Entrance to our MSc in Business Analytics is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.

Academic requirements

You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in one of the subjects below, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

  • An undergraduate degree in any disciplinary area related to management science, operational research, statistics, econometrics, mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, or business and management which incorporates a distinct quantitative element is required
  • Candidates with a first class or 2:1 honours degree in an unrelated subject area but who have relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis
  • Candidates' background should ideally include courses and/or experience gained in topics such as linear algebra, calculus, probability, statistics, and computer programming

Supporting your application

  • Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance
  • Relevant professional qualifications will be considered
  • Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme

To help you build a strong application, please refer to our selection criteria.

Please note: all students are recommended to have their own laptop for this programme.

Applications from current undergraduates

Final year undergraduate students are welcome to apply, so long as your studies will be completed prior to the MSc programme commencement date.

Overseas students

In addition to academic and professional requirements, international students will have to adhere to immigration guidelines.

Advice for overseas students

The minimum academic requirement is a UK 2:1 honours degree in a related subject or an equivalent international qualification.

Some examples of equivalent qualifications:

  • Canada: B+; 3.25+ (4 point scale); 7+ (9 point scale)
  • China: 85%+; Band A from the Priority list of Chinese universities
  • Germany: 2.5+ (reverse 5 point scale); Sehr Gut/Gut
  • India: 1st Class degree (60%+); 3.2 on a 4 point scale; 8.0 on a 10 point scale
  • Nigeria: 2:1
  • South Africa: 2:1/1st
  • USA: GPA 3.25+ (4 point scale)

If your home country is not listed above, consult the minimum grade point average (GPA) required by following the link below.

Entry requirements by country

Important points

  • The ranking of the university at which you studied is considered when we determine whether or not your degree is equivalent to a first or upper second-class honours degree in the UK.
  • If your degree is not of the required standard and you do not have highly relevant work or other experience, we will normally reject your application.
  • Meeting the degree requirement doesn’t ensure acceptance. A higher standard may be needed for your application to be competitive for admission or funding.
  • Other equivalent qualifications can be requested from the Admissions team.
  • A conditional offer can be made if you are waiting for a final degree result or a language test result.

You must demonstrate English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

Your English language qualification must be no more than two years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, in which case it can be no more than three and a half years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the start of the month in which your programme of study begins.

More on English language requirements

English Language Requirements

Other important points to note

  • If you already have an English language certificate then you can include this with your application. However, if you have not yet taken a test, we will still process your application and you will be able to upload your results when you receive them.
  • A conditional offer may be given to you if you do not yet meet our minimum English requirement. But you must provide evidence that you have reached the minimum English requirement before we can provide you with an unconditional offer.
  • We advise you to start working towards your English language qualification as early as possible to ensure that you have achieved the required standard in time to start the programme. If you require a visa, you must have achieved your English qualification and have met any other conditions to qualify for an unconditional offer, which is a requirement for the CAS. The University will commence issuing CAS from June onwards.

Optional pre-sessional English courses

The English Language Education offers summer pre-sessional English language programmes intended for students who plan to study at the University of Edinburgh.

English for Business Masters

This programme focuses on improving English language skills for effective participation in the University of Edinburgh Business School MBA and MSc programmes. If you have been accepted by the School and have already met your English requirement, you may want to attend this course to brush up on your English skills.

General English for Academic Purposes

This programme is intended for international students who need to improve their English language level prior to commencing a programme of study at the University of Edinburgh. At the end of the course, students will undertake an assessment which can be used to meet the English requirements of their Masters programme beginning in September.

English for Academic Purposes summer courses

Further information

For further advice and guidance, please contact Postgraduate Admissions.

Credit transfer from the MicroMasters in Predictive Analytics

We welcome applications from students who have successfully completed the University of Edinburgh's MicroMasters in Predictive Analytics. Learners who successfully completed the MicroMasters programme will be awarded 30 postgraduate credits towards our Business Analytics MSc.

Learners who meet all the entry requirements and are successfully admitted onto the MSc Business Analytics can expect that their MicroMasters coursework will count towards their degree, comprising 30 credits of the total 180 credits of the masters programme.

The MicroMasters must have been completed within 2 years of starting on the Business Analytics MSc, with September 2024 the last entry date when the credits will be accepted. Completing the MicroMasters will not guarantee acceptance and the standard University admissions process and criteria will apply. Decisions on admission to the programme lie solely with the University.

If you would like the 30 credits to count towards recognised prior learning, when applying you should upload your MicroMasters certificate to your application.