The rapid growth of available data is transforming the way managers, accountants, investors or marketers are working. The ability to integrate big data into their analyses, business plans and decisions is a must for firms to maintain their competitive advantage.

The MSc Business Analytics programme is a response to these changes in the economic and technological environment. It aims to transform business students into multi-talented professionals, standing in-between their core field of expertise, such as management, finance, and marketing, and information technologies.

The programme mixes advanced modules in finance, marketing or management to provide a deep understanding of the most up-to-date methods for data-processing (machine learning, big data analysis) and data management. Our teaching philosophy is practice-oriented. With this in mind, after an intensive 12-month period of study you will complete your training with a six-month internship within a company.

You will benefit from the Big Data Analytics and Technology Centre that has been set up at XJTLU in collaboration with IBM and the Suzhou International Science-Park Data Centre (SISDC). Business analytics training will be available, utilising IBM software, and you will have the opportunity to apply for internships or projects at SISDC.

Founded in 2013 as the exclusive business school of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, International Business School Suzhou offers a unique blend of Western and Chinese academic practices. It is the youngest business school ever to earn Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation and has accreditation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, near Shanghai, one of China’s the fastest-growing commercial centres, IBSS seeks to become an international leader in business education and research. It is perfectly placed to support your talent development and research needs.

Creative interaction and collaboration with international and domestic businesses, coupled with solid academic grounding, underpins the IBSS learning and teaching environment. This prepares Chinese students for international business and international students for doing business in or with China.

Business analytics skills are in high demand in every sector of the economy, particularly within the fast-growing service sectors (finance, retail, marketing, ITC). The typical positions our graduates target include data or information analyst, technical consultant, IT-related project manager, and CRM analyst.

Minimum Entry Requirements

UK

Upper second class (2:1) honours

China

• 1st tier universities: 75 percent or above
• 2nd tier universities: 80 percent or above

Note: Chinese applicants are not required to take the MoE postgraduate entrance exam.

North America

3.0 Cumulative GPA (out of 4) or 3.2 Cumulative GPA in the final two years of your undergraduate programme

Other Regions

Equivalent academic qualifications

Academic Background

An undergraduate degree (UK 2:1 or equivalent) in economics, management, finance, marketing, science or engineering. Prior knowledge of econometrics is desirable, but not essential.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your native language or if you have not studied in English at degree level, you will need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You should normally possess one of the following qualifications:

• IELTS: 6.5 (minimum of 5.5 in all sections)
• TOEFL iBT: 90 (minimum of 21 in any skill)

In exceptional circumstances, individual cases will be considered on their own merits. You may be required to attend interviews or tests to further demonstrate your English proficiency.

If you miss the English language requirements by 0.5-1.0 of an IELTS band, or a similar number for other English language exams, you can be admitted to the programme after successful completion of our four- or six-week intensive English presessional course.

You can also apply to take the XJTLU English language test in lieu of an IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent. Based on the score, students may be admitted or may be required to take and successfully complete the four- or six-week intensive English presessional course.

Additionally, students may be required to complete English language courses on a pass/fail basis as part of the additional learning activity requirement during their studies at XJTLU.

Core Modules

• Introduction to business analytics
• Contemporary issues in the ethics of business analytics
• Econometrics
• Databases and data management
• Data mining and machine learning
• Social network analysis
• Big Data: applications in business
• Finance pathway: Financial analysis, Portfolio management
• Marketing pathway: Social media marketing, Marketing management
• Management pathway: Strategic business analysis, Strategic operation management, Modelling and simulation of operations
• Internship report/dissertation.

Additional learning activities

200 hours per semester of additional learning activity are required to complete your masters degree.