<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JOHN HANCOCK
VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000785303
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 03
   <NAME> MONEY MARKET
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-01-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          271,022
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         271,022
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       1
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 271,023
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           75
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 75
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       270,948
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           27,095
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                   270,948
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                7,535
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     417
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          7,118
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                             0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                            0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            7,118
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (7,118)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         15,685
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (12,246)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                712
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          41,505
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              332
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    417
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.31
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>