Masters degrees in Operational Research cover the development and application of mathematical simulation models. These models can then be used to understand and solve problems within operational systems, deciding the correct human intervention.
Related subjects include Data Science and Business Analytics. Entry requirements typically include an appropriate undergraduate Mathematics degree.
This programme is an ideal opportunity to provide yourself with the analytic skill set necessary for success in finance and business. From day one you will find yourself working with multinational organisations on case studies to develop your abilities in applied analytics and finance. Opportunities for summer projects in a wide range of industries are an integral part of the programme.
Full time study: This one year masters programme is suitable for numerate graduates. The MSc programme lasts for twelve months.
Part-time study: This scheme is suitable for numerate students who are qualified to enter the one year full time scheme but wish to study on a part time basis. Project work takes the special circumstances of a particular student into account.
The aim of the programme is to provide you with all the data analytics and optimisation skills required for a successful career in finance and other business organisations, therefore a wide spectrum of techniques and approaches are covered. For this reason staff from both the Mathematical Sciences and the Southampton Management School are involved with teaching on the MSc programme.
Programme objectives are:
-to give you a thorough knowledge of the mathematical, financial, computational and communication skills needed for the practical application of Operational Research and finance
-to give you a broad appreciation of related disciplines important in Operational Research
-to illustrate the use of Operational Research and finance tools in a wide range of applications. This part of the programme is not just descriptive since much of the application of Operational Research is best learned by active involvement. The 3-month summer project and computer workshops are designed with this in mind. In addition, seminars provide a forum for the discussion of practical Operational Research issues
-to introduce you to research methods and current issues in Operational Research and finance
The MSc in Operational Research and Finance at the University of Southampton will equip you with skills in revenue management, credit scoring, and financial risk management that are highly sought by employers, and this degree will give you a deep understanding of applied analytics and financial modelling that is applicable across the financial institutions.
The summer dissertation gives you an opportunity to develop your research skills, often in a commercial setting, and our industrial liaison team will work with you to find a project that suits your skills and ambitions.
What is Operational Research and Finance?
Operational Research is the application of scientific methods to the study of complex organisational problems. In this degree course, there is an emphasis on complementary financial studies. Even within the same organisation Operational Research and Finance tends to be highly varied because of its project-driven nature. This breadth of experience offers an exciting and rewarding career in many financial organisations, enabling many Operational Research workers to progress to a career in general management. Moreover the nature of the work brings an Operations Research and Finance graduate into early contact with senior management, and career advancement is typically rapid.
Why do an MSc?
An MSc is generally accepted as being highly desirable for starting and developing a career in OR and financial modelling. The MSc is also a good preparation for research work.
A highlight of the programme is the 3-month summer project. The student is usually placed with a nearby company and works on a real problem of practical importance to that company.
Environment
The Operational Research Group in Mathematics is a strong committed team of 11 lecturing staff and a number of research staff. The Group teaches a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking consultancy work for outside organisations. Many of the staff are internationally known in their fields of research.
CORMSIS Business Advisory Board
This Committee is a good indicator of the high regard in which the Southampton MSc programmes involving Operational Research are held by outside organisations. Its purpose is to ensure that the MSc programmes produce graduates with the requisite skills for the needs of industry. It also provides a focal point for liaison between the Operational Research Group and industry. You have the chance to meet the Committee several times during the year. Major companies including Shell, British Airways, BAA, BT, The AA, Dstl and HM Revenue & Customs are represented on the Committee.
View the programme specification document for this course
This programme is an ideal opportunity to provide yourself with the analytic skill set necessary for success in business and industry. From day one you will find yourself working with multinational organisations on case studies to develop your abilities in applied analytics. Opportunities for summer projects in a wide range of industries are an integral part of the programme.
Full time study: This one year masters programme is suitable for numerate graduates. The MSc programme lasts for twelve months.
Part-time study: This scheme is suitable for numerate students who are qualified to enter the one year full time scheme but wish to study on a part time basis. Project work takes the special circumstances of a particular student into account.
The aim of the programme is to provide you with all the data analytics and optimisation skills required for a successful career, therefore a wide spectrum of techniques and approaches are covered. For this reason staff from several other Schools in the University are involved with teaching on the MSc programme.
