Master of Science [M.Sc] (Applied Social Data Science)
Field of Study:
$32,319 /Yr
University of Exeter MSc Social Data Science is a 1 year full-time Masters at Streatham Campus in Exeter, with part-time study also listed. For Indian applicants, Exeter asks for a UK 2:2 Honours degree or equivalent, while September 2027 applications are announced but not yet open.
The course trains students to connect social science questions with statistical modelling, programming, data visualisation and policy evidence. It best fits applicants who want data roles in public policy, research, regulation or social analytics, because the curriculum includes optional work placements or consultancy projects.
- The course is delivered through Exeter’s Centre for Computational Social Science, which adds quantitative-methods depth beyond a standard policy degree.
- Students can choose policy subfields such as environment, criminal justice, family policy or economic policy.
- The dissertation can be replaced by an industry-based research consultancy project when the suitable route is available.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the September 2027 intake are Not Yet Open. International student deadline: not yet published by Exeter.
Exeter states that applications open on 28 September 2026, so Indian applicants should prepare transcripts, English evidence and references before the portal opens.
Also Check: University of Exeter Admissions
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Fees 2027
September 2027 tuition is unpublished after checking Exeter’s live course, fees and application pages. The table uses the 2026/27 official fee only as prior-cycle planning context, so applicants should verify the target fee on the official course fee page.
Prior-cycle context: Exeter listed the following 2026/27 fees for MSc Social Data Science, and 2027/28 fees are not yet confirmed.
| Cost item | Official amount | INR equivalent | Applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| International tuition, full-time MSc | £25,550 | INR 32.52 Lakhs | Use only as prior-cycle planning context until Exeter confirms 2027/28 fees. |
| International tuition, part-time yearly fee | £12,775 | INR 16.26 Lakhs | This applies to the listed part-time mode, not the full-time article scope. |
| International tuition deposit, 2026/27 | £2,500 | INR 3.18 Lakhs | The deposit confirmed a full-time postgraduate taught place in the prior cycle. |
Source: University of Exeter course page and tuition fee deposit page, checked on 26 September 2026.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of £1 = INR 127.29 as of 26 September 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
The fee risk is practical rather than cosmetic, because Exeter confirms Masters fees in autumn for the following academic year. Indian applicants should keep the prior-cycle figure separate from the 2027 budget and leave room for a later increase.
Cost of Living in Exeter for MSc Social Data Science Students
Exeter estimates that one student in Exeter or Cornwall needs £1,300 to £2,000 per month (INR 1.65 Lakhs to INR 2.55 Lakhs). This is a living-cost estimate, while visa maintenance funds are a separate Home Office requirement.
| Expense | Monthly or weekly amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Basic living expenses, official monthly estimate | £1,300 to £2,000 per month | INR 1.65 Lakhs to INR 2.55 Lakhs |
| Calculated 12 month living-cost range | £15,600 to £24,000 | INR 19.86 Lakhs to INR 30.55 Lakhs |
| Student halls, self-catered | £150 to £270 per week | INR 19,094 to INR 34,368 |
| Rooms in private accommodation, without bills | £135 to £250 per week | INR 17,184 to INR 31,823 |
| Average weekly local spend estimate | £316 to £421 per week | INR 40,224 to INR 53,589 |
The prior-cycle planning illustration is £41,150 to £49,550 (INR 52.38 Lakhs to INR 63.07 Lakhs). It adds 2026/27 tuition to 12 months of Exeter’s official living-cost range.
Read More: Cost of Living in UK for Indian Students
Fee note
The safest budget action is to treat the 2026/27 fee as a floor, because Exeter says fees change each year and the target fee is not yet published.
ROI reality: The first budget test is whether a prior-cycle cost near INR 52.38 Lakhs to INR 63.07 Lakhs still works before any scholarship. Recalculate once Exeter publishes the 2027/28 tuition.
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Admission 2027
The direct academic answer is that Exeter considers applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or equivalent and welcomes students from any academic background. For India, Exeter says postgraduate taught applicants need a relevant Bachelors degree equivalent to the required UK second-class honours level.
