Computational Social Sciences and Digital Humanities
The Computational Social Sciences and Digital Humanities (English) master’s program at Marmara University is a two-year graduate degree taught fully in English. This interdisciplinary program blends social sciences, humanities and computational methods — teaching students how to use data analysis, statistical modelling, digital text and network analysis to study social, cultural and historical phenomena. You learn to work with large datasets, use techniques like data mining, network and spatial analysis, natural language processing and other digital tools to explore questions in sociology, history, cultural studies, media or population research. Through courses, seminars and thesis-based research, students gain skills to produce data-driven social and humanities research, bridging qualitative insight with quantitative methods.
Located in Istanbul — a culturally diverse and historically rich city — the program offers access to social complexity, archives, varied demographic contexts and rich cultural heritage. As part of a university that participates in national and international digital-humanities and social-science networks, students are positioned to engage with cutting-edge research and real-world social issues. The program is ideal for students interested in modern social research, digital archives, data-driven humanities, social analytics, and interdisciplinary scholarship that combines technology and society.
Key information
Key Facts
- Degree: Master of Arts / Master of Science (M.A. / M.Sc.) — Thesis (Graduate Programme)
- Standard period of study: 4 semesters (2 years)
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey
- Study Type: Graduate (full-time, international, English)
- Admission semester: Fall semester (start of academic year)
- Area of study: Computational Social Sciences & Digital Humanities / Social Sciences & Humanities with computational methods
- Admission modus: Thesis-based master’s admission; open to national and international students.
- Main language: English
Program Structure
Semester 1 – Foundations of Computational & Social Science Methods
- Introduction to Social Science and Digital Humanities Research
- Statistics & Quantitative Methods for Social Sciences
- Data Analysis & Programming for Humanities (e.g. Python / R)
- Academic English & Research Writing
Semester 2 – Advanced Methods & Digital Tools
- Network Analysis & Social Network Modeling
- Natural Language Processing / Text Mining for Social & Cultural Data
- Spatial / Geographic Data Analysis & GIS for Social Research
- Elective Course I (e.g. Digital Archives, Media Studies, Computational Sociology)
Semester 3 – Specialized Research & Interdisciplinary Studies
- Digital History / Cultural Analytics or Computational Sociology (depending on focus)
- Data Visualization, Digital Mapping & Visual Methods in Humanities
- Mixed Methods Research: Qualitative + Quantitative Integration
- Thesis Project Planning & Literature Review
Semester 4 – Thesis & Research Project
- Master’s Thesis / Research Project — computational social or digital humanities topic
- Thesis Defense & Presentation
- Seminar on Ethics & Methodological Issues in Digital Social Research
- Graduation & Career Preparation
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program can work as social data analysts, digital humanists, computational sociologists, social researchers, data-driven policy analysts, cultural heritage data managers, digital archivists, researchers in academia, NGOs, public institutions, research centres, think tanks or media & cultural organisations. They may also work in areas such as big data in social sciences, digital scholarship, heritage & archive digitization, social policy analysis, data journalism, user-research & UX design, or as consultants on social research projects. With their mix of computational and social/humanities skills, graduates are well-prepared for interdisciplinary, international and modern-oriented careers.
Why Choose This Program
Choosing the Computational Social Sciences & Digital Humanities (English) master’s program at Marmara University means joining a modern, interdisciplinary field that combines data science, social research and humanities. You will learn both how to handle and analyse complex data and how to interpret social and cultural dynamics — a valuable combination for today's data-rich world. With English-medium instruction and a curriculum that mixes theory, methods and hands-on work, you prepare for careers and research paths that bridge technology and society.
Moreover, being in Istanbul — a cosmopolitan city with diverse populations, history and cultural heritage — gives you access to real social contexts, historical archives, and social phenomena that enrich your research. The program’s connection to digital-humanities networks (like DARIAH‑ERIC) through the university’s Digital Humanities Centre also opens doors to international collaborations and cutting-edge research.
Contact Information
Marmara University – Institute of Population & Social Research
Computational Social Sciences & Digital Humanities (M.A. / M.Sc.) Program
Sultanahmet / Main Campus
34110 Istanbul, Türkiye
Tel: +90 212 512 20 00
Fax: +90 212 526 41 93
Email: digitalhumanities@marmara.edu.tr
Institute of Population & Social Research – Student Affairs Office
Marmara University
Sultanahmet / Main Campus
34110 Istanbul, Türkiye
Tel: +90 212 512 20 10
Fax: +90 212 512 20 11
Email: socialresearch_student@marmara.edu.tr
International Office – Marmara University
Göztepe Campus
34722 Istanbul, Türkiye
Tel: +90 216 777 11 00
Fax: +90 216 777 11 01
Email: international@marmara.edu.tr
