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M.Sc. On Campus

Data Science for Public Policy Hertie School Berlin

Highlights
Tuition fee
18750 EUR / year
18750 EUR / year
Unknown
Tuition fee
18750 EUR / year
18750 EUR / year
Unknown
Duration
24 months
Duration
24 months
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Berlin, Germany
Campus location
Berlin, Germany
Taught in
English
Taught in
English

About

The Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Data Science for Public Policy at Hertie School Berlin is a two-year, full-time programme. This course empowers students to harness data and AI in creating impactful governance solutions. It combines technical and social science disciplines, preparing graduates for diverse roles in public policy and beyond.

Overview

Why Data Science for Public Policy at Hertie School?

Hertie School Berlin stands out in the realm of public policy education, renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinary learning and research excellence. The institution is highly regarded in international rankings, reflecting its dedication to high-quality education and impactful research. The school's strong partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organisations provide students with unique opportunities to engage with real-world challenges. Facilities such as the state-of-the-art Data Science Lab and a dedicated supercomputing resource further enhance the learning experience, equipping students with the tools necessary for effective data-driven decision-making.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

The tuition fees for the Master of Data Science for Public Policy are as follows:

  • International Fee: EUR 18,750 per year
  • European Fee: EUR 18,750 per year

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

Syllabus

The curriculum for the Master of Data Science for Public Policy is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of both policy-making and data science. The programme is divided into two years: **First Year:** - Principles of the policy-making process - Law and governance - Analytical skills in economics - Core courses in: - Mathematics for data science - Data structures and algorithms - Machine learning - Causal inference - Data science workflow **Second Year:** - Advanced data science skills - Governance and management applications - Specialised courses in: - Deep Learning - Natural Language Processing - Online Experimentation - Development of a master's thesis focused on a political or societal issue, supervised by faculty. This structured approach ensures that students not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also practical skills applicable in various sectors, including government, civil society, and business.

Industry Demand

The demand for skilled data scientists in public policy is growing as governments and organisations increasingly rely on data-driven insights to inform their decisions. Graduates of this programme are well-equipped to meet these needs, combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of policy dynamics.

Guaranteed Work Experience

The programme integrates practical experiences that allow students to apply their learning in real-world contexts, enhancing their employability upon graduation.

Careers with Data Science for Public Policy

Graduates of the Master of Data Science for Public Policy find themselves in diverse roles across various sectors. Alumni have successfully secured positions in government agencies, international organisations, and private sector companies. They work in roles such as data analysts, policy advisors, and project managers, contributing to initiatives that address pressing societal challenges. The strong alumni network and career services provided by Hertie School further support graduates in their professional journeys, ensuring they are well-prepared for the evolving job market.

Accreditation

Accredited by German Accreditation Council

Programme Structure

Courses included:

  • Data structures and algorithms
  • Data science
  • Public policy
  • Economics

Audience

The Master of Data Science for Public Policy is open to graduates from all disciplines. We are looking for applicants with a very good first degree, prior quantitative training or demonstrated technical aptitude, as well as strong motivation to combine interests in data and governance. Professional experience, civic engagement and international experience will strengthen your application.

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

English
Duolingo English Test
125
TOEFL® IBT
100
IELTS
7

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  • 4.9/5 student rating

Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

  • Berlin, Germany

What students do after studying

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA admission requirements GPA
Required

We understand that you are more than your grades and scores, and that grading systems are different around the world – even within the same university. We evaluate applicants holistically. That's why we don't indicate a minimum GPA for admission, nor do we require the GRE/GMAT (you may choose to submit your scores if you think they will boost your application). We do of course consider the strength of your academic records, which is weighted with 40% in our admissions process, alongside quantitative and technical ability (30%) and your personal suitability and motivation (30%).

English requirements

Duolingo English Test
125
TOEFL® IBT
100
IELTS
7

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation
Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

  • Trusted by 300k learners
  • 98 accuracy using real exam data
  • 4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Please upload the required documents to the online application portal:

  • Current CV indicating your academic background, work experience, voluntary activities. Please do not include a photo in your CV.
  • Letter of motivation (500-900 words) explaining your specific interest in the study programme. 
  • Copies of official academic transcripts of all attended universities. Every transcript must include a transcript key (an explanation of the grading system). If not in English, we require a certified translation into English. 
  • Two letters of reference
  • Copy of English proficiency certificate (for non-native speakers who did not complete their entire undergraduate degree in English).

Work experience

Work experience is not required for admission but can boost your application. In additional to full-time work experience, we also consider internships, volunteering, civic engagement and other extracurricular activities for an applicant's personal suitability to join the MDS programme.

