Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate Profiles - read how some of our alumni benefited from our partner course - MSc in Operational Research

The MSc is also offered by Distance Learning

The course is designed to take students with a wide variety of first degrees.

The programme consists of a mixture of core and optional lecture courses, interspersed with practical exercises and work experience. For MSc candidates, this is followed by an extended external project.  Additionally, students working on the full time course will get an opportunity to take part in the apprenticeship scheme.

Course Objective

MSc in Business Analysis & Consulting aims to realise the potential of graduates, so that they immediately play an effective role in providing model-based support to managers to help them make better decisions at a strategic level. Students will develop a rigorous academic understanding of key quantitative business analysis methods in addition to being introduced to models used to support the development of strategy for organisations and enable the monitoring and measurement of strategic processes. Key consulting skills will also be developed in order to effectively support management at a strategic level.

Lecture Topics

Download a PDF document which describes all the 2011-12 classes in detail.

The taught part of the course consists of:

Five core classes:

1. Foundations of Operational Research and Business Analysis
2. Quantitative Business Analysis
3. Managing Business Operations
4. Spreadsheet Modelling & Demand Forecasting
5. Strategy Modelling & Management

A choice of 3 classes from the following:

1. Business Simulation Methods
2. Business Information Systems
3. Risk Analysis and Management
4. Performance Measurement and Management

Plus one further core class:

1. Becoming an effective Business Analyst

The other taught modules on the programme introduce a variety of techniques, methods, models and approaches to the student. However, the practical reality of applying analytical methods in business is often far removed from the classroom. Working with decision-makers on real issues presents a variety of challenges. For example, data may well be ambiguous and hard to come by, it may be far from obvious which business analysis methods can be applied and managers will need to be convinced of the business merits of any suggested solutions. While traditional teaching can alert students to such issues, understanding needs to be reinforced by experience.

Becoming an effective Business Analyst runs through both semesters of the degree, in parallel with the other classes. It introduces students, mostly through experiential learning, to as much as possible of the practical reality of becoming an effective business analyst and the key skills required to function as an effective consultant in this area.

The class will consist of:

• A series of semi- or unstructured business problems, typically introduced by a manager from an outside organisation. The business problems will typically relate to a topic/technique recently covered in one of the other modules. Students spend time tackling unstructured problems, usually in groups, and present and compare their findings. These sessions include "workshops" in which students analyse real problems presented by managers as guests of the Department (in addition, practitioners give more general talks to the class on business analysis/consulting within their own organisations). Following these case studies reflective sessions will be held which focuses on the development of reflective practitioner skills
• Experience is augmented, and integrated with, the rest of the course by a series of workshops on directly related topics that will provide guidance on key skills development.

DSTL Prize: There is an award of £100, provided by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, for the best full-time MSc mark in Becoming an effective Business Analyst.

The 2011-12 winner of the DSTL prize Marta Gromaszek (right) being awarded her prize by the Head of Department, Professor Fran Ackermann (left).

Course Entry and Duration

The full-time MSc course lasts twelve months, starting at the end of September. Applicants should normally expect to have at least a second class honours degree. Students from a wide variety of first degrees are accepted onto the course. Many students have first degrees in business, economics, engineering and the social sciences. However we also encourage applications from other degrees.

Subject to demand, the MSc can also be obtained part-time, over two or three years. The same topics are studied, normally one day per week. Most students are already in employment and sponsored by their employers, and carry out their project work within their own organisations.

Study for the Postgraduate Diploma degree lasts nine months, following the same taught classes as for the MSc (though to a less demanding standard). As well as allowing students to complete a recognised course in a shorter time, the Diploma provides the opportunity for a wider range of applicants to enter the Operational Research world. Students demonstrating sufficient ability may be allowed to transfer in-course to study for the MSc.

Applicants for the diploma course should normally expect at least a pass degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject, but other forms of qualification or experience will also be considered.

English Language

If you are a national of an English speaking country recognized by UK Border Agency (please check most up-to-date list at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk) or you have successfully completed an academic qualification (at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree) in any of these countries, then you do not need to present any additional evidence.  For others, the department requires a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with no individual component below 6.0), or a minimum total TOEFL iBT score of 95 (minimum scores of 21 in Listening and Writing, 22 in Reading and 23 in Speaking), or a score of 600 in paper-based TOEFL. Pre-sessional courses in English are available.

If you are from a country not recognised as an English speaking country by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), please check English requirements with http://www.strath.ac.uk/rio/prospective/english/ before making your application.

Further Information

If you wish further information about the MSc and postgraduate Diploma courses in Business Analysis & Consulting then please contact:

Dr Kerem Akartunali, Department of Management Science, University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building, 40 George St, Glasgow, G1 1QE, Scotland. Email: kerem.akartunali@strath.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)141 548 4542 Fax: +44(0)141 552 6686

Postgraduate Tuition Fees

A common scale of fees applies to all full-time postgraduate students, whether registered for an MSc/PGD or a research degree. For information about distance learning fees for the MSc Business Analysis & Consulting please contact Alison Kerr in the Management Science department.

Applicants who are unsure of their status should seek clarification from the University Admissions Team as early as possible in the application process. (The main criterion used in most cases is "normal place of residence" rather than nationality.)

• Strathclyde Business School Admissions
  admissions-business@strath.ac.uk

Information on scholarships that are available to overseas students can be found on the Scholarships and Funding webpage.

MSc Projects

The MSc project is usually carried out for an outside organisation. Students spend the three months from July to September working on a project of importance to the clients. The aim is to gain direct experience in applying the concepts and theories studied on the course. Projects may be carried out individually, or in small teams of two or three students. Project clients include many major concerns, in fields ranging from aerospace to whisky distilling!

A wide variety of organisations have hosted recent projects and/or apprenticeship placements.