LoadingLoadingLoadingLoadingMSc Data Science & Development Policy — one admission, a shared core, two named specialisations.
Online only
A double-path master's for analysts in African statistics offices, ministries and think tanks. Shared core in data and policy analysis, then pathways in Data Science (modelling, geospatial, survey methods) and Development Policy (evaluation, budgeting, political economy), with a policy-analytics capstone. African Future University delivers this award fully online across African time zones. There is no campus. Assessment is identity-checked and the academic standard is the same for every student. This is an academic Master's award; where a field has a licensing or registration route, that remains a matter for your professional body or regulator. You will work through the material as a practitioner-researcher: applied methods, real or anonymised cases, and a supervised capstone or dissertation as the final component. Faculty mark whether you noticed the constraints a slide deck usually hides. MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track) is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 24 months, and the credit total is 42. Students move from Statistics & Data Handling for Policy through Statistics & Data Handling for Policy; Programming for Data Analysis; Development Economics & Political Economy; Research Methods & Identity-Checked Assessment; Machine Learning & Predictive Modelling; Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing for Development, and finish on Dual-Track Capstone: Policy Analytics Brief. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students define a measurable question, fit a method that can be checked, and report where it fails. Reading is a dataset description, a methods note, and one published evaluation. The artefact a marker expects is a project note with the question, the method, the result, and the limitation. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Turn a messy business question into a defensible analysis Choose, fit and validate the right statistical or ML model Build dashboards and pipelines that other people can trust and maintain Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
The programme carries 42 credits across four assessed modules. Delivery is tuition-free aside from the examination fee. Transcripts use letter grades and a GPA scale consistent with African Future University awards. No professional-body logo is used in marketing to imply endorsement.
Study online
Tuition is free. Examinations are free. There is no exam fee. Study from anywhere in the world.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFDP713 | Dual-Track Capstone: Policy Analytics Brief Dual-Track Capstone: Policy Analytics Brief (AFDP713) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
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Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 24 months. Teaching language: English + French assessment options. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
Recognised & Accredited
| 15 · 150 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFDP701 | Statistics & Data Handling for Policy Statistics & Data Handling for Policy (AFDP701) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP702 | Programming for Data Analysis Programming for Data Analysis (AFDP702) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP703 | Development Economics & Political Economy Development Economics & Political Economy (AFDP703) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP704 | Research Methods & Identity-Checked Assessment Research Methods & Identity-Checked Assessment (AFDP704) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFDP705 | Machine Learning & Predictive Modelling Machine Learning & Predictive Modelling (AFDP705) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP706 | Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing for Development Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing for Development (AFDP706) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP707 | Survey Design & Administrative Data Survey Design & Administrative Data (AFDP707) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP708 | Data Visualisation & Communication Data Visualisation & Communication (AFDP708) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFDP709 | Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods (AFDP709) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP710 | Public Budgeting & Expenditure Analysis Public Budgeting & Expenditure Analysis (AFDP710) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
| AFDP711 | Sector Policy Design & Implementation Sector Policy Design & Implementation (AFDP711) is a course on MSc Data Science & Development Policy (Dual Track). It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. The degree is taught fully online. This course is academic. It does not appoint the student to a police or justice service.
| 15 · 150 h |
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. All online degree examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored — the only cost for online study is the application fee. Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately. Check the Fees page for details.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. African Future University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@afutureuni.com.