Sept 2025 Entry
1.5 years (Full-time)
2.5 years (Part-time)
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What's New
Programme Aims
This programme starts with the fundamentals of applying analytical techniques on big data for decision support for organisations and progresses to in-depth studies of various application domains.
Characteristics
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Emphasises essential skills and knowledge of business analytics
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Applies domains of business analytics
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Covers theoretical knowledge and research findings on decision-making using big data
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Offers opportunities to apply theories to the investigation and solving of business problems
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Focuses on systematic training and the development of skills and competence in business analytics
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Teaches skills to solve big data problems
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Empowers students to achieve their career potential via professional coaching and career services
Master of Science in Business Analytics
Programme Structure
Programme Details
For the MSc, students complete 31 credits:
- 4 Compulsory Subjects (3 credits each)
- 6 Elective Subjects (3 credits each)
- 1 AIE Subject (1 credit)
OR
- 4 Compulsory Subjects (3 credits each)
- 2 Elective Subjects (3 credits each)
- 1 AIE Subject (1 credit)
- The subject Research Methods (3 credits) and a Dissertation (9 credits)
Students may graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma upon completing 4 Compulsory Subjects, 1 AIE subject and 3 Elective Subjects (22 credits).
Areas of Study
The following is a summary of the areas of study.
Compulsory Subjects+
- Business Analytics*
- Business Intelligence and Decisions*
- Management Information Systems*
- Organization and Management*
Elective Subjects+@
- Applications of Decision Making Models
- Business Applications of Blockchain
- Business Forecasting
- Decision Analytics by Machine Learning
- Decision Making for Leadership
- E-Commerce
- Entrepreneurship
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Field Study for Business Management
- Managing Operations Systems
- Marketing Management
- Models for Decision Making
- Research Methods
- Seminars in Emerging Technology
- Social Media Marketing
- Strategic Management
- Technology Innovation and Management
- Textual Analytics in Business
- Launchpad to Advanced Analytics (0 credit)
- MM MSc Career Workshop (0 credit)
AIE Subject+
- Academic Integrity and Ethics in Business (non-chargeable)
Information on the subjects can be obtained at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/mm/study/tpg/ba/.
+ Offerings are subject to class quota availability.
@ Students may also choose from a list of “Common Pool Electives”, subject to the requirements of the programme curriculum. For details, please refer to www.polyu.edu.hk/fb/study/tpg-landing/common-pool-electives/.
* These subjects have been included on the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund. The programme (MSc in Business Analytics) is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF Level 6).
Note: The programme structure and content are subject to continuous review and change.
Mode of Study and Duration
Mode of study: Mixed-mode
Students may pursue their studies with either a full-time study load (taking 9 credits or more in a semester) or a part-time study load (taking fewer than 9 credits in a semester).
Students normally complete the programme full-time in 1.5 years or part-time in 2.5 years. Students who wish to extend their studies beyond the normal duration can submit a request to their Department/Faculty for consideration.
The programme offers a structured progression. Students are encouraged to follow this progression to benefit from the cohort-based structure. Classes are normally scheduled on weekday evenings, with some daytime classes for full-time students. Each subject requires 39 contact hours over a teaching semester, with one 3-hour class per week.
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Programme Director
Prof. Xin Xu
BEcon, MPhil, PhD
Deputy Programme Director
Dr Vincent Cho
BSc, MEngSc, PhD
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Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic/professional qualifications, preferably with at least one year of relevant work experience.
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Applicants, normally aged 27 or above, with other post-secondary qualifications and at least 6 years of work experience in industry, commerce or public administration, including 3 years in a managerial capacity, will also be considered.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
For further information, please contact:
Tel: (852) 2766 7381 / (852) 2766 7108
Email: mm.msc@polyu.edu.hk
For academic matters, please contact:
Dr Vincent Cho
Tel: (852) 2766 6339
Email: vincent.cho@polyu.edu.hk
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend admission interviews.
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Please click here to download.
HK$361,500 per programme (HK$12,050 per credit) for local and non-local students
* The 1-credit AIE Subject is non-chargeable.
In this information era, most organisations in various industries rely on analysts to analyse collected data and discover patterns and trends. They use statistical tools and machine learning methods to extract valuable insights, thus enhancing performance, fostering growth and maintaining a leading position within the industry.
To overcome the challenges of potential job obsolescence brought about by rapid technological advancement, proactive preparation in data analysis skills and techniques is crucial, as this knowledge synergises with humans’ unique interpretation, critical thinking and strategic planning abilities.
I am glad to have been a part of this programme, which is designed to guide students from basic machine learning to advanced deep learning, focusing on both theory and practical application. In addition, the curriculum is reviewed annually to incorporate cutting-edge techniques that align with market demands. It has given me hands-on experience with state-of-the-art Python analytical tools, including neural networks for business forecasting and topic modelling and word embeddings for textual analysis. Additionally, the programme enhances students’ leadership and decision-making skills. This comprehensive curriculum helps us stay current and competitive in this dynamic business environment.
The MSc Business Analytics programme has been an invaluable experience that has comprehensively prepared me for the realities of working as a business analyst. Unlike many programmes on the market, this programme strikes an ideal balance between imparting foundational theories and equipping students with technical methodologies. Notably, the curriculum places exceptional emphasis on ensuring that graduates can effectively translate the skills and knowledge they gain into practical application to address real-world business challenges.
Through a combination of hands-on projects and case studies, I was able to build a portfolio demonstrating my ability to clean and understand complex data, as well as to construct predictive models and translate data-driven insights into actionable business recommendations. This applied learning approach also honed my analytical mindset and presentation skills – capabilities that I believe will be highly transferable to any future role on my career path. The curriculum also ensures proficiency with industry-relevant languages and tools such as SQL, SPSS, Python and SmartPLS.
Overall, this programme offers a solid foundation for prospective business analysts to develop both the essential skill sets and the business acumen required to thrive in this dynamic industry. The experience has been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.
Both copies of transcripts and certificates are required.
