Key information

Duration: 1 year full time

Institution code: R72

Campus: Egham

UK fees*: £16,700

International/EU fees**: £29,300

The course

Business Analytics (MSc)

Organisations are swimming in data, but the real competitive advantage comes from turning information into actionable insights. Study MSc Business Analytics to develop the skills needed to not just predict future performance, but influence it.

Employers need graduates who can transform data into smart business decisions. To help you do this effectively, we’ve designed a degree combining business analytics knowledge with hands-on experience of industry-standard software.

We see our students as future leaders capable of tackling global challenges. That’s why sustainability, ethics, and responsible management are embedded across all our courses.

Boost your employability

An innovative curriculum created designed with industry professionals, business partners and students
Get a grounding in coding with modern ‘drag and drop’ software used to interpret large datasets for analysis
Boost your CV by learning how to effectively use industry software, including AWS Cloud Computing, Alteryx, and Tableau

Communicate data meaningfully

Your skills in research, writing, and storytelling will help you bring interpreted data to life. And with hands-on experience from practical assessments like consultancy pieces, you’ll be confident providing solutions to real business challenges.

Whatever you decide to do next, you’ll stand out with sought-after skills in machine learning, predictive analysis, and data visualisation.

We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Course structure

Core Modules

This module aims to develop an understanding of the principles and practices of gathering data and using it to visualise strategic and operational business intelligence solutions. You will look at the key channels and sources that may be used to gather information, examining how to interpret and prepare data for organisational use and explore how it can be used to promote diversity and inclusivity. You will learn how to visualise patterns and trends for decision making, as well as modelling future activities. Commonly used software tools with a variety of databases and large datasets will be used to enhance your future employability.
This module aims to develop advanced practical skills for managers in the use of machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics for the analysis of large datasets. You will learn about the potential biases that machine learning can introduce and reinforce in doing so. The module is primarily focused on the needs of managers in the workplace and not computer programmers. You will be taught using industry mainstream data science and machine learning platforms and languages and be using different publicly available industry datasets and data sources.
The aim of this module is to explore the notion of analytic thinking from a design perspective and explore how it is embodied in modern programming languages and platforms to solve a range of business problems. The module offers a design-led approach to analytic thinking equipping you with a practical understanding of the common languages and platforms necessary to make that thinking an operational reality. You will gather a programming language-level understanding of business analytics exploring one programming language in detail.
The module aims to enhance your employability and impact on society by applying business analytics skills to real life business problems. Guided by industry experts you will challenge interpretations of data modelling and provide a context for the application of subject domain knowledge. In learning, you are encouraged to explore different interpretations and how they may introduce bias or be used to better understand and promote inclusivity and diversity. You will work collaboratively using industry-based datasets, creating unique and original solutions to practice-based problems.
On this module you’ll develop knowledge and skills in cloud computing and its application to modern day business problems. The emphasis is on generating unique web applications using architectures and cloud services that are commonly employed in industry. You’ll gain knowledge of the architecture and operation of cloud platforms and the services they provide, how cloud solutions are employed by organisations in practice and the scaling, security and transitioning issues that arise in deployment. This understanding is reinforced practically via hands-on experience of developing a prototype cloud service using a commercially available platform.
This module aims to equip you with a state-of-the-art understanding of the digital business landscape, covering foundational management concepts as well as contemporary digital business innovations. Learning is through interactive lectures and a series of carefully curated case studies of digital innovation and digital transformation projects. The module places an emphasis on the strategic role of digital technologies in securing competitive advantage and sustainable growth, but you'll also be encouraged to dive deep into specific impact of digital technologies on business operations. Through study and discussion, you will develop a critical understanding of the opportunities and challenges in starting and managing a digital business.
This module focuses on the social and ethical implications of digital transformation and innovation, examining the technological innovations in private and public sectors, such as mobile technologies, social media, datafication and artificial intelligence. We will discuss the impact and consequences of digital transformation for individuals, organisations and societies in a global context, with particular reference to the UN’s sustainable development goals. You’ll be introduced to the research and frameworks of Sustainable Development and Responsible Innovation and learn to apply the knowledge in relation to the design, implementation and adoption of digital transformation. With an emphasis on critical thinking, the module will be research-led, drawing on up-to-date academic literature and case studies, with the emphasis on supporting students as active learners, knowledge co-creators and distributors.
This module aims to provide you with theoretical and practical guidance on empirical research and consulting related to business analytics challenges in an organisational setting. The emphasis is placed on developing your analytical thinking, qualitative and quantitative research skills and consulting practice to prepare you for your consulting project. The module covers a range of topics from research approaches suitable for business analytics, quantitative and qualitative methods in collecting/harvesting and analysing data, innovations in digital research methods, consulting skills and ethical considerations in conducting research related to business analytics.
This module brings together the knowledge and skills you’ve learnt across the programme. You are expected to use your consulting skills to articulate a real business problem in a manner that will then allow you to apply knowledge of business analytics to provide a solution - planning and managing the work, identifying the data sources and methods appropriate to conduct the work; identifying potential pitfalls and contingencies; developing and evaluating a data analytics-based solution and constructing an effective argument in doing so.
This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

