Our flexible online Business Analytics MSc provides you with the skills and technologies to improve decision-making, deal with uncertainty and increase sustainability for organisations.
Business Analytics play a critical role in preparing organisations to meet and resolve the issues and challenges faced in these volatile, uncertain and complex times. On this online course you will master the analytic tools, models and methods that can assist organisations in growing revenue, improving efficiency, deal with change and reduce disruption. We will show you how to employ the three key methodologies of business analytics:
descriptive analytics
predictive analytics
prescriptive analytics
You will develop the ability to plan, design and implement impactful business analytics solutions using a range of tools and techniques. Subjects covered in the course include:
business analytics
text analytics for business
statistics for R
data technologies, including Power BI and Orange
personal and professional development
You can also choose from a range of elective modules in consultancy, project, operations and innovation management and change management to tailor the degree to your interests and future career.
The course has been designed to provide students with practical business analytics tools alongside their application in strategic and operational decision-making for organisations across all sectors. Studying online allows you the opportunity to study at your own pace and build your study time around your work and home commitments.
Top reasons to study with us
Delivered 100% online, giving you the opportunity to study at your own pace and plan around other commitments
Acquire skills and expertise in business analytics to employ tools and techniques which are applicable in any organisation in every sector
Participate in consultancy work with external businesses and organisations providing invaluable knowledge and experience for your future career
Course objectives
The course is delivered online to be suitable 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 industry demand for a skilled pool of graduates who can apply modern analytics techniques to solve business challenges. The course aims to prepare students to be work-ready and meet the growing demand for these skills in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
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.
Work placements
The MSc Business Analytics (Online) provides opportunities to carry out work placements and internship projects with a range of different companies and organisations. Typically these are in the second part of the academic year where we use our partnerships with organisations like Datalab to provide workplace projects on live business analytics issues being experienced by industry companies’ face. Hear from previous students who have taken part in a consultancy project.
Stirling Management School has its own dedicated employability manager who works closely with all our postgraduate courses to provide work place opportunities. The School also has a specific work placement platform called Riipen which can connect Business Analytics students to a range of organisations across the world. The Riipen platform is an invaluable resource that is focused on providing students with industry projects which will equip them with relevant work-ready skills and enhance their employability. Additionally, all students will be able to access to the University of Stirling’s award winning Careers and Employability Service who can also provide a range of services related to work placements and employability.
Faculty facilities
Stirling Management School has a range of facilities that can be accessed by Business Analytics students. Whilst the students on this course will typically be off campus they will have access to the virtual learning education platform Canvas and will be provided with Office 365 and all of the software needed for their modules (e.g. Python, Orange Data-Mining, Microsoft BI, and R). The online portal will provide virtual access to the library, careers and a range of other services that will ensure students have a first class experience. This allows our students to connect with their peers and academic staff, and participate in the University’s online community.
If you can visit the Stirling campus you will have the same access and facilities as the full-time students who enjoy our, the computer labs, library, theatre, restaurants, sports facilities and more. Each student is assigned a personal tutor who will be able to assist you throughout your time at Stirling.
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.
The course consists of four semesters of two taught modules per semester (four modules per year) plus one semester where you will be carrying out a consultancy project. Each semester has a 10 credit and 20 credit module. To be awarded the MSc you have to pass all the modules and the consultancy project.
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 real time and recorded lectures, tutorials, case studies, role play, computer simulations, fieldwork exercises, guest speakers and opportunities for company projects.
Your work will be assessed over the course of your study in a variety of ways including:
Business reports
Group work
Live online presentations
Model development
Reflective practice reports
Online exams
The Masters degree is awarded on satisfactory completion of the eight taught modules and the extended piece of work undertaken in the final semester which can be a work-based consultancy projector a research-based academic dissertation.
Online provision which consists of both live classes and material hosted online will equate to between 30 and 36 hours per module. We expect that each subject requires students to carry out self-directed learning of approximately 8 hours per week – please note this is just a guide and very much depends on the individual.
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 fees 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.
Payment options
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
Business Analysts are employed across a wide range of industries and sectors; higher education, NHS, supply chain logistics, consultancies and many other businesses.
The need of businesses and organisations to interpret growing amounts of data into meaningful information means that there is a growing demand for graduates with the skill sets provide by this qualification.
The University of Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager and from the very beginning of the course your career is our focus.
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 MSc 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.
The School works closely with Datalab, SAS, RBS, NHS, Stirling Council and a range of organisations from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
“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.”
Code Base, Stirling
“The MSc focuses 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 MSc to be both current and relevant to today’s business needs.”
The Transformation, Policy & Performance Unit, Stirling City Council
“The review panel was impressed with the way that data ethics is embedded in the new MSc in Business Analytics at Stirling University. We would like to see this approach adopted across the suite of courses supported by The Data Lab.”
