Business Analytics and Decision Sciences MSc

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, interpret it and uncover hidden patterns and important insights, enabling evidence-based business decisions. As a result, they’re in very high demand with employers on the lookout for analysts in every sector.

This course gives you an insight into business analytics and explores how organisations can thrive during 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.

You'll also be encouraged to join the Leeds Data Science Society, a group of diverse individuals at the University who share an interest in 'big data' and analytics, which continues to grow and host a number of workshops and events throughout the year.

This course 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 learn to use advanced analytical techniques such as forecasting, predictive modelling, clustering and optimisation while having 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 and consultancy.

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

The course culminates in a 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 supervisor who shares your passion and interest.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Business Analytics and Decision Sciences MSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

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 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. Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your course and modules.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

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.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject. Must have a sound grounding in quantitative subjects, typically through some university-level study in subjects such as statistics, management science, computer science or mathematics.

International equivalents

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business Management and Enterprise (6 weeks) and Language for Business: Business Management and Enterprise (10 weeks).

We are now offering online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals.  To find out more, read Online Academic English pre-sessional (10 weeks) and Online Academic English pre-sessional (6 weeks).

Read about differences between our online and on-campus summer pre-sessionals.

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadline:

We operate a staged admissions process for this course with selection deadlines throughout the year.

If you do not receive an offer in a particular round, you will either be notified that your application has been unsuccessful, or we will carry your application forward to be considered in the next round.

Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application deadlines for each stage.

Apply

Documents and information you’ll need

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
• Two academic references
• A personal statement
• An up-to-date CV
• Your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
• A letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2022

Fees

• UK: £14,250 (total)
• International: £25,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Scholarships and financial support

Leeds University Business School is offering more than 50 half fee Excellence Scholarships to UK and international students starting one of our Masters courses in 2022. These scholarships will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

Read more about scholarships awarded by the Business School.

Read more about scholarships available across the University of Leeds.

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 a business or market analysts. Our recent graduates are now working in roles such as a business analyst at eBay, data analyst at Amazon, the Head of Information at an NHS trust, business analyst at Transport for London, operational researcher with The Home Office, business analyst at Capital One, data and analytics consultant at KPMG, operational research analyst for the Department of Health and advisor in business intelligence for Dell International LLC.

Employers in both private and public sectors are actively seeking graduates with these skills, and trends show that the career opportunities are fast increasing.

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

Links with industry

Students on this course have the opportunity to engage with senior leaders from the world of business as part of our Leaders in Residence initiative. Successful and established business people will share their experience at speaker events and guest lectures to help you connect the theory of your course to real world practice.

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.