MSc Social Data Science

University College Dublin

Ireland, Dublin

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Home/Ireland/Dublin /University College Dublin/MSc Social Data Science

University College Dublin

Ireland , Dublin

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines25-Sep-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

EUR 22,600 / year

Next Intake 25-Sep-2026

MSc Social Data Science

About

The MSc in Social Data Science is a one year taught programme with strong interdisciplinary features and components across social and computational sciences. It equips students with a range of social scientific, computational, informational, statistical, and visualisation skills, for curation and analysis of large or complex data that arise from human activities and interactions in the digital world.

Students will receive training in sociological analysis, as well as core coding and programming skills, allowing them to avail of emergent computational methods and technologies to tackle real-world societal challenges, and inform decision making processes. Students may opt to complete an internship as part of their studies. The MSc in Social Data Science is suitable for graduates of social science or computer science programmes.

UCD School of Sociology is the leading centre for sociological research and the largest teaching centre for sociology in Ireland. The School has played and continues to play a key role in the development of sociology in Ireland.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants will be required to hold a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent in a computational science discipline, and to show evidence for strong interest in social science research; Or to hold a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent in a social science disciplines and to show evidence for strong interest in obtaining, or existing computational skills. Additionally, excellent academic references are required.
This degree programme includes modules from Computer Science, which involves logical understanding and reasoning and therefore applicants must be able to demonstrate good evidence of algorithmic thinking.
All applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and relevant work experience will be taken into account, so that in certain cases an award at a 2.2 classification may be considered.
Students whose first language is not English will need a recognised English language qualification. On the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) students will need to achieve an average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version. More details are available through the UCD International Office at http://www.ucd.ie/international/study-at-ucd-global/ucdenglishlanguagerequirements/
These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

English Program Requirements

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Taught Master's: A minimum overall score of 7.0 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version. The non-academic version is not accepted.

Research Programmes: A minimum overall score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version. The non-academic version is not accepted.

IELTS Indicator: A minimum overall score of 7.0 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band. This test will be accepted for 2022/23 and 2023/24 intake.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Taught Master's: A minimum score of 100 is required in the Internet based TOEFL (iBT) with a score of at least 20 in each section.

Research Programmes: A minimum score of 90 is required in the Internet based TOEFL (iBT) with a score of at least 20 in each section.

TOEFL iBT Home: A minimum score of 100 is required with a score of at least 20 in each section.

Duolingo Test of English (DET)

UCD has approved the use of the Duolingo Test of English (DET) for the 2024/25 intake.
An overall score of 130 will be accepted with no section below 110.

Please note that this does not apply to the CEMS MiM / MSc in International Management. In the case of the CEMS MiM the Duolingo English Test will not be accepted.

Career

A wide range of different organizations including government departments, semi-state bodies, private companies in IT, finance and consultancy, as well as sectors such as education, health and social welfare are now exploring the benefits of combining large and complex data resources, including administrative data, for decision making and resource use. The MSc in Social Data Science at the UCD is ideal for graduates who want to upskill and avail of these excellent employment opportunities. It is designed to enable individuals to combine their social science and/or cognate training with strong technical and analytical skills, and to exploit the wide range of digitised and digital data now accessible by public and private sector organisations.