M.Sc. in Business Analytics

Use data and algorithms to achieve business success

Are you keen to harness the power of data science, statistics, and machine learning to optimize results and achieve strategic objectives? Ready to combine insights from mathematics, computer science, and economics with highly developed communication skills? The Master’s program in Business Analytics will deepen your knowledge - making you key to the success of any organization.

The program has four tracks, giving you the opportunity to specialize in your own area of interest:

1. Optimization of Business Processes
2. Computational Intelligence
3. Financial Risk Management
4. Research

You’ll finish with a six-month internship at a company, which is often the first step to a thriving career.

Use the power of data science, big data, statistics, and machine learning to maximize your impact.

The Master’s in Business Analytics is a two-year program, divided into four semesters.

In your first semester, you’ll take a number of core compulsory courses. During the second and third semesters, you’ll focus on your own specialization. Finally, in the fourth semester, you’ll spend six months doing an internship at a business or research institute, giving you first-hand experience of the working world.

During the program, you’ll learn all about mathematical modeling and how to apply it in practice (including at financial institutions), how to make predictions using machine learning and statistics, how to analyze data and recognize data patterns and structures, and how to build a complete decision support system as part of a group project.

You’ll also learn valuable professional skills, including scientific writing and presentation skills, as well as communication and teamwork as part of an interdisciplinary team. Finally, you’ll combine your business analytics knowledge with your professional skills in practice during your traineeship.

First and second semester

In your first semester, you’ll take four compulsory courses – whichever track you choose.

In Applied Stochastic Modelling, you’ll gain insight into mathematical modeling and the way it’s used in practice – exploring a number of stochastic solution methods.

In the Statistical Models course, you’ll apply several common statistical models in valid settings – including analysis of variance, generalized linear models, non-linear models, and time series models.

In Advanced Machine Learning, you’ll learn about the most effective machine learning techniques, and practice implementing them yourself.

You’ll also carry out a group project, Optimisation of Business Processes, which focuses on the construction and/or design of a decision support system that’s designed and built in a scientifically sound way and can be used in practice.

Plus, you’ll prepare for your Master’s project by taking the Research Seminar Business Analytics course.

During the second semester you’ll get the chance to specialize in one area of expertise:

• Optimization of Business Processes
• Computational Intelligence
• Financial Risk Management
• Research

Dual program

If you’re keen to work while studying Business Analytics at the same time, consider following the dual program. For the first 16 months, you’ll combine your degree studies with a relevant part-time job. You’ll receive 12 credits, a regular salary, and valuable experience that will prepare you even better for your professional life.

As a graduate of the Business Analytics Master’s program, you’ll be familiar with all the steps from data to solution, including the skills required to communicate to stakeholders and convince them of your advice.

You’ll be well-prepared either to focus on a single step in the process – becoming a specialist – or to take a broad view, sitting at the center of the web in data science projects. In both cases, Business Analytics alumni are extremely valuable to all sorts of organizations.

Both the private and public sectors are constantly looking for ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Your skills as a business analyst are in such high demand that you may receive job offers before you graduate or at the company where you completed your internship.

And there’s more: even during your studies, you could easily find yourself taking on a part-time job as a junior data analyst or programmer. While your fellow students are waiting tables or stocking shelves, you could well be generating extra income while picking up highly relevant work experience.

What can you do after your Master's degree?

Start working

A Master’s degree in Business Analytics opens the door to all kinds of career opportunities. Major international companies like Google, Booking.com, and KLM are all on the lookout for talented business analysts.

You could enter a graduate consultancy position with leading firms like Deloitte, Accenture, EY, and PwC. Or you could become a data scientist in one of the many Amsterdam-based data science startups. Alternatively, why not pursue a career as a data-mining specialist or risk manager in the financial sector? Become a revenue specialist at KLM or Emirates?

Or pursue an academic career

There are also prospects aplenty in the world of academic research. Much of the applied research generated by our partnerships with industry is carried out by our graduates who have pursued their academic ambitions at the Ph.D. level.

For more information about our (upcoming) open days and webinars please visit us