MSc Business Analytics
- MSc
Overview
The MSc Business Analytics is a professionally accredited, one-year specialist programme for graduates with a substantial quantitative component, and those with demonstrable advanced quantitative skills. It will suit graduates or early career professionals aiming for careers in business analytics across sectors such as digital marketing, human resources, logistics, retail, finance, banking, insurance, healthcare, and agriculture.
Accredited by the Institute of Analytics (IoA), this programme aligns with the IoA’s mission to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in data analytics, enhancing employability in a rapidly evolving industry. The programme is designed in collaboration with industry professionals from IBM, LV, and the UCL/IBM Industry Exchange Network. It offers students hands-on experience through projects addressing real-life managerial challenges, in partnership with organisations such as IBM, NHS, Barilla, and Bristol Airport, among others.
Students will gain a critical understanding of organisational, societal, and ethical issues in the use of Business Analytics, balancing innovation and competitiveness with public trust and corporate social responsibility. Projects include resource allocation optimisation, people analytics, customer segmentation and sentiment analysis, performance measurement in various sectors, healthcare workforce impact analysis, and automation of renewable energy systems.
The programme covers:
- Data preparation skills, including data identification, extraction, and cleaning;
- Statistical and machine learning techniques for data mining and predictive analytics;
- Formulation and execution of statistical and mathematical models for business decision optimisation;
- Visualisation, interpretation, and communication of statistical analysis results.
Students will primarily use Python and software like Lingo for ad-hoc data analytics. Guidance will be provided on achieving professional accreditation from the UK's leading Operational Research Society and other affiliated organisations such as the Alliance of Data Science Professionals.
To further enhance students' analytics profiles and work readiness, students might engage with the Professional Liaison Network (PLN) on consulting projects, providing experience with significant organisations. Alumni panel discussions, virtual industry panels, guest lectures from industry experts, career development workshops, and technology workshops on tools like PowerBI, @RISK, and SQL are integral components designed to keep students updated with the latest industry practices. Mentorship programmes are also being established to connect students with alumni and industry experts.
Programme structure
Successful completion of four core units, two optional units, and a final business analytics dissertation project lead to an MSc Business Analytics award.
In the first term, core units provide a foundation in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. You will develop skills in Python, data preparation, applying statistical models and machine learning, data visualisation and decision-making for complex business processes across areas like marketing, people analytics, project analytics, financial portfolio optimisation, and productivity analysis.
In the second term, you can choose electives to deepen your expertise. Options may include:
- Social media and web analytics, covering topics like social network analysis, natural language processing, and sentiment analysis;
- Optimisation, focusing on algorithms for solving large-scale optimisation models;
- Decision-making in business analytics, exploring heuristics and biases in managerial judgment;
- Ethics and sustainability issues in business analytics.
Students will attend the mandatory Business Analytics Consulting Project unit, applying their knowledge to real-life business problems for an external client
In the summer term, students will undertake the Business Analytics Dissertation Project, applying the knowledge acquired to research a topic of interest. This project builds on prior learning and enhances their critical analysis skills. Students will explore real-world business problems, provide practical solutions, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders. Visit our programme catalogue for more details.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any of the following subjects:
Operational Research, Management Science, Decision Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Finance (but not Accounting and Finance), Economics, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, Biomedical/Life Sciences.
OR
An upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in any discipline that includes 65% or above in at least two different quantitative units from this list:
Algebra/Linear Algebra/Calculus, Complex Functions/Systems, Data including Mining/Science/Analytics, Differential Equations/Ordinary Differential Equations, Financial Maths/Modelling, Game Theory, Geometry/Geotechnical, Maths for Business/Economics, Advanced/Decision/Discrete/Forecasting/Method/Modelling/Programming/Pure, Number Theory, Optimisation, Probability (including stochastic models/methods)/Proof, Statistics including Methods/Analysis, Computational Methods (including in the social sciences and research), Computer Science (incl programming/algorithms/physical computing), Electronic/Electrical Engineering/Electricity Magnetism, Engineering including Materials/Structural, Experiment (e.g. experimental design, studies or research; control trials), Management Science/ Network Science, Mechanics (any type of mechanics) /Mechatronics, Physics (all types of physics), Quantum Computing/Mechanics, System dynamics /Thermodynamics, Analysis/Business Analytics/Analytical chemistry/Multi Variate Analysis /Social network analysis/Time Series Analysis / Bayesian Modelling, Decision Analysis and Simulation/Decision Science, Derivatives, Econometrics, Equilibrium/Information Theory/Kinematics/Kinetics/Machine learning/Operational research/Optimisation, Macroeconomics/Microeconomics (also called Economics III/IV), Quantitative Methods, Research methods/techniques including health/medical/biomedical/natural sciences, Robotics/Simulation
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your grades are slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements, if you have at least one of the following:
- evidence of significant, relevant work experience (minimum six months) in sectors such as Digital Marketing, Data Science, Data Engineering, Banking and Finance or roles which require expertise in data analytics or statistics (and 65% or above in at least two different relevant modules).
- a postgraduate qualification.
If this is the case, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant work experience and/or qualifications. Specific module requirements would still apply, which could be met in either undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Go to admissions statementIf 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
- Home: full-time
- £19,500 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £33,000 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.
Funding and scholarships
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.
In terms of post-master's careers, we have observed several noticeable trends among our graduates. Many of our alumni have secured positions in diverse industries, reflecting the broad applicability of skills gained in the programme. Key trends include a strong presence in technology, consulting, finance and investment, automotive and manufacturing, and various analytical roles.
Our Careers Service offers support and online training to help you identify your career goals, apply for opportunities in professional settings, 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
- Operations/Data Analyst
- Modelling/Data Scientist
- Business Operations Analytics Specialist
- HR/People/Insurance Analytics Specialist
- Financial Analyst
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk