Business Analytics (MSc)
Study a flexible, affordable degree with a Triple Crown accredited (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) business school.
Aston University empowers you to enhance your employability and tackle real-world problems with a curriculum enriched by strong links to industry.
Programme Overview
Our Business Analytics (MSc) programme will equip you with a broad range of analytical skills, from data visualisation to predictive modelling, ensuring you're prepared for the complexities of modern business challenges. This programme is tailored for those eager to master the art of interpreting and leveraging large data sets to improve business performance across any sector.
Delivered by the triple-accredited Aston Business School and accredited by the Institute of Analytics (IoA), this programme offers you enhanced employability, IoA membership benefits, and fast-track professional advancement opportunities.
Triple Accreditation: Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
Professionally accredited: Accredited by the Institute of Analytics (IoA) as an IoA-recognised programme.
We’re amongst the best in the world for business: We’ve been ranked 66th in the world (and into the top 10 in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings by subject for Business and Management Studies.
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What You Will Learn
- Analytical Tools Proficiency: Become an expert in programming languages (Python, R, SQL) and spreadsheet applications (Excel, SPSS). These skills are crucial for advanced data analysis on large datasets in contemporary business analytics applications.
- Data Visualisation and Descriptive Statistics: Learn data visualisation techniques and apply descriptive statistics to gain meaningful insights for the effective communication of data analysis to management teams.
- Predictive Analytics: Develop and apply statistical and machine learning models to address real-world business problems. You will be able to showcase your skills in data manipulation and exploratory data analysis, and apply statistical methods to data.
- Prescriptive Analytics and Modelling: Convert real-world problems into mathematical and spreadsheet models, utilising them for rational decision-making in businesses. Develop a deep understanding of modelling concepts and gain hands-on experience in efficiency and productivity assessment.
- Project Management: Develop project management skills to support business growth and development in an international context. You will gain exposure to theoretical and practical tools, providing the capability to apply them in work-based situations.
Why Study Online With Aston University?
Aston Online offers various advantages, making it an appealing choice for prospective students globally.
Flexibility and convenience – fit your studies into your work/life balance.
Built for online – interactive, engaging, and purpose-designed curriculum available 24/7.
Affordable – spread the cost, pay monthly or in instalments, and earn as you learn.
Supported – dedicated student support and online tutors.
Expert tutors - staff with industry experience and experts in their fields.
Empowering creativity – complimentary full access to Adobe Creative Cloud tools for developing dynamic multimedia content and presentations through video, graphics and audio.
Transparent pricing – apply for free, with no hidden costs.
Ready for work and life – rigorous academic standards and a curriculum focusing on the skills sought by employers (for now and the future).
Recognised for quality
Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation
My advice to anyone considering the online portion of the course would be to absolutely go for it but make sure you plan your time effectively.
Career Prospects
In today’s data-driven world, expertise in business analytics is the keystone of industry leadership and innovation. Our MSc Business Analytics prepares you for a thriving career by providing in-demand skills that are the backbone of strategic decision-making.
With insights from data often providing the basis for competitive advantage in the marketplace, it’s not surprising that business analytics graduates are increasingly in demand. These transferable skills make Aston graduates highly sought-after by employers, opening doors to exciting careers.
Recent graduates have gone onto roles including:
Business Analyst: Identify opportunities and drive business transformation.
Data Analyst: Transform raw data into strategic insights, guiding decisions that shape the future of business.
Business Intelligence Analyst: Leverage data to mitigate risk and enhance security.
Performance Analyst: Dissect performance metrics to drive excellence and propel organisational achievements.
Operations Analyst: Refine business operations, ensuring peak performance and seamless process flows.
Credit Risk Analyst: Assess and mitigate financial risks, safeguarding the fiscal integrity of business in a fluctuating economy.
Analytics Executive: Lead in data-driven decision-making, crafting analytics initiatives that set industry standards.
Programme Structure
Embark on a transformative journey with our Business Analytics (MSc) programme. Dive deep into the core functions and innovative strategies that will equip you to lead and succeed in any business environment.
Each credit of study is equivalent to 10 learning hours (e.g. 15 credits reflects 150 hours of learning).
Optional modules are reviewed each year and may change to reflect the expertise of staff, current trends in research, as a result of student feedback, or demand for certain modules.
