About Master Of Science (msc) In Business Analytics in Dublin Business School

Given the ever-increasing volume of data that businesses have access to today, there is a demand for employees who have computational, analytical and business strategy skills who can inform business decisions to increase efficiency and an organisation’s value. This Master of Science in Business Analytics has been developed with the aim of providing learners with the knowledge, skills and research capability to critically analyse, implement and evaluate big data concepts and techniques in order to generate valuable insights, thereby assisting with strategic business decisions, increasing productivity, profitability and an organisation’s value and market share.

This is an interdisciplinary programme that focuses on business management, data analytics and computing. It is designed to appeal to graduates seeking to gain exposure to the technology and data-enabled business model.  The programme is constructed as a one year full-time or two year part-time programme of nine taught modules of 65 ECTS and a research project of 25 ECTS, leading to an award of Master of Science in Business Analytics.

Aims and Objectives

This new programme aims to provide learners with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to critically analyse, evaluate and implement big data concepts and techniques in order to generate valuable business insights. These insights will inform strategic business decisions designed to increase productivity, profitability and an organisation’s value and market share.

It has been designed with an integrated delivery from end‐to‐end covering a wide range of business strategy, analytics and technology topics whilst providing a focus on application and the regulation required in this area. The programme focuses on theoretical and contextual knowledge in core areas such as statistics, decision theory, business strategy and finance while also offering applied practical skills in contemporary topics such as data analytics, visualisation, modelling, simulation and forecasting, project management, big data and business application development. Learners who complete the full Master of Science programme (including the 25 ECTS capstone research project) will also develop and enhance their research capability through critical enquiry and detailed analytical problem solving.

The specific programme objectives are to:

1. Enable learners to develop in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of the current and developing business analytics field.

2. Provide learners with a deep and systematic understanding of research and analysis relating to business analytics.

3. Provide learners with specialised technical knowledge of the management of data and the mining of data to provide insights into business propositions/solutions/ strategy.

4. Equip learners with advanced skills directly complementary and relevant to the business analytics workplace.

5. Enable learners to identify, develop and apply detailed analytical, creative, problem-solving and research skills in business analytics. 

6. Enable learners to develop and enhance autonomous learning skills.

7. Position learners with a comprehensive platform for career development, innovation and professional learning in the business management and data analysis field.

Overall, the programme aims to create in learners a critical understanding of core business analytics and strategic business management, while also enhancing the research capability and practical technical skills of the learners.

Career Opportunities

There is a global shortage of the skilled professionals required to fill direct high-end jobs in this area and the report, Assessing the Demand for Big Data and Analytics Skills, identifies measures to build up the Big Data and analytics talent pool in Ireland over the period up to 2020 in line with enterprise demand. The 21,000 potential job opportunities for skilled professionals could arise under the report’s high growth scenario, from both expansion and replacement demand in the period up to 2020 - comprising 3,630 for deep analytical roles and 17,470 for big data savvy roles.

The minimum requirement for admission to this programme is a minimum second class Level 8 honours bachelor degree in a cognate area (e.g. computer science, IT, science, mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, business (including quantitative methods), maths and management information systems, OR a non-cognate Level 8 honours bachelors award with three to five years’ experience in analytics. 

In addition, for applicants whose first language is not English and who have not undertaken their undergraduate degree through English the following is required:

The minimum requirement for a non-native English speaker is greater or equal to B2+ in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages for admission. Non‐EU applicants, residents outside Ireland/EU, must apply directly to the International Admissions Office at DBS. Further details regarding Non‐EU learners can be found in the DBS Quality Assurance Handbook (QAH).

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