MSc Business Analytics (Online)
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.
Key facts
- Award Masters / MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate
- Start date October 2021, February 2022, May 2022, October 2022, February 2023, May 2023
- Duration MSc part-time: 24 months
- Mode of study Online, Part-time
Overview
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.
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.
Top reasons to study with us
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.
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.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
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.
English language requirements
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 - High Pass overall with minimum 25 in each sub-skill
Last updated: 20 December 2021
If you are from India, Bangladesh, 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.
Course details
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 provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2021). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
Teaching
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.
Assessment
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.
Classroom hours
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.
Course director
Dr Tom Kane, Course Director
Key staff
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| 2021/22 fee | 2022/23 fee | |
|---|---|---|
|
Total MSc course fee |
£9,500 |
£9,975 |
This course is only offered on a part-time basis. 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 it was set in your year of entry.
If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fees policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
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
Postgraduate 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.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £11,570 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
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.
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
After you graduate
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 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.
Companies we work with
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.”
DataLab, Edinburgh
Changes at Stirling
Find out about important changes including how you'll be taught, start dates and how we're making campus safer.