Technological requirements

Applicants must demonstrate prior quantitative or technical understanding, for example in statistics, mathematics and/or coding. This does not necessarily need to be formal university courses, however, and can include extracurricular activities such as hackathons, personal projects and more. If you have questions about this requirement, please reach out to us at grad-admissions@hertie-school.org.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Hertie School Berlin and/or in Germany, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
  • International

    Non-residents
    18750 EUR / year
    18750 EUR / year
  • EU/EEA

    EU/EEA Nationals
    18750 EUR / year
    18750 EUR / year

Living costs

Berlin

Germany
836 - 1340 EUR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

The Hertie School is committed to attracting the best students from around the world. To achieve this goal we provide financial support to students in the form of full and partial scholarships. Currently about 50% of our students receive funding directly from the school. Most students rely on a mixture of tuition waivers, external scholarships, personal savings, support from family members, loans and student jobs to finance their studies.

If you wish to apply for financial assistance, we encourage you to apply by the priority deadline on 1 February so that you can receive admissions and financial aid decision sooner, and start planning your move to Berlin. Students can also receive a tuition reduction if they apply by our early-bird deadline of 30 November.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Data Science for Public Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Provided by university
Grant
38500 EUR
Deadline
15 Feb 2027
Central and Eastern Europe Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

Hertie School Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Provided by university
Grant
38500 EUR
Deadline
15 Feb 2027
Climate Action Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Hertie School Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Provided by university
Grant
38500 EUR
Deadline
15 Feb 2027
Data for Good Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Hertie School Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Provided by university
Grant
38500 EUR
Deadline
15 Feb 2027
Digital Governance Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Hertie School Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Provided by university
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
01 May 2026
Hertie School Berlin - Partial Scholarships
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Hertie School Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Independent provider
Grant
250000 INR
Deadline
31 May 2026
GyanDhan Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

GyanDhan
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
07 Oct 2026
Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Read more about eligibility

U.S. government
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
33600 EUR
Deadline
01 Jul 2026
Mundus MAPP EMJM Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Mundus MAPP
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1400 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Fully Funded DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
500 EUR
Deadline
04 Jul 2026
EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2026
ServiceScape Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

ServiceScape
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
300 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
The Deutschlandstipendium at German Universities
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

German Government
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3500 USD
Deadline
15 Nov 2026
ACES Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACES Education Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
2000 USD
Deadline
01 Sep 2026
The Rick Blight Leadership in Action Scholarship for Athletes
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
15 Sep 2026
Headway’s Book Lovers Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Headway
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
Moving Mates Scholarship
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Moving Mates
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACU (The Association of Commonweath Universities)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
80 ZAR
Deadline
Not specified
DAAD-NRF Joint Scholarship Programme South Africa

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
DAAD-ACEH Scholarship of Excellence

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1550 EUR
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
ELES-Scholarship (Ernst-Ludwig-Ehrlich-Studienwerk)

Read more about eligibility

Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Anytime
AUFIN Global Impact Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

AUFIN Education & Scholarship
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 EUR
Deadline
15 May 2026
Study a Master's in Europe Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1200 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Studienstiftung
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
06 Jul 2026
Jewish Heritage Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Diamant Gerstein
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
28 Aug 2026
Women Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 SEK
Deadline
30 Apr 2026
Kreditkortlistan Financial Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Enkla Media - Kreditkortlistan
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
500 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
CryptoRunner Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

CryptoRunner
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3500 USD
Deadline
15 Nov 2026
The Bill Walsh Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

ACES: The Society for Editing
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
25000 USD
Deadline
30 Apr 2026
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Read more about eligibility

Ayn Rand Institute
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
13 Jul 2026
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 CAD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Pinsky Law New Venture Development Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Pinsky Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
7000 USD
Deadline
24 Apr 2026
Go Global MBA Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Education for Sustainable Energy Development (ESED) scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
850 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
DAAD-TEV-Master's degree scholarships
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
21000 GBP
Deadline
Not specified
LSE Executive Global Master’s in Management Hinrich Foundation Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Hinrich Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
480 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
SBW Berlin Scholarship
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

SBW Berlin
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
992 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines

Read more about eligibility

DAAD
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
International Sustainability Academy Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

International Sustainability Academy (ISA)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 EUR
Deadline
15 Sep 2026
ARGE Donauländer Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

Province of Lower Austria
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Leopold Figl Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
649 EUR
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Campus France
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Aug 2026
Florida Rentals Annual Dream Vacation Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

Florida Rentals
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
$1,500 Annual Students’ Presentation Crafting Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
55 GBP
Deadline
18 Jun 2026
IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial IATEFL Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
11 Jan 2027
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme

Read more about eligibility

The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
20 May 2026
PlagiarismSearch Essay Contest
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

PlagiarismSearch
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships

Read more about eligibility

European Commission
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
965 USD
Deadline
Anytime
Dr. Martin Blank – SYB Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Shield Your Body
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
2000 USD
Deadline
31 Jul 2026
The MyUS Community Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

MyUS
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid

Read more about eligibility

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
NextLevel Student Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

NextLevel Student Scholarship
Location not available

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Data Science for Public Policy
Hertie School Berlin
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