PhD in Social Data Science

Hitotsubashi University offers a doctoral program in Social Data Science, taught in English over three years with enrollment beginning in April. Founded in 1875 with a focus on the social sciences and the study of civil society, Hitotsubashi University has built a Kunitachi campus community that includes a substantial number of international students from a wide range of countries. Social Data Science as a discipline combines statistical and computational methods with social science theory, applying tools such as data analysis, machine learning, and econometrics to questions in economics, sociology, political science, and related fields. Doctoral candidates in this area typically develop advanced quantitative skills alongside domain expertise in a chosen social science, working on research that might address topics such as labor markets, public policy, social networks, or behavioral economics using large-scale data. A dissertation in social data science generally requires students to formulate an original research question, collect or work with existing datasets, apply appropriate statistical or computational methods, and present findings that contribute new knowledge to their field. Career paths for graduates include academic positions in social science departments, research roles in government and international organizations, and data science or research positions in the private sector, particularly in finance, technology, and consulting. Instruction in English makes the program accessible to international doctoral applicants who bring a background in economics, sociology, statistics, computer science, or a related quantitative field. Over the three years of study, students generally build on coursework in research methods and their chosen social science before moving into independent research supervised by a faculty advisor, culminating in a dissertation defense that reflects the interdisciplinary nature of social data science.