Postgraduate MSc
Business Analytics
Are you a critical thinker with the ability to analyse and interpret data?
Are you a critical thinker with the ability to analyse and interpret data?
Business Analytics is the process of predicting the needs of an organisation and analysing the effectiveness of past and present activity. This sought-after and growing business discipline is a strategic necessity for any organisation.
The MSc in Business Analytics at Kent Business School is delivered by published academics and in collaboration with industry leaders. On the course, you learn the skills, technologies, applications and practices to become an expert in interpreting and analysing enterprise data effectively. MSc Business Analytics is also available with an optional Industrial Placement.
Watch our Postgraduate Placements video here.
You will learn business analytics topics such as advanced spreadsheets and systems, Big Data, business statistics with Python and forecasting. You will end your Master's with a detailed report, applying your expertise to a real-world scenario.
The course helped me to hone my data-handling skills and to make proper insights on data and leverage them to make decisions for a business.
~ Derek Osei Debrah, MSc Business Analytics 2020
A minimum of a second-class UK degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in any subject area is needed for this course. Basic quantitative skills are an advantage.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree.
For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.
Applicants who are required to meet an English language condition may be able to study a pre-sessional course in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on the Business Analytics programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. You may study a mix of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.
How do I use AI in business? How can it help me? At the cutting-edge of scientific thinking you'll understand what machine learning and AI is all about and how to use them productively in your career. Practising on real world cases across various forms of machine learning and forecasting algorithms, as well as mastering modelling processes. You’ll be able to effectively analyse data to achieve your business goals using a variety of forecasting software.
Imagine holding the power to predict future trends, understand customer behaviour and effectively communicate findings to stakeholders. You'll gain a deep theoretical grasp of big data analytics and visualisation, coupled with hands-on Python programming skills to unlock managerial insights. You'll gain essential tools to harness the power of big data, allowing you to extract valuable insights and create impactful and meaningful visualisations. Unleash the potential of data to drive innovation, fuel growth and make informed, strategic decisions in today's data-driven world.
'Do your research' is a phrase we are all familiar with. But how can we trust the sources we draw on? In an information-rich environment, how can you ensure that the research you do stands out from other sources of knowledge and is seen as trustworthy and valuable?
You'll build understanding of who you are as a researcher and the type of research that is valued in both academic and professional settings. You'll gain the knowledge you need to build a research project from an idea into a mature investigation that can make a novel contribution to broader research debates. Study how to craft research questions, build a sample of respondents, work with databases, design data collection tools, perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of data and communicate your results to the wider world.
Learn how to use an array of research tools to create world-leading research and become known as an innovative and dynamic researcher driving growth and positive change.
Excel is the industry standard software for data processing and modelling, so if you want to hit the ground running in your career, mastery of Excel is crucial. You'll learn the techniques of Excel and spreadsheet modelling through realistic problems and extensive exercises, giving you real hands-on experience to make rapid progress. The skills you develop for Excel and its built-in programming language VBA will help you kick-start your career and impress employers.
Simulation Modelling allows you to experiment with digital models of real world processes to make evidence-based decisions. Using industry standard simulation software, you'll develop complex models for a variety of contexts such as healthcare and manufacturing.
You'll gain an understanding of the simulation modelling process so you can go on to develop simulation models and support real world interventions aiming for efficiency and effectiveness in whatever field you want to jump into.
We're living in the era of big data. How can you prepare to gain an in-depth understanding of your business data? You’ll understand the fundamental skills by learning basic business statistics as a stepping stone to AI and Python as a programming tool. You’ll be able to write computer programmes in Python and perform inferential reasoning based on data.
Set yourself apart and get ahead in your career when you become an expert in prescriptive analytics and how it can be used for decision-making for businesses. You'll cultivate a deep understanding of quantitative models for decision-making and solution techniques, applying industry-standard software such as Excel/OPL-CPLEX to address real world issues and provide solutions. Gain skills aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, empowering you to deliver actionable recommendations that positively impact businesses, society and the environment. You'll finish this module with the ability to strategically apply diverse optimisation techniques in a real world context. Empowered by this knowledge, you'll be poised to make informed decisions, drive positive change, and advance your career with a unique blend of analytical skills and a commitment to ethical, sustainable and diverse decision-making.
