Masters Degrees (Analytics)

This programme is ideal if you wish to use your analytic skills to derive and obtain useful insights from large amounts of data. By equipping you with the rigorous modelling and consulting skills needed to understand, manage and communicate useful insights from ‘big data’, it prepares you to inform business decisions or government policies.

Taught modules are delivered by our group of internationally recognised management scientists who are actively working with business, government and non-profit organisations to tackle routine, strategic or policy problems.

Our industry advisory board ensures that the focus of our taught modules is of both academic and practical relevance. IBM, our partner, has jointly developed with us two modules (Customer Analytics and Leading Analytics Initiatives), and sponsors a student prize.

During the summer, you will undertake a supervised consulting or research project. This will give you the opportunity to apply powerful tools such as data mining, forecasting, optimisation, simulation and decision analysis to a particular area of business or policy, equipping you with skills highly prized by employers.

Core study areas include consulting for analytics, discovery analytics, decision analytics, managing big data, customer analytics, leading analytics initiatives, operations analytics, policy and strategy analytics, and a consulting or research project.

See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/business-economics/business-analytics-consulting/

Programme modules

Semester 1:
- Consulting for Analytics
You will learn the craft and skills required by analytic consultants, and which employers look for but often find lacking. It will cover process aspects of analytics projects, as well as skills in client interaction, problem structuring and data elicitation (with individuals and/or groups, and with hard/soft data), presenting data-driven analyses, report writing, and developing simple bespoke decision support systems.

- Discovery Analytics
You will be introduced to common statistical methods to explore and visualise cross sectional and temporal data. You will also learn about the design and conduct of data collection efforts, together with methods for dealing with data outliers and missing data. Industry-leading tools that are in high demand from employers (e.g. SAS and SPSS) will be used.

- Decision Analytics
Your will be introduced to common operational research techniques to help determine the best course of action for a given decision or problem. Topics covered include optimisation, simulation and decision and risk analysis.

- Managing Big Data
Your will learn about the challenges and opportunities derived from the increased volume, variety, velocity and value of data that is available today. A range of big data topics will be covered including data type, data integration, data technologies, and data security.

Semester 2:
- Customer Analytics
You will focus on analytics techniques that can help organisations gain a deeper insight into customers’ behaviour and attitudes towards their products and services. It will cover approaches designed to provide a profile of customer segments, such as those grounded in data mining and multivariate statistical analysis. Industry-leading tools that are in high demand from employers (e.g. SAS and SPSS) will be used. There is an IBM sponsored student prize on this module.

- Leading Analytics Initiatives
You will learn about the issues associated with implementing an analytics capability in organisations. It will cover topics on how to develop an analytics strategy, how to embed analytics in organisational processes to ensure they deliver value, and how to deploy analytics throughout the organisation to improve decision making. There is an IBM sponsored student prize on this module.

- Operations Analytics
You will focus on analytics techniques that can help organisations to develop a better understanding of operational processes, and identify efficiency and cost reduction opportunities. Topics covered include advanced optimisation and simulation techniques.

- Policy and Strategy Analytics
You will focus on analytics techniques designed to tackle complex policy and strategic issues. It will cover approaches designed to explain the behaviour of complex social systems or assess the consequences of complex decisions, in order to provide the levers for policy and strategy making in a variety of sectors.

Summer:
- Consulting or Research Project

Assessment

Taught modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and examinations.
The summer project is assessed via a written dissertation.

Careers and further study

Business analytics is a new and rapidly developing field, and individuals with analytics skills are in short supply.
Graduates from this programme can expect to work as management consultants, business analysts, policy analysts, marketing researchers, operations researchers, and data scientists.
We have developed two modules - Customer Analytics and Leading Analytics Initiatives - in close collaboration with our partner IBM, who also sponsor a student prize.

Why choose business and economics at Loughborough?

Loughborough’s School of Business and Economics is a thriving forward-looking centre of education that aims to provide an exceptional learning experience.

Consistently ranked as a Top-10 UK business school by national league tables, our graduates are highly employable and enjoy starting salaries well above the national average.

The rich variety of postgraduate programmes we offer ranges from taught masters, MBA and doctoral programmes, to short courses and executive education, with subjects spanning Management, Marketing, Finance and Economics, Work Psychology, Business Analytics, International Crisis Management and Information Management. New for 2016, we are also launching two exciting new programmes in Human Resource Management. All of this contributes to a lively and supportive learning environment within the School.

- Internationally Accredited
The School of Business and Economics is one of less than 1% of business schools in the world to have achieved accreditation from all three major international accrediting bodies: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

- Career Prospects
Our graduates are in great demand. Over 94% of our postgraduate students were in work and/or further study six months after graduating.* As such, you will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will serve you well in your career or enable you to pursue further study and research.

*Source: DLHE

Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/business-economics/business-analytics-consulting/

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Programme description

Given the ever-increasing volume of data that businesses have access to today, there is a demand for employees who have computational and analytical skills and who can help inform business decisions to increase efficiency and ultimately build a competitive edge. Our Masters in Business Analytics has been developed with just that in mind and aims to train students to understand the variety of business environments as well as importance and relevance of decision problems facing organisations and ways of solving these using a variety of techniques.

Students will learn how to apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics of big data concepts and techniques to generate valuable insight that can assist with decision making. Last, but not least, the Masters will provide students with hands-on experience in applying these concepts and using these techniques and most of the popular analytics software through their projects including industry projects. In sum, the programme aims to equip students with the skills required to interpret, conceptualise and convert Big Data into useful information and thus enabling students to make better informed decisions as future business managers.

Programme structure

All students attend and complete four core courses in Semester 1 and four option courses in Semester 2. The programme concludes with a 60-credit Dissertation. Details of core and option courses are shown below.

Core courses - Semester 1

• Principles of Data Analytics
• Predictive Analytics and Modelling of Data
• Prescriptive Analytics with Mathematical Programming
• Business Analytics with Heuristics

Option courses - Semester 2

• Performance Analytics with DEA
• Media and Web Analytics
• Industrial Analytics
• Business Analytics with Simulation
• Inventory Analytics
• Supply Chain Analytics with Games

The Dissertation: Each student conducts an individual research project on a subject within business analytics, chosen in consultation with an academic supervisor. MSc candidates write up their work as a Dissertation (maximum 15,000 words with a maximum of 10% margin either way), which is submitted by the end of August. Some Dissertation topics are offered that involve working with business, NGOs or other organisations.

