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.