Great Degrees for Business Analyst: Your Path to a Successful Career

Business analysis is a thriving job market, perfect for those who love analytics and critical thinking. Professionals in this field use data-driven insights to make decisions, optimise business processes, and implement new software and strategies.

Business analysts work in varying sectors and levels and, therefore, need experience and qualifications to compete for high-end jobs. At LIS, our curriculum covers all the core skills and hands-on training that any budding business analyst will need to be seen and succeed in the profession. 

This guide explores excellent degree pathways in business analytics, how to plan your career path, and how to choose the right degree for you.

Table of Contents:

• Do You Need a Degree to Become a Business Analyst?
• What Do Business Analysts Do?
• Top Degrees That Prepare You for a Business Analyst Career
• Can You Gain a Certification in Business Analytics?
• Mapping Your Business Analyst Career Path
• How to Choose the Right Degree Programme for Business Analysis
• Start Studying and Become a Business Analyst 

Do You Need a Degree to Become a Business Analyst?

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The exact qualifications business analysts need vary from job to job. However, at minimum, most require a bachelor's degree in a business-oriented field. Aspiring business analysts typically gain a degree in these fields:

• Marketing
• Business Administration
• Information Technology
• Finance

Having a major in any of these areas is a great way to begin your career in business analytics, as they provide the knowledge and tools needed for jobs in this industry. Aspiring candidates for higher-level and more lucrative positions should progress to complete an advanced degree, such as an MBA.

However, professionals without a related master's degree can hold entry—and mid-level positions. 

What Do Business Analysts Do?

Business analysts leverage valuable insights and data to improve business processes. These professionals are responsible for identifying problems in business strategies across various departments, including staff development and technology operations. 

Organisations rely on business analysts to assess their infrastructure and systems and make recommendations to optimise these areas.

A typical workday for a business analyst may play out like this:

• Communicate with senior decision-makers to understand organisational goals
• Oversee and implement new technologies and business processes
• Find different solutions to improve business decisions
• Run workshops and training sessions to onboard staff
• Create and share documents that outline their recommendations
• Leverage data modelling techniques to discover better ways to operate

Business Analyst Degree Programmes That Get You Career-Ready

There are many degree pathways to help you become a business analyst. 

We've compiled a list of fantastic programmes to help you gain the skills you need for a successful career in analytics, including the key takeaways, financial support options and tuition costs.

Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods (BASc) – The London Interdisciplinary School 

The BASc Degree by The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) covers core skills for career changers and professionals. Over three years of full-time studies, students focus on solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary learning.

Our degree programme gives students access to a diverse group of academics – philosophers, epidemiologists, artists and journalists to name a few – and encourages them to work with real organisations. LIS brokers internships for every eligible student, every summer, so students can build professional networks, get lived experience and gain an upper hand in the job market. 

Students also complete two independent projects and one capstone project – their capstone requires them to apply the qualitative and quantitative skills they gained.

Curriculum:

• Language and Communication
• Stakeholder Mapping
• Strategic Thinking
• Business Models
• Media Techniques
• Data Analysis

Fees:

• £9,000 / a year for home students
• £17,000 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Financial support bursary: LIS offers bursaries between £1,000 and £7,000 annually. They award this financial support based on household income or other severe circumstances.
• Hardship grants: These grants help students who experience sudden financial hardship. LIS awards them on a case-by-case basis
• Income from internships: Qualifying students can apply for this financial assistance provided they join an internship that pays at least the London Living Wage
  

Key Takeaways:

• LIS has attained top marks in every area of academic standards and qualities by the Office for Students (the higher education regulator in England)
• Comprehensive course content covers many skills students can transfer to any business-related field
• Summer internships for every eligible student
• Social events and career support and wellbeing programmes to help students thrive

Business Analytics BSc (Hons) – Bayes Business School 

Bayes Business School provides a part-time and full-time study programme for becoming a business analyst. This degree covers the core skills business analysts will need. Students can learn about finance and investments, management, data analytics, and statistics.

What makes Bayes Business School unique is its approach to experiential learning. Students will complete five training boot camps to gain hands-on skills, join industry-sponsored projects and participate in two data Olympics competitions.