Learning outcomes

General Educational aims are to:

• Enable all participants to recognise, understand and apply the language, theory and models of the field of business analytics.
• Foster an ability to critically analyse, synthesise and solve complex unstructured business problems.
• Encourage an aptitude for business improvement, innovation and entrepreneurial action.
• Encourage the sharing of experiences to enhance the benefits of collaborative learning.
• Instil a sense of ethical decision-making and a commitment to the long-run welfare of both organisations and the communities that they serve.

Specific Educational aims are to:

• Understand and critically apply the concepts and methods of business analytics.
• Identify, model and solve decision problems in different settings
• Interpret results/solutions and identify appropriate courses of action for a given managerial situation whether a problem or an opportunity.
• Create viable solutions to decision making problems.

Career opportunities

It is anticipated that the demand for data analytics employees will continue and indeed grow as analytics is viewed as a key competitive resource by many companies. If market forecasts are anything to go by then the Big Data technology and services market will grow at a 26.4% annual growth rate to $41.5 billion through 2018, or about 6 times the growth rate of the overall information technology market (Source: IDC). This will inevitably lead to further growth of the market for employees in the area of data analytics.

The new MSc in Business Analytics will offer students from a range of degree backgrounds the opportunity to equip themselves with an artillery of concepts, methods and applications of business analytics along with hands-on and practical experience in applying them to industry projects in different business settings. It is not just about being able to analyse and digest the data available but to then translate this into effective decision-making. In sum, we expect the new programme to open a range of career pathways in analytics for our graduates including business consultants, business analysts, business intelligence & analytics consultants, metrics & analytics specialists, analytics associates, data analysts, solution architects, business process analysts, management consulting associates, and operational research consultants.

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About the Course

1. Big Challenges being addressed by this programme – motivation

• Globally, there is a reported shortage of data analytics talent, particularly of individuals with the required deep technical and analytical skills.
• Accenture, Gartner and McKinsey have all identified Data Analytics as one of the fastest growing employment areas in computing and one most likely to make an impact in the future.
• The Irish Government’s policy is for Ireland to become a leading country in Europe for big data and analytics, which would result in 21,000 potential new employment opportunities in Ireland alone.
• CNN has listed jobs in this area in their Top 10 best new jobs in America.

2. Programme objectives & purpose

This is an advanced programme that provides Computing graduates with advanced knowledge and skills in the emerging growth area of Data Analytics. It includes advanced topics such as Large-Scale Data Analytics, Information Retrieval, Advanced Topics in Machine Learning and Data Mining, Natural Language Processing, Data Visualisation and Web-Mining. It also includes foundational modules in topics such as Statistics, Regression Analysis and Programming for Data Analytics. Students on the programme further deepen their knowledge of Data Analytics by working on a project either in conjunction with a research group or with an industry partner.

Graduates will be excellently qualified to pursue careers in national and multinational industries in a wide range of areas. Our graduates currently work for companies as diverse as IBM, SAP, Cisco, Avaya, Google, Fujitsu and Merck Pharmaceuticals as well as many specialised companies and startups. Opportunities will be found in:
• Multinational companies, in Ireland and elsewhere, that provide services and solutions for analytics and big data or whose business depend on analytics and big data technologies;
• Innovative small to medium-sized companies and leading-edge start-ups who provide analytics solutions, services and products or use data analytics to develop competitive advantage
• Companies looking to extend their research and development units with highly trained data analytic specialists
• PhD-level research in NUI Galway, elsewhere in Ireland, or abroad

3. What’s special about CoEI/NUIG in this area:

• The MSc in Computer Science (Data Analytics) is being delivered by the Discipline of Information Technology in collaboration with the Insight Centre for Data Analytics (http://insight-centre.org) and with input from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics in NUI Galway
• The Discipline of Information Technology at NUI Galway has 25-year track record of education, academic research, and industry collaboration in the field of Computer Science
• The Insight centre at NUI Galway is Europe’s largest research centre for Data Analytics

4. Programme Structure – ECTS weights and split over semester; core/elective, etc.:

• 90ECTS programme
• one full year in duration, beginning September and finishing August
• comprises:
- Foundational taught modules (20 ECTS)
- Advanced taught modules (40 ECTS)
- Research/Industry Project (30 ECTS).

5. Programme Content – module names

Sample Foundational Modules:

• Tools and Techniques for Large Scale Data Analytics
• Programming for Data Analytics
• Machine Learning and Data Mining
• Modern Information Management
• Probability and Statistics
• Discrete Mathematics
• Applied Regression Models
• Digital Signal Processing

Sample Advanced Modules:

• Advanced Topics in Machine Learning and Information Retrieval
• Web Mining and Analytics
• Systems Modelling and Simulation
• Natural Language Processing
• Data Visualisation
• Linked Data Analytics
• Case Studies in Data Analytics
• Embedded Signal Analysis and Processing

6. Testimonials

Ms. Gofran Shukair, MSc, Research Engineer at ZenDesk, Ireland

After graduating with an MSc at NUI Galway, Gofran worked with Fujitsu’s Irish Research Lab as a research engineer before moving to a software engineering position at Zendesk, Ireland.

“The mix of technical and soft skills I gained through my Masters studies at NUI Galway is invaluable. I had the chance to work with great people and to apply my work on real world problems. With the data management and analysis skills I gained, I am currently pursuing my research in an international research project with one of the leading IT companies. I will be always thankful for studying at NUI Galway, a great historic place based in a culturally-rich vibrant city with an international mix of young and ambitious students that made me eager to learn and contribute back the moment I graduated.”

For further details

visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/msc-in-computer-science-data-analytics.html

How to Apply:

Applications are made online via the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) https://www.pac.ie
Please use the following PAC application code for your programme:

M.Sc. Computer Science – Data Analytics - PAC code GYE06

Scholarships :

Please visit our website for more information on scholarships: http://www.nuigalway.ie/engineering-informatics/internationalpostgraduatestudents/feesandscholarships/

Visit the M.Sc. Computer Science – Data Analytics page on the National University of Ireland, Galway web site for more details!

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Our MSc in data analytics is designed to create rounded data analytics problem-solvers.

This course focuses on the uses of data analytics techniques within business contexts, making informed decisions about appropriate technology to extract knowledge from data and understanding the theoretical principles by which such technology operates.

You'll gain a comprehensive skill set that will enable you to work in a variety of sectors using a blended learning approach that combines theory, intensive practice and industrial engagement.

Strathclyde's MSc in data analytics is unique by bringing together essential skills from three departments, Management Science, Mathematics & Statistics, and Computer & Information Sciences (CIS), in order to address the needs of a fast-growing industry.

