The MSc Business Analytics Project is an opportunity to engage with students specialising in Business Analytics and Data Science on a piece of research and analysis carried out between May and August. Alongside the academic dissertation, the main output of the project is an executive summary and/or presentation to the client.

What projects are suitable?

Students on the MSc Business Analytics programme gain experience with the following technical skills and software packages. Projects within any of these areas would be of interest to our students.

Technical skills

  • Mathematical, simulation, and heuristic modelling
  • Performance measurement
  • Data and text mining
  • Web analysis
  • Predictive modelling
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Recommender systems
  • Multicriteria decision analysis

Software

  • Python
  • R
  • GAMS (Optimisation)
  • GeNIe (Bayesian Networks)
  • Rockwell Arena (Simulation)
  • Mathematica
  • MAX-DEA

Examples of projects

The two main areas we look for projects in are data science and optimisation. Potential project areas include:

Optimisation

  • Optimisation, simulation, or simulation-optimisation techniques
  • Resilience measurement and optimisation (any methodology) with applications to the design and management of critical infrastructure
  • Optimisation for robust resource allocation
  • Stochastic optimisation of supply chains under disruptions
  • Routing and logistics optimisation
  • Scheduling, rescheduling, production planning, and control
  • Reverse logistics

Data science

  • Predictive analytics with machine learning
  • Business process management/analysis/mining
  • Sequence mining
  • Customer churn/retention/cross-sell/profitability prediction
  • Social media prediction
  • Credit scoring or bankruptcy prediction
  • Price competition
  • Industrial microstructure

Any other areas of data science or optimisation will be considered.

Qualifying criteria

  • Complete an application form setting out clear project objectives
  • Have an interesting research topic that meets academic requirements
  • Willingness to communicate business details to the student
  • Ability to engage with the student throughout the project
  • Commitment to share necessary data and arrange access for data collection (NDAs can be signed as part of the process)

Timescale

Action Date
Contact Business Engagement Manager to discuss your project Any time
Expression of interest By mid-November
Client project proposal due Deadline: 11 December
Final list of projects confirmed By end of January
Projects are matched to students Late February
Client informed of matching outcome Early March
Dissertation period May to mid-August
Initial meeting between client and student and project scoping May
MoU and NDA agreed By end of May
Student carries out the research Exact start date to be agreed in the MoU (from May onwards to mid-August)
Outputs delivered to the client End of August

Discuss your ideas

If you would like more information on student projects please contact Mhari McIntyre, our Business Engagement Manager.