Corporate finance is about growing companies and driving profits. Through mastering the core areas of corporate finance, you'll be able to understand what corporations value when making decisions with a direct impact on wealth creation. You’ll develop skills in maximising company wealth alongside building your knowledge base, so by the time you graduate, you’ll have exactly the skills you need for an exciting, successful and profitable career in corporate finance.
Finance plays an important role in everyone's decisions. It allows individuals and companies to take informed decisions on how to use money and plan for the future. You'll learn the role of various participants in the financial markets and study the theoretical framework guiding companies' long-term financial decisions - from investing in real assets to raising capital - and explore financial investors' decisions using a risk-return trade-off approach.
You’ll also learn how to use various financial databases to extract real financial data and apply all the techniques and models to assist companies and investors when investing in new long-term projects to ensure their success.
In a growing population, how do business meet the growing demand for consumer goods? How do businesses tackle increased demand while being mindful of costs and margins? You will master inventory techniques, warehousing practices and mathematical models behind solutions that help businesses source, store and deliver their products. You'll understand the tools and techniques behind successful storage and logistics operations in the modern business setting.
Consumer behaviour is how consumers interact with an organisation's products and services. Society, culture, identity and psychology are all pivotal in shaping these habits. But what insights can marketers gain from understanding our social and cultural landscapes?
You’ll dive deep into traditional marketing concepts where the customer is king. By exploring consumer culture theory, you’ll uncover the profound impact of societal norms and values on buying behaviour. Critical theory and cultural theory provide a lens to scrutinise the broader implications of marketing practices and consumerism, encouraging a reflective and analytical approach to understanding consumer behaviour.
You'll gain a multifaceted understanding of consumers, equipping you with the insights needed to devise more effective and ethically responsible marketing strategies. It isn't just about learning theories; it's about applying them to real world scenarios and preparing to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving marketplace.
If you aspire to orchestrate change and drive success at the highest levels of organisational management, strategic agility and foresight are paramount. We introduce you to cutting-edge approaches in strategic programme management, including agile methodologies, systems thinking and scenario planning. This forward-thinking approach ensures that you're well-prepared to handle the challenges of tomorrow. We equip you with the skills to make informed, data-driven decisions by giving you knowledge of data analysis, interpretation and the use of analytics tools – essential for strategic planning and risk management.
You'll emerge not just as a strategic project manager, but as a strategic leader capable of shaping the future of organisations. You’ll be equipped with a deep understanding of the complexities of modern business and the strategic acumen to navigate these challenges effectively. This is more than an educational experience; it's a transformative journey that prepares students for the pinnacle of professional and personal achievement.
New technology drives change, presenting businesses with exciting new opportunities. You'll understand the role digital transformation plays in changing the way services are provided and products are made. Gaining a range of employability skills that enable you to assess and improve operations in a digital world. You’ll be able to use a range of tools and techniques to confidently manage and assess digital transformation in service or manufacturing environments throughout your career.
Logistics and supply chain management is a critical component of the global economy. Given the significant planning and operational challenges, which innovative analytical tools are needed to increase the supply chain's efficiency and avoid disruptions?
You’ll be introduced to the realm of designing and managing the processes, assets, flows of material and information required to satisfy customers’ demands. You’ll also be given a set of appropriate analytical techniques that enhance efficiency while designing, planning, executing, controlling, and monitoring supply chain activities.
Learn how to create new opportunities for using supply chain planning as a competitive tool in this new era of globalisation and e-logistics.
This module allows students to put into practice the knowledge and skills gained in the other modules on the MSc Business Analytics. Working under the guidance of an academic supervisor and possibly with a company, students solve practical problems that require an application-oriented thinking. The problems are varied and interesting, such as analysing marketing campaigns, ranking credit risks, optimising capital investments, forecasting sales trends, simulating patient flow through hospitals and extracting patterns from large datasets.
Duration: 1 year full-time
Our general Business Analytics programme is flexible and is studied over one year full-time. The course consists of seven compulsory and two optional modules in Stage 1. Stage 2 consisting of a piece of business analytics research.
The MSc Business Analytics programme is available with an optional industrial placement, which will require you to complete the Industrial placement Report.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
Your progress on this course is assessed by coursework only. Students wishing to undertake the optional industrial placement will be required to successfully complete all stage 1 modules. The Industrial Placement is assessed by the completion of the Industrial Placement Report.