This collaboration avoids the narrow interpretation of this subject offered by competitor institutions and presents significant opportunities for businesses to recruit data analytics experts with a high-level expertise and knowledge.

What you’ll study

The course will have a duration of 1 year, with two semesters of classes (120 credits in total) followed by an MSc dissertation project (60 credits) during the summer.

The class Data Analytics in Practice (20 credits) will be run over both semesters to provide you with a practical environment to apply methodological learnings from other classes into challenging projects from industry.

Semester 1

Semester 1 will additionally consist of five 10-credit core modules as listed under 'Course Content' which will provide the technical background to students. The contributions in Semester 1 will be split evenly between three departments.

This semester is designed to provide you with the fundamental technical analytics knowledge from all three departments.
-Computer & Information Sciences courses will cover core techniques including machine learning and data mining as well as data visualisation and big data platforms
-Mathematics courses will ensure you gain strong computational skills while establishing a broad knowledge of statistical tools essential for analytics
-Management Science courses will build the foundations of business skills including problem structuring as well as decision analysis, in addition to providing essential practical skills

Semester 2

Semester 2 will additionally consist of a 10-credit core module as well as 40 credits worth of elective modules. To ensure breadth of knowledge, you'll be required to choose electives from at least two departments. This semester is designed to extend your core skills and provide you with opportunities through a broad range of electives to specialise in areas that you are particularly interested to excel.

The only technical core class will provide you with a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of optimisation techniques essential for data analytics, whereas each of the three departments will offer four to five elective courses, the majority of which are accessible to everyone on the course without any prerequisites. The final component of the MSc course will be a summer dissertation project, which can be completed either through a client-based project or a desk-based research project, depending on your interests. You will submit your dissertation in September to complete your degree requirements (pending any resits).

Work placement

You will have optional opportunities to complete your MSc summer dissertation projects in client-based projects, where a number of host organisations will be arranged by the department. These projects will be normally unpaid, however, all costs such as travel and accommodation will be covered by the host organisation if out of town.

Major projects

The taught modules on the programme introduce you to a variety of tools, techniques, methods and models. However, the practical reality of applying analytical methods in business is often far removed from the classroom. Working with decision-makers on real issues presents a variety of challenges.

For example, data may well be ambiguous and hard to come by, it may be far from obvious which data analytics methods can be applied and managers will need to be convinced of the business merits of any suggested solutions. While traditional teaching can alert students to such issues, understanding needs to be reinforced by experience.

This is primarily addressed by the core module ‘Data Analytics in Practice’, which takes place over both semesters. Every year, case studies and challenging projects are presented to our students by various organisations.

Facilities

Strathclyde Business School (SBS) is one of the 76 triple-accredited business schools in the world, and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. SBS was also recently selected as the "Business School of the Year" in Times Higher Education (THE) Awards."

The three departments involved in this course work together to provide a dynamic, fully-rounded and varied programme of specialist and cross-disciplinary postgraduate course.

Guest lectures

Every year, guest speakers attend our course, sharing their invaluable experiences. As part of the Data Analytics in Practice module, we host several presentations from external bodies.

Course content

Compulsory classes
-Big Data Fundamentals
-Big Data Tools & Techniques
-Data Analytics in R
-Business & Decision Modelling
-Optimisation for Analytics
-Data Analytics in Practice
-Dissertation in Data Analytics

Optional classes
Students are required to choose 40 credits worth of elective classes, and at least from two departments. All optional classes take place in Semester 2.

Learning & teaching

The course is delivered in various ways. While most classes have regular lectures, tutorials and hands-on software sessions, experiential learning is a crucial part of the course. This is delivered through projects and case studies with various external organisations, and MSc projects.

There are also guest lectures and recruitment events throughout the year, as well as a number of career support sessions that provide you with invaluable career information and generic job hunting skills such as CV writing and how to handle interviews.

Assessment

Every module has its own methods of assessment appropriate to the nature of the material. These include written assignments, exams, practical team projects, presentations and individual projects. Many modules involve more than one method of assessment to realise your potential.

Careers

The aim of the MSc in data analytics is to develop graduates who can use data analytics technology, understand the statistical principles behind the technologies and understand how to apply these technologies to solve business problems.

Graduates will be able to bridge the various knowledge domains that are relevant for tackling data analytics problems as well as being able to identify emerging themes and directions within data analytics. Graduates will display abilities across the three component disciplines.

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Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Finance and Business Analytics at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).

The Master's (MSc) in Finance and Business Analytics is designed to pair the key areas of finance and business analytics. This programme takes a data driven approach to the analysis of financial, market and organisational information. In addition, to cover the key principles of finance, financial modelling and financial markets, the programme includes modules on business analytics and data mining to equip students to work in the data driven areas of finance and financial management.

Key Features of MSc in Finance and Business Analytics

- A full conversion programme that may be completed in a single year

- Does not require accounting, finance or any quantitative study to be completed at undergraduate level

- All modules on the Finance and Business Analytics programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge

- Swansea is joint 1st in Wales for international ranked research (REF 2014)

- A wide range of professional accreditations to accelerate your career depending on the optional modules you take

- Access to the School of Management investment and trading simulation room to support in-depth understanding of finance in practice

- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating

- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week

- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities

- Scholarships available for outstanding students

- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)

No previous study of business analytics or any quantitative subject is required to undertake the Finance and Business Analytics programme.

Modules

Modules on the MSc Finance and Business Analytics programme may include:

Principles of Finance

International Financial Markets

Financial Statement Analysis

Quantitative Financial Analysis

Principles of Law for Accounting and Finance

Financial Modelling

Business Analytics

Data Mining

Corporate Governance & Ethics

Contemporary Issues in Finance

Business Planning and Theory of Entrepreneurship

Project Management

International Management

Accreditation

The MSc Finance and Business Analytics has been awarded the following ACCA exemptions:

F1 - Accountant in Business

F2 - Management Accounting

F3 - Financial Accounting

This means that graduates of our MSc Finance and Busines Analytics will be exempt from three out of nine of the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ examinations. Students graduating from the Finance and Business Analytics programme can now leave Swansea as part-qualified accountants and just have to sit the remaining eleven.

Careers and Employability

We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a Finance and Business Analytics student we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:

- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative

- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme

- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting

- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week

- Complete the Swansea Employability Award

- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’

Location and Facilities

Finance and Business Analytics students will be based in a state-of-the-art building and will benefit from the applied research, innovation and employment opportunities offered by this exceptional working environment on the Bay Campus.

