MSc Business Analytics

You will study the following modules:

• Data Analytics for Management Decision-Making (15 credits): This module explores the sources of data, how that data is collected, processed, and presented, and then continues the data lifecycle by considering how this is used within informed decision-making processes within contemporary enterprises. With so much data noise, how can a business be certain that the data they are using is reliable and valid? How can they then link that to a primary function within management and leadership when making decisions?
• Statistics and Analytics for Data Visualisation in Business (15 credits): In this module, you will explore data and the questions it can answer. Using existing datasets, you will develop research questions, describe variables and relationships, calculate basic statistics, and present results clearly. You’ll gain a robust quantitative foundation, practical problem-solving techniques, and knowledge in data analysis for business problems. The module covers handling data programmatically without being software engineers, using state-of-the-art software for visualising, investigating, and sharing large datasets, including dealing with missing data, variable groups, and graphs.
• Systems Analytics and Data Architecture (15 credits): This module provides a strategic view of business information systems and their data structures to support analytics and business re-engineering. It covers methods for analysing and designing information systems using object-oriented methods. Students will learn about the system development lifecycle, professional standards, and roles at each stage. The module includes specifying system requirements and using systems analysis and design techniques to solve business information system problems. Additionally, students will apply object-oriented approaches, such as Unified Modelling Language (UML), to develop complex information systems projects.
• Business Forecasting and Data Modelling (15 credits): Business forecasting and data modelling are essential in business analytics. This module covers forecasting, predictive analytics, and data modelling, employing various methodologies to meet evolving business needs. You’ll learn to distinguish true signals from noise, perform forecasting using time-based data, and apply techniques like regression, classification, clustering, Bayesian, and machine learning. Practical exercises will help you solve common business problems and assess solution effectiveness. Ethical considerations and limitations of predictive models are also explored.
• Contemporary Issues in Business and Society (15 credits): This module aims to enable you to reach a well-grounded understanding of the theory and practice of international management and relate it to events taking place at a global and national level. Utilising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a discursive element within the module, the ways in which businesses can positively contribute to achieving these will be critically evaluated. This module also explores what it is to be a master's student so that all students enrolled onto the course can access this higher level of postgraduate education in an effective manner.
• Finance for Management (15 credits): This module develops your critical understanding of essential management accounting and finance topics within a business environment, enabling you to develop a high-level understanding of how financial information helps to make informed and accurate management decisions. This module is CIMA accredited.
• Strategic Management (15 credits): concerns itself with assessing what’s important, determining how to get there, and avoiding the potential pitfalls. By focusing on long-term sustainable success, strategic management enables practitioners to avoid the noise of the day-to-day. The module incorporates strategic concepts, tools and techniques that organisations can employ to assess their environment and resources and make strategic decisions towards long-term success. This is a mandatory module for all Queen Margaret Business School MSc courses. Much of the knowledge and skills developed in this module are transferrable and useful in a broad range of management functions.
• Research Methods: Problems and Solutions (20 credits): Research has an important role within academic studies but is also a core skill for managers and leaders within contemporary enterprises. This module is designed to develop both theoretical research knowledge, and practical insights into the purpose, nature, execution, and value of research approaches and how these can be effectively utilised in the solving of problems in the context of academic knowledge creation or organisational professional practice.

Progressing to an MSc?

If studying for an MSc, you will also complete a Capstone module (60 credits). This takes the form of either a 12,000-word Dissertation, a Business Consultancy in Practice project, or a Business Incubation Programme.

Business Consultancy in Practice (60 credits): This is a hands-on practical project where you will work with a business on a live project, determine the project parameters, manage the project, and deliver a consultancy report recommending actions the company can implement. The module aims to develop excellent project and client management skills alongside high-level writing skills that include excellent reflective abilities.

The Business Incubation Programme (60 credits): The aim of this module is to critically evaluate a range of nascent, micro and family businesses and to develop, through inception, investigation and planning, a new start-up business or social enterprise of your own design. You will work with mentors, QMU’s Business Innovation Zone (BIZ) and the on-campus Business Gateway to take your business from idea to reality.

Dissertation (60 credits): To enable students to develop, plan and critically evaluate a piece of research in the relevant degree subject related area, written up in the form of a dissertation. This offers the opportunity to conduct a substantial academic research project around a research topic of your choice.