Programme objectives are:
-to give you a thorough knowledge of the mathematical, computational and communication skills needed for the practical application of Operational Research
-to give you a broad appreciation of related disciplines important in Operational Research
-to illustrate the use of Operational Research tools in a wide range of applications. This part of the programme is not just descriptive since much of the application of Operational Research is best learned by active involvement. The 3-month summer project and computer workshops are designed with this in mind. In addition, seminars provide a forum for the discussion of practical Operational Research issues
-to introduce you to research methods and current issues in Operational Research
Operational researchers play a fundamental role in the modern world, providing analytics and guidance to management teams. This MSc will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective solutions to complex organizational challenges in a business environment. You will study modules such as revenue management and forecasting and you will learn to use optimization techniques to enhance productivity.
The summer dissertation gives you an opportunity to develop your research skills, often in a commercial setting, and our industrial liaison team will work with you to find a project that suits your skills and ambitions.
What is Operational Research?
Operational Research is the application of scientific methods to the study of complex organisational problems. Even within the same organisation Operational Research tends to be highly varied because of its project-driven nature. This breadth of experience offers an exciting and rewarding career in many organisations and in general management. Moreover the nature of the work brings an Operations Research graduate into early contact with senior management, and career advancement is typically rapid.
Why do an MSc?
An MSc is generally accepted as being highly desirable for starting and developing a career in OR. The MSc is also a good preparation for research work.
A highlight of the programme is the 3-month summer project. The student is usually placed with a nearby company and works on a real problem of practical importance to that company.
Environment
The Operational Research Group in Mathematics is a strong committed team of 11 lecturing staff and a number of research staff. The Group teaches a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking consultancy work for outside organisations. Many of the staff are internationally known in their fields of research.
CORMSIS Business Advisory Board
This Committee is a good indicator of the high regard in which the Southampton MSc programmes involving Operational Research are held by outside organisations. Its purpose is to ensure that the MSc programmes produce graduates with the requisite skills for the needs of industry. It also provides a focal point for liaison between the Operational Research Group and industry. You have the chance to meet the Committee several times during the year. Major companies including Shell, British Airways, BAA, BT, The AA, Dstl and HM Revenue & Customs are represented on the Committee.
View the programme specification document for this course
This programme is an ideal opportunity to provide yourself with the analytical and statistical skill set necessary for success in industry, business or in the public sector. From day one you will find yourself working with multinational organisations on case studies to develop your abilities in applied analytics and statistics. Opportunities for summer projects in a wide range of industries are an integral part of the programme.
Full time study: This one year master programme is suitable for numerate graduates. The MSc programme lasts for twelve months.
The MSc programme in Operational Research and Statistics provides students with the ideal skill set in mathematical modelling, experimental design, statistical analysis, and numerical computation. This programme also provides soft skills such as communicating results to managers/executives. These prepare students to pursue a wide variety of career opportunities in industry, business or in the public sector.
A highlight of the programme is the three-month summer project: it may be either in Operational Research or Statistics (or the interface between the two). You will have the option to bid for an external project which is usually based at a nearby company and requires working on a real problem of practical importance to that company. You also have the option to work on an internal project which might involve data from external sources. The MSc project consists of an individual investigation and is under the supervision of a member of staff. This project enables students to integrate and consolidate skills learned on the course (and to fulfil deliverables for the sponsoring company in the case of an external project).
In summary, the learning and teaching aims of the programme are:
1. To give you knowledge of operational research techniques and applied statistical theory and methods at an advanced level;
2. To train you for careers as either an operational researcher or as a statistician.
3. To enable you to develop oral and written communication skills.
4. To give you experience of applications of operational research and statistical methods.
Operational researchers and statisticians play a fundamental role in the modern world. This MSc will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective solutions to complex organizational challenges. This includes all key stages of solving real-world problems:
-Providing analytical understanding the problem; possibly through designing experiments, collecting and visualizing data
-Mathematically formulating the problem and finding solution approaches
-Providing statistical analysis and computation
-Presenting and communicating the results
The programme contains compulsory modules that provide the foundation in both Operational Research and Statistics, and optional modules for students to specialise in these two areas (or to have a balance portfolio of them).
The summer dissertation gives you an opportunity to develop your research skills, often in a commercial setting, and our industrial liaison team will work with you to find a project that suits your skills and ambitions.
What is Operational Research?