Finance and Business Analytics students will have access to high-tech teaching and research spaces, that together with collaborative working and practice areas will ensue the School is able to deliver its commitment to offer an engaging and innovative student experience.

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Companies need people who can take data and transform it into a powerful strategic asset. This specialisation provides a rigorous, practical foundation in the key skills needed to unlock the value of data, and an in-depth understanding of how companies can use data to make decisions and improve business performance.

Degree information

Business Analytics (with specialisation in Management Science) is taught by UCL School of Management (in conjunction with UCL Computer Science). It combines modules that explore how data and analytics are transforming key areas of business (decision-making, strategy, marketing, operations) with modules that provide the mathematical and computational skills needed to make effective use of the latest business analytics tools.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).

Core modules
-Business Strategy and Analytics
-Marketing Analytics
-Mathematical Foundations for Business Analytics
-Programming for Business Analytics
-Predictive Analytics
-Operations Analytics

Optional modules - students take two optional modules from a selection of elective modules offered by the UCL School of Management and the UCL Department of Computer Science. Possible electives, subject to agreement, will cover topics including software engineering, practical machine learning, project management and social network analytics.

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and project work. Assessment is through unseen written examinations, coursework and the dissertation.

Careers

The world is changing: more than 30 billion pieces of content are shared on Facebook every month; and companies are capturing trillions of bytes of information about their customers, suppliers, and operations. This explosion of data is disrupting industries and creating new opportunities.

Companies need people who can take data, understand it, process it, extract value from it, visualise it, and communicate it.

They need people who deeply understand data, its potential and its limitations, who can frame business problems, analyse data with statistical techniques, develop and maintain predictive models, and communicate analytics results to business executives, partners and customers.

Employability
Graduates from this new programme will be highly employable in global companies and high-growth businesses, finance and banking organisations, and consulting firms.

Students will develop strong quantitative and analytical skills, an in-depth understanding of how companies use data to make decisions and improve business performance, and practical experience with leading business analytics tools. They will be equipped to influence strategy and decision-making, and be able to drive business performance by transforming data into a powerful and predictive strategic asset.

Why study this degree at UCL?

Business Analytics requires a combination of management insight, strong quantitative and analytical skills, and an understanding of the technology required to handle data at scale.

UCL School of Management offers innovative undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes to prepare people for leadership roles in the next-generation of innovation-intensive organisations. The department works closely with global companies and high-growth businesses at the cutting-edge of management practice. UCL Computer Science is a global leader in research in experimental computer science.

Students on the Business Analytics (with specialisation in Management Science) MSc will benefit from the extensive industry networks of both departments.

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Data Analytics is an exciting field of rapid developments. Data is everywhere and continuing to grow massively, creating huge growth in demand for qualified experts to be able to extract the real benefit from the data.

The role of a data scientist is highly diverse overlapping many areas from computer science, to the fundamentals of mathematics, statistics, modelling and analytics while also requiring the right skills to be able to see the detail, solve the problem (having specified the problem!), and communicate effectively the findings to colleagues to empower them to make decisions.

The diversity of data analytics opens up many job opportunities from working in software companies, healthcare, banking, insurance, policing, tech companies to applying your knowledge to intelligent buildings and behaviour analytics of customers.

The programme provides a balanced route to learning through a blend of academic study and lab sessions, with a heavy focus on practical engagement with industry. In the first and second semesters, you will study 6 modules full-time which include opportunities for blended and collaborative learning. In the third semester you will undertake a significant industry based project.

COURSE DETAILS

Aim

The aim of the programme is to offer a multi-disciplinary education in data analytics that prepares graduates with key knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for employment in analytics and data science positions. In particular, the programme aims to provide students with:

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of statistics and computer science that underpin analytics.
• Advanced knowledge and practical skills in the theory and practice of analytics.
• The necessary skills, tools and techniques needed to embark on careers in data analytics and data science.
• Skills in a range of practices, processes, tools and methods applicable to analytics in commercial and research contexts.
• Timely exposure to, and practical experience in, a range of current software packages and emerging new applications of analytics.
• Opportunities for the development of practical skills in a commercial context.

Modules include:

• Data Analytics Fundamentals
• Databases and Programming Fundamentals
• Data Mining
• Machine Learning
• Frontiers in Data Analytics
• Analytics in Action
• Individual Industry Based Project

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Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Management (Business Analytics) at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).

We offer a Master's in Management for students from any background who would like to work in business or management. The Management (Business Analytics) programme has been specifically designed with a clear focus on management in an interconnected global community. The Management (Business Analytics) covers core management concepts such as international marketing, operations management, global strategy, finance and international human resource management. To help you get the best from your studies, the Management (Business Analytics) programme also includes an academic skills module that covers issues such as research methods, presentation skills, group dynamics and employability support.

MSc Management Pathways

- Generalist MSc Management - for you to create your own mix of specialist modules

- Marketing - focused on the challenges of global marketing activities

- Finance – for students interested in financial aspects of management

- Human Resource Management – focused on the challenges of leadership and managing a global work force

- Entrepreneurship – for students interested in the dynamics of starting their own business

- Operations and Supply Management – focused on the management of global operations and supply networks

- International Management – considers contemporary management practice in a global setting

- International Standards – focused on the role of internationals standards (such as ISO) in quality improvement

- Business Analytics – to equip students to work in the era of ‘big data’

- E-Business - investigates the challenges and opportunities of global information systems networks and e-commerce

Key Features of MSc in Management (Business Analytics)

- All modules on the Management (Business Analytics) programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge

- Swansea is joint 1st in Wales for international ranked research (REF 2014)

- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating

- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week

- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities

- Scholarships available for outstanding students

- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)

The MSc Management (Business Analytics) is designed for students interested in understanding the dynamic data driven elements of the business world – from the data behind the internet to global supply pipeline logistics management. This programme on the MSc in Management (Business Analytics) is focused on preparing graduates for work in the era of ‘big data’.

Modules

Modules on the Management (Business Analytics) programme may include:

Professional Skills Development

Human Resource Management

Marketing Management

Operations Management

Strategy

Business Analytics

Data Mining

Research Methods

Careers and Employability

We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates including those from the Management (Business Analytics) programme with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a student on the Management (Business Analytics) programme we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:

- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative

- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme

- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting

- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week

- Complete the Swansea Employability Award

- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’

School of Management

Environment:

The School of Management comprises over 150 staff and more than 2000 students studying at the new £450million Bay Campus, with the School of Management building itself providing truly world-class facilities with an impressive communal Atrium, new teaching rooms, meeting room and IT equipment.

