The MSc in Business Analytics equips you with cutting-edge skills in AI, data science, and decision-making—empowering you to turn big data into strategic business insights and drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage in today’s data-driven world.
Our MSc in Business Analytics will equip you with the skills and knowledge to harness AI-driven analytics for gaining competitive business insights from big data.
With businesses increasingly relying on Artificial Intelligence and advanced analytics to understand and predict customer behaviour, optimise internal processes, and manage suppliers effectively, this programme prepares you to navigate and lead in this data-driven world. In a supportive, research-led learning environment, you will explore the complexities of big data, machine learning, and natural language processing, applying cutting-edge AI techniques to extract key insights and drive strategic decision-making.
You will benefit from the programme’s strong international connections and gain hands-on experience with AI-powered analytics on the International Field Trip.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and renowned scholars through Business School presentations, featuring major global multinationals and leading academic experts.
Delivered full-time over one year, the programme is a collaboration between the Business School and the Department of Computer Science, leveraging expertise from both fields to provide a well-rounded education in AI-driven business analytics.
The Business School itself is one of the longest established in the UK with a reputation for academic excellence and state-of-the-art learning facilities. It is also one of an elite group of institutions in the UK to be accredited by all three major business education accreditation bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
The Department of Computer Science is one of Durham’s newest academic departments, having rapidly grown to be a thriving home for staff, undergraduates, postgraduates, and visitors. Ranked 11th out of 117 universities in the Complete University Guide 2026, the Department delivers high-quality teaching and research and offers a friendly and inclusive place to study and work for all.
World class Business Education
50th in the World - QS Global Business Masters Rankings 2026: Business Analytics
Your programme
Your MSc Business Analytics programmes consists of a set of core modules beginning with an in-depth understanding and introduction to Business Analytics, through to modules that will provide you with an appreciation of, and the ability to apply, a range of predictive and prescriptive business-analytics techniques. A highlight of the programme is the International Field Trip, with the programme culminating in the Business Analytics Project.
Practitioner insights: Guest Speaker Programme
As part of the programme, you will be encouraged to attend presentations by leading academics and professionals who are specialists in your particular area of interest. Combining critical and progressive thinking with practical insight, past speakers have included representatives of major global multinationals and leading scholars, combining critical and progressive thinking with practical insights.
Detailed module information
For the latest detailed information on all of the modules currently offered on this programme please visit our Postgraduate Module Handbook pages.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Introduction to Business Analytics
will provide you with an in-depth understanding at an advanced level of data structures appropriate to business analytics, how companies attempt different business and corporate strategies to achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. You'll also explore, strategy formulation and implementation under conditions of changing political, economic, sociocultural, and technological conditions, industry competition and firm resources. The module will also provide you with an appreciation of specialist techniques to aid analysis of the competitive and contextual environment.
Data Analytics in Action
in explores key analytical and machine learning techniques used in business analytics. You will gain practical experience in applying AI-driven models and data visualisation methods using the appropriate tools.
Learning from Data
teaches the concept and provides practical tools in the area of machine learning, in which computer systems improve on the process and outcomes for exploring and interpreting data.
Managing Data Driven Innovation
introduces you to data-driven Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and outlines the theories behind such technologies as well as the challenges organisations face in using them. Crucially, you will also learn about the ethical and security implications in managing such data-driven innovations.
Natural Language Analysis
introduces cutting-edge techniques for automated text analysis, focusing on data preparation for machine learning, advanced NLP methods, and their applications in business analytics. You will explore generative models, sentiment analysis, and large-scale text analytics to extract insights from unstructured data.
Retail Analytics
enables you to understand the role of data in the decision-making process undertaken by management in the retail and distribution industries. You will cover topics such as retail management, communication and customer relationship management and the data requirements for market segmentation.
Data Analytics for Strategic Decision-Making
provides an appreciation of, and the ability to apply a range of predictive and prescriptive business-analytics techniques. The module will also enable you to implement those predictive and prescriptive business-analytics models using appropriate software, whilst showing how business analytics can help companies make better decisions - storytelling with data to promote data-driven decision-making.
Data Analytics in Action - International Field Trip
With travel and accommodation costs fully funded by the University*, the International Field Trip aims to provide you with the experiential learning needed to acquire an inside perspective of operating globally. You will visit a series of data-intensive participating organisations, where you will analyse each organisation using a structured learning approach and present your analysis to the representatives of the participating organisations. This activity provides an excellent opportunity to apply your academic learning to a real-world challenge, whilst enhancing your employability through exposure to new cultures and ways of working in international companies.
*Documentation will be provided by the Business School to aid your visa application, however, if you are unsuccessful in obtaining a visa for the field trip, no refund on fees will be provided.
Business Analytics Project
The Business Analytics Project requires you to conduct an in-depth investigation into an issue which is applicable and relevant to business analytics, and which will be underpinned by business analytics approach, methods and techniques covered in the other modules. You will be able to choose a project by either working with a host organisation or by producing an issue-led investigation which is not focused on just one organisation but instead examines a specific business analytics issue. This project will be supervised by a faculty member and is an opportunity for you to develop your insight and present your analysis and ideas in a scholarly and professional manner.
