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 and Economic Policy is designed for students seeking to combine a solid training in the principles of economic policy and an expertise on data science approaches.

Drawing on SOAS’s world-leading applied research on economic policy, the programme allows students to assess economic policies around the world, develop coding skills, apply economic models and understand how data science techniques can guide policy making.

The programme covers major policy challenges, including the climate crisis, structural transformation, macrofinancial stability, poverty, inequality, corruption, as well as labour market and social protection policies. It offers students a unique opportunity to analyse these challenges both from a qualitative and a quantitative perspective and critically assess how data science is shaping economic policies and socio-economic systems in the 21st century.

Why study MSc Data Science and Economic Policy 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, particularly in roles that require combining data science skills with economic policy expertise.

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).

Study Tours

Explore the world with our Study Tours. Gain global experience. Build lasting impact.

All of our postgraduate programmes provide an opportunity for students to take part in exclusive study tours across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The tours are curated and run by SOAS academics together with in-country partners. Destinations include:

South Asia: New Delhi — rising powers, inequality, urban governance, cultural diversity.

South Asia: Lahore — regional security, climate change, Islam, law, and politics.

East Asia: Seoul — advanced capitalist democracies, the 'high-income trap', regional diplomacy.

Southeast Asia: Luang Prabang — regional integration, governance, development, sustainability.

Central Asia: Almaty and Bishkek — transition economies, labour migration, geopolitics, regional organisations.

Africa: Kigali or Johannesburg — post-conflict recovery, grassroots engagement, and regional relations.

Middle East: Doha — global politics, regional diplomatic engagement, cross-cultural exchange.

These immersive experiences bring theory to life, connecting you with regional experts, policymakers, and practitioners. They are designed to deepen your academic learning and expand your professional network in some of the world’s most dynamic regions.

The fee for each tour (events plus room and board) will be approximately £1,750 plus airfare. Each tour will be subject to minimum/maximum participant numbers.

Join us in shaping global futures — on campus and beyond.