‍Curriculum:

• Finance and Investment
• Introduction to Management
• Regression Analysis
• Network Analytics
• Change Management 

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £24,500 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Undergraduate scholarships for Black British students: Eligible students can apply for a full-tuition scholarship (at home cost) and a £6,000 annual stipend for three years 
• Bayes Business School International Scholarship: International students who meet the application requirements can receive 25% off their first year's tuition fees
• The Sekforde Scholarships: To award this financial aid, Bayes Business School evaluates each applicant's financial need, outstanding academic history and desire to better the world
• Undergraduate student loan: Students can take out a loan to cover their total tuition fees

Key Takeaways:

• Students can gain practical expertise through experiential learning
• Many financial aid options are available, making this degree more accessible

Accounting and Business Analytics, BA Hons – University of Greenwich

Many business analysts gain qualifications in a finance-related field. The University of Greenwich provides the ideal programme for these students. Over three years of full-time or six years of part-time studying, professionals can learn how to solve complex business problems. This programme also exposes them to industry-leading software.

Like the previous degrees we've examined, this one provides practical training. Students will solve real-world problems through case studies, industry-led projects, and simulations. 

Curriculum:

• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Accounting Information Systems
• FinTech Fundamentals
• Artificial Intelligence

Fees:

• £9,250 / per year for home students or £2,312 / per 30 credits for part-time study
• £17,000 / per year for international students or £4,248 / per 30 credits for part-time study

Financial Aid:

• Greenwich progression bursary: Home fee-paying students are eligible for a bursary worth £3,000 toward their programmes
• Commuter bursary: Students from lower-income houses can apply for up to 50% toward their commuting costs

Key Takeaways:

• Ideal for students who want specialised finance and analytics knowledge
• Exposure to real-world problems and industry-related tools 

Business Analytics BSc (Hons) – Birkbeck, University of London

The Birkbeck Business Analytics bachelor's degree programme at the University of London covers the concepts professionals need. Students learn how to use industry software to apply analytical techniques. They also gain practical skills from hands-on projects to expand their understanding.

This university provides a Foundation Year route for students who took a gap year or did not study the required subjects for this programme. Learners who still need to achieve the grades necessary for this bachelor's programme can also opt for the Foundation Year route. 

‍Curriculum:

• Data Mining
• Programming
• Big Data
• Data Analysis
• Business Administration  

Fees:

• £6,935 to £9,250 / per year for home students
• £13,215  to £17,620 / per year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Accommodation scholarships: This scholarship provides discounted accommodation for two students, worth £6,500 per scholar
• Birkbeck financial support scheme: Eligible students can apply for financial aid toward their studies and accommodation worth up to £600
• Foundation Year success bursary: Students who have completed a Foundation Year can apply for a bursary of up to £3,000 for their first undergraduate year of study

Key Takeaways:

• A pre-undergraduate programme is available to give students the skills they need for this degree
• There are many financial support options

BSc Business Analytics (N100) – University of Bristol

The BSc Business Analytics degree from the University of Bristol is great for specialised analytics skills. This programme focuses minimally on financial concepts, but students will gain a wider understanding of research, data modelling and analysis, and AI. 

There is no part-time study option available for this degree programme – students must study full-time for three years. The University of Bristol also provides career support. However, the degree programme doesn't cover technical training or other courses. 

Curriculum:

• Introduction to Business Analytics
• Global Business Environment
• Management Research Methods
• Principles of Project Management
• Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence for Business

Fees:

• £9,250 / per year for home students
• £27,400  / per year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Food vouchers: Eligible students can apply for a £50 food voucher
• Standard cash award: Three cash reward tiers exist for students facing financial hardship

Key Takeaways:

• Specialised data management and analytics skills
• Students can access career support resources

Can You Gain a Certification in Business Analytics?

Yes, you can gain a certification in business analytics. While you don't need a bachelor's degree to become a certified business analysis professional, having both qualifications makes it easier to navigate the job market. 