Modules
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Analytical Tools and Technologies '%3e%3cpath%20d='M11%2013H5V11H11V5H13V11H19V13H13V19H11V13Z'%20fill='%231C1B1F'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
30 credits
This module will teach students the tools and technologies required to carry out advanced data analysis on large datasets, such as those found in many contemporary applications of business analytics. These include programming languages, such as Python, R, and SQL, as well as spreadsheet applications, such as Excel and SPSS, that are now commonly expected by organisations employing data analysts.
Descriptive Analytics
30 credits
Equipped with the essential tools to effectively communicate data insights within your organisation, you will explore powerful visualisation techniques for presenting complex information clearly and concisely. Additionally, you will gain a strong foundation in descriptive statistics, enabling you to extract meaningful information from data sets. Through practical exercises, you'll hone your skills in applying these techniques to craft
compelling business reports and confidently present your data analysis findings to management teams.
Predictive Analytics
30 credits
The module will teach students to develop and apply statistical and machine learning models to address real-world business problems, such as demand forecasting, dynamic pricing and customer churn prediction. Students will learn to use a broad variety of data manipulation techniques, including dataset merging, summarisation, data cleaning and transformation, perform exploratory data analysis, and apply statistical and machine learning methods to cross-sectional and time series data.
Prescriptive Analytics
30 credits
This module will focus on turning real-world problems into mathematical and spreadsheet models and examine how students can use models to help rational decision-making in organisations. They’ll develop a deep knowledge and understanding of the main modelling concepts and they will be able to quickly identify problems and situations in business where the use of those models can be beneficial. The module also aims to provide students with hands-on experience on implementing an efficiency and productivity assessment using methods such as Data Envelopment Analysis or Stochastic Frontier Analysis.
Modules
Aston Global Advantage
30 credits
The Aston Global Advantage module enables students to assess their personal development during the programme, consolidate their learning, and plan how to improve still further. Valuable personal development includes the ability to research, synthesise and evaluate varied sources, and understand and design a research project. These skills equip students well for critical thinking and lifelong learning after their degree.
Research Project
30 credits
The program ends with a research project where students will get the opportunity to design their own learning experience which applies to their specific area of interest. The purpose of this project is to act as a springboard for their future career. There are several ways to complete this project including the following:
· A consultancy project on behalf of a client or organisation
· A business plan for their own business
· An Industry/themed research project
On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:
- Design, develop, and evaluate projects that involving advanced forms of data manipulation (data access, integration, aggregation, and filtering).
- Assemble descriptive statistics methods to support the management of an
organisation in various decision-making contexts. - Formulate presentations of business information via data visualisation following relevant principles and guidelines.
- Design, develop and evaluate predictive modelling solutions to practical business problems.
- Construct quantitative models for decision making.
- Design analysis of performance of units within organisations or organisations within an industry sector to provide insights on their relative performance.
- Design and develop independent research, including planning a research project, defining its aims and objectives, conducting a literature review, selecting appropriate methods, conducting empirical analysis of relevant data and presenting a well structured, lucid report with appropriate conclusions.
- Acquire transferrable professional skills such as project management, team work, and leadership.
Entry Requirements
One of the following
- 2:2 (lower second-class honours) degree or equivalent.
- Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University (click here for more information).
Additional requirements
Subject-specific requirements:
Applicants are also required to have taken the following quantitative modules at bachelor's level, achieving a minimum of 60%:
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Economics (micro / macro)
- Finance
- Computer Science
- Any other quantitative disciplines
You will also need to provide
- A professional reference
- If you are a current student or recent graduate (within the last 2-3 years), we will ask for an academic reference
- If you are currently employed and not a recent graduate, we will ask for a professional reference
- An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
- A completed application form.
Alternative entry requirements
We accept applications from candidates with relevant work experience who have not completed a graduate qualification.
We take a holistic approach in evaluating applications. The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this programme for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.
Please contact our Admissions Team for advice before applying at: enquiries@astononline.ac.uk
English language requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.
Find Out If You Qualify
If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application process, please get in touch with the Aston Online Admissions Team:
Email: enquiries@astononline.ac.uk
Call: +44 (0) 121 824 6374
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00 GMT
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