Operational Research is the application of scientific methods to the study of complex organisational problems. It is concerned with applying advanced analytical methods to make effective decisions in strategic planning or operational planning, and build more productive systems.
What is Statistics?
Statistics is concerned with decision-making in the face of uncertainty, and lies at the heart of the type of quantitative reasoning necessary for making important advances in the sciences, such as medicine and genetics, and for making important decisions in business and public policy.
Why do an MSc?
An MSc is generally accepted as being highly desirable for starting and developing a career in OR. The MSc is also a good preparation for research work.
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/cormsis/mscsummerproject/index.page
A highlight of the programme is the 3-month summer project. The student is usually placed with a nearby company and works on a real problem of practical importance to that company.
Environment
The Operational Research Group and the Statistics Group in Mathematics are strong committed teams of 20 lecturing staff and a number of research staff. The Groups teach a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking consultancy work for outside organisations. Many of the staff are internationally known in their fields of research.
The 2017 QS subject world rankings places Statistics and Operational Research at Southampton in the top 100.
CORMSIS Business Advisory Board
This Committee is a good indicator of the high regard in which the Southampton MSc programmes involving Operational Research are held by outside organisations. Its purpose is to ensure that the MSc programmes produce graduates with the requisite skills for the needs of industry. It also provides a focal point for liaison between the Operational Research Group and industry. You have the chance to meet the Committee several times during the year. Major companies including Shell, British Airways, BAA, BT, The AA, Dstl and HM Revenue & Customs are represented on the Committee.
View the programme specification document for this course
Operational Research (called "Operations Research" in some parts of the world) has been briefly described as the "scientific analysis of decisions". It's concerned with assisting and advising decision-makers in a wide variety of settings.
The MSc in Operational Research aims to realise the potential of graduates, so that you immediately can play an effective role in providing model-based support to managers helping them to make better decisions at an operational/technical level.
You’ll develop a rigorous academic understanding of advanced analytical methods that are used to provide structured and analytical approaches to decision-making. You’ll also develop practical skills in using operational research models to support decision-makers.
All classes are taught using material presented via the internet. Classes are supported by faculty members who also teach on the full-time course. They will guide and support discussion via discussion forums.
The programme contains three stages. In progressing towards completion of the MSc students will undertake the following:
Postgraduate Certificate in Operational Research
This includes five compulsory classes and one elective class all of which can be completed fully online.
Compulsory classes:
Elective classes:
One optional class chosen from:
Postgraduate Diploma in Operational Research
After completion of the Postgraduate certificate two further elective classes and one compulsory class are required to be undertaken.
Compulsory class:
Elective classes:
Two elective classes chosen from same list as for the Postgraduate Certificate.
If you wish to proceed to the Postgraduate Diploma you need to be in appropriate employment. The final decision as to what is "appropriate employment" remains with the University of Strathclyde. However, if your employment covers all of the following, you're likely to be in the correct type of post:
Your employment should require some analysis of business situations, in the private or public sector. Samples of your work will form the basis of reflection and learning projects, guided by a personal mentor.
MSc in Operational Research
Students who complete the Diploma and gain sufficient marks to proceed to the MSc will be expected to undertake a project. The project will be integrated with your employment. You'll have individual personal mentoring to guide you in reflection and learning.
To undertake this course you need to have:
NB: Some of the course software is Windows-only and will not run under Linux or on Macintosh computers so use of a PC or PC-emulation software is essential if these operating systems are used.
You can start the Certificate programme in October or April. The Diploma course usually runs between September and May, though there is some flexibility with this. It's followed by the project which has a flexible timetable.
Normally, a student should be able to complete the MSc programme in around two and a half years. Please contact us if you need advice about the best start date for you.
All classes are taught using material presented via the internet. Classes are supported by faculty members who also teach on the full-time course. They'll guide and support discussion via forums.
Each module includes two pieces of assessment. Around half of these will be assignments and the other half will be by examination at local centres.
In the department, we have very good links with business and have hosted recruitment events for many companies including Barclay’s Wealth, British Airways, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Rolls Royce, Sopra and SIMUL8, to name a few.
The skills you learn in the MSc make you very marketable to potential employers. Other employers where our graduates have found work include Clydesdale Bank, HSBC, PWC, RBS, Roland Berger and the Scottish Government.