The fit test is broader than the grade line, because the course teaches policy analytics, programming and statistical modelling in a social science setting. Applicants without coding experience can still fit if their transcript, statement and project interests show readiness for quantitative social research.
| Requirement | Official rule or planning equivalent | Indian applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Degree requirement | UK 2:2 Honours degree or equivalent | Use about 50% to 59%, or CGPA 5.0 to 6.4 on 10, only as a planning range. |
| Academic background | Students from any academic background are welcome | Use the statement to connect social questions with evidence, data analysis or policy decisions. |
| Alternative offer risk | Exeter may offer another data science programme if it sees a better fit | Explain why social data science, not generic data science, matches the intended career or research plan. |
| GMAT or GRE | Not listed on the current course entry requirements | Do not spend test-prep time unless Exeter adds a requirement for the 2027 cycle. |
The Indian percentage range is a planning aid, because Exeter makes the formal equivalency decision during assessment. A lower second-class degree can still be coherent for this MSc when the application proves quantitative curiosity and policy fit.
English Language Requirements
MSc Social Data Science uses English Profile B1, so the main test scores are fixed by Exeter’s central English page. The useful choice for Indian applicants is whether to rely on an accepted test or a valid Standard XII English route.
| Route | Required score | Decision point |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any section | Choose this route if section scores are balanced and available before application review. |
| TOEFL iBT before 21 January 2026 | 90, with 20 speaking and 18 in writing, listening and reading | Use this only when the test date and scale match Exeter’s older TOEFL rule. |
| TOEFL iBT from 21 January 2026 | 4.5 overall, with no less than 3.5 in any section | Quote this scale exactly, because Exeter publishes the revised 1.0 to 6.0 requirement. |
| PTE Academic | 67, with no less than 59 in all communicative skills | This is useful when PTE dates are easier to secure than IELTS. |
| Indian Standard XII English | 70% for listed boards, or 60% for West Bengal Board | Check board eligibility and seven-year timing before replacing a test score. |
- Profile B1 creates a hidden subsection risk, so do not rely only on the overall IELTS or PTE score.
- Indian Standard XII English can save testing time only when the board, score and validity period match Exeter’s list.
- The statement should show comfort with evidence, policy questions and data, because the course accepts varied academic backgrounds.
Tip for Indian students: The course is accessible across disciplines, but the strongest application will explain why data analysis belongs in your social policy question. Keep test evidence ready before 28 September 2026.
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Application 2027
Exeter has announced that September 2027/28 applications open on 28 September 2026, but the final deadline is not yet published. This means Indian applicants should treat the opening date as the action point and verify the final date on the official application deadlines page.
The university also says complete postgraduate applications are normally acknowledged within two working days and assessed within 20 working days. Early submission matters because offer conditions, deposit payment and visa preparation can become the real bottleneck.
| Application stage | Published Exeter status | Indian applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Portal opening | Applications open Monday 28 September 2026 | Prepare transcripts, English proof, statement and references before the portal opens. |
| Final September 2027 deadline | Further information will be published in due course | Check the official deadline page before submitting travel or loan timelines. |
| Email acknowledgement | Within 2 working days of receipt | Follow up only after the acknowledgement window has passed. |
| Decision target | Within 20 working days after a complete application | Upload complete documents first, because missing evidence can reset the practical timeline. |
| Deposit deadline | As specified in the offer letter | Keep the prior-cycle £2,500 (INR 3.18 Lakhs) deposit in the liquidity plan. |
The 2027 final deadline is the only major timing gap, and it should not delay preparation. A complete file by the opening week gives Exeter more time to issue an offer before scholarship and visa choices compress.
- Draft the statement around a policy problem, a data source and the method skills you want to build.
- Ask referees for evidence of research, writing or quantitative work rather than generic classroom praise.
- Keep English evidence valid for the start date, because Exeter may ask for a retest when scores expire.
Also Check: University of Exeter Courses and Fees
Application tip: The 2027 cycle is announced, but the final deadline is unpublished. Use 28 September 2026 as the preparation deadline rather than waiting for the closing date.
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Scholarships 2027
For 2027/28, Exeter says it is investing £8 million (INR 101.83 Crore) in scholarships for international and EU fee-paying students. The most relevant published award is the Exeter Excellence Scholarship for postgraduate taught Masters students, listed at £15,000 (INR 19.09 Lakhs).