You will take one of the following:

The aim of this module is to explore emerging technologies in the context of design thinking and techniques that provide a necessary bridge between potential and actual value in application contexts. The module will provide you with conceptual knowledge and practical skills, to critically evaluate the potential of emerging technologies and design ways to translate that into value in given application contexts. You will design a lightweight prototype demonstrating the user experience associated with that emerging technology and will critically evaluate the benefits and limitations of that same emerging technology.
Being more data-informed is now a principal mechanism for customer-based differentiation in all industries. This module addresses the fundamentals of data, progressing through descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, to practical uses of analytics such as KPIs, metrics, and analytical tools with a focus on the holistic nature of marketing analytics. By the end of the module you’ll be able to understand the importance of marketing analytics in making strategic decisions in marketing and be able to identify data and information sources for conducting marketing planning and analysis.

Teaching & assessment

Rather than a traditional dissertation, you are required to complete a Consultancy Project, which provides a key means of consolidating the skills learned in the context of real-world business problems. Teaching and learning will be delivered in the form of lectures, and seminars, coursework assignments, supervised individual project, and guided independent study.

In addition to mandatory modules, there will be a number of optional modules available during the course of your degree. Although Royal Holloway will keep changes to a minimum, new options may be offered or existing ones may be withdrawn. For example where reasonable and necessary due to unexpected events, where requirements of relevant Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) have changed and course requirements must change accordingly, or where changes are deemed necessary on the basis of student feedback and/or the advice of External Advisors, to enhance academic provision. There may be additional requirements around option selection; please contact the Department for further information.

Entry requirements

2:2

UK Honours degree or equivalent in any subject.

This course requires a UK 2:2 (Honours) or equivalent. Applicants with relevant professional qualifications and/or significant business experience will also be considered.

International & EU requirements

Bachelor degree from the American University of Armenia or a Specialist diploma with 80% or a GPA of 3.5 overall.

Bachelor degree (Honours) with a 2:2 or a Bachelor degree (Ordinary) with a Pass with 58% overall.

Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH) with a Grade 3.9 overall.

Bachelor degree (Bakalavr) or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

4 year Bachelor degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a First Class Division or a Masters Degree following a 3 or 4 year degree.

Bachelor degree with grade 12 overall or the Licentiaat or Licence and other two cycle diplomas with grade 12 overall.

Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja / Diplomirani with Grade 8

Bakalavar or Diploma of Completed Higher Education with a Grade 4 out 6 overall.

4 year Bachelor degree with 62%, a GPA 2.5 out of 4, Grade 6 out of 12 or grade C+ overall OR 3 year Bachelor degree with 73%, a GPA of 3.1 out of 4, Grade 8 out of 12 or grade B overall, depending on the grading scheme.

4 year Bachelors degree with an overall 70% to 75% or GPA of 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0 depending on the institution.

3 out of 5 overall in the Baccalaureus Prvostupnik or Visoko Obrazovanja/Level VII/1 (second level degree obtained on completion of 4-6 year course).

Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.85 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).

Bakalar with dobre (good), score of 2 or Grade C overall.

7 from 13 points grading system or 4 from 7 points grading system in a Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae or Professionbachelor.

University bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 overall or 65% overall

75%, 2.5 or C overall in a Bakalaurusekraad/Diploma, Magister or Magistrikraad

GPA of 1 where marks are in 1 - 3 system or GPA of 2.3 where marks are in 1 - 5 system in a Kandidaattii/Kandidat or Maisteri/Magister

Licence awarded from 2009 with grade 12 or Maitrise (pre-Bologna) with grade 11

Grade 3 overall in a Bachelor, Fachhochschuldiplom or Magister Artium

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Lower Division overall.

6 out of 10 overall in a Diploma from the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture or a Ptychion (Bachelor degree) awarded by an AEI.