School of Management, alongside the Great Hall, also proudly offers high quality conferencing and event capacity all within half a mile of the M4 corridor, that has already attracted several high profile and key events during the short time that the Bay Campus has been open.

Ambition:

Through its enterprise and innovation activities of business engagement the School plans to focus on three global challenges: Health & Wellbeing, Digital Society and Sustainable Economies. The School of Management's aim is to deliver world-class education through collaboration, innovation and fresh thinking, and we pride ourselves on the outstanding student experience on offer here at the School of Management ensuring a rich learning environment, while also developing our staff in line with Swansea University's wider ambition to anchor and underpin everything we do with a core set of values.

Opportunity:

School of Management aspires to be known globally as a centre for educational excellence, working in partnership with other Swansea University departments and organisations to create joint programmes that reflect the skillsets required by an evolving workplace.

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The digital revolution has led to an unprecedented volume of information about consumers, which progressive organisations are eager to understand and use. This innovative masters degree will give you the practical skills to analyse consumer data and provide insights for successful marketing strategies.

Taught by leading academics from Leeds University Business School and School of Geography, you’ll explore a range of analytical techniques including applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and retail modelling, consumer and predictive analytics and data visualisation. You’ll also develop the softer skills to use the results of these analyses to inform decisions about marketing strategy.

Thanks to our connections with businesses worldwide, you’ll have access to emerging trends in topics such as consumer behaviour, decision science and digital and interactive marketing. You’ll further develop your practical skills with the opportunity to work on a live data project provided by a company.

Academic excellence

This courseoffers you a rare combination of teaching expertise; the Business School’s academic excellence in Marketing alongside world-class teaching from the School of Geography, which draws on the knowledge of the Centre for Spatial Analysis and Policy.

The University of Leeds is a major centre for big data analytics and you’ll benefit from affiliation with the UK’s Consumer Data Research Centre. The centre aims to make data that are routinely collected by businesses and organisations accessible for academic purposes. Coordinating and analysing this large and complex data has the potential to increase productivity and innovation in business, as well as to inform public policy and drive development.

Read an interview with the academic team to learn more about our expertise and the growing importance of this emerging subject area.

Course content

Core modules will introduce you to a range of analytical methods, ensuring you develop a solid foundation in the essential skills for consumer analytics and marketing strategy.

You’ll learn how to analyse geographic data using GIS software and understand the application of this in retail modelling, to evaluate new markets and locations. You’ll study predictive analytics, big data and consumer analytics, business analytics and decision science, and learn how to communicate results through data visualisations.

Alongside this, you’ll learn how to deploy data to inform decisions about marketing strategy. Marketing modules include marketing strategy, consumer behavior and direct, digital and interactive marketing. You’ll also deliver your own data-driven marketing research project for a company.

Optional modules allow you to further your knowledge in a related area of interest, either corporate social responsibility, internal communications and managing change, or applied population and demographic analysis.

By the end of the course, you’ll submit an independent project. You can either research a topic in-depth and submit a dissertation, or gain practical experience through a consultancy project working with an external organisation.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take the nine compulsory modules below, plus your dissertation, which can be a choice of either a research dissertation or marketing consultancy project.

• Geographic Data Visualisation & Analysis 15 credits
• Big Data and Consumer Analytics 15 credits
• Predictive Analytics 15 credits
• Applied GIS and Retail Modelling 15 credits
• Business Analytics and Decision Science 15 credits
• Consumer Behaviour 15 credits
• Marketing Research Consultancy Project 15 credits
• Direct, Digital and Interactive Marketing 15 credits
• Marketing Strategy 15 credits
• Dissertation OR Marketing Consultancy Project 30 credits

Optional modules

You'll take one further optional module.

• Applied Population and Demographic Analysis 15 credits
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability 15 credits
• Internal Communications and Change Management 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Consumer Analytics and Marketing Strategy MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching methods so you can benefit from the expertise of our academics, including lectures, workshops, seminars, simulations and tutorials. Company case studies provide an opportunity to put your learning into practice.

Independent study is also vital for this course, allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course you will be equipped with advanced skills in consumer analytics and marketing strategy, ideal for those wishing to pursue a career in consumer data analytics, marketing and/or management.

Due to the digital revolution, companies from around the world and in many industrial sectors have access to greater amounts of data.

The most progressive companies in the world are particularly interested in marketing graduates with strong analytical skills, and typical roles could include marketing or consumer data analyst, direct marketing manager, marketing manager, retail manager, or marketing or management consultant.

Careers support

As a masters student you will be able to access careers and professional development support, which will help you develop key skills including networking and negotiating, and put you in touch with potential employers.

Our dedicated Professional Development Tutor provides tailored academic and careers support to marketing students. They work in partnership with our academics to help you translate theory into practice and develop your interpersonal and professional business skills.

You can expect support and guidance on career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, as well as one-to-one coaching on interpersonal and communication skills.

Read more about careers support at the Business School.

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Centennial College's Marketing Research and Analytics program positions you at the forefront of a cutting edge job market in which organizations have oceans of data available to them but struggle to make sense of it as marketing becomes increasingly data-driven. As a result, there is a large and growing demand for trained researchers who can harness the power of big data using the latest tools and analytical techniques to uncover new insights and drive businesses forward.

This Marketing Research and Analytics program combines advanced courses in marketing research and big data analytics with training on leading commercial technologies and platforms and the opportunity to gain in-demand industry certifications.

This program equips you with knowledge, skills and training in leading business intelligence and marketing research technologies and tools used in the field. Among them are SAS Enterprise Guide and SAS Enterprise Miner, Environics Analytics Envision (used to develop comprehensive profiles of selected target markets), SPSS, Tableau (the leading data visualization software), Excel, XL Miner, Dell Factiva and NVIVO (qualitative research and text analysis software).

Upon graduation, you receive an Ontario Graduate Certificate from Centennial College, plus certificates of recognition from SAS and Environics Canada. In addition, you are put on an accelerated track to earning the Certified Marketing Research Professional (CMRP) designation, the premier credential in Canadian marketing research from the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA).

