Our Business Analytics Masters provides you with cross-disciplinary training in systems analysis, business models, quantitative methods and data science to help you transform data into a powerful and predictive company asset.
Business Analytics focuses on understanding the data generated by individual organisations, and how it can be used to improve business practices.
As a conversion course developed in close partnership with industry, we welcome students from any academic discipline and you will learn to use powerful visual programming and scripting tools, such as Orange, R, Power-BI and Python. These tools will enable you to learn how to deploy statistical analysis, predictive analytics, text analytics and data-mining tools to provide clear actionable solutions for business leaders and influence business strategy.
What our partners say about the course:
“The course focusses on business ownership of strategy and decision making, exploring both ethics and data science in the business context. This is important for local authorities as they embark on creating an open data platform at a national level. Many of these national level discussions have been centred on the ethics and cleansing of data before release, proving this Masters to be both current and relevant to today’s business needs.”
Scott Ross, Portfolio and Business Manager for Stirling Council
Top reasons to study with us
Build knowledge, skills and experience for a successful career in a range of roles requiring an understanding of business analytics and data driven decision-making
Explore the strategic implications of business analytics and manage the business, societal and ethical implications of business analytics solutions across organisations and different sectors
Participate in real-world consultancy work as part of your learning experience, giving you the practical skills to make a difference as soon as you graduate
Course objectives
The course is tailored for those who plan to pursue a career in the field of Business Analytics, as well as those seeking professional development or career change. It answers the industry’s demand for a skilled pool of graduates who can apply data science to solve business challenges.
Preparing Business Leaders of the Future
Postgraduate education at the University of Stirling Management School goes beyond text books and lecture rooms, we also focus on your personal and professional development.
Our unique Flying Start Leadership programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career. These range from practical skills, like effective public speaking, to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations and manage conflict. Find out more about Flying Start.
Preparation for International students coming to study in the UK
Prepare for Success is an interactive web learning tool for international students who are coming to the UK to study. Take a look at the Prepare for Success website to get more information.
Work placements
You’ll work on real-world projects with key organisations who are using business analytics for strategic development. Our extensive network of external organisations across all sectors provides opportunities to build your knowledge, skills and experience for a successful career in business analytics roles.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Faculty facilities
You will learn how to analyse business data, communicate uncertainties and lead organisational strategy in the use of evidenced data gathered from business. To do that, you'll be introduced to such tools as Python, Orange, Microsoft BI, and R.
Research overview
The University of Stirling Management School is rated among the top 25 in the UK for Business and Management research, according to REF 2014.
64% of our research outputs were classified as world-leading and internationally excellent in terms of their originality, significance and rigour. We were ranked 14th in the UK in terms of research impact with over 60% of our research impact judged to have outstanding reach and wide-ranging impact on the policies of public, private and governmental organisations.
You’ll need a minimum of a second class Honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent qualification. However, you can still apply if you don’t have these formal qualifications, but bring significant work experience in a relevant area.
Other routes of entry
If you don’t currently meet the academic requirements for this course INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need for direct entry.
Explore INTO Stirling programmes to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available for this course and others at the University of Stirling.
Due to disruption in English Language testing caused by COVID-19, we are accepting alternative English Language tests (including online English Language Tests).
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
IELTS Indicator 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
Last updated: 1 February 2021
If you are from India, Ghana or Nigeria please also check your country/region specific page for any additional, or changes to, English language requirements.
For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
The course will teach you how to interpret the data generated by businesses and effectively communicate your findings to inspire better ways of working. This course addresses the need for industry to have more managers with business analytic skills. Business Analytics opens up careers in diverse areas such as Strategic Management, Operations Planning, Sustainability; Customer-Relations Management; Supply-chain-Management, Process Improvement, or, Disruption and Change Management.
Modules
The module information below is intended only as an example of what you may study and features details for the current academic year (2021/22). Modules are regularly reviewed and are subject to future changes.
Teaching is carried out a through a mix of lectures, tutorials, case studies, role playing, computer simulations, fieldwork exercises, site visits, guest speakers and company projects.
Our Masters degree is awarded on satisfactory completion of a dissertation following the Diploma examinations. Dissertation topics range over all areas of relevance to business and data analytics, such as supply chain management, procurement, strategy and development and customer relationship management.
Students can expect to have around 4-5 contact hours per module each semester and a timetable will be available shortly before the course begins in September.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £10,000 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,025 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 from Student Finance NI.
Students from the Republic of Ireland
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
European Union students
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you will be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
European Union and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
In an on-going survey by the DataLab of organisations across all sectors in Scotland, 44% of the organisations indicate that the biggest constraint to develop a data driven decision making approach is the lack of a compelling business case and lack of the right skills and access to training. This demonstrates the need for capability building in this area not only in Scotland but at an international level. A 2014 report by Egon Zehnder and the Kellog School of Management states that “all leaders need a working knowledge of data science” and that “there is no lack of data scientist, rather a lack of data-ready managers”. This is the specific issue that this course will address.
Graduates will acquire knowledge, skills and experience for a successful career in roles requiring good understanding of business analytics and data-driven decision-making. These may include:
Strategic Planning or Sustainability analytics teams
Customer Insight or Marketing Analytics teams
Finance, Pricing or other technical analytics teams
Process improvement or other technical operations teams
Data quality management or other data focused teams
The University of Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager. The course has a high level of engagement with industry, research and recruitment partners in the course design, delivery, project work and skill development activities.
“It’s clear that this course is firmly underpinned by computational analysis and mathematical techniques, bringing the realm of data science into work based business context.”
Jim McCumesty, SAS Scotland Research & Development
“I believe that as we forge stronger links with Stirling Management School our start up community will benefit greatly from the learning that this course will bring.”
Barry McDonald, Community & Programme Manager
“The review panel was impressed with the way that data ethics is embedded in the new Masters in Business Analytics at Stirling University. We would like to see this approach adopted across the suite of courses supported by The Data Lab.”
The Data Lab
HigherEd Global Talent Portal
As a Management School student, you'll have access to the HigherEd Global Talent Portal where you’ll find internships, trainee positions, apprenticeships and graduate positions from companies around the world. It helps international students looking for placements back at home and local students that want to explore an international experience.
The global talent portal is in addition to all other existing initiatives and resources available for you through the Careers and Employability Service, and the Target Connect vacancy and events system.
Employability skills
Everything you do while studying here is designed to help you build the personal skills that will make you stand out to future employers.
You’ll start your Masters course on our Flying Start leadership programme which will challenge your perspective of culture and develop your self-awareness, as well as team-working, problem-solving and presentation skills.
