Entry requirements
Normally a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university.
You will be required to produce some evidence of exposure to data analysis training, this can include a undergraduate research methods module or numerate social science discipline eg. psychology and economics.
Requirements for international students
If you are an international student, please visit our
international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Policy-making in all sectors has become more data driven and advanced training in issues of data use, data sharing, transparency, and accountability are important for both the public and private sectors. Unlocking the potential of collecting, sharing and analysing massive amounts of administrative and economic, social and political information to bring economic and social benefits requires individuals trained in both policy analysis and data analytics.
The MSc in Applied Social Data Science provides training for graduates who want to develop the ability to apply data analysis techniques to a range of substantive and policy related questions.
The MSc ioffers rigorous data analytic training alongside a specialisation in a policy subfield (e.g. social and family policy, economic and public policy, environment, criminal justice, security). It equips students with the technical understanding of a range of data analytic techniques and the practical software and programming skills to implement these methods to address their own research questions. The programme is designed to enable students to carry out their own research and to equip them to pursue other professional research activities subsequently.
This MSc is an extension of the successful Q-Step programme training social scientist undergraduates in quantitative methods and is one of three data science MSc delivered at Exeter.
Employability and work placements
All students enrolled on our Q-Step undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have the opportunity to undertake a work placement with one of our industry partners. A work placement will allow you to get hands-on analysis experience for a period of typically 3 to 6 weeks.
Work placements students will also receive a bursary of up to £2,000 to support them during the placement.
There is a wide variety of placements to choose from locally, nationally and in Europe with a variety of public sector organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry.
Information for international students
English language requirements
IELTS (Academic)
Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.
TOEFL IBT
Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.
Pearson Test of English (Academic)
58 with no less than 55 in all communicative skills.
Other accepted tests
Pre-sessional English