Career Opportunities

Program Highlights
-The Marketing – Research and Analytics program combines marketing research principles and skills with cutting edge "big data" analytics techniques to equip you with the training required to deliver insights and strategies to help organizations make smarter and more impactful business decisions.
-Employed is an extensive use of learner-centered approaches such as case studies, simulations and project-based learning, with a focus on developing project management, teamwork, analytical thinking, and report writing and presentation skills.
-Hands-on learning covers areas such as questionnaire design, data manipulation, quality control, statistical output and program development.
-There is a strong focus on applying marketing research and analytics to strategic marketing decision-making.
-In the second semester, you develop and implement a capstone project that will integrate and apply your learning.
-In addition to market research technologies, you also have access to the full suite of Microsoft products, including Microsoft Excel, XL Miner, Access and PowerPoint.
-Once you graduate, you have the option to take the Comprehensive Marketing Research Exam (CMRE) on campus at Centennial College, which leads to the Certified Marketing Research Professional (CMRP) designation.

Articulation Agreements
Start with a graduate certificate, and continue to a master of business administration through our degree completion partnership. Successful graduates of this Marketing – Research and Analytics program may choose to continue with courses leading to a graduate degree.

Career Outlook
-Marketing research specialist or analyst
-Research analyst
-Marketing research and intelligence coordinator
-Market intelligence specialist or analyst
-Customer insights analyst
-Consumer research manager
-Business intelligence analyst
-Market research analytics manager
-Web marketing analyst
-Customer experience analyst
-CRM analyst
-Direct response analyst
-Digital marketing analyst
-Social media analyst
-Data and analytics specialist
-Business analytics specialist
-Loyalty program analyst
-Sales analyst
-Marketing strategy analyst

Program Outcomes
-Optimize the financial results produced by interactive marketing programs through the application of marketing analytics
-Contribute to the design of a marketing analytics team project (develop charter, business case financials, technical requirements, design, test plan, test results, approval to proceed) and the management of the resulting project
-Create, manage and mine, and apply modelling and decision making functions to a database
-Utilize data auditing techniques and quality control processes that are consistent with current marketing research codes of conduct and Canadian privacy principles to ensure the integrity of the data collection, storage, analysis and presentation processes
-Compare and contrast, evaluate and select appropriate data sources to meet specific marketing objectives
-Conduct industry, competitor and customer analyses using a wide variety of secondary research sources
-Produce reliable and analyzable data through the application of sound questionnaire design principles to marketing research projects
-Design marketing research projects and interactive marketing programs that are founded in sound sampling techniques, hypothesis testing and research design
-Solve business and marketing problems by identifying, selecting and applying effective, current and relevant techniques such as descriptive and inferential analysis
-Prepare provisional output of analyses including cross-tabulations and pivot tables that address the needs of analysts and prepare final output, including research reports, presentation sides and visual representations of data that address the needs of management
-Develop actionable recommendations based on situation analyses and research findings

Areas of Employment
-Retail corporations
-Organizations with in-house analytical and research functions
-Marketing research firms

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MSc Business Analytics prepares graduates to understand the context, importance and relevance of big data problems facing a business and solve them using a variety of statistical, operational research and machine learning techniques. The overriding objective of the programme is to train students to solve business problems and obtain actionable business insight using analytics.

Combining academic rigour and practical relevance, the programme is a careful balance of teaching and learning, individual and group work. Case study methodology and class-based discussions will be used to strengthen the conceptual, analytical and problem solving skills of the participants in real situations. In addition, there will be regular seminars by external expert speakers.

The Programme

Before starting the programme, you will need to undertake a range of online pre-study modules, which include:
• Maths for Business Analytics
• Introduction to Finance
• Accounting Primer
• Career and Professional Development
• Study Skills

In the autumn term you will study compulsory modules which include:
• Maths and Statistics Foundations for Analytics
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Network Analytics
• Analytics in Business
• Optimisation and Decision Models
• Fundamentals of Database Technologies
• Statistics and Econometrics
• Machine Learning
• Visualisation

Core modules are the backbone of our programme and will provide you with a solid knowledge base in every subject area. You will be taught through a range of contexts – lectures, syndicate discussions, group exercises and individual case studies – and assessed through a combination of examinations, group presentations and coursework.

In the spring and summer terms you will also be given the opportunity to choose from a variety of electives, and will undertake a consulting project or a work placement.

Each elective builds on previous experience while introducing new and exciting disciplines. Electives include:
• Digital Marketing Analytics
• Big Data in Finance
• Advanced Machine Learning
• Data Management and Ethics
• Healthcare and Medical Analytics
• Logistics and Supply-Chain Analytics
• Retail and Marketing Analytics
• Workforce Analytics

The programme will culminate in a Business Analytics Report which will enable you to consolidate and apply the knowledge that you will have gained throughout the year.

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Every day we click buttons, swipe screens, and use apps for business or leisure, processing information and generating more information. The resulting accumulation of information is called Big Data. These data sets are so large and complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. We aim to provide you with the skill set to handle the ever-growing Big Data and the business opportunities that come with it.

Our MSc in Business Analytics will train you to become a business leader of the future with a solid skill set in information technology, quantitative methods for analysing data, and making optimized decisions.

We believe that knowledge is gained through experience. Throughout the course you will be acquiring, cleaning, processing, and visualizing data. Our partnership with IBM and SAS enables you to benefit from state-of-the-art business analytics software. You will also be given the opportunity to do your dissertation with an industrial partner, gaining more business experience along the way.

Visit the website http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/msc-business-analytics/

Why the MSc in Business Analytics?

There is an increasing demand for business analysts, sometimes referred to as data analysts or data scientists.

The Bath MSc in Business Analytics provides an advanced qualification to graduates in business as well as non-business disciplines who aim to specialise in data and decision analysis, and to use these skills in diverse contexts such as finance, healthcare, and sustainability to create competitive advantage.

You will gain:
-In-depth knowledge and critical appreciation of the quantitative techniques fundamental to business analytics.
-Critical understanding of the data collection, processing, analysis, and reporting steps, its path of evolution so far and possible pathways into the future.
-The ability to identify and solve business analytics problems, and facilitate the implementation of the solutions by bridging the gap between the technical and the managerial perspectives.
-Opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge within a practical setting, giving you valuable industry experience.

Structure and Content

Our curriculum is designed to prepare you for a career with a focus in analytics in any sector of your choosing: finance, marketing, and healthcare to name a few. The MSc in Business Analytics is an intensive full-time course lasting 12 months. It is divided into two semesters and the summer period.

During semester 1, all students study the same five core units. Semester 2 is made up of 3 further core units and then you may choose 2 further options based on your interests.