Indian applicants should separate that target-cycle award from older India-specific pages. The India page still lists a 2026/27 Postgraduate Taught India award, but that older award should not be used as a 2027 fee reduction.
| Award | Published value | INR equivalent | Eligibility and route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Excellence Scholarships, September 2027 PGT | £15,000 | INR 19.09 Lakhs | For international and EU fee-paying students choosing Exeter in 2027/28. |
| Exeter India PGT award, prior 2026/27 page | £7,500 | INR 9.55 Lakhs | Prior-cycle context only, because the page names September 2026 or January 2027 entry. |
| Maximum combined older India and Excellence award | £10,000 | INR 12.73 Lakhs | Prior 2026/27 context only, not a 2027 calculation. |
The target-cycle scholarship is decision-useful because it could reduce the prior-cycle planning cost, but the article does not subtract it from tuition. Applicants should wait for Exeter’s award terms and eligible programme list before treating any scholarship as secured.
Exeter’s current India page directs applicants to its international funding page for available scholarships. Use that page after receiving an offer, because many awards require a live offer or a separate application window.
- Prioritise the Excellence Scholarship first, because it is the only published 2027/28 PGT amount on the checked pages.
- Do not calculate a net 2027 tuition from the 2026/27 India award, because the cycle does not match.
- Keep loan documents ready, because scholarship decisions may arrive after Exeter issues the academic offer.
Read More: University of Exeter Scholarships
Scholarship reality: The strongest confirmed target-cycle number is the £15,000 (INR 19.09 Lakhs) Excellence award. Treat every older India-specific figure as prior-cycle context until Exeter updates the 2027/28 award page.
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Salary 2027
Exeter does not publish a course-specific salary, offer rate or placement rate for MSc Social Data Science after the checked pages. The official career evidence is qualitative, naming policy, public sector and private sector destinations rather than a graduate pay figure.
The course’s career value sits in its applied design: data analysis for policy questions, optional placements and consultancy-style research projects. That matters for Indian applicants because the degree is closer to social analytics and policy evidence than a pure machine learning MSc.
| Evidence type | Published evidence | Applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Course-career evidence | Previous students have worked with the ONS Data Science Campus, YouGov, FCA and Defra | This shows possible destination types, not a placement guarantee. |
| Course feature | Optional work placement of typically three to six weeks | Use the placement route to build UK evidence before graduate hiring opens. |
| Course feature | Industry-based research consultancy project can replace a traditional dissertation | Choose this route if an applied project matters more than doctoral preparation. |
| External UK data scientist benchmark | £32,000 starter to £83,000 experienced | INR 40.73 Lakhs to INR 1.06 Crore, but this is labour-market context only. |
Source: University of Exeter MSc Social Data Science careers section and UK National Careers Service benchmark, checked on 26 September 2026.
The prior-cycle cost-to-career test is therefore qualitative. The course can be rational if the applicant wants social data roles where policy context, data ethics, R, Python and communication matter together.
- The prior-cycle all-in illustration is £41,150 to £49,550 (INR 52.38 Lakhs to INR 63.07 Lakhs), so funding must be checked before enrolment.
- The published employer names prove possible destinations, so applicants still need internships, projects or consultancy evidence for hiring.
- The UK Graduate Route work window is changing to 18 months, which increases pressure to start job preparation before the dissertation term.
- India-return applicants should package the degree around analytics for policy, public services, research teams or regulated industries.
Gross salary benchmarks do not show take-home pay, visa sponsorship odds or London versus regional cost differences. Use a current UK tax calculator when comparing an offer with the prior-cycle budget.
Check Out: MS in Data Science in UK
ROI reality: This MSc has applied career evidence but no published course salary. The sensible ROI test is project fit, funding certainty and early UK job preparation.
UK Visa for Exeter MSc Social Data Science Students 2027
Indian students usually need a UK Student visa for this full-time MSc, and Exeter is outside London for maintenance calculations. Current UK visa facts show a Student visa fee of £558 (INR 71,028). The Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 (INR 98,777) per year, and outside-London maintenance is £1,171 (INR 1.49 Lakhs) monthly.
- The maintenance proof is £10,539 (INR 13.42 Lakhs), which is separate from Exeter’s own living-cost estimate.
