MSc in
Social Data Science
Understand and shape the world with an interdisciplinary approach to data science.
We have never had more data available to help address society’s most pressing issues. Thus knowing what questions to ask from data and how to answer them has never been more valuable. Do you want to know how exceptional new ideas, political movements, or even music pieces spread around the world? Do you want to better understand causes and consequences of phenomena like economic growth and inequality? Have you wondered why some teams, firms, or places are consistently more successful than others? Do you wonder how cities evolve and shape the lives of their inhabitants? Then this is the program for you!
This programme is only available in English.
When to choose...
This interdisciplinary degree will provide you with valuable knowledge and skills to make an impact with data. In particular:
- Training in the social sciences will teach you how to ask the right questions and develop your critical thinking skills.
- Courses in computer and network science will show you how to handle and analyze large and complex datasets, from geographic mobility traces to vast collections of text, using cutting-edge methods.
- Studies in statistics will train you how to think about counterfactuals and cause and effect relationships in data. You will also learn how to set up rigorous analyses and experiments.
Combining the insights from these fields will equip you with a powerful set of tools to solve a wide range of interesting and important problems.
Programme name: Social Data Science
Programme award: Master, MSc
ECTS: 60
Language: English
Duration: 2 semesters (1 year)
Start date: September 2025
Tuition fees (EEA):
1 350 000 Ft/semester
cca. 3 400 EUR/semester*
Tuition fees (Non-EEA):
5 400 EUR/semester
What will you study?
Core Modules*
- Critical Inquiry
- Applied Network Science
- Causal Inference
- Applying and Interpreting Machine Learning
- Using Geography and Text in Data Science
* The above is not an exhaustive list. Corvinus University of Budapest reserves the right to change modules.
Benefits of our new programme
- You can be among the first students worldwide in a new and growing interdisciplinary field, taught by internationally recognized scientists and researchers.
- The aim of the program is to equip you with the ideas and methods needed to address real-world social and economic problems with data.
Course materials and project work will cover a wide spectrum of contemporary topics including economic complexity and growth, inequality and segregation, migration and mobility, the science of cities, science of science, organizational behavior, AI and ethics, and the social and economic impact of AI.
What makes the programme unique?
Our aim is that by the end of your year here you will see the world differently. Nobel laureate Herbert Simon once said that a “wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. In other words, good decision making in the age of data requires us to effectively distinguish between valuable information and useless facts. This programme will teach you how to do this: it combines computational, statistical, and social science skills in a way that prepares you to critically approach any problem where data science can have value.
The programme has not yet been assessed by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (HAC) or any other external quality assurance body.**
**Pursuant to Section 15 (1a) of Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education, higher education institutions with a valid HAC accreditation are free to prepare the training and outcome requirements and the curriculum for master programmes in the field of study in which they have already obtained qualification. Pursuant to Section 67 (4c), the time limit to obtain an expert opinion is 3 years from the date of registration.
Application Requirements
For Hungarian Citizens
You can apply through felvi.hu, for more details switch to the Hungarian website.
Scholarships
There are two remarkable scholarship opportunities available to Non-EU international students:
- Stipendium Hungaricum (for non-EU nationals from over 70 countries)
- Diaspora scholarships (for international students with Hungarian ancestry).
Both scholarships entitle you to:
- Free tuition for the duration of your studies
- 43,700 HUF (approx. €120) per month for the duration of your studies (for living costs)
- University accommodation or an additional 40,000 HUF (approx. €110) per month for the duration of your studies (accommodation allowance)
- Medical insurance
Eligibility requirements apply, please click the button below for more information.
There are three ways to apply to Corvinus as an international student
Johannes Wachs
Programme Director
Associate Professor
From the Programme Director…
I am very excited that Corvinus is launching this new programme. In a world overflowing with data, the ability to turn information into impactful insights is a superpower. If you join us, you’ll embark on a unique adventure where you’ll learn to ask the right questions and uncover answers that matter. This degree is a unique opportunity to get creative and technical at the same time: the diversity of methods you will learn and their domains of application are truly remarkable. On behalf of our programme’s faculty, I look forward to your application!
Accreditations and Rankings
#2 Best Business School
Eduniversal Eastern Europe rankings. 2020 (1st in 2019, 2nd in 2017, 2018)
#300-350 for Business and Management studies
Career Opportunities
Our graduates will be competitive for data science and analytics roles at a variety of firms and institutions. Besides the large demand for such expertise in the private sector, governments, NGOs, and international organizations like the World Bank, OECD, IMF, and United Nations are hiring data experts. The unique skillset this programme offers also provides unique opportunities for entrepreneurs. Our internationally recognized faculty can also prepare you for doctoral studies and a research career.