Semester 1 core units
-Databases & Business Intelligence
-Optimisation
-Business Statistics & Forecasting
-Spreadsheet Modelling
-Operations Management

Semester 2 core units
-Data mining
-Heuristics & Simulation
-Analytics in Practice (taught in partnership with IBM)

Semester 2 options
-Sustainable Operations Management
-Project Management
-Operations Strategy
-Analytics in Context

Dissertation

During the final three months of the degree you will produce a dissertation. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to do a piece of substantial work on your own, demonstrating originality, innovation, drive, and determination. The dissertation also enables you to plan and execute your own project, giving you complete choice and flexibility. The dissertation can be done as a project in a company, subject to approval by the Director of Studies.

Teaching & Learning Methods

You will be exposed to a variety of teaching and learning methods that could include: interactive lectures, case studies, seminar presentations, and group project work.

Assessment

A variety of individual and group assessment methods are used throughout the degree including assignments, exams, presentations, reports and exercises.

Career Development and Support

99% of our MSc in Management graduates from 2014 were employed within 6 months of graduation.

We recognise that enhancing your employability is a primary goal for undertaking a Master's degree at Bath. We have a successful track record and extensive experience of working with a wide range of global organisations to develop the right skills and competencies that our students will need to achieve their career goals.

Destinations of our MSc in Management graduates (2014):

99% of our MSc in Management graduates from 2014 were employed within 6 months of graduation. Our outstanding record for employability is reflected in the companies and organisations where these graduates now work:

Recruiters include:

BAE Systems
Barclays Bank
BT
Credit Agricole
Deloitte
Goldman Sachs
HSBC China
Huawei
Kantar Worldpanel
KPMG
Mazars
PwC
Tesco
United Biscuits

Career Development Programme

Our expert careers team is dedicated to providing first class careers support exclusively for School of Management MSc students.
We offer a Comprehensive Career Development Programme and provide an individual service by working with you on a one-to-one basis to identify your career goals and help you to plan your job search.

Our Career Development programme is integrated into your MSc timetable and includes;

- An overview of career opportunities in different sectors
- Workshops on the recruitment process including: CVs, cover letters, application forms and interview advice
- Mock interviews and assessment centres
- Opportunities to network with graduate recruiters, sector specialists and alumni
- Guest speakers, company visits and presentations, employer-led skills sessions
- Development of employability skills by participating in company sponsored community projects
- Week-long business immersion week - The Future Business Challenge
- Additional support for international students and those seeking global job opportunities

A highly ranked business school

We have established ourselves as one of Europe’s leading business schools and 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of the University of Bath, celebrating our past achievements and looking forward.

The School of Management is one of the UK's leading business schools. Currently ranked 1st for Student Experience (Times Higher Education 2015) (http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/about/rankings.html#NSS) and 1st for Business & Management (The Complete University Guide 2016) (http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Business+%26+Management+Studies), we are a leading centre for management research - placed 8th in the UK in the latest REF2014 (http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/about/rankings.html#ref) for business and management studies, confirming the world-class standing of our faculty.

Find out about the department here - http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/faculty/

Find out how to apply here - http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/msc-business-analytics/how-to-apply

Government Loans

A new system of postgraduate loans for Masters courses is being developed for students at English universities. There will be loans of up to £10,000 available for Masters students starting a course in 2016/17. More information is available on the study site (http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/taught/government-loans/index.html) and the government website external website.

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The MSc Business Analytics programme is an innovative new programme designed to develop the practical business analytical skills needed in today’s data rich business world. Businesses need trained analysts capable of exploring data to find new patterns and relationships and make business decisions accordingly.

Organisations require analysts capable of generating value from large data sets which cannot be analysed with traditional techniques. You will be taught to apply appropriate analytical techniques within a business context.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

The course has been specifically designed to give a structured understanding of business analytics. Initially you will be given an overview of big data and business analytics. You will then be taught the analytical techniques underpinning business analytics.

The focus will then be on analytical techniques applicable to specific organisational functions such as: marketing, operations, finance and logistics. We will also develop your skills to improve your business understanding and important communication skills. In addition you will get some commercial research experience for your CV either through your project and dissertation or through the Postgraduate Company Internship (subject to meeting criteria).

Please note: Students will need to pass all Semester 1 modules and attend two compulsory employability skills workshops. After an interview with an internal panel of academics and formal presentation, successful students are selected by the host organisation.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

The aim of the programme is to produce post graduate students who as well as understanding the value and benefits of business analytical techniques can apply these techniques and methods to organisation functions in order to facilitate data driven decision making for the organisation.

The objectives of the course are:
-To understand the context of big data and analytics within organisations
-To critically learn, understand and apply techniques underpinning business analytics
-To apply business analytical techniques relevant and appropriate for particular business functions
-To effectively use information tools to deliver effective communication of analysis leading to actionable results

The course consists of the following modules: Big Data and Big Analytics; Business Statistics; Data Mining Methodologies and Applications; Business Modelling; Applied Marketing Analytics; Operations Analytics; Financial Analysis for Decision Making; Global Supply Chain and Logistics; Dissertation or The Postgraduate Consultancy Project.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE ENHANCE MY CAREER PROSPECTS?

The MSc Business Analytics graduate will have an opportunity to enter the field of Business Analytics and Consultancy in small, medium or large organisations across the globe. Graduates could enter professions such as management consultants, business analysts, policy analysts, market researchers, operations researchers and data scientists. They could work in public, private and voluntary sectors where such analytical skills would give organisations competitive advantage.

The transferable skills that students develop whilst on the programme will enable them to search for opportunities within and beyond business analytics.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

There will be an emphasis on intercultural experiences for students on the MSc programme via:
-The opportunity for students to enrol on the Global Leaders programme.
-Advertised field trips throughout the School.
-The use of international case studies and examples.

GLOBAL LEADERS PROGRAMME

To prepare students for the challenges of the global employment market and to strengthen and develop their broader personal and professional skills Coventry University has developed a unique Global Leaders Programme.

The objectives of the programme, in which postgraduate and eligible undergraduate students can participate, is to provide practical career workshops and enable participants to experience different business cultures.

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Businesses are increasingly collecting large amounts of information about their customers and activities. This ‘big data’ is big news with the media, businesses and government as they consider how to use this mass of information in a meaningful way.

Analysts use their expertise to make sense of this information and interpret it, enabling evidence-based business decisions. As a result, they’re in high demand with employers in every sector.

This programme gives you an insight into business analytics and explores how organisations can exploit the big data revolution. You’ll develop decision-oriented, quantitative analytical skills in a management context, and learn to sift intelligence from the growing volume and variety of data collected on many aspects of life.

Combining theoretical concepts with practical application, you’ll develop a unique mix of quantitative and behavioural skills relevant to data analyses, effective decision-making and management.

