87 000 first-year fees 11 bursaries list Data Science & Statistics

School subjects: Maths requiredPhysical Sciences required at some universitiesMaths Literacy not accepted

Entry details and typical minimums

English at faculty minimum. Strong NSC Mathematics matters more here than any other subject. Physical Sciences is required at NWU, UCT and Wits; UKZN accepts Physical Sciences, Life Sciences or Agricultural Sciences at level 4.

Typical minimums: Varies. Mathematical statistics and data science streams at research universities usually set a higher Mathematics bar than general BSc entry - check each faculty's points score.

Sources: Wits Faculty of Science undergraduate programmes · NWU Natural and Agricultural Sciences 2027 admission table (BSc in Mathematical Sciences with Statistics and Mathematics: Physical Science level 4) · UKZN Undergraduate Prospectus 2027, p.21 (BSc streams: Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences or Physical Sciences at level 4) · CAO Handbook 2027 Entry, p.177 (PDF p.189), 19. Science and Mathematics: UKZN B Sc Generic Degree KN-P-BG4 / KN-W-BG4, APS 28, Maths 4, Agric Sci or Life Sci or Phys Sci 4

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

UAER2.0–2.9m^~
USAR1.5–2.8m
NetherlandsR1.1–1.8m
GermanyR1.1–1.8m
UKR990k–1.8m
IrelandR810k–2.2m^~
AustraliaR780k–1.6m
CanadaR1.0–1.5m
New ZealandR860k–1.5m
South AfricaR440–600k^~

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 4.5 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

AI outlook

TransformingAI is reinventing the daily work

Analysis, modelling and reporting are core AI strengths, so the role is shifting from doing the analysis by hand to framing the questions, checking the answers and explaining them.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

Data scientist
Statistician
Quantitative analyst
Machine learning engineer
Biostatistician
Actuarial analyst (separate exams)

Where to study 8

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

Statisticians and data scientists are unregulated in all nine destinations. Australia and Ireland name these roles on official skilled-occupation lists (Canada's 2026 Express Entry STEM category does not), but most employers expect at least Honours, and often a master's.

Where it can take you

Data Science & Statistics → Canada

Overall 4/5 · Good prospects

Unregulated, but data scientists are not in the 2026 STEM Express Entry category - expect general draws.

Recognition: 5/5 · Open door. Unregulated there, or the South African qualification is accepted as it is.
Demand: Some demand

Sources: IRCC category-based selection 2026 · IRCC Educational Credential Assessment · IRCC - Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility · IRCC - fee list · IRCC, Express Entry Year-End Report 2024: 'The processing standard for applications sourced through EE is generally six months for 80% of cases.'

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

United Arab Emirates R2.0–2.9m^*4.8× SA

United States R1.5–2.8m4.1× SA

Netherlands R1.1–1.8m^*2.8× SA

Germany R1.1–1.8m2.8× SA

United Kingdom R990k–1.8m^*2.4× SA

Ireland R810k–2.2m^*2.4× SA

Australia R780k–1.6m^*2.4× SA

Canada R1.0–1.5m^*2.4× SA

New Zealand R860k–1.5m2.3× SA

South Africa R440–600k^*

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

Country	Typical gross pay	Range and starting pay	Occupation and source
South Africa	ZAR 520 002 Middle of the advertised range 2026	ZAR 440 004 to 600 000 salary survey range, 2026 · Pnet 2026 Job Market Trends Report salary guide (via BusinessTech) · low confidence · PRIVATE, advertised monthly CTC R36,667-R50,000 x12 for Data Scientist. Data Analyst R30,000-R35,000/mth. No official starting figure.	Data Scientist (Pnet Information Technology sector) Pnet 2026 Job Market Trends Report salary guide, as published by BusinessTech · PRIVATE-SECTOR. Advertised monthly CTC R36,667-R50,000 x12. Data Engineer R27,500-R40,000; Data Analyst R30,000-R35,000; BI Analyst R30,000-R38,958.
United Kingdom	GBP 53 342 Median 2025	GBP 41 906 to 74 372 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC 2433 Actuaries, economists and statisticians, full-time, April 2025. Starting GBP 32 000 Graduate/junior data scientist, 2026 · National Careers Service job profile: data-scientist ('Starter' salary) · NCS starter 32,000; experienced 83,000.	SOC2020 2433 Actuaries, economists and statisticians ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC2020 index codes 'data scientist' to 2433/04 Statistical data scientists. Median gross annual, full-time, April 2025. CV 8.4%.
Ireland	EUR 61 833 Middle of the advertised range 2026	EUR 40 000 to 110 000 salary survey range, 2026 · Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · low confidence · Data Scientist, lowest to highest across bands and 5 cities (same source as typical). MM 0-3 yrs: 40,000-65,000. Starting EUR 33 800 First year after an L8 maths/statistics/science degree, 2023 · CSO Higher Education Outcomes, table HEO12 Graduate Earnings (NFQ Level 8, 2022 graduates, year 1): Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics · low confidence, not shown on the chart · EUR650/wk x52. Median, earned 2023. Broad field of study; includes part-time workers, so understates full-time pay. ICT graduates: EUR770/wk (~40,000).	Data Scientist (Data & Business Intelligence) Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · Midpoint of each published band (0-3/3-5/5+ yrs) averaged over bands and the 5 listed cities. Range EUR40,000-110,000.
Netherlands	EUR 72 176 Median 2025	EUR 55 328 to 91 104 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep (p25/p75 gross hourly) · BRC 2014 0711 Biologen, wiskundigen en natuurwetenschappers, employees, 2025: p25 26.60/h, p75 43.80/h x2080, excl. holiday pay (as typical). Statisticians sit here. Starting EUR 49 234 New wo-master graduate, 1 year after leaving university, 2024 · CBS StatLine 83815NED Uitstromers ho; uurloon na verlaten onderwijs (median, cohort 2022/'23, 1 yr after leaving) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Wo-master 'Natuur': median 23.67/h x2080, Oct 2024, employees. Field covers maths, statistics and sciences; no data-science-only figure.	BRC 2014 0711 Biologen, wiskundigen en natuurwetenschappers CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep · Median gross hourly x2080 (40h x52). Hourly excl. holiday pay, NL full-time ~36-38h; errors largely offset. Statistici sit here; no separate data-scientist code in BRC 2014.
Germany	EUR 70 764 Median 2025	EUR 54 612 to 90 084 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BA Entgeltatlas (Beschaeftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025, Vollzeit, all ages, Germany · KldB 41114, monthly p25-p75 x12. Statisticians, expert level. Starting EUR 57 112 Statistician with a Master's at a state statistical office/university, TV-L E13 Stufe 1, 2026 · TV-L Entgelttabelle 2026 (valid 1 Apr 2026-28 Feb 2027) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Public sector only; private data-science pay not officially published. Excludes Jahressonderzahlung.	KldB 2010 41114 Berufe in der Statistik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. Statisticians, n=2,835; data scientists split with Informatik (43104, 6,702).
United States	USD 120 230 Median 2025	USD 85 660 to 158 880 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 national annual 25th/75th percentile for SOC 15-2051; p10 $67,240, p90 $199,130; not top-coded. Starting USD 59 700 1 year after a bachelor's in statistics (CIP 27.05), 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). No data yet for the new Data Science CIP (30.70). Many data scientists hold a master's: statistics master's = $100,281.	15-2051 Data Scientists BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025.
Canada	CAD 95 992 Median 2024	CAD 79 997 to 117 707 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$38.46/C$56.59 x2080, NOC 21211, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$62,400/C$145,059. Starting CAD 59 000 2 years after a bachelor's in mathematics and statistics (CIP 27), 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0281 (ELMLP), graduates two years after graduation · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. Many data scientists hold a master's: master's math/statistics C$80,400. No data-science-only field published.	21211 Data scientists Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · National median hourly wage C$46.15 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia	AUD 107 744 Median 2025	AUD 67 300 to 135 500 25th to 75th percentile, estimated from tax statistics (includes part-time), 2024 · ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24, Individuals Table 14A (occupation unit group x taxable income range); medians from Table 15B · low confidence · p25/p75 interpolated from 5 taxable-income bands (linear density matched to band means). Includes part-time/part-year earners and non-wage income; 2023-24 dollars, not uprated. Starting AUD 82 000 About 4 months after completing the bachelor's degree, full-time employed domestic graduates, 2025 · QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025 national report tables: median full-time salary, undergraduates, by 45 study areas ('Mathematics') · Mathematics study area (includes statistics); no data-science-only figure.	Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians (ANZSCO 2241) ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $2072/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax. ANZSCO has no data-scientist code; statisticians (224113) pooled with actuaries/mathematicians.
New Zealand	NZD 113 000 Median 2026	NZD 83 000 to 143 000 careers service range, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator job profile: Data scientist ('most common' pay range) · Tahatu 'most common' band (full published range 61,000-176,000); Stats NZ IDI/Census + IR data, percentiles not defined, no vintage stated. Starting NZD 64 000 Graduate, year 1 after the bachelor's, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator study page 'Bachelors degrees in mathematics and statistics (incl. Bachelor of Data Science)': median employed income 1 year after completion (Stats NZ IDI + IR) · Published in $ thousands; vintage not stated; includes part-year/part-time earners. Year-1 p25-p75 49k-74k; only 55% employed (40% in further study).	Data scientist Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $61,000-$176,000, most common $83,000-$143,000. From Stats NZ Census/IDI + Inland Revenue data; no vintage stated (year = year observed).
United Arab Emirates	AED 510 000 Middle of the advertised range 2026	AED 420 000 to 600 000 salary survey range, 2026 · Robert Walters Middle East Salary Survey 2026 (recruiter, advertised roles) · low confidence · Same RW row as typical (data scientist), basic pay x12. Hays 2025: 35k-70k/mth. RW data analyst 25k-40k. No graduate figure.	Data Scientist Robert Walters Middle East Salary Survey 2026 (recruiter, from advertised roles) · Recruiter data from job ads, basic pay. Average AED 42,500/month (35,000-50,000) x12. Cooper Fitch 2025: 44,000-55,000 (industry). No statistician figure.

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.