Course syllabus

Statistics, Survey Sampling, Second Cycle, 7.5 credits

Course code: ST406A Credits: 7.5
Main field of study: Statistics Progression: A1F
    Last revised: 12/09/2019
Education cycle: Second cycle Approved by: Head of school
Established: 10/11/2014 Reading list approved: 12/09/2019
Valid from: Spring semester 2020 Revision: 1

Aims and objectives

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall

  • further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
  • develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
  • develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Course objectives

Knowledge and Understanding

After completed studies, the student shall have

  • knowledge and understanding of design based and model assisted survey sampling theory: designs and estimators of finite population parameters.

Competence and Skills

After completed studies, the student shall be able to

  • choose an appropriate combination of sampling design and assisting model for estimation of a given population parameter and available auxiliary information
  • deal with linear as well as non-linear estimation situations.

Judgement and Approach

After completing the course, the student shall have the ability to

  • critically evaluate and compare combinations of sampling designs and strategies for estimation.

Main content of the course

  • Poisson sampling, simple random sampling, systematic sampling, sampling with inclusion probabilities proportional to size, stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Multistage sampling
  • Two-phase sampling
  • Estimators: The Horvitz-Thompson estimator, ratio estimators, regression estimators
  • Domain estimation.

Teaching methods

Teaching is in English and in the form of lectures and tutorials.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Written Examination, 7.5 credits (Code: A001)
Individual written examination


For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2019-01-15, ORU 2019/00107), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Written Examination
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Specific entry requirements

First-cycle courses of 90 credits in statistics, including an independent project of 15 credits, alternatively 30 credits are for studies in statistics and 60 credits for mathematics, as well as the course Statistics, Statistical Theory, second cycle, 7.5 credits. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English 6" or "English B" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Reading list and other teaching materials

Required Reading

Särndal, C-E, B. Swensson och J. Wretman (1992)
Model Assisted Survey Sampling
Springer-Verlag, New York