Industrial placements are the perfect way for you to enhance your career prospects and deepen your understanding of a specific area of expertise. This MSc programme is available with the option to take an in-company or self-employed industrial placement of up to 12 months (visa dependent), allowing you to gain work experience in the UK or overseas.
Kent Business School has a lively and active postgraduate community, brought about in part by our strong research culture and by the close interaction between our staff and students. Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books and embed their research in their teaching.
Taught students have regular contact with their course and module conveners with staff on hand to answer any questions and to provide helpful and constructive feedback on submitted work.
The Business School has an active and inclusive extra-curricular academic and social scene with guest lectures, talks and workshops organised by our academic staff, research centres and the ASPIRE team. You can catch up with our most recent Open for Business Seminar Series.
The award-winning Sibson Building is Kent Business School's home on our Canterbury campus. This vibrant, state-of-the-art structure includes lecture theatres, seminar rooms, dedicated MBA, PhD and IT suites as well as social and breakout areas to fully enhance your learning experience.
Kent’s libraries offer over a million books, periodicals and journals, and we have subject-specific librarians to help you secure access to the information you need.
Kent Business School has close links with: ifs (Institute of Financial Services); dunnhumby, who partners the Consumer Insight Service in the Centre for Value Chain Research; Hong Kong Baptist University, with whom we offer a joint Master’s programme in Operational Research and Finance Business Statistics; University of Castellanza (Italy); Audencia Nantes Business School (France); Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences (Denmark); Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; University of Ingolstadt, Bayern (Germany); City University of Hong Kong; Renmin University of China, School of Business.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Kent Business School is a research-led business school. Our research strategy is developed around the core theme of sustainable innovation which cuts across the entire School. This theme can be seen as being divided into two sub-strands of research aimed at answering these main questions:
Kent Business School advances knowledge through constant promotion and support of innovative research. We have an impact on wider society through extensive collaborations with external partners which range from other academic institutions to a variety of local, national and international businesses as well as the NHS. Within this wider context, our main strategic aim has been geared towards establishing ourselves as a leading institution for research in sustainable innovation.
Kent Business School is a global leader in research and develops a wide portfolio of research related activities including workshops, conferences and research seminar series. This has led to a large number of international collaborations and to over 200 co-authored papers with international partners.
Specialising in public-sector critical accounting and accounting history.
Looking into a wide array of financial issues from derivatives pricing to real-estate modelling.
Innovating in wide-ranging topics such as operational research and systems thinking.
Studying issues surrounding consumer behaviours, product development and maintaining value supply chains among others.
People, Management and Organisation
Specialising in improving human resource management, organisational behaviour and leadership.
Strategy and International Business
Helping in the development of innovative business strategies for business all over the world.
Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation
Helping companies to solve complex strategic, tactical and operational problems.
Centre of Productivity and Workplace Performance
Contribute to the productivity debate and drive improvements at all levels; from the national economic output, to changes in the ways SME’s operate.
Centre for Quantitative Finance
Providing quantitative analysis of issues in the financial markets for businesses and policy makers.
Helping both academics and practitioners tackle the challenges emerging from the rapid development of new digital technologies
Dynamic Publishing Culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Critical Perspectives on Accounting; Quantitative Finance; Human Resource Management Journal; Journal of Product Innovation Management; European Journal of Operational Research; and Psychology & Marketing
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
This specialist programme prepares students for roles within business analytics.
Our Business Analytics graduates find work in public and private sectors, both overseas and in the UK, in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
You gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from Kent Business School – we enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects.
In today’s business climate employers are increasingly demanding more from new employees, we are therefore proud that they continually target our graduates for their organisations across the globe. Employers respect our robust teaching and reputation for delivering international business expertise, leading global research and an outstanding international learning experience.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. As part of the course, undertake an Industrial Placement or opt for an In-Company Scheme to work on a real business case study. Go on our Business Start-up Journey and transform your idea into a business through ASPIRE
Learn more about MSc Business Analytics with an Industrial Placement.
Kent Business School has an excellent international reputation and good links with businesses locally and globally. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support to all business postgraduate students for up to three years after graduation.
In addition, Careers and Employability Service at the University provide a comprehensive package of skills development training programmes, careers advice, volunteering and paid work opportunities to enhance your career prospects.
The 2022/23 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
This course page is for the 2022/23 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of postgraduate courses we offer.
Supporting your success
Kent ranked top 40 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
Accommodation
