What can you do with a Master of Science in Business Analytics?

Organisations rely on data to test assumptions, improve performance, and guide strategic decisions. This demand has increased the need for professionals who can interpret information and communicate what it means for a business.

Our Master of Science in Business Analytics MSc (Online) builds these skills. Graduates go on to roles in finance, operations, consulting, technology, government, and healthcare. If you’re exploring a business analytics degree, understanding your career options can help you decide where you want to go next.

What is business analytics?

Business analytics uses data, models, and business intelligence tools to understand performance and guide decisions. You bring together statistics, programming, optimisation, and an understanding of how organisations work.

During your studies, you build skills across three areas:

• Descriptive analytics to understand what has happened
• Predictive analytics to estimate what may happen
• Prescriptive analytics to decide what actions to take

In our Master of Science in Business Analytics (Online) programme, you learn these approaches through applied tasks in Python, R, databases, dashboards, and machine learning. You can see an example of how this works in Inside a real-world MSc Business Analytics case study.

Our programme is accredited by the Institute of Analytics (IoA), which supports your professional recognition.

What skills do you gain from an MSc Business Analytics?

You develop the technical and professional skills that employers look for across analytics roles.

Technical skills

• Data preparation and cleaning
• Statistical modelling
• Forecasting
• Machine learning methods
• Python and R for analysis
• Business intelligence and dashboard design
• Optimisation and simulation

These areas link directly to the modules outlined in A deep dive into a Business Analytics (MSc Programme from Aston Online).

Professional skills

• Structuring analytical problems
• Translating findings into practical recommendations
• Presenting insights to different audiences
• Managing risk and uncertainty
• Working ethically with data
• Collaborating with technical and non-technical teams

You also complete the Aston Global Advantage, which helps you develop leadership and employability. Your final research or consultancy project gives you the chance to work on a real analytics problem.

Career paths with an MSc Business Analytics

With your degree, you can work across finance, tech, healthcare, retail, public policy, energy, transport, and professional services. 

Common roles include:

• Business analyst
• Data analyst
• Business intelligence specialist
• Operations analyst
• Financial analyst
• Market research analyst
• Data scientist (early-career level)
• Management consultant

These career paths draw on core skills you build throughout the programme, including modelling, interpretation, and clear communication. Let’s break them down into sections.

Business analyst

Business analysts assess processes, identify gaps, and recommend improvements.

Typical work:

• Analysing performance
• Mapping processes
• Supporting change initiatives

Typical salary: £35,000–£65,000 (Prospects, 2025) / Median £55,000 (IT Jobs Watch, 2025)

Industries: finance, healthcare, retail, logistics, technology, consulting

This role connects closely with the core skills described in Preparing for a career in business analytics.

Data analyst

Data analysts examine datasets and support operational and strategic decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Preparing and analysing data
• Producing dashboards
• Identifying trends

Typical salary: £32,000–£50,000 (Prospects, 2025)

Industries: all major sectors, including retail, public services, tech, and finance

Further foundations for this pathway are outlined in The key components of a Business Analytics MSc degree.

Business intelligence (BI) analyst

BI analysts design reporting environments and dashboards that help teams monitor performance.

Responsibilities:

• Building dashboards
• Maintaining BI tools
• Tracking performance indicators

Typical salary: £40,000–£60,000 (Zorgle, 2025)

Industries: telecoms, healthcare, logistics, finance, retail, public sector

Operations analyst

Operations analysts improve resource planning, supply chain activity, and organisational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Analysing workflows
• Modelling demand and capacity
• Testing changes through simulation

Typical salary: £38,000–£58,000 (UK Talent, 2025)

Industries: manufacturing, logistics, transport, energy, service operations

Financial analyst

Financial analysts support budgeting, forecasting, investment planning, and risk evaluation.

Responsibilities:

• Building financial models
• Assessing risk
• Reporting on performance

Typical salary: £40,000–£65,000 (IT Jobs Watch, 2025)

Industries: banking, insurance, corporate finance, fintech, investment firms

Market research analyst

Market research analysts explore consumer data and market conditions.

Responsibilities:

• Running segmentation
• Analysing customer behaviour
• Evaluating market trends

Typical salary: £30,000–£48,000 (Payscale, 2025)

Industries: consumer brands, agencies, media, public sector, consulting

Risk analyst

Risk analysts help organisations understand exposure and test possible scenarios.

Responsibilities:

• Running risk models
• Stress-testing assumptions
• Supporting governance teams

Typical salary: £40,000–£60,000 (Reed.co.uk, 2025)

Industries: finance, insurance, energy, logistics, large enterprises

Data scientist (early-career entry)

Graduates with strong technical skills may move into junior or associate data scientist roles. Aston’s MSc provides machine learning, modelling, and coding foundations that support this path.

Responsibilities:

• Building machine learning models
• Preparing features
• Evaluating model performance

Typical salary: £39,000–£63,000 for early-career roles. Average UK data scientist salary: £67,254 (Bristow Holland analysis, 2025)

Industries: technology, finance, healthcare, mobility, research, e-commerce

This role aligns with themes discussed in How Aston’s Business Analytics programme prepares you for predictive decision-making.

Management consultant/strategy analyst

These roles use analytics to frame problems, test solutions, and guide organisational decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Analysing strategic questions
• Presenting insights to clients
• Evaluating recommendations

Typical salary: £45,000–£60,000 for junior consultants (Payscale, 2025)

Industries: consulting firms, strategy teams, public-sector organisations, corporate advisory

*All salary ranges are credible and sourced from UK-specific data (cited in parentheses).

Is a business analytics master’s degree worth it?

If you want to work with data in a practical and efficient way, a Master of Science in Business Analytics gives you the depth and hands-on experience you need to grow in this field. Organisations continue to grow their analytics teams and they are looking for graduates who understand modelling, forecasting, and business intelligence.

A structured master’s degree gives you depth that short courses can’t. You learn the full process of analytical decision-making, beyond the basic tools. Our triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) and IoA accreditation also support the credibility of your qualification.

How to study business analytics at Aston

Our Master of Science in Business Analytics MSc (Online) is built for people who are balancing study with work and other commitments. You learn part-time, and you’re encouraged to bring your own workplace problems or interests into your assignments so the learning feels relevant.

Throughout the programme, you develop skills in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. You work with machine learning, data visualisation, optimisation, decision analysis, and data management. As you progress, you begin to see how these pieces connect and how they shape decisions inside an organisation.

Your final project gives you room to specialise. Many students choose a topic linked to their current role, while others use it to explore a new area they want to move into.

If you want a closer look at the modules, you’ll find a detailed breakdown in A deep dive into a Business Analytics (MSc) programme from Aston Online.

Graduates use these skills in business analysis, data analysis, business intelligence, operations, finance, consulting, and strategy. Because the programme focuses on applied work, you leave with experience that employers recognise and value.

If you’re considering your next step, explore the Master of Science in Business Analytics programme or speak with one of our Student Advisors about how the degree can fit into your career plans.