Academic excellence

You’ll be taught by internationally recognised academics and business practitioners from our Centre for Decision Research, who are actively engaged in the latest research, advising businesses, governments and international bodies. They share this expertise and knowledge with you in the classroom.

With the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics on campus, the University of Leeds has a growing wealth of expertise and resources in data sciences.

Course content

This programme will build your knowledge and understanding of how business analytics can provide evidence to support management decision-making. You’ll learn how to use different evidence-based approaches to make effective decisions, developing your skills in quantitative analysis.

You’ll consider advanced techniques such as forecasting and have the opportunity to apply your decision-making skills to real-life business and management scenarios. With the support of leading researchers in this constantly shifting landscape, you’ll also gain an understanding of research methods.

A range of optional modules allows you to gain specialist knowledge that suits your interests or career plans.

The course culminates in a 12,000 word dissertation or project, enabling you to apply your learning to a topic of your choice. This is an opportunity to explore the very latest insights with the support of an academic who shares your passion and interest.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Effective Decision Making 15 credits
• Dissertation 45 credits
• Advanced Management Decision Making 15 credits
• Business Analytics and Decision Science 15 credits
• Forecasting and Advanced Business Analytics 15 credits
• Evidence Based Consultancy 15 credits
• Research Methods 15 credits
• Quantitative Analysis 15 credits

Optional modules

You'll also choose another three optional modules.

• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• Risk Perception and Communication 15 credits
• Managing Global Logistics and Supply Chains 15 credits
• Operations and Supply Chain Management 15 credits
• Managing and Designing Value Chain Networks 15 credits
• Information Tools for Organisations 15 credits
• Challenges in Information Management 15 credits
• Designing Information Systems 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Business Analytics and Decision Sciences MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning, computer classes and tutorials.

Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Business Analytics and Decision Sciences can expect to have the quantitative skills to analyse complex business information, and use the resulting intelligence to inform business decisions.

You will be ideally placed to pursue a career in analytics and decision making, general and specialist management roles in a range of industries, or as business or market analysts.

Employers in both private and public sectors are actively seeking graduates with these skills, and trends show that the career opportunities are fast increasing. The role of the data scientist was described as the 'Sexiest Job of the 21st Century' by the Harvard Business Review.

Demand for experts in business analytics is growing rapidly and the University of Leeds is at the forefront of developments in this area.

Read more about Business Analytics at Leeds.

Links with industry

Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills as part of our Leaders in Residence initiative which gives management students the opportunity to engage with senior figures from the world of business. This is a rare opportunity where successful and established business people will help you connect the theory of your course to real world practice, and offer their advice for career success.

You will be able to connect with leaders from a range of firms including major manufacturers and retailers, charity chief executives, entrepreneurs and directors of companies large and small, through structured meetings and events. This typically includes workshops, social events, guest lectures and professional skills development.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support as part of the course. You benefit from our professional development tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

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About the course

Businesses now frequently possess and want to exploit huge, high volume, varied dynamic data sets, known as big data. Analytics is a subset of what has become to be called Business Intelligence. This is a set of technologies and processes used to understand data and analyse business performance.

Data Analytics MSc, developed and run with SAS, has been specifically designed to equip you with the skills and abilities to address this shortage. On successful completion of the course you will have developed your analytic and technical knowledge, and enhanced your professional skills within a Business Intelligence context.

You will be equipped with the relevant skills for employment in any field of data science (such as business intelligence, data mining, SAS programming and database design) within any target industry, with the additional option to complete a placement year in industry to further enhance your employability.

There is a growing need for professionals who can combine both analytical and software techniques in appropriate ways to allow the processing of ‘big data’. Data Analytics MSc is designed to provide these analytics and processing skills embedded within a business intelligence context.

Reasons to study:

• Taught by SAS accredited teaching staff
you will be taught by experienced SAS accredited teaching staff providing you with expert knowledge and skills

• Developed to fill skills shortage
course content has been developed to enhance your employability and gain substantial knowledge and equipping you with the skills required in for the use of the SAS software as well as Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) in industry

• 50 years history of research and teaching in computing technology
benefit from our well established academic expertise and advance your skills in, and knowledge of, data analytics to business problems

• Industry placement opportunity
you can chose to undertake a year-long work placement gaining valuable experience and skills as well as networking opportunities to build your industry contacts

• Excellent graduate prospects
equipped with the relevant skills for business intelligence and data mining roles including SAS Programming, Database Design and Business Intelligence

Course Structure

Modules

First semester (September to January)

• Statistics
• Fundamentals of Business Intelligence Systems
• Analytics Programming
• Data Warehouse Design and OLAP

Second semester (February to May)

• Business Intelligence Systems Application and Development
• Big Data Analytics
• Data Mining
• Research Methods

Third semester (June to September)

• Individual project

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching will normally be delivered through formal lectures, informal seminars, tutorials, workshops, discussions and e-learning packages. Assessment will usually be carried out through a combination of individual and group work, presentations, reports, projects and exams.

The course is run in association with SAS, the leading independent vendor in the business intelligence industry, and you will gain substantial SAS software skills as part of your study.

First semester modules provide you with fundamental abilities in the use of statistics so that you can gain insights and practice of using business intelligence systems and analytics programming to exploit multidimensional data sets.

In the second semester you are exposed to a variety of business intelligence systems, including those that use big data and data mining techniques. A further module prepares students to undertake an individual research project. This project module allows you to undertake extensive research into an aspect of big data, and/or provides an opportunity to develop and demonstrate your analytical and processing abilities in response to a given practical problem.

Contact and learning hours

You will normally attend 3 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week for each module undertaken during term time, for full time study this would be 12 hours per week during term time. You are expected to undertake around 24 further hours of independent study and assignments as required per week.

Industry Association

The Data Analytics MSc was developed and is run in conjunction with SAS. SAS is the world's largest independent business analytics company. It provides an integrated set of software products and services to more than 45,000 customer sites in 118 countries. Across the globe, both the public and private sector use SAS software to assist in their efforts to compete and excel in a climate of unprecedented economic uncertainty and globalization.

To find out more

To learn more about this course and DMU, visit our website:
Postgraduate open days: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-study/open-evenings/postgraduate-open-days.aspx

Applying for a postgraduate course:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-study/entry-criteria-and-how-to-apply/entry-criteria-and-how-to-apply.aspx

Funding for postgraduate students:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-study/postgraduate-funding-2017-18/postgraduate-funding-2017-18.aspx

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