Business Analytics

Program Description

Why study Business Analytics at VU Amsterdam?
The Master’s programme in Business Analytics is a multidisciplinary programme aimed at improving business performance by applying a combination of methods that draw from mathematics, computer science and business management. Based on a good understanding of the field and making excessive use of data, you will learn to statistically analyze these data, develop and analyze predictive models, and optimize business processes. The emphasis is on the complete trajectory of decision making in practice; together with the combination of the three different fields of expertise, this makes the Business Analytics programme unique.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME
Business Analytics is a two-year programme. The first six months are devoted to compulsory courses. Over the next twelve months, you will deepen your knowledge in the three fields of expertise giving you the opportunity to specialize in business process optimization, computational intelligence and financial risk management. Combining the knowledge you acquire and applying it to practical situations plays an essential role in the programme. As such, the Master’s degree is concluded with a six-month individual internship at a company (the Master’s project). Employment and academic endeavour can also be combined by following the dual Master’s programme. During this programme you are employed part time and study part time.

Highlights

VU Amsterdam is the only university to offer a Master’s degree in Business Analytics. Education in three different fields of expertise (mathematics, computer science and business management) is combined with group projects to form a programme that is unique in the Netherlands.

The strong emphasis on analyzing the complete trajectory of business processes is what distinguishes this degree from other business-oriented programmes with a quantitative component. This assures employment in a multidisciplinary setting once you have obtained your Master’s degree.

What`s Included

There are three specializations in the Master’s programme in Business Analytics:

• Business process optimization
You will tackle quantitative business problems with the aid of mathematical algorithms which are then implemented in decision support systems.
• Computational intelligence
You simulate the human brain in a computer program to make decisions with optimization and data mining techniques.
• Financial risk management
You learn to price derivatives, such as share options, and strategies for risk management. You will deal with both practical and theoretical aspects of the discipline.

All three areas of specialization prepare you for a career in business, industry, govern