Master of Data Science for Public Policy
Fighting climate change, combating disinformation or building smart cities - today's complex challenges call for a new generation of policymakers and problem solvers who can combine policy expertise with data-driven insights.
The Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) brings together students from both technical and social science backgrounds to strengthen their data science skills and gain an in-depth understanding of the policy world. Over the course of two-years, you will learn how to harness AI and data science to make informed, responsible decisions across government, civil society, and a business.
The programme is taught by world-class faculty at the Hertie School, including members of the Data Science Lab—internationally recognized scholars in data science and machine learning for public policy, and award-winning teachers in these fields.
Intensive, hands-on classes provide the ideal environment to master core data science concepts and computational techniques – far beyond what large-scale online courses can offer.
If you aim to use data to design responsible, evidence-based policies that make a real difference, this programme will help you develop the skills to do so. At the Hertie School in Berlin, policy and data intersect both inside and outside the classroom, enabling you to develop a distinctive profile and accelerate your career from day one.
- 2-year, full-time programme (120 ECTS) in English
- Degree: Master of Science (MSc)
- Career services, professional and alumni network
- Leading international faculty
- Scholarships available
- Qualifies for a job-seeking visa in Germany (up to 18 months after graduation)
- Accredited by German Accreditation Council
In the first year of programme, you will develop essential knowledge, tools, and skills at the intersection of policy and data. You will explore principles of policy-making, law, and governance, while also strengthening your analytical skills in economics.
At the same time, you will build a foundation in core concepts and best practices of statistical programming, alongside the mathematics fundamentals for data science. Through a set of five core courses taught by renowned faculty from Hertie's Data Science Lab, you will build strong foundations in mathematics for data science, data structures and algorithms, machine learning, causal inference, and the data science workflow.
By the end of the first year, you will not only be able to understand and analyse public policy and the actors and structures that shape it, but also apply your knowledge to real-world data science cases and policy challenges.
In the second year, you will build on your data science expertise while applying and critically examining your knowledge in governance and management. You will have the opportunity to further specialise in areas such as Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Online Experimentation, and to broaden your perspective by taking courses from the Hertie School’s extensive portfolio of public policy and international affairs electives.
In the final stage of your studies, you will make an original contribution to the scientific study of a political or societal challenge by developing a data-driven solution and writing a master’s thesis under the guidance of a faculty member.
The MDS is designed to produce expert data scientists who can apply, evaluate, and navigate their skills within a public policy context. At the heart of the programme are not only analytical and critical thinking abilities but also the rigorous academic training and transferable skills required to develop responsible, ethically aware, data-driven solutions for government, civil society, and industry.
Available resources during your studies
High-performance computing server
The school owns a state-of-the-art on-premise server for data science research. The server offers one of the most advanced deep learning accelerators and GPU available on the market for scientific exploration in data-driven research. Learn more
Makerspace
The school's creative space combines a hackerspace mentality and a co-working atmosphere. You will have access to top tools for collaboration, invention, and creation and will be able to work together in the spirit of exploration, hacking and entrepreneurship. Learn more
Online learning resources
Eager to step-up your quantitative skills? The Data Science Lab offers access to a number of online learning resources for students interested in improving their knowledge and skillsets. Learn more
Hackathons
Our students actively participate in a variety of hackathons, showcasing their skills in data science, policy analysis, and innovative problem-solving. They have consistently achieved outstanding results, winning prizes and recognition for their creative, data-driven solutions.
