MSc Business Analytics
Belfast, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 26,500 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Key Summary
Find out what it means
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 Python, R, SQL, KNIME, Power BI 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 analyst, data scientist, business analyst, consultant.
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.
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-Driven Decision Making
- Data Mining
- 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.
Core Modules
- Data Management (15 credits)
- Human Resources Analytics BA (15 credits)
- Advanced Analytics & Machine Learning (15 credits)
- Data Driven Decision Making (15 credits)
- Statistics for Business (15 credits)
- MSc Business Analytics Dissertation Portfolio (60 credits)
- Dissertation MSc Business Analytics (60 credits)
- Artificial Intelligence in Business and Society (15 credits)
- Data Mining (15 credits)
- Marketing Analytics (15 credits)
£6,000 Scholarship available for 2026 entry
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.