This programme will show you how to use mathematical techniques to tackle real-life problems ranging from scheduling flights, handling large data sets to managing investments and minimizing risks. The skills of Operational Research (OR) and Data Science are in high demand.
The MSc in Operational Research with Data Science is a new, forward-looking programme that delivers high-quality training in operational research, optimization and statistics. Students will have strong technical skills in these areas and the ability to apply them using appropriate software.
This MSc programme delivers:
You need to obtain a total of 180 credits to be awarded the MSc. All students take courses during semester 1 and 2 to the value of 120 credits. Successful performance in these courses (assessed through coursework or examinations or both) permits you to start work on a three-month dissertation project (60 credits) for the award of the MSc degree.
Compulsory courses have previously included:
Themed courses have previously included:
At the end of this programme you will have:
Graduates will gain the transferable skills required to pursue careers in a data-rich operational research environment, and will be in an ideal position to apply for work in a wide range of institutions in the public and private sector. The degree is also excellent preparation for further study in operational research, optimization or data science.
The dissertation projects of approximately half the students on this programme take place in public and private sector organisations. Other students choose a University-based project.
This programme will show you how to use mathematical techniques to tackle real-life problems ranging from scheduling flights and routing mobile phone calls to managing investments and minimising risks. Operational Research (OR) is an important skill that is in high demand.
Our intensive programme allows you to specialise in an area that best suits your career goals. In addition to this general MSc in Operational Research, the following degrees are offered:
This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and option courses followed by your dissertation project.
Courses previously offered include:
Compulsory courses:
Plus two courses from:
Optional courses are generally grouped into the following areas:
The skills you will learn are in demand by a vast range of high-profile organisations including consultancy firms, companies with operational research departments such as airlines or telecommunications providers, financial firms and the public sector.
Recent graduates have joined British Airways, the Government OR Service, Barclays, Deloitte, Capgemini and smaller specialised OR, finance and energy companies.
The dissertation projects of approximately half the students on this programme take place in public and private sector organisations. Other students choose a University-based project.
Postgraduate degree course in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Econometrics (MORSE) Masters/MSc:
This programme is both technical and pragmatic. You will acquire the ability to integrate state-of-the-art knowledge of statistics and optimisation to address, analyse and provide a rational appraisal of a given problem in different professional contexts. This is a multidisciplinary field that involves the study of mathematical optimisation techniques, operational research methods, programming and statistics with their applications to economics, finance, medicine, industrial management, natural sciences and others. The programme produces highly qualified students in statistics, operations research and econometrics with applications to economics and business management. The programme provides ideal preparation for a career in economics, health care, finance, banking, insurance, actuarial science, business management, governmental or academic institutions.
To be accepted onto this programme a high standard in a mathematically-based undergraduate degree must have been achieved, equivalent to a UK upper second or first class degree.
In the recent years, mathematical optimization and statistics have experienced significant new developments. With these developments, the system engineering, information science, signal and image processing, statistical error correction and cryptography are being revolutionised.
This has created urgent need, in both academic research and in practical implementation, for a new generation of mathematicians trained to work at the frontiers of mathematical optimization, statistics and their applications to engineering, healthcare, finance and economics.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have recently shown how the modern optimization and statistical methods are successfully applied to engineering design, financial and economical data analysis, meta-analysis, economic equilibrium, network communication, and combinatorial optimization.
Related links
In the Autumn and Spring semesters, you will take masters-level courses in both advanced theory and applications of operational research, optimization and statistics, as well as the courses in modern computational techniques and data analysis.
In the summer you will undertake a research project, working with research leaders in optimization, statistics and econometrics, alongside mathematics and computation. These courses and project will provide relevant training in quantitative analysis together with multidisciplinary research and communication, a transferable skill, for whichever career path the MSc (MORSE) leads you to.
Career opportunities
The course modules and research project will provide you with essential training in quantitative analysis together with multidisciplinary research and communication, a transferable skill which you will find valuable whatever career path you
pursue. Our graduates benefit from a growing global demand for these skills in sectors including economics, medicine, finance, insurance and industrial management.
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
This programme will show you how to use mathematical techniques to tackle real-life problems ranging from scheduling flights and routing mobile phone calls to managing investments and minimising risks. Operational Research (OR) is an important skill that is in high demand.
