MPA - Data Science for Public Policy

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Data-driven insights are increasingly important in policymaking and analysis. This two-year programme will equip you with the technical, analytical and quantitative skills to address policy challenges in an increasingly data-driven world. The curriculum is highly interdisciplinary, and you’ll draw on tools and frameworks from political science, economics, econometrics and data science. You’ll kick off with a pre-sessional coding boot camp, learning Python programming and refreshing your knowledge of key mathematical concepts. Subsequent core and optional courses build on these skills and apply them to public policy. The first year provides rigorous training in data science, econometrics, quantitative tools and political science for public policy. In Year 2, you’ll deepen your knowledge in specific policy or data science domains. You’ll also complete a six-month Capstone project – applying your quantitative, qualitative and coding skills to work on a real-world policy problem for an external client. This practical experience provides excellent preparation for a career in the sought after intersection of data science and policymaking. By the time you graduate, you’ll be well-prepared for a variety of technical, policy, strategy and leadership roles in government, NGOs and the private sector.

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London