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MSc|Postgraduate Taught

Business Analytics

Entry year
2025/26
Entry requirements
2.1
Duration
1 year (Full-time)
Places available
Open (Full Time)

The increase in the volume, variety, and velocity of data creates opportunities for businesses to improve decision making and develop new data driven products and services. The MSc Business Analytics has been developed to meet the demand for qualified professionals, who possess the necessary expertise to realise end-to-end business analytics solutions and are equipped to utilise data for business decision-making purposes.

The programme is built around the three core areas needed to succeed in analytics: business knowledge, statistics, and computing. This includes modules focusing on the application of analytics in core business functions such as marketing and human resources, as well as modules focusing on developing and applying technical skills such as advanced analytics and machine learning, text mining, data management, and data driven decision making.

In total, students will study eight modules in addition to pre-course training and a final dissertation project. The dissertation is a key highlight of the programme, as it provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent project where they will create a technical business analytics solution incorporating all elements of the programme.

The programme will include an induction, where pre-course training in key statistics and computer skills will ensure students from a range of backgrounds have the necessary skills to undertake the course.

Business Analytics highlights

Student Experience

Students will learn how to use state-of the-art, industry standard software over the duration of the programme. This includes software such as R, Python, KNIME, and Tableau.
In addition, Queen’s University Belfast has benefitted from an in-kind donation from the US-based Alteryx Software, valued at approximately $15 million. This generous gift includes licenses that provide students with free access to software, training, and accreditation in data analytics. This transformative partnership will equip our students with competitive skills from day one.

Read about student experiences at Queen's Business School, from local, national and international perspectives via the Student Experiences Blog.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/student-experiences-blog/

Career Development

Industry reports show a global shortage for data scientists. Students will learn to use cutting edge and industry standard tools and techniques to enable career development.
Students on the course can benefit from the QBS Postgraduate Employability Programme. This initiative aims to enhance core employability skills through interactive workshops, informational sessions, and employer presentations. Each session is crafted to boost career confidence, foster active participation in skills development exercises, and deliver tangible outcomes for students.

Industry Links

Developed by staff with industry and academic backgrounds, the course is tailored towards the key skills required to succeed in a business analytics role.

Data Duo Mentoring – Some students on the programme will also get the chance to engage in two way mentoring with businesses, providing advice on how to to utilise their business data, and in turn gaining valuable career and professional mentoring (places dependent on business demand, usually approx. 15 places).

Data for Good hackathon - In partnership with the QBS Analytics Lab, students also have the opportunity to participate in the annual Data for Good hackathon. This involves working with industry mentors to develop data driven solutions aimed at solving some of society's most important problems. See more details in link below:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/business-hub/analytics-lab/

World Class Facilities

Queen’s Business School (QBS) has recently undergone an innovative expansion that establishes a benchmark of global excellence for one of the top business schools in the UK and Ireland. A stunning new 6,000 square metre building, adjacent to the listed red-brick Riddel Hall has been designed with the latest digital infrastructure for media lecture capture, TED Talk provision and collaborative breakout sessions.

Fostering an enhanced social and educational experience the new state-of-the-art QBS venue boasts a 250-seat tiered educational space; 120-seat Harvard style lecture theatre; 150-seat computer laboratory; breakout study spaces; FinTrU Trading Room; a café, and a Business Engagement and Employability Hub.

Course Structure

MSc Business Analytics students can expect to study the following modules:

Semester 1

*Statistics for Business

*Data Management

*HR Analytics

*Artificial Intelligence in Business and Society

Semester 2

*Advanced Analytics and Machine Learning

*Data Mining

*Data Driven Decision Making

*Marketing Analytics

Semester 3

*Dissertation
The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent project. This will involve the development of a technical business analytics solution incorporating elements from the course. The suggested technologies for the solution will be those covered in the course. The solution should typically include a combination of a database, machine learning, and a visualisation component. It is recognised that in some cases projects may focus on specific components (e.g. storage and processing, predictive analytics, or advanced visualisation and interpretation), and this should be agreed in advance. Students will also be provided with suggestions around potential data sources for use in the project.

In addition to the technical solution, students will be required to produce an initial feasibility study, a technical report, and a written report include a review of the literature, methodology for solving the problem, and results, discussion and conclusions.The module requires students to draw from across the course, incorporating knowledge from the three core business analytics domains: statistics, computing, and business.

People teaching you

Programme Director

Queen's Business School
With a background in industry and academia, Dr Graham specialises in helping businesses to gain benefits from the effective use of data for decision making and new products and processes. Dr Graham has industry experience in a major healthcare trust, where he specialised in healthcare informatics. He has also worked in data science consultancy for a big 4 firm. Dr Graham has industry expertise in data science across multiple sectors including healthcare, the legal industry, financial services, and retail. His current research focuses on the application of machine learning and other data science approaches to solve business problems.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching Methods

  • Learning and teaching methods include a mix of computer lab based sessions and lectures.

    Tools and techniques learned in the classroom context will be used to address business problems. This will involve a mix of teaching methods to enable students to build the technical and business expertise required for a successful career in analytics. This includes methods such as computer/software practical demonstrations and training, lectures, tutorials, seminars, problem-centred techniques such as national and international case studies, non-book media (videos and podcasts), individual research, oral presentations, group projects, online discussion forums, industry visits and practitioner workshops. Specific details are provided in the programme specification, including details on assessments.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • Assessments will focus on both theory and practical application of business analytics, including the use of data to gain business insights, the development of analytics solutions, essays and group work. It is anticipated that students will have approximately 30 hours direct academic contact time (drawing on methods outlined above) per module. In addition to the direct teaching hours per module, each student will normally be expected to spend approximately 120 hours on individual study time plus time for assessment completion, per module.

What our academics say

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Data Mining (15 credits)
    Marketing Analytics (15 credits)
    Data Management (15 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline to include one module in a quantitative area*. Relevant employment experience in a quantitative area may be considered in lieu of a module in a quantitative area and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*This could be a course or module in an area such as Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or Physics.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Please note:  international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

The programme will appeal to students who intend to pursue a career in a business analytics related field, such as data science, business intelligence, consultancy, informatics, or decision intelligence.

For further opportunities to enhance your studies and career prospects please see the school website.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/

Employment after the Course

Graduates from this programme have secured roles with employers such as KPMG, PwC, EY, Tata Consulting, Citi, FD Technologies, Alibaba Group, Severn Trent. Typical roles include data and business analyst, software engineer, consultant, and senior administrators.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £8,800
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £8,800
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250
EU Other 3 £25,800 (£6,000 discount, see T&Cs link below)
International £25,800 (£6,000 discount, see T&Cs link below)

£6,000 Scholarship available for 2025 entry. Click this link to view the Terms and Conditions.

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications:

1.1  Due to high demand, there is a deadline for applications. 
1.2  You will be required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the course.
1.3  This condition of offer is in addition to any academic or English language requirements.

Read the full terms and conditions at the link below:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Leadership-and-structure/Faculties-and-Schools/Arts-Humanities-and-Social-Sciences/WelcometotheFaculty/AHSSPostgraduateTaughtProgrammes/

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

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Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

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