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Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods (MA) (2023 Entry)

Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods students researching

Explore our Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods taught Master's degree.

The Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods MA will enable you to assess and understand the growing influence and implications of big data and quantitative methods on political processes and decisions in everyday life.


Course overview

Big data and quantitative methods are transforming political processes and decisions in everyday life.

Local, national and international administrations are making ‘open data’ available to wide audiences; giant, world-level web organisations are putting more and more services in synergy; and some private companies or governments are developing strongly ideological projects in relation with big data. Therefore, there is a need for trained specialists who will have the capacity to compete and/or collaborate with strictly business or technique-oriented actors on the basis of sound knowledge from political and international studies.

Our programme provides you with an understanding of the implications of different approaches to issues concerning big data and public policy.


Double Degrees

Our Double Degree programmes enable you to combine the study of this MA programme in PAIS with a Master’s programme at any one of our partner universities:

  • American University, Washington DC, USA
  • University of Waterloo, Canada
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
  • University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
  • Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Learn more about our Double Degrees


General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

Visit our PAIS web pages for department-specific advice on applying to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

Postgraduate FAQs (PAIS specific)

Postgraduate FAQs (General)


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Fundamentals in Quantitative Research Methods

This module introduces you to quantitative methods for the social sciences. It involves learning how to design a quantitative research project, how to select data and relevant methods, how to apply these methods and present results convincingly. It is suitable for all students interested in applied data analysis, from a background in any social science, or at least the interest in these disciplines. Prior background in quantitative methods before the module may range from none to intermediate.

Big Data Research: Hype or Revolution?

Big data is said to be transforming science and social science. On this module, you will critically engage with this claim and explore the ways in which the rapid rise of big data impacts on research processes and practices in a growing range of disciplinary areas and fields of study. In particular, the module considers the following questions: What is big data? To what extent is 'big data' different to other kinds of data? What key issues are raised by big data? How are the 'nuts and bolts' of research practice (e.g. ethics, sampling, method, analysis, etc.) transformed with big data? How does big data transform core concepts relating to research practice - such as comparison, description, explanation and prediction?

Advanced Quantitative Research

This module builds on Fundamentals in Quantitative Research Methods. It introduces students to a selected set of advanced statistical methods that are commonly used in quantitative social research.  A further aim is to familiarise students with the key issues in the craft of applied work so that they become careful, considered and thoughtful researchers in quantitative social sciences.

Dissertation
The Dissertation is the final piece of assessment, worth 60 credits. It gives you a chance to treat a topic of your choice, related to your course. It is a personal and autonomous piece of research, conducted under the guidance of a member of staff in your disciplinary field, mostly during term 3 and summer.


Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Theories and Issues in International Development
  • Normative Analysis
  • Theories and Traditions in Public Policy

The optional module lists are updated regularly.

You will have the freedom to select 2-3 modules that appeal to you from our extensive range of optional modules, up to a total of 120 CATS of taught modules.

Teaching

Modules are taught via one 2-hour seminar per week (3-hour in the case of the three core modules). Seminars give you the opportunity to interact with leading scholars as well as with your peers to explore a set topic each week. Every seminar will be based on extensive guided reading you will do each week, but there is no strict pattern to how sessions are run. This may include mini-lectures followed by discussion, Q&A sessions, organised debates, peer presentations, policy briefs, small group work, and other projects (1-hour lecture and 2-hour lab for core modules).

You can also choose to study part-time with us. Find out more about part-time study on our PAIS web pages.


Class sizes

Normally a maximum of 18 per seminar group in PAIS delivered modules.


Typical contact hours

6 hours of Seminars per week for 9 weeks in Terms One and Two plus advice and feedback hours when requested and Dissertation supervision in Terms Two and Three.


Assessment

Assessment methods include research essays and other (written) assignments throughout the year, culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation at the end.


Reading lists

Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web page.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules in a module pre-registration process about which you will receive information at the beginning of September.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: Action Aid; World Bank; UN agencies; UK and other universities; Deloitte; Japan Ministry of Defence; Nationwide Building Society; and the UK Cabinet Office. They have pursued roles such as: communications officers for major INGOs, business and financial project management professionals; economists; finance officers; policy analysts and public services associate professionals.

Our Department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Quantitative methods Job talks and alumnae(i) roundtables (for students on the MA in PBDQM)
  • Your future awaits - the many things you can do after your degree in the PAIS Department
  • Careers in Government and Politics
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
  • After your PAIS Master’s – What Next?
  • Assessment Centres and Interviews: an overview of what to expect for PAIS students

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Taught course fees  Research course fees


Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

PAIS Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Taught course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for taught postgraduate courses at Warwick.

Research course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for research postgraduate degrees at the University of Warwick.

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

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Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Postgraduate Open Day

Our Postgraduate Virtual Open Day will help you find out more about your course of interest, as well as general topics like applying to Warwick, accommodation, careers and funding.
Please register your interest to be the first to hear when booking opens.

Postgraduate fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in the UK. These events give you the chance to learn about our Master's and PhD study routes, and the wider context of postgraduate study.

Find out more

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Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

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