It’s no surprise why students everywhere are increasingly interested in master’s degrees in business analytics. Several years ago, the prestigious Harvard Business Review publication proclaimed that data science was the “sexiest profession of the 21st century. Today, the demand for those clued up on data and analytics remains red hot.
Indeed, a recent LinkedIn report found there were more than 151,000 data science jobs going unfilled across the US. The “acute” skills shortage means that data scientists can earn annual salaries of more than $100,000.
Business analytics, as a skill, is critical for organizations wishing to gain a competitive advantage amid a deluge of data—often referred to as ‘Big Data’— on customers and operations. As such, the best master’s courses in business analytics will cover a variety of technically-oriented subjects, such as data management, simulation, and predictive forecasting, for example. Some master’s courses in business analytics will also cover ‘softer’ skills, such as customer relationship management and marketing, perhaps.
Because of the growth of this field, it absolutely makes sense that many of the world’s best business schools are now running dedicated MScs in Business Analytics, We’ve charted the best of the courses, below.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the world’s most esteemed tech research universities. So it’s no surprise that it gets top billing in our list. MIT’s Sloan School of Management runs a Master of Business Analytics program for fresh college graduates who come from a wide array of backgrounds –engineering, maths, physics, computer programming – which facilities cross-fertilisation of ideas.
View School ProfileImperial College Business School in London is another top-rated institution with a strong STEM reputation. The school is recognized as a world leader in the study and analysis of data, and houses the KPMG Centre for Advanced Business Analytics, which develops excellent links with employers like Deloitte and JPMorgan. Imperial’s MSc in Business Analytics can be taken part-time over two-years, significantly reducing the opportunity cost of not working.
View School ProfileThere are few schools globally that have as strong a reputation for both data, mathematics and business as NYU in New York City. NYU’s Stern School of Business runs the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. It is taught in the Big Apple, but also at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. This gives participants an unapparelled global perspective that is essential to any business role.
View School ProfileThe University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business offers a highly rated Master of Science in Business Analytics program. The course is STEM-certified, which is big news for overseas students who want to stay in the US and work. It gives graduates an extra 24 months of Optional Practical Training, a 12-month post-study work visa scheme.
View School ProfileESADE Business School in Barcelona runs the MSc in Business Analytics that was in 2018 ranked fifth in the world by QS. Students learn from leading international experts through hands-on training: there are practical projects with real companies, with students visiting high-tech companies and networking with leading tech visionaries.
View School ProfileThe course at USC Marshall School of Business in California was ranked as the best business analytics program of 2018 by the TFE Times. USC Marshall is a world-renowned business school in its own right. The school’s Trojan Network of students and loyal alumni is famed for its ability to facilitate job searches. Another perk is the Los Angeles location, a vibrant hub for business and culture.
View School ProfileAlliance Manchester Business School is one of the UK’s best institutions, and it runs a highly regarded MSc in Business Analytics that was ranked 7th globally by QS in 2019. The course is highly experiential — students work on consultancy projects with real clients, developing skills that translate into a global business environment. It’s not only good experience: it generates excellent networking opportunities.
View School ProfileAnother well-ranked UK institution, Warwick Business School runs an MSc in Business Analytics that is renowned among British corporations seeking data analytics skill. WBS has links with blue-chip employers that have previously hired students, among them British Airways, Capgemini, IBM, Tesco, and Procter & Gamble.
View School ProfileThe Melbourne Business School Master of Business Analytics program brings together experts from computer science, statistics, mathematics and business management to deliver a cross-disciplinary education that employers are crying out for. Students at the leading Australian business school also learn to use hot-in-demand practical programming and data analytics tools such as SAS, R, Python and Tableau.
View School ProfileAt this top-ranked business school in Arizona, the MSc in Business Analytics is run over a breezy nine months but includes 10 different data and analytics courses. Amazon, Apple and Facebook are among the top tech employers to hire graduates from the course recently. And a recent investment by the W. P. Carey Foundation of $15m to improve career services, means students have more access to employers, job listings and career coaching than ever before.
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