Program Overview

MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy with Advanced Practice

The MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy with Advanced Practice will provide you with the applied experience and decision skills you need to develop and excel as an effective leader and manager of transformational change in an era of Big Data and rapid innovation.

Key Information

• Level: Postgraduate Taught
• Delivery type: Full Time
• Degree qualification: MSc
• Mode of delivery: On-Campus
• Duration: 2 years
• Location: Edinburgh
• Start date: September

Program Overview

Gain the expertise to make data-driven, evidence-based decisions for transformation growth in business with our two-year MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy with Advanced Practice programme. In an evolving digital world, the significance of data technology in business is as important as ever. Employers worldwide are actively seeking graduates equipped with a unique blend of business acumen, data analytics skills, and the ability to effectively communicate insights.

Course Content

During this degree, you'll learn about the theory and practice behind analytics, so you'll be positioned to make informed strategic, evidence-based business decisions that drive success in the complex landscape of the business world. You'll learn about key concepts of Big Data and analytics and their use in management decision-making. You'll also learn about management consultancy and financial reporting. You'll explore the theory and methods of social network analysis as they relate to organisational behaviour, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Year 1

• Mandatory September:
  • Business Analytics and Introduction to Big Data
  • Financial Analysis
  • Management Consultancy
  • Strategic Change
• Mandatory January:
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Research Philosophy and Practice
  • Network Analysis for Business
• Optional January:
  • Quality Management
  • Project Management
  • Systems Thinking and Analysis
• Mandatory May:
  • Business Analysis and Consultancy Dissertation

Year 2

• Mandatory September: Industry Placement 1
• Mandatory January: Industry Placement 2
• Mandatory May: Industry Placement 3

Fees and Funding

• September 2026 intake tuition fees:
  • UK: £12,744
  • International: £24,952
• Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
• International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK.
• Year 2 (Industry placement):
  • UK and International: £3,000

Scholarships and Bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Whilst we can consider applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds such as Logistics, Engineering, Business Admin/ Management, Journalism, we hope to see demonstrable evidence of numeracy.
• English language requirements: The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5 except for writing which must be at 6.0 minimum.

Research Areas

Our research-active academics whose work covers four key areas:

• Employment, Work and the Professions
• Logistics and Sustainability
• Networks and Enterprise Excellence
• Social and Economic Data Analysis

Why Heriot-Watt

We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK. We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK.