How to Become a Business Analyst

Business analytics is an important role in many organisations, helping them transform data into useful, actionable insights that can drive business success. It’s an increasingly popular subject due to the promising and varied career prospects it offers, as well as its appeal to students of various academic backgrounds. 

It can be a challenge working out how to become a business analyst, due to the wide range of jobs you could move into and the wealth of courses on offer in the subject. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, which outlines everything you’ll need to know about studying and breaking into this career. 

So, whether you’re wondering what the benefits are, what courses you could study and where, what skills you’ll need or the entry requirements for postgraduate courses, you’re in the right place. 

CONTENTS

• Why become a business analyst?
• How do I become a business analyst?
• What are the entry requirements?
• What skills do I need to become a business analyst?
• What universities offer business analysis courses?

Why become a business analyst? 

Business analytics is a field well suited to analytical thinkers, problem solvers and business-minded students. This applied subject brings together elements from a range of disciplines, making it an accessible and exciting career path for all kinds of students—from mathematics to science, computing or business management. 

Choosing to study towards a career in business analysis will open up work opportunities in a huge range of sectors and industries. Whether you’re interested in working in the public sector, for a private company in tech, manufacturing, ecommerce, education, digital services, you’ll be able to find work opportunities. 

The salary and progression potential for business analytics professionals is solid, offering a technical route to senior positions and higher wages.  

How do I become a business analyst? 

Business analytics is a competitive field that seeks to draw determined, highly trained and experienced analysts to work in driving success across a variety of businesses and organisations. 

You’ll almost always need formal qualifications to compete with other applicants for business analysis roles. An undergraduate degree could be in business analytics, or related areas like mathematics, economics, computing, management or a relevant science or engineering field. In some cases, having a relevant technical background at undergraduate level will give you an advantage in applying for roles in certain industries, such as engineering for example. 

A postgraduate degree will give you additional advantages in your journey towards a business analytics career. For graduates of sciences, engineering or business disciplines, it will help you build on your existing knowledge and become an expert in the process of converting industry-relevant data into useful business insights. They’re also a great way to access professional experience and make connections with potential employers. 

Internships, work experience placements, and other professional opportunities will provide invaluable CV experience that you’ll need to progress to more complex and senior roles. 

What are the entry requirements? 

While entry requirements will vary between each business analytics postgraduate programme, you can typically expect each university to set roughly similar admissions criteria for a particular course type. This won’t always be the case, though, so it’s important to check the requirements on your chosen course’s profile before making an application. 

Applicants to a taught master’s, like an MSc, in business analytics will usually need a 2:2 grade or above in a relevant subject. This could be in areas like finance, economics, business, mathematics, engineering, science, computing or management. 

Students applying for doctoral courses will typically need to meet the above criteria, as well as hold a relevant master’s degree or evidence equivalent professional experience. 

What skills do I need to become a business analyst? 

Having a strong range of relevant professional skills will take you far in your business analyst career. Some of the foremost competencies that are valued by employers of business analysts are: 

Analytical and problem-solving skills 

You won’t get far without these. At its core, business analysis is about having the technical skills to collect and manage large volumes of diverse and complex data, being able to formulate lines of enquiry and spot patterns, and overcome the limitations of the information you have to hand. 

Communication and reporting skills 

Without these skills you won’t be able to enable other members of your organisation to take action after receiving your insights and analysis, ultimately making it useful. Being able to summarise complex technical information into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse audiences is key. 

Time management and flexible working 

You’ll be working within a wider business context with its own deadlines and developments, so you’ll need to be able to work under pressure and respond to new information coming, sometimes unexpectedly. 

Computer skills and business knowledge 

Being proficient with relevant software packages and communication tools will help you succeed in the above tasks. On top of all this, understanding what information and insights businesses need, and how your work can contribute to the development of your organisation, will allow you to perform at your best. 

What universities offer business analysis courses? 

You can choose from more than 70 different postgraduate degrees in business analytics, on offer at over 50 universities in the UK. Our course search tool is a great way to browse relevant programmes, get information on the course content and entry requirements, and prepare for a successful application. 

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