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Introduction to R(RStudio) Programming

R is a statistical software and programming language. R gives the flexibility of performing statistical analysis, creating functions and visualising data.  The R software is available for free and runs on a variety of platforms including Windows, UNIX and MacOS. RStudio provides a more user-friendly interface for using R.  It is an integrated development environment (IDE) for interacting with R.

Designed for beginners and intermediate users, this course introduces you to R and RStudio, the powerful programming environment used across data analysis, statistical computing, and data visualisation. You’ll learn essential programming concepts and data structures while gaining practical, hands-on experience in writing R code, manipulating datasets, performing statistical analyses, and creating compelling visualisations.


Led by our expert statistician, this instructor‑guided course focuses on learning by doing. You’ll work through examples, discuss with your peers, and build confidence using R for genuine data tasks.


To maximise interaction, support, and personalised feedback, this course is delivered in a small cohort so places are limited! You’ll attend live online webinars at scheduled times and complete a series of assessments designed to reinforce your learning. The estimated time commitment is approximately 25 hours, working through course material and assignments.


By the end of the course, you’ll be able to apply R confidently and independently, equipping you with practical skills you can immediately use in your work, studies, or research projects.

Meet your Instructor

Dr Roberto Puch-Solis is a Forensic Statistician at the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS).  

Roberto holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Warwick and has specialized in forensic statistics since 2003. His research spans fibers, fingerprints, DNA, and the development of systems for reporting DNA evidence in court. Presently, he focuses on applying statistics and machine learning to forensic evidence, including DNA and firearms identification.

FAQ’s

R is a free statistical software and programming language used for data analysis, statistical computing, and visualisation. RStudio is a user-friendly Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that makes working with R easier and more efficient.
This course is designed for:
  • Beginners with no prior programming experience but have a good understanding of Arithmetic
  • Intermediate users looking to strengthen their R skills
  • Anyone interested in data analysis, statistics, or reproducible reporting
You’ll gain hands-on experience in:
  • Writing R code using RStudio
  • Understanding programming concepts and data structures
  • Manipulating and analysing data
  • Creating visualisations
  • Generating reproducible reports
This is an instructor-led course. You’ll attend scheduled online webinars and work through materials alongside fellow learners.
The course is approximately 25 hours in duration. This is a guideline and actual time spend learning may vary depending on your pace and engagement.
Yes. To successfully complete the course, you’ll need to submit a series of assessments that demonstrate your understanding and application of R programming.
You’ll need:
  • R (free to download from CRAN)
  • RStudio (free to download from RStudio website)
Both run on Windows, macOS, and UNIX systems.
On successful completion of this course you will receive a downloadable certificate that will indicate the time and date of completion and hours spent. You will also have the opportunity to collect digital badges that you can share to your social media account.
Yes. You’ll have access to:
  • Live webinar sessions
  • Instructor guidance
  • Peer interaction
You can also contact the course Instructors and Technical Support team at cpdinfo@dundee.ac.uk
You’ll be able to:
  • Confidently use R for real-world data tasks
  • Conduct exploratory data analysis
  • Create reproducible reports
  • Apply statistical techniques and visualisations in your work or studies

Enrol Now

Next Cohort – June 2026

Only 7 places left!

✓ Instructor Led

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