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MSc Social Data Science

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Opportunity
Scholarships Available
Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Duration:
1 Year
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Duration:
2 Years
Attendance:
Part-Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now

The MSc in Social Data Science is an interdisciplinary programme aimed at individuals seeking to leverage emerging computational methods and technologies to gain meaningful insights into human behaviour and social dynamics.

Students are trained in sociological thinking and computational skills to build competence and critically engage with complex data collection, curation, processing, analysis, and visualisation. Graduates will be well-equipped to work with the vast amounts of data generated in online and offline social interaction to address societal challenges and inform decision-making through a reflexive, data-driven sociological approach.

Our curriculum is highly flexible, catering to diverse interests and levels of expertise in both social sciences and computational methods. It also offers students the opportunity to undertake an internship as part of their studies.

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.

About This Course

Nearly every aspect of our lives today leave digital traces. Leveraging this massive sea of information, requires both a judicious understanding of how substantive and social scientific questions drive the data analysis and the skill and training to use scalable data science tools. 

On successful completion, the student should be able to:

● Demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of social data science, data requirements and techniques

● Construct, synthesize, evaluate, interpret, and report theories and evidence in an open, analytical and critical manner.

● Apply problem solving skills in a variety of different contexts.

● Apply appropriate data science techniques to address domain specific research problems, 

● Discuss, present and communicate their research ideas, data and results within a group setting and in one-to-one communication. 

The MSc in Social Data Science is ideal for individuals who want to avail of the excellent employment opportunities created by the progressive digitalisation of society.

Most graduates from our programme have gone on to pursue successful careers as analysts or data scientists with national and international private-sector organisations, government agencies, and NGOs, such as:

  • Accenture
  • Deloitte
  • Central Statistics Office
  • Bank of Ireland
  • Workday
  • Department of Social Protection
  • Higher Education Authority
  • IBM
  • PwC
  • Capgemini

Some graduates have also continued into PhD programmes in a variety of disciplines, both at UCD and abroad.

Graduate students are offered the opportunity to either:

Complete a dissertation (30 credits)

OR

Undertake an internship (15 credits) and a capstone project (15 credits).

***Internship placements are self-sourced by students with the support of the School and UCD Careers Network.


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SOC41200 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SOC40640 Social Simulation: Methods and Models Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SOC41130 AI and Society Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SOC41220 Social Networks Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP10010 Introduction to Programming I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP40610 Information Visualisation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP47460 Machine Learning (Blended Delivery) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 GEOG40770 GIS for Environmental Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 GEOG40820 GIS Principles and Applications Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC40670 Global Migration Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC40720 Organised Violence and Society Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41160 Sustainable Solutions and Applied Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41180 Environmental Crises, Inequality and Sustainable Futures Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41230 Ecology, Economy, Technology - Issues in Contemporary Social Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SPOL40470 Comparing Healthcare Systems Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 STAT30340 Data Programming with R (Blended) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 STAT40400 Monte Carlo Inference Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP47670 Data Science in Python (MD) Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP47750 Machine Learning with Python Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP10020 Introduction to Programming II Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 COMP30110 Spatial Information Systems Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 CSOC30030 Advanced Computational Social Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 ECON42720 Causal Inference & Policy Evaluation Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC40330 Workshop in Qualitative Research Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41060 Religion in Compar Perspective Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41150 Queer Theory: Thinking about Alternative Futures Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR:
Students must choose a maximum of 20 credits of which 10 credits must be at level 4 from the list of options. Students must select 10 credits in the Autumn and 10 credits in the Spring Trimester from the list of Options. The maximum amount of credits allowed per one trimester is 30.
 SOC41170 R.A.G.E. - Remembrance, Activism, Genocide, Emotions Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Students must either take SOC40140 OR, alternatively both SOC41010 AND SOC41020. A maximum of 30 credits in total must be chosen from this section.
 SOC40140 Dissertation Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Students must either take SOC40140 OR, alternatively both SOC41010 AND SOC41020. A maximum of 30 credits in total must be chosen from this section.
 SOC41010 Capstone Research Project Summer  15
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Students must either take SOC40140 OR, alternatively both SOC41010 AND SOC41020. A maximum of 30 credits in total must be chosen from this section.
 SOC41020 Internship Summer  15

UCD is strongly committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by embedding sustainability across teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Sustainability principles are integrated into this programme which is designed to equip graduates with the analytical frameworks, methodological toolkits, research skills and pertinent knowledge sets to address global challenges. UCD's leadership in sustainability is internationally recognised, ranking 47th globally and 27th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026. UCD also leads impactful research in areas such as climate action, clean energy, and social equity—topics incorporated into the MSc in Sociology programme. UCD also operates a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy focused on reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable campus culture.

The MSc Social Data Science contributes to UCD’s institutional commitment to sustainability by foregrounding the role of data in evidence-informed decision-making and equipping students with the knowledge and skills to leverage computational methods and tools to address a variety of social sustainability challenges.

Here are the SDGs which align more visibly with this programme:

SDG4 SDG8 SDG9 SDG 17

Zachary Porter 
Graduate, MSc Social Data Science

As a student entering the MSc in Social Data Science with a background in Sociology, I had little experience in professional or
academic coding environments. However, I was compelled to enter the program as it offered the opportunity for me to study and
apply the tools of Data Science to the social issues linked to the development of AI through different quantitative and qualitative methods.
Throughout the year, I was able to learn coding languages such as Python and R, how and when to use Large Language Models and other Generative AI scientifically and ethically, as well as how to develop and conduct my own research.

Although the program was intense and at points challenging, the professors demonstrated a strong interest in both the education and the well-being of my class. Thanks to their supervision and guidance, I was able to acquire theoretical and practical skills through the MSc in Social Data Science that are directly applicable to both a career in the business and the academic world.

MSc Social Data Science (W559) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9515
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MSc Social Data Science (W560) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5710
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change


Fee information is available at www.ucd.ie/fees

Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For more information see http://www.ucd.ie/international

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.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes


This programme is suitable for individuals with a background in the social sciences, arts & humanities, psychology, business, or STEM disciplines.


  • Applicants with limited computational expertise will benefit from exploring a variety of computational methods and developing the programming skills needed to apply them in professional contexts.
  • Applicants with STEM backgrounds will be introduced to social science practice and the unique conceptual and methodological challenges of applying data science methods in the social domain.
The programme does not aim to provide advanced training in computational methods and is designed with a decidedly social science perspective. Individuals with strong computational skills interested in furthering their technical competence are encouraged to explore alternative programmes in the Schools of Computer Science or Mathematics and Statistics at UCD.

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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Social Data Science:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W559
MSc Social Data Science
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W560
MSc Social Data Science
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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