- The Graduate Route is listed at 18 months for Masters graduates from 2027, so job-search timing should start during the course.
- The Skilled Worker general salary threshold is £41,700 (INR 53.08 Lakhs), although occupation rules can change by role.
- Taught Masters dependants are generally restricted, unless a government-sponsored or qualifying research-course exception applies.
Read More: UK Student Visa Proof of Funds
Visa reality: Exeter’s living estimate and the Student visa maintenance rule answer different questions. Keep both figures ready before requesting the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
Exeter MSc Social Data Science Ranking 2027
There is no standalone global ranking for Exeter MSc Social Data Science on the checked official pages. The relevant ranking context is the Politics, International Relations and Political Sciences subject area that supports the course’s policy analytics focus.
These rankings help with academic signal, but they should not be treated as employment evidence. For Indian applicants, the stronger use is to judge whether the course’s social science base matches the intended policy or research direction.
| Ranking context | Edition | Published position | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete University Guide, Politics | 2027 | 13th in the UK | Subject-level UK ranking, not MSc-specific. |
| QS World University Subject Rankings, Politics | 2026 | Top 100 worldwide | Subject-level global ranking. |
| Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, Political Sciences | 2025 | Top 100 worldwide | Subject-level research ranking. |
| REF research context | 2021 | Top 10 in the UK for 4-star Politics and International Studies research | Research-quality context for the discipline. |
The ranking evidence supports the course’s social science identity more than its technical data science identity. Applicants seeking a pure computer science brand should compare the curriculum with Exeter’s other data science programmes before applying.
Honest take: The ranking strength is discipline-linked, not course-specific. Choose this MSc for policy analytics and social data questions, not for a generic computer science ranking.
University of Exeter MSc Social Data Science fits applicants who want quantitative social research, policy analytics or data roles where context matters as much as modelling. Its main advantage is the combination of social science questions, programming, statistical methods and optional applied projects. The material tradeoff is timing and cost uncertainty, because 2027/28 tuition and the final application deadline are still unpublished. The next concrete step is to prepare a complete application before 28 September 2026 and revisit Exeter’s fee and scholarship pages when the cycle opens.
MSc Social Data Science at Exeter FAQs
Ques. Is Exeter MSc Social Data Science open for September 2027?
Ans. Not yet. Exeter says September 2027 applications open on 28 September 2026, while the final deadline is still unpublished.
Ques. What is the 2027 fee for Exeter MSc Social Data Science?
Ans. The 2027/28 tuition is unpublished. The prior 2026/27 full-time international fee was £25,550 (INR 32.52 Lakhs).
Ques. Do Indian applicants need a coding background for this MSc?
Ans. Exeter welcomes any academic background. Applicants should still show readiness for policy evidence, statistics or data analysis in their statement.
Ques. Which English scores does Exeter accept for this course?
Ans. The course uses Profile B1. IELTS 6.5, revised TOEFL iBT 4.5 and PTE 67 are the main test routes.
Ques. Is the course better for policy careers or pure data science roles?
Ans. It is stronger for policy analytics, social research and evidence roles. Pure machine learning applicants should compare Exeter’s other data science MSc options.
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $32319 (GBP 24300) |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Living Expenses | $15960 (GBP 12000) |
| Total Cost | $15960 (GBP 12000) |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $29925 (GBP 22500) |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake | |
Scores Required
TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Aziz Foundation Masters Scholarships | 100% tuition fee coverage | British Muslims advancing their careers and community impact, studying at partner UK universities |
| Exeter Excellence Scholarships 2025/26 | £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000 first year tuition fees discount | Applicants have an international fee status. |
| University of Exeter Class of 2025 Progression Scholarship | 20% reduction in first-year tuition fees | University of Exeter students graduating in Summer 2025 and progressing to a postgraduate degree in 2025/26. |
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Career and Placement after Course
- Data privacy analyst.
- Data security and governance specialist.
- Social Analytics scientists at NGOs, corporate, or Government sectors.
- Specialist of Data Visualization & Journalism.
- Policy Advisor
Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,660/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| Leo Murray Entrepreneurship Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 18,620/Yr$14,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Business Administration Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,330/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Saltire Scholarships | Scholarship per student$ 10,640/Yr$8,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based |

















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