Program Overview

---

MSc Business Analytics

Overview

The MSc Business Analytics is a professionally accredited, one-year specialist programme designed for students aiming to leverage and master the latest techniques in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. It develops the skills required to integrate advanced data analytics with business decision-making, equipping graduates with the ability to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business leadership, preparing them to collaborate effectively with decision-makers in diverse organisational contexts. By combining rigorous analytical training with practical problem-framing and results communication, graduates gain the skills to contribute to data and AI-driven innovation, supporting transformative solutions across competitive industries.

Accredited by the Institute of Analytics (IoA), this programme emphasises professional and ethical standards in business analytics while enhancing employability. Designed with industry insights from leading organisations such as IBM, NHS, Amazon, and Barilla Group, and enriched by alumni feedback, it delivers a cutting-edge education.

To enhance students' analytical expertise and career readiness, the programme offers opportunities to engage with the Professional Liaison Network (PLN) on consulting projects, providing hands-on experience with organisations. Students engage in practical, real-world projects with partners who have previously included Barilla, Yeo Valley, Financial Times, IBM, and Bristol Airport, tackling managerial challenges in dynamic industries. These projects span topics such as resource allocation optimisation, people analytics, customer segmentation, performance measurement, healthcare workforce impact analysis, and renewable energy systems automation.

Students will gain hands-on experience with a range of decision-support tools, such as Python, R, MS Excel, Tableau for data visualisation, and Lingo for ad-hoc analytics, ensuring they are well-prepared to adapt to evolving technologies in the field.

Alumni and industry panel discussions, guest lectures by business analytics experts from a variety of sectors, career development workshops, and technology sessions on industry-standard tools such as PowerBI, @RISK, and SQL are integral elements designed to keep students at the forefront of current work practices. Mentorship programmes are also established to connect students with alumni and industry experts.

The programme covers:

• Mastering data identification, extraction, and cleaning techniques to ensure high-quality datasets.
• Applying statistical and machine learning methods for data mining and predictive analytics.
• Formulating and executing statistical and mathematical models to drive optimal business decisions.
• Visualising, interpreting, and effectively communicating the results of statistical analyses to inform decision-making.

Our students can also benefit from guidance we provide to help them achieve professional accreditation from the UK's leading Operational Research Society and other affiliated organisations such as the Alliance of Data Science Professionals.

Key Information

• Programme duration: One year full-time.
• Start date: September 2025
• Application deadline:
  • Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025.
  • Home applicants: 8 August 2025.
• Delivery method: On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: MSc

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.

World-Leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

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 as listed.

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.

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.

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

The Business School is offering a range of scholarships for master’s students starting in 2025.

Scholarships for International Students

• Think Big Scholarships: 200 scholarships available, with 100 at £13,000 each and 100 at £6,500 each.
• Career Accelerator Scholarships: 200 scholarships at £3,000 each.

Scholarships for Home (UK) Students

• Business School Advance Scholarship: £10,000 each.

Career Prospects

The MSc Business Analytics programme addresses the growing demand for business analytics expertise in the UK and globally. Our graduates have secured prestigious roles at leading organizations, including PwC China, Capgemini, Reckitt, Volkswagen, EDF Trading, Jaguar Land Rover UK, 3Vision, Low Carbon Contracts Company, Play Sports Network, and the MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre.

Graduates pursue careers across diverse industries such as technology, consulting, finance, automotive, manufacturing, and various analytical roles. Common career paths include:

• Business Analytics Specialist/Professional
• Management Consultant
• Product Manager
• Market Research Analyst/Digital Marketing Specialist
• Operations/Data Analyst
• Modelling/Data Scientist
• Business Operations Analytics Specialist
• HR/People/Insurance Analytics Specialist
• Financial Analyst