Applied Social Data Science London School of Economics and Political Science

Overview

The Applied Social Data Science programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science provides students with the technical expertise required to solve complex social problems using big data and artificial intelligence. This master level course bridges the gap between social science theory and computational practice, ensuring graduates are prepared for the modern digital economy. Students develop a robust foundation in programming and quantitative analysis while maintaining a focus on social scientific inquiry.

The curriculum is designed for those who wish to master high-demand programming languages such as R and Python to manipulate large-scale databases. By combining rigorous academic training with project-based learning, the programme enables students to apply analytical skills to real-world scenarios.

Why Applied Social Data Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science?

The Department of Methodology is an internationally recognised centre of excellence, recently winning the LSE SU Teaching Award for Departmental Excellence. Students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment where leading researchers from sociology, political science, and economics collaborate with experts from the departments of Statistics and Mathematics. This collaborative ethos ensures that the training remains at the cutting edge of methodological innovation.

As a global leader in social sciences, the university provides a vibrant research culture and extensive resources. The programme is specifically tailored for social scientists, offering project-based courses that do not require a formal prior background in computing. This unique approach allows students to gain technical proficiency within a framework that values social context and ethical considerations.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 38000 per year
• National fee: GBP 38000 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Computer Programming
• Social Science Research Design
• Capstone Project
• Data for Data Scientists
• Managing and Visualising Data
• Applied Regression Analysis
• Applied Machine Learning for Social Science
• Machine Learning and Data Mining

Careers with Applied Social Data Science

Graduates are highly sought after across the private, public, and non-profit sectors due to their rare combination of social science insight and data science proficiency. The programme prepares individuals for roles in digital technology, government policy, and financial services. Many alumni find success in industries such as advertising, market research, and professional consultancy.

Common career paths include data analyst, policy researcher, and data scientist roles within international organisations or government agencies. The university's dedicated careers service provides extensive support, including CV workshops and networking events with top UK employers. This ensures students are well-equipped to transition into high-impact roles that utilise their computational and analytical skills.