The course is taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and practicals as well as the requirement to complete a major dissertation.
There is also a major International Field trip, which takes place in the third term.
Lectures provide key contents on a subject and may be given by guest speakers who are recognised experts in a relevant area. Then small-group seminars will provide you with the opportunity to discuss and debate topics further using information acquired through independent study that you will be expected to carry out.
Practicals are medium sized group sessions, where you will practice computer software, applying topics from lectures and seminars.
Assessment
Assessment is thorough and ongoing on this exciting programme. A number of modules are assessed through written assignments and others use a combination of written assignments and presentations, that are both individual and group based.
The Business Analytics Project, makes up one-third of your marks and is assessed through a 15,000-word document that tests your acquisition of relevant subject-specific knowledge and skills and your ability to apply these, and appropriate key skills, in the context of a Masters-level research project.
Entry requirements
What do I need first?
The MSc in Business Analytics programme is designed for graduates from either a business background (with evidence of strong quantitative content) or a tech background (including numerate scientific disciplines with strong computational content). You will need a UK first or upper second class honours degree or international equivalent. in one of the following:
Business
Computer science
Related subject with strong quantitative component.
Please note: The application process will open 1 October for entry the following academic year.
There is a high demand for places on these programmes. To maximise your chances of being offered one of these places, we recommend that you submit your application to the University as early as possible.
We aim to have a diverse student body and recognise that we can only offer places to a finite number of applicants. To help achieve our aim, we look to ensure we offer places to applicants from all nationalities and close applications when we receive the allocated numbers.
The University is under no obligation to make any offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Chinese Applicants: Applications will be considered from students who have graduated from a prestigious university in China. Entry requirements may vary depending upon the reputation of the university you have graduated from and the academic programme you have applied for. As a guide, applicants are expected to have achieved an overall average of 85%.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete an online application form.
To support your online application form, you will need to provide the following documents.
Official transcript of marks
Copy of degree certificate (if available)
Copy of English test results (if available).
You can either upload your supporting documents with your online application or email or fax them to the Postgraduate Admissions Office using the contact details below.
Note:
Only files of type .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .rtf are permitted to be uploaded.
The maximum file size is 5MB.
College membership
All students of Durham University will become a member of one of our Colleges. Here is more information about what college membership means to our students. Once you have accepted your postgraduate offer, the Accommodation and Allocations Office will contact you with further information regarding how to express college preferences. You can also apply for college accommodation if you wish to.
Admissions process
Here are the steps in the admissions process:
We will let you know when we’ve received your application.
Once we’ve received all of your supporting documents, we will email you to let you know our decision.
If the decision is to make you an offer of a place on the programme we will let you know by email shortly after the deadlines mentioned above. Please note we do not issue hard copy offer letters as these are not required to obtain a student visa.
You should confirm the acceptance of your offer as soon as possible. In order to secure your place, you are required to pay a deposit within six weeks of the date of your original offer (check your offer documents for details of payment methods).
International students requiring a student visa will receive a CAS (Certificate of Acceptance of Studies) via email once all offer conditions are met, acceptance and deposit have been received and you are within five months of the start date of your programme.
Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the relevant deadline date, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, this may not always be possible. In some instances, it may be necessary for us to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.
Home students who do not meet our direct entry requirements, may be eligible for our Foundation Programme which offers multidisciplinary programmes to prepare you for a range of specified degree programmes.
The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only.
Our postgraduate programmes with a focus on employability fully equip you with the skills and industry insight to embark on a successful and rewarding business career.
The knowledge and understanding you develop reflect the Department’s values of sustainability, wellbeing and equality of opportunity across the globe.
You gain a combination of analytical and practical skills that employers value, such as independent thinking and problem-solving, and are able to enhance your people skills that are essential in business and much sought after by employers.
Department information
Business, Marketing and Management
Our Department sits within the prestigious Durham University Business School. It offers a significant academic opportunity to gain the vital skills to become a successful business leader or to carry out further research and make a major contribution to a sustainable business future.
Our Business, Management and Marketing programmes are delivered by the Department of Management and Marketing, one of four departments at Durham University Business School (alongside the Department of Accounting, Department of Economics and Department of Finance).
The School is one of the UK’s longest established business schools and one of an elite group of institutions in the UK to be accredited by all three major bodies – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
We consistently rank highly in independent league tables for both the quality and reputation of our Department, with teaching delivered by a world-class academic community that includes experienced business professionals and researchers who work across a wide variety of business disciplines.
We recruit students from around the world onto our postgraduate programmes. Our students take part in live business projects, internships and placements as part of their studies, enabling them to apply their knowledge to practical challenges in the most forward thinking companies. We have an active alumni network of more than 36,000 graduates in over 140 countries.
You will be taught from our Business School, Waterside. This additional building will complement our current Mill Hill Lane site and both sites will deliver a world-class business teaching and learning experience.
Waterside is nestled in the heart of Durham City Centre just a few minutes walk from the railway station, along the scenic banks of the River Wear.
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