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<!-- DFIN ActiveDisclosure(SM) XBRL Schema Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ -->
<!-- Creation Date      : 2021-02-12T17:56:27.1286282+00:00 -->
<!-- Version            : 5.0.1.571 -->
<!-- Package ID         : 13c6db53a97844bda25db5cd9c0a6c49 -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2021 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
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  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOutstandingAggregateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOutstandingAggregateFairValue" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_FractionOfBonusAwardVestedPerYear" name="FractionOfBonusAwardVestedPerYear" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_MinimumPerformancePeriod" name="MinimumPerformancePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_MaximumPerformancePeriod" name="MaximumPerformancePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPostVestingRestrictionPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPostVestingRestrictionPeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_BonusAwardMember" name="BonusAwardMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationWindfallTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense" name="EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationWindfallTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedGrantsInPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedGrantsInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedConversionsInPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedConversionsInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedForfeitedInPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedForfeitedInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedNumber" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedNumber" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedConversionsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedConversionsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedForfeitedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedForfeitedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndUnvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardsVestedAndExpectedToVestWeightedAveragePrice" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardsVestedAndExpectedToVestWeightedAveragePrice" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExpectedToVestNumber" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExpectedToVestNumber" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_UnvestedSharesMember" name="UnvestedSharesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExpectedToVestWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExpectedToVestWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeNetOfGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncome" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeNetOfGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncome" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_PercentageOfForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeRelatedToFavorableImpactOnPriorYearsFromFinalRegulations" name="PercentageOfForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeRelatedToFavorableImpactOnPriorYearsFromFinalRegulations" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_USFederalIncomeTaxRateReductionEffectiveDate" name="USFederalIncomeTaxRateReductionEffectiveDate" type="xbrli:dateItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_TaxReformMeasurementPeriod" name="TaxReformMeasurementPeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_EstimatedTaxBenefitRelatedToForeignWithholdingTaxes" name="EstimatedTaxBenefitRelatedToForeignWithholdingTaxes" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ChangeInTaxRateCumulativeNetChargeOfTaxReform" name="TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ChangeInTaxRateCumulativeNetChargeOfTaxReform" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_NetOperatingLossExpirationYear" name="NetOperatingLossExpirationYear" type="xbrli:gYearItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_OperatingLossCarryforwardsTaxValue" name="OperatingLossCarryforwardsTaxValue" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpenseBenefit" name="UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpenseBenefit" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTransactionCosts" name="DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTransactionCosts" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_FinancialEngineeringAssociatesIncMember" name="FinancialEngineeringAssociatesIncMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_InvestorForceHoldingsIncMember" name="InvestorForceHoldingsIncMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationWorkingCapitalAdjustment" name="DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationWorkingCapitalAdjustment" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_OtherAmericaCountriesMember" name="OtherAmericaCountriesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_OtherEuropeMiddleEastAndAfricaCountriesMember" name="OtherEuropeMiddleEastAndAfricaCountriesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_OtherAsiaAndAustraliaCountriesMember" name="OtherAsiaAndAustraliaCountriesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_AsiaAndAustraliaMember" name="AsiaAndAustraliaMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="msci_BurgissGroupLimitedLiabilityCompanyMember" name="BurgissGroupLimitedLiabilityCompanyMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
</xsd:schema>
