Data Analytics and Social Statistics HSE University

Overview

This programme is unique because it is the first programme in Russia to offer a comprehensive data analysis approach in different areas. As part of the programme, students from other disciplines can come together to solve practical analytical problems—those mathematically inclined to understand sociology and the object of research. At the same time, those with a background in the humanities will build their skill set and gain a deeper understanding of statistical processes making up the data analysis that we teach. Also, the programme's particular focus will be the analysis of social networks, a direction of data science that is becoming increasingly popular in foreign and Russian research practice.

Another essential characteristic of the programme is its applied nature - students do not learn from abstract theoretical constructs but rather from dealing with specific applied research questions. Students will use their knowledge by solving practical problems, working at the International Laboratory for Applied Network Analysis, Russian analytical centers, and commercial companies.

One of the programme's main goals is to combine a modern approach to data analysis with the theory of social processes. It provides a holistic view of the theoretical and methodological basics, allowing students to select the method best fitted to particular research questions and giving them an understanding of the data structure to combine numerous statistical tools to solve practical problems.Another important goal of the programme is to train students in the area of social network analysis. In recent years, this data science direction has become more popular and is used in various fields, including Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Biology, Computer Science, and Energy.