MSc Business Analytics

Overview

The MSc Business Analytics is a one-year specialist programme for graduates with a bachelor's degree with a substantial quantitative component, and highly qualified graduates from other backgrounds with demonstrable advanced quantitative skills. It will suit graduates or early career professionals who wish to pursue a career in business analytics across sectors such as digital marketing, human resources, logistics, retail, finance, banking, insurance, and healthcare.

The MSc Business Analytics has been created in partnership with industry professionals from IBM, LV & UCL/IBM Industry Exchange Network. It provides students with the opportunity to work on business analytics projects and provide data-driven solutions to a real business problem or challenge, where possible, in partnership with IBM and other private, charity, and public sector organisations.

Students will gain a critical understanding of organisational, societal, and ethical issues in the use of Business Analytics. These issues are crucial for many organisations that seek to provide data-driven services while trying to balance innovation and competitiveness with public trust and corporate social responsibility. Examples of projects include optimisation of resource allocation, people analytics to support hiring decisions, customer segmentation, and sentiment analysis to improve a business strategic direction.

At the end of the programme, students will have learned technical skills in data preparation (such as identification, extraction, and cleaning of data); the use of statistical and machine learning techniques to perform data mining and predictive analytics; the formulation and execution of statistical and mathematical models to optimise complex business decisions; the visualisation, interpretation, and reporting/communication of results from statistical analysis. Students will learn how to perform ad-hoc data analytics in Python and through specialised software such as IBM SPSS Modeler and IBM CPLEX.

You will be taught by leading academics whose research tackles the major issues in business analytics. 88% of our Business and Management research is rated as world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021), reflecting its impact in shaping policy and practice. Bristol is a vibrant, ambitious and entrepreneurial city and home to SETSquared, the world's top university business incubator (UBI Global).

Programme structure

Successful completion of five core units, two optional units, and a final project lead to an MSc Business Analytics award.

The core units in thefirst term will provide students with the foundations in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. You will learn skills in Python, data preparation, application of statistical models and machine learning, data visualisation to gain business insights, decision optimisation for complex business process, across a range of business areas (forexample marketing, people analytics, project analytics, financial portfolio optimisation).

Depending on which elective they choose in the second term, students will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills in social media and web analytics (social network analysis, Natural Language Processing, sentiment analysis), or optimisation (including mathematical modelling); learn theory and practice of decision-making in business analytics; or consult on a real-life business analytics project, where possible, with external industry partners.

Across the two teaching blocks, students will learn ethics and sustainability issues in the adoption of business analytics. After learning research methods, students will have to complete an Applied Research Project in Business Analytics, which may be conducted in partnership with external organisations and will be assessed with a dissertation.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MSc in Business Analytics.

Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in an applied Social Science or Science discipline (or related field) with substantial quantitative content. For example, Maths, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Science, Data Science/Analytics, Operational Research, Accounting, Finance, Management/Decision Science. Applicants must have evidence of at least 2 quantitative analysis units at 2:1 or equivalent (for example, applied statistics, statistical analysis/analytics). Applicants with a lower class of degree with relevant work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

UK: full-time: £16,800 per year
Overseas: full-time: £31,500 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Bristol Master's Scholarship

£2,000 scholarships available for UK students from underrepresented groups applying for full-time master's programmes. Find out more about the Bristol Master's Scholarships and check your eligibility to apply.

Funding for 2023/24

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

The MSc Business Analytics Programme responds to the increasing demand for skills in business analytics both in the UK and abroad.

Our Careers Service offers support and online training to help you to identify your career goals, apply for opportunities, and perfect your interview technique during your year of study.

Career paths examples include:

Business Analytics Specialist/Professionals
Management Consultant
Product Manager
Market Research Analyst/Digital Marketing
Quantitative/Data Analyst
Business Operations Analytics Specialist
HR/People/Insurance Analytics Specialist
Financial Analyst.

How to apply

Apply via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.

Application deadline

Due to high demand we will be closing MSc Business Analytics to applicants from China on 9 March 2023 and to remaining applicants from outside of the UK on 31 July 2023. Please find out more information by reading our guidance for when to apply.

Home applicants: 4 August 2023.

Places are limited and allocated on a continuous basis from October 2022 until all places are filled. Early applications are advised to avoid disappointment.

Apply now