MSc Data Science for Politics and Policymaking in Glasgow United Kingdom | University of Strathclyde

The Master of Science in Data Science for Politics & Policymaking addresses the increasing need for professionals skilled in leveraging big data to tackle intricate political and societal challenges. Ideal for aspiring professionals in political campaigns, policy think tanks, advocacy organizations, and government agencies, this program provides comprehensive training in data-driven decision-making. At the Masters level, you'll gain expertise in designing, overseeing, and executing projects that collect and interpret vast amounts of digital information from varied sources. The curriculum blends rigorous instruction in social science research methodology and policy evaluation with technical courses on data acquisition and management systems. This program specifically targets a critical gap in public sector data utilization—the frequent absence of clear research objectives—through foundational coursework in Research Design, Public Policy, and Qualitative Methods, complemented by practical training in data handling techniques.
Curriculum Highlights:
This unique interdisciplinary program is jointly delivered by faculty from both the School of Government & Public Policy and the Department of Computer & Information Sciences. In the Government & Public Policy track, you'll complete courses in Research Design and either Quantitative or Qualitative Methodology (based on your background), along with elective options in public policy, international relations, or comparative politics tailored to your professional goals. The Computer & Information Sciences component includes courses on big data ethics, information society issues, database systems, big data technologies, and machine learning principles.
Career Prospects:
We're experiencing a global transformation driven by big data, creating unprecedented demand for professionals capable of making sense of complex digital information generated through human-computer interactions. Political organizations, policy research institutions, advocacy groups, and government bodies urgently require graduates who can develop and manage projects that systematically gather and analyze extensive online data from multiple sources. This program's specialized training fills a crucial market need: while data analytics graduates often lack research design capabilities, and policy specialists frequently don't possess advanced data processing skills, this course equips you with both competencies, making you exceptionally valuable in today's job market.