Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in any discipline that does not incorporate a strong data science component. In addition to degree classification, we take into account other elements of the application such as your supporting statement. References are optional but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

See international entry requirements and English language requirements.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc Data Science is designed for students seeking to develop the expertise required to analyse economic, political, social and developmental processes using data science approaches.

Drawing on SOAS’s world-leading research, the curriculum is shaped by a Global South perspective, emphasising context-sensitive data practices grounded in diverse epistemologies, ethical approaches and developmental priorities.

Through hands-on training with real-world datasets and applications, students develop skills that allow them to apply machine learning and other data science methods and to critically evaluate the role of data science approaches in analysing and addressing socio-economic challenges and shaping power relations.

Why study MSc Data Science at SOAS?

We are ranked top 30 in the UK for Economics (QS World University Rankings 2025)

You will have access to the Centre for Sustainable Finance, the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation and the Centre for AI Futures.

You will obtain transferable analytical skills that are essential for careers in businesses, financial institutions, international organisations, government agencies and non-government organisations, in particular in positions that require coding skills and a critical understanding of the use and implications of data science techniques.

Global partnerships

Programme participants are eligible to apply for a co-supervised dissertation, collaborating with members of the Economics department and leading experts from international organisations. Such organisations include the World Bank, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).