Live Webinar 
09 July 2026, 04:00 PM (Europe/Berlin)
Data Science for Public Poliсу
(Starting: Winter Semester)
- Starting
- Winter Semester
- Mode of Admission:
- no admission restriction, but ability test
- Study Mode:
- On campus
- Registration Fee & Tuition Information:
- Tuition: 18,750 € per year. It is encouraged for all students who want to be considered for a tuition waiver or scholarship to apply by the priority deadline of Fеbruarу 1st.
Course Description
Fighting climate change, combatting disinformation or creating smart cities - today's complex issues call for a new generation of policymakers and problem solvers who understand how to combine policy and data to develop solutions for government, civil society, and business.
The Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) brings together passionate students from technical and social science backgrounds to deepen their analytical skills and develop an in-depth understanding of the policy world. During this two-year master's you will learn how to leverage AI's transformative capabilities and data science-based decision-making to tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time.
In the program, you will receive training from instructors from the Data Science Lab, who are internationally renowned researchers and excellent teachers. The intense but hands-on classes will give you the ideal environment to learn core data science concepts and computational implementation by heart, not comparable to massive online courses that lack the depth of training and commitment to your needs.
If you want to learn how to turn data into responsible solutions across all sectors, then this program is for you. At the Hertie School in Berlin, the worlds of policy and data intersect in and outside the classroom, empowering you to build a unique profile for your career from day one.
Requirements
Qualification Requirements
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
Minimum standard period of study: 6 semesters.
Required ECTS credits: 180.
If you do not yet have your undergraduate degree at the time of application, please indicate when you will receive it on the online application form. You must complete all of your undergraduate academic coursework and exams before September 1st in order to matriculatе.
Language Requirements
The following certificates are recognized as proof of your language proficiency.
EnglishSpecification: Writing score: 25.
Specification: Writing score: 7.
Specification: At least C.
Specification: At least B.
Application & Admission
Application Deadlines
Locked
Login or Sign-up (for free) to:
- → request information packages
- → see your personal application deadline & tuition fee
(Starting: October)
Germany
Another EU Country
Rest of the worldApplication Procedure & Selection
none
Application Documents
Please upload the following required supporting documents to the online application portal:
- Your current CV indicating your academic background, work experience, and voluntary activities. Please do not include a photo on your CV.
- A letter of motivation explaining your specific interest in the study program and how it relates to your professional aspirations. Your letter should be 500-900 words.
- Copies of official academic transcripts of all attended universities. Every transcript must include a transcript key (an explanation of the grading system). If not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Hard copies are not required until after acceptance into the program.
- A copy of an English proficiency certificate (for non-native speakers). See the language requirements for more information. Please note that English test results can be provided after you submit your application to the Hertie School. You must send the certificate to the admissions team via e-mail at grad-admissions[at]hertie-school[dot]org. The deadline to submit the English test results is June 1st.
Regarding the letters of reference:
- Applicants are required to provide the contact information of one referee, either academic or professional, in their application form. While referees are not obligated to submit letters directly to the Hertie School, the admissions committee may reach out to them if necessary.
- Applicants who wish to include letters of reference in their application to further demonstrate their academic achievements can do so by uploading them with their other application documents in the application portal. While including these letters is encouraged, it is not a mandatory requirement.
- For academic references, only institutional email addresses will be accepted.
- Referees should be in a position to assess your performance at the university level or your current workplace. Typically, these are university professors/academics who have taught you in the past or direct supervisors.
- They may use the reference form provided by Hertie School, but it is not required. A reference in the form of a standard letter will also be accepted.
All documents, including letters of reference, must be submitted in .pdf fοrmat.
Location
