Baya Marrakchi’s next chapter: two scholarships and an MSc in Data Science at LSE

Baya Marrakchi has gone from studying through LSE Global Programmes at Carthage Business School in Tunisia to pursuing an MSc in Data Science at LSE, supported by two scholarships.

A recent graduate of the BSc Data Science and Business Analytics at Carthage Business School, Baya developed a growing interest in data science throughout her undergraduate studies, which were academically directed by LSE.

Her experience as an LSE Global Programmes student, including the opportunity to attend LSE Summer School, helped shape her decision to continue to postgraduate study at LSE. She has now moved to London to begin her MSc Data Science after being awarded both the David Webb Scholarship and the LSE Excellence Scholarship. The two scholarships mark a significant achievement as she begins the next stage of her academic journey.

Finding her path in data science

Starting the BSc Data Science and Business Analytics meant stepping into unfamiliar territory. It was Baya’s first time studying in English, and subjects such as economics were new to her.

Over time, those challenges became part of what she enjoyed most. The programme allowed her to combine statistics and programming with economics, finance, entrepreneurship and business, and she became increasingly interested in the connections between them.

Statistics and econometrics gave her the theoretical foundations, while programming and machine learning allowed her to apply those ideas to real datasets.

I particularly enjoyed coursework projects where I had to decide how to approach a problem and analyse the data myself, rather than simply follow a predefined method. This also helped me develop my critical thinking and become more confident in making analytical decisions.

Strong results and commendation letters gave Baya further confidence that data science was an area she wanted to pursue.

Experiencing LSE through Summer School

A turning point came when Baya received a scholarship to attend LSE Summer School.

For the first time, she was able to experience studying at LSE and living in London, giving her a clearer sense of what postgraduate study there could look like.

Spending time at LSE gave me a much clearer idea of what studying in London would actually be like and made me even more determined to return for postgraduate study.

By the end of her degree, Baya wanted to take her interest in data science further and work on more complex, real-world problems.

Having already experienced LSE through her undergraduate studies and Summer School, MSc Data Science felt like a natural next step, particularly given her interest in how data science connects with finance and business.

Receiving two scholarships to study at LSE

That next step became even more significant when Baya learned that she had been awarded two scholarships. The David Webb Scholarship, launched in 2026, supports outstanding Global Programmes graduates progressing to Master’s study at LSE. Baya also received the LSE Excellence Scholarship, which recognises postgraduate taught students with strong academic ability and potential.

Receiving both came as a surprise to Baya.

It was such an amazing feeling. I honestly did not expect to receive either of them, so finding out that I had been awarded the LSE Excellence Scholarship was already a very special moment. Then receiving the David Webb Scholarship as well was an even bigger surprise.

For Baya, the awards meant more than financial support. They also felt like recognition of the work and perseverance she had put into her undergraduate studies.

They made me feel that the effort I had put into my undergraduate studies had been worthwhile and encouraged me to continue challenging myself in this next stage.

They also reinforced an important lesson: opportunities can feel out of reach until you give yourself the chance to pursue them.

From Global Programmes to postgraduate study

Baya feels her undergraduate degree gave her a strong foundation for MSc Data Science. It developed her quantitative and analytical skills, but also taught her to work independently, manage her time and approach difficult material with greater confidence.

Now at LSE, she is looking forward to making the most of life beyond the classroom too, from attending talks and cultural events to meeting students and professionals who share her interests.

Looking further ahead, Baya hopes to build a career at the intersection of data science and Finance, using quantitative methods to support better decision-making, efficiency and transparency in the financial sector. Her MSc is an opportunity to deepen her technical knowledge while gaining a stronger understanding of the industry she hopes to enter.

Making the most of every opportunity

For other Global Programmes students considering postgraduate study or applying for scholarships, Baya’s advice is simple:

Don’t hesitate, just apply. It is easy to convince yourself that other candidates are more qualified or that scholarships are too competitive, but you cannot know the outcome unless you give yourself the opportunity.

For Baya, her undergraduate degree became much more than a qualification. It introduced her to new academic interests, took her to LSE Summer School and ultimately led her to postgraduate study at LSE.

She credits her family, especially her father, for encouraging her to aim high. She is also grateful for the support of Fatma, Amira and Dr James Abdey, whose teaching strengthened her interest in statistics and data science.

From starting a degree in unfamiliar subjects to studying MSc Data Science at LSE with two scholarships, Baya’s journey shows how one opportunity can lead to the next.