Overview
Business Analytics focuses on understanding the data generated by individual organisations, and how it can be used to improve business practices.
As a conversion course developed in close partnership with industry, we welcome students from any academic discipline and you will learn to use powerful visual programming and scripting tools, such as Orange, R, Power-BI and Python. These tools will enable you to learn how to deploy statistical analysis, predictive analytics, text analytics and data-mining tools to provide clear actionable solutions for business leaders and influence business strategy.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education. This puts the University of Stirling Management School among the top 6% of business schools globally.
What our partners say about the course:
“The course focusses on business ownership of strategy and decision making, exploring both ethics and data science in the business context. This is important for local authorities as they embark on creating an open data platform at a national level. Many of these national level discussions have been centred on the ethics and cleansing of data before release, proving this Masters to be both current and relevant to today’s business needs.”
Scott Ross, Portfolio and Business Manager for Stirling Council
Preparing business leaders of the future
Postgraduate education at the University of Stirling Management School goes beyond text books and lecture rooms, we also focus on your personal and professional development.
Our unique Flying Start Leadership Programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career. These range from practical skills, like effective public speaking, to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations and manage conflict. Find out more about Flying Start.
The course is tailored for those who plan to pursue a career in the field of Business Analytics, as well as those seeking professional development or career change. It answers the industry’s demand for a skilled pool of graduates who can apply data science to solve business challenges.
You’ll work on real-world projects with key organisations who are using business analytics for strategic development. Our extensive network of external organisations across all sectors provides opportunities to build your knowledge, skills and experience for a successful career in business analytics roles.
You will learn how to analyse business data, communicate uncertainties and lead organisational strategy in the use of evidenced data gathered from business. To do that, you'll be introduced to such tools as Python, Orange, Microsoft BI, and R.
In REF 2021, 80% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was classed as world leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
You’ll need a minimum of a second class Honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent qualification. However, you can still apply if you don’t have these formal qualifications, but bring
Other routes of entry
If you don’t currently meet the academic requirements for this course INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need for direct entry.
Explore INTO Stirling programmes to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available for this course and others at the University of Stirling.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The course will teach you how to interpret the data generated by businesses and effectively communicate your findings to inspire better ways of working. This course addresses the need for industry to have more managers with business analytic skills. Business Analytics opens up careers in diverse areas such as Strategic Management, Operations Planning, Sustainability, Customer-Relations Management, Supply-chain Management, Process Improvement, or Disruption and Change Management.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
Teaching is carried out through a mix of lectures, tutorials, case studies, role playing, computer simulations, fieldwork exercises, site visits, guest speakers and company projects.
Our Masters degree is awarded on satisfactory completion of a dissertation following the Diploma examinations. Dissertation topics range over all areas of relevance to business and data analytics, such as supply-chain management, procurement, strategy and development and customer relationship management.
Students can expect to have around 4-5 contact hours per module each semester and a timetable will be available shortly before the course begins in September.
Dr Tom Kane, Course Director
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
In an on-going survey by The Data Lab of organisations across all sectors in Scotland, 44% of the organisations indicate that the biggest constraint to develop a data driven decision-making approach is the lack of a compelling business case and lack of the right skills and access to training. This demonstrates the need for capability building in this area not only in Scotland but at an international level.
Graduates will acquire knowledge, skills and experience for a successful career in roles requiring good understanding of business analytics and data-driven decision-making. These may include:
- strategic planning or sustainability analytics teams
- customer insight or marketing analytics teams
- fnance, pricing or other technical analytics teams
- process improvement or other technical operations teams
- data quality management or other data focused teams
The course has a high level of engagement with industry, research and recruitment partners in the course design, delivery, project work and skill development activities.
“It’s clear that this course is firmly underpinned by computational analysis and mathematical techniques, bringing the realm of data science into work based business context.”
Jim McCumesty, SAS Scotland Research & Development
“I believe that as we forge stronger links with Stirling Management School our start up community will benefit greatly from the learning that this course will bring.”
Barry McDonald, Community and Programme Manager
“The review panel was impressed with the way that data ethics is embedded in the new Masters in Business Analytics at Stirling University. We would like to see this approach adopted across the suite of courses supported by The Data Lab.”
The Data Lab
The University of Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager and from the very beginning of the course your career is our focus.
Everything you do while studying here is designed to help you build the personal skills that will make you stand out to future employers.
