At the intersection of sciences

According to Sinan Aral, the head of MIT's digital economy research institute, the ideal data analyst has three main skills (statistics, programming and social sciences) and also has a kind of creativity. Our programme is based on this principle as well. We provide strong mathematical and statistical knowledge, which enables us to extract new knowledge from the data. Programming knowledge is also required for effective data management. The third condition is the social science background, because the context of our data must be known. In addition to these, we also develop the creativity necessary to qualify relevant questions, select appropriate data and find well-founded interpretations in our business analytics courses.

The course's founder is Tamás Rudas, professor in the Statistics Department of the University of Washington, former director general of the Centre for Social Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, elected fellow of the European Academy of Sociology and Past President of the European Association of Methodology.

The success of the master programme is based on the continuous development and the adaptation to the changing social environment. The programme was created 25 years ago to teach the analysis of data that can be collected using the survey method (as its previous name shows), i.e. sampling-based interviews, and public opinion and market researchers were primarily trained. At that time, the programme functioned as a specialization offered to sociology students. The course was accredited in 2009 as an independent master's degree in survey statistics, the first in Hungary and in Europe under this name.

The data revolution that has taken place since then, the emergence of digital data created during our everyday activities, has generated data analytics needs in a wide variety of fields. In response to this change in demand, the content of the programme has changed significantly. Students who complete the programme are able to analyse large databases, know the statistical methods of survey-based research and are able to carry out online research and web analytics in the scientific, public administration and business applications of social research. They have knowledge of network analysis and natural language processing; know the basics of machine learning; prepared to implement analysis solutions in R and Python, gained an introduction to the data analysis infrastructure (SQL, Git and other tools). For all of this and for life-long learning, we also provide essential mathematical foundations in cooperation with instructors of ELTE Faculty of Science. The programme has many elective modules: digital data analytics, public policy, scientific, business and social research.

The majority of employers are looking for our students with survey statistics and data analytics knowledge, because the knowledge they acquire here enables them to mediate in the role of interpreter between IT data scientists and colleagues with a background in social sciences and economics. All of this is made possible by the combination of a social science and business approach, as well as statistical knowledge and programming skills.

The official statistics specialization of the Survey Statistics and Data Analytics programme received the EUROSTAT European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS) accreditation for the period 2019–2023, so it was possible to obtain an accredited EMOS diploma during this period.

The aim of the master's programme is to train statistical and data analytics experts who are able to

• define the problem,
• carry out data collection and analysis,
• interpret the results, as well as
• present the results in a comprehensible manner

in the fields of business, market research, public administration, and social research.

For this, in addition to mastering solid mathematical foundations, it is absolutely necessary to also acquire a social science approach. The environment offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences is ideal for this.

Modular programme structure

Elective professional modules

In addition to the mandatory modules, we also offer differentiated professional modules with elective courses:

• Biomedical Research
• Economic Research
• Digital Data Analytics
• Social Research
• Business Research

Getting ready to the labour market

Part of our programme is a six-week mandatory professional internship, and we have a decade-long relationship with well-known participants in business, academia and public administration (see their list here).

The combination of all these makes it possible for our graduate students to choose from a number of job offers in one of the most sought-after, well-paying professions on the labour market. According to experience, our students can easily find a job; and based on labour market forecasts, the demand for this profession is going to grow in the future.

We enable the graduates to learn and develop new analysis methods, as the statistical and data analytical profession is permanently facing new challenges in our constantly changing world. This gives the diversity and intellectual excitement of this profession. On this ongoing professional challenge, see Jennifer Rogers, professor of statistics at the University of Oxford.

Further information