Bachelors degree degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.

Egyetemi Oklevel /Foiskola Oklevel/ Alapfokozat with 3 out of 5 overall.

Baccalaurreatus with grade 6.5 out of 10 overall or Kandidatsprof / Cadidatus Mag with 6 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree with 55% to 60% overall or a CGPA of 5.5 to 6 out of 10 overall depending on the institution.

Bachelor degree or Diploma IV with overall GPA of 2.8.

Bachelor Degree/Professional Doctorate with 13 out of 20 overall.

Bachelor’s degree (four years) with 70% overall.

Bachelors degree with at least 75% overall depending on the mark scheme.

Diploma di Laurea or Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti with 84 out of 110 overall.

Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a B overall, dependent on the mark scheme.

Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5, 70% or 3.0 out of 4.33 overall.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours (lower division) overall.

Bachelor degree with B or a GPA of 3.0 overall.

Bakalaura Diploms or Professional Bakalaura Diploms with Grade 6 overal.

Dipl Ing (FH) or Dipl Arch (FH) from Liechtenstein Technical College with a Grade 4 overall.

7 out of 10 overall in a Bakalauras or Specialist Diploma.

Bachelor degree, Diplome d?Ingenieur Industriel or Dipl?me d'?tudes Sup?rieures Sp?cialis?es with 40 out of 60 or 14 out of 20 (Bien) overall.

Bachelor degree with Class 2 Division ii, B or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Honours degree with a Second Class (Lower Division) overall.

Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with Grade 6.0 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree Honours or Ordinary with an overall Grade C+ or Grade 3 out of 9 points grading system.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division or overall GPA of 2.5 out of 5.

Visoko Obrazovanja with 7 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeni-r (siv. ing.) (Engineering degree ) or Sivil?konom (siv. ?k.) (Economics degree) Grade D or 2.6 to 3.2.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.6.

4 year Bachelor degree or combined bachelors degree and Master degree for the duration of 4 years with 58% - 65% or a CGPA of 2.8 - 3.2 overall depending on your institution.

Licencjat, Inzynier or Bachelor with grade 3.71 overall.

Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializadoswith grade 14 overall or Licenciado with grade 13 overall.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 overall.

Diploma de Licenta, Diploma Inginer or Diploma de Arhitect with 7.0 out of 10 overall.

Bakalavr Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

Bachelor degree with 70%, 3.0 out of 5.0 or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja (second-level degree obtained on completion of a four to six-year course) with 7.5 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree (from a public university) with a Class II (lower) overall.

Bakalar or Magister / Inzinier with vel'mi dobre (very good) or Grade 2 overall.

Diplomirani / Diplomirani Inzenir from Visoko izobrazevanje, University Diploma or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) with 7 out of 10 (8 for Visoko Obrazovanja) overall.

Bachelor (Honours), Bachelor or Professional Bachelor degree with 60% or Second Class Lower Division.

Bachelor (Haksa) degree with 3.0 out of 4.5, 2.9 out of 4.3 or 2.8 out of 4.0.

Licenciado, Titulo de Ingeniero or Titulo de Arquitecto with 6 out of 10.

Bachelor degree from National University or Private University with 68% to 73% or GPA 2.8 to 3.0 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree with a 2nd Class Honours (Lower) overall.

Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree (post 2007) or Specialist Diploma (after 1991) with a Grade 3, 9 out of 12 or 4 out of 5 overall.

Bachelor degree with 80%, a GPA of 2.8 out of 4, C+ or Good overall.

Bachelor degree with a GPA of 2.6 overall.

Kandidatexamen with at least a Pass (godkand) overall.

Bachelor degree or Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with 6.5 out of 10.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 6.0.
Pearson Test of English: 67 overall. No other subscore lower than 64.
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
TOEFL iBT: 88 overall with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 24.
Duolingo: 120 overall and no sub-score below 115.

Your future career

On graduating with a Masters degree in Business Analytics from Royal Holloway, you will be graduating with an increasingly sought-after analytical skillset and an understanding of the accompanying software, highly applicable across a range of industries and analytical roles including business analyst, data scientist, quantitative analyst, market research professional and project management.

Postgraduate students from our School of Business and Management have gone on to roles in a variety of companies including Amazon, Tesco, Accenture, Ogilvy, KPMG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bloomberg LP, Ocado Group, HSBC, Fuji film, Huawei, Deutsche Bahn and Qatar Airways.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £16,700

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £29,300

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students starting their course on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding.

** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.