This MSc will give an Operational Research perspective on risk and its management.
This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and option courses followed by your dissertation project.
Courses previously offered include:
Compulsory courses:
Plus two courses from:
As part of your option course choices Operational Research with Risk requires you to study a combination from a set of courses which, previously, has included:
The skills you will learn are in demand by a vast range of high-profile organisations including consultancy firms, companies with operational research departments such as airlines or telecommunications providers, financial firms and the public sector.
Recent graduates have joined British Airways, the Government OR Service, Barclays, Deloitte, Capgemini and smaller specialised OR, finance and energy companies.
The dissertation projects of approximately half the students on this programme take place in public and private sector organisations. Other students choose a University-based project.
This programme will help you develop professionally in the theory and practice of statistics and operational research (OR), providing the foundations for a successful career.
This programme will prepare you for work in areas such as the medical and health industry, government, the financial sector and any other area where modern statistical tools and OR techniques are used. You will also develop the wider skills required for solving problems, working in teams and time management.
You will be able to identify appropriate statistical or operational techniques, which can be applied to practical problems, and will acquire extensive skills in modelling using the packages R for Statistics and Arena for simulation.
This MSc consists of lecture-based courses and practical, lab-based courses. You will be assessed by exams, written reports, programming assignments and a dissertation project. The set of courses available is subject to review in order to maintain a modern and relevant MSc programme.
Previous compulsory courses for 2017-18:
Previous optional courses for 2017-18 include:
This programme is ideal for students who wish to apply their statistics and operational research knowledge within a wide range of sectors including the medical and health sector, government and finance. The advanced problem-solving skills you will develop will be highly prized by many employers.
The dissertation projects of approximately half the students on this programme take place in public and private sector organisations. Other students choose a University-based project.
This programme will show you how to use mathematical techniques to tackle real-life problems ranging from scheduling flights and routing mobile phone calls to managing investments and minimising risks. Operational Research (OR) is an important skill that is in high demand.
This MSc will give an Operational Research perspective on computational optimization.
This programme involves two taught semesters of compulsory and option courses followed by your dissertation project.
Courses previously offered include:
Compulsory courses:
Plus two courses from:
As part of your option course choices, Operational Research with Computational Optimization requires you to study two from a set of courses which, previously, has included:
The skills you will learn are in demand by a vast range of high-profile organisations including consultancy firms, companies with operational research departments such as airlines or telecommunications providers, financial firms and the public sector.
Recent graduates have joined British Airways, the Government OR Service, Barclays, Deloitte, Capgemini and smaller specialised OR, finance and energy companies.
The dissertation projects of approximately half the students on this programme take place in public and private sector organisations. Other students choose a University-based project.
Learn how to overcome the major challenges facing industry, business and the public sector today, and influence the decision-making processes of the future.
We run a core module on Data Analytics which will introduce students to SAS Enterprise. A coursework prize for this project will be sponsored by SAS.
Recent highlights included a case study run by British Airways, a presentation from SAS on the Future of Analytics and ongoing dissertation projects with Unilever and LBM.
Assessment varies depending on course units taken. It may include a combination of course work, group project assessment and presentations, report, assignments, in-class tests and examination. The dissertation normally ranges between 12,000 and 25,000 words.
During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught modules during semester one and two total 120 credits and consists of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.
The core courses unit introduce you to mathematical principles and practical tools for Optimization, Decision Making, Data-Mining, Statistical Analysis, Simulation and Risk Analysis. Specific software packages include SAS, SPSS, Minitab, AMOS, Eviews, Excel, Excel Solver, SIMUL8, iThink, Risk Solver, IDS.
Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits. Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:
Contact us for further information on scholarships available .
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
There are many potential career roles for postgraduates with an understanding of analytical approaches in business and management - including job titles such as operational research analyst, systems analyst, risk analyst, financial analyst, performance analyst, business analyst, marketing analyst, business modeller, and operations, logistics, production, project, risk, quality, performance, or general manager. Employers include general and specialist consultancies, the finance, retail and manufacturing sectors, government analytics units, defence and major 'solution providers' in IT systems, outsourcing and telecoms.
In many of these areas an MSc is generally accepted as highly desirable for developing an initial career in the field. In addition to preparing you for specialist professional work, the course is also a valuable preparation for further study and for research degrees.
More details on our Careers Service.
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