Here’s what one of our students, Zuzana, has to say about her experience studying with LIS:

“At LIS, I grew into a well-rounded person, who knows where they want to go next, prepared for the working world. The blend of programming lectures in my first year, guidance from an external dev for my second-year project, and a software internship at TenWest gave me the confidence to apply for this role. What I think helped me stand out, however, is how LIS honed my teamwork skills, empathy, and ability to handle unrelated, unexpected challenges.”

To equip you with all the skills you need for a career in business analysis and any other field, we offer three short courses:

• Risk and Reputation – Equips leaders with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills necessary to understand and leverage the power of online communities in today's media-driven world. 
• Cross-Functional Leadership – Learn how interdisciplinary methods can help tackle complex problems and lead teams with different expertise.
• Systems Thinking for Sustainability – Explore systems thinking, and why it’s crucial for addressing complex, interconnected environmental and social challenges.

These courses help students gain leadership, management and problem-solving skills. With this certification you will have the skills to progress into any business-related role, now or in the future. 

Mapping Your Business Analyst Career Path

To plan your business analyst career path, here are the skills employers are looking for, how much average professionals earn and the job outlook. 

What Skills Do Employers Look For?

To become a business analyst, you must understand what skills and expertise employers require. 

These are the top technical skills every business analyst must have to compete in the job market:

• Data Analysis: Business analysts must know how to extract and interpret data for meaningful insights. These skills help analysts make strategic business decisions. 
• Data Visualisation: Besides gaining valuable insights, professionals must visualise this data to showcase their recommendations to decision-makers. 
• Business Intelligence Tools: Industry tools and software for business intelligence allow professionals to analyse and visualise data. 
• Statistical Analysis: Business analysts must know how to use machine learning models and statistical concepts to determine trends or patterns in data. 
• Documentation Skills: Organisations need business analysts who document their findings. They should know whether to use system, source code, process, or user documentation, to name a few. 

How Much Do Business Analysts Earn?

The average salary for business analysts is £63,252 annually. The top-earning professionals in this field make approximately £78,938 yearly, while entry-level analysts earn £53,769. This industry is lucrative, so it's important to stand out in the job market. Qualifications make it easier to secure positions with high earning potential.

For instance, having a degree and a business analyst certification gives you a competitive advantage. This advantage also increases your chances of a high salary. Likewise, after earning a master's degree in a related field, you can maximise your average annual salary.

Will Business Analyst Jobs Grow?

Yes, business analyst positions in the UK alone will grow 19% over the next ten years – this job growth rate is much faster than average.  

Organisations must stay competitive and maximise their efficiency and productivity, so business analysts are more critical than ever.

How to Choose the Right Degree Programme for Business Analysis

Choosing the right degree programme for a career as a business analyst is tricky. There are many factors to consider when making your decision, including:

• Professional goals: Understand your long-term career goals and how your chosen programme may align with them. If you're unsure or want skills, you can transfer between industries and positions, and an interdisciplinary programme like LIS can help you. 
• Experience: Determine your expertise in business analysis and find a programme to propel your career. If you don't have sufficient academic experience for most degree pathways, find one that equips you with foundational skills. 
• Course Content: Choose a business analyst degree that covers your interests. You must be engaged and passionate about what you learn.  
• Financial Aid: Prioritise degree programmes that offer financial support. Although you may not need help, it's best to have options available if this changes. 
• Schedule: Some programmes offer part-time study for four or six years, whereas others provide accelerated training. Work out your schedule and find a programme that gives you enough time to complete the content. ‍
• Practical Training: The key to becoming a business analyst is to gain hands-on skills. Pick a degree that exposes you to real-world problems.

Start Studying and Become a Business Analyst

If you dream of becoming a business analyst, a degree programme is the ideal pathway to jumpstart your career. 

The business analysis job market is rapidly growing, and having a bachelor's degree can help you stand out to businesses and employers. To enjoy a fruitful education experience, choose a programme that interests you, works with your schedule, offers practical training and provides access to financial support if you need it. 

At LIS, we want aspiring business analysts to have the skills they need to succeed while offering flexibility. Our interdisciplinary approach provides a deeper understanding of critical concepts, hands-on expertise, and career support – in other words, it gives you the ultimate problem-solving toolkit. 

Ready to start your business analyst career? Contact us today. 

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