The Department of Network and Data Science at the Central European University carries out research in network science, with a special focus on the foundations and applications of network science to practical data-driven problems. The Department organizes a BA/BSc in Data Science and Society as well as hosts 1- and 2-year MS programs in Social Data Science and a PhD Program and various Advanced Certificate Programs for CEU master's and/or doctoral students.

Data Science tools and the Network Science approach offer a unique perspective to tackle complex problems, impenetrable to linear-proportional thinking.The data deluge of our times has opened up unprecedented opportunities to study and understand structure and function of social, economic and political systems. The concept of networks has become indispensable in several social science disciplines. Data-driven network science aims at explaining complex phenomena at larger scales emerging from simple principles of making network links. A key element of the mission of the Department is to work across disciplines to bring network and data science tools to many fields of the social sciences.

The Department of Network and Data Science translates these ideas into research projects - our faculty have won several major grants, from European Union and US funding agencies.