Smurfit - MSc Business Analytics

Annuv

I know there have been many threads on this course over the last few years, and I've read them all but I was hoping to get fresh input from people who have done or are doing the course.

The course interests me, I have a purely technical background and I am weighing up whether I should do this course or a more managment
focused one. It's clear that the course is technical and would help one work in a Business Analyst role, but it is stated in the presentation on the course that it the course is aimed at people "who want to use their technical strengths at the start of their career in management"
I would like to get more information about about this aspect of the course, I mean if one was not to work as a business analyst how would the course benefit someone who wants to enter management?

I currently work in the software industry, I don't intend leaving my company to pursue an analysts role and the idea of doing a technical course that will stand to me if I apply for a team lead or management role as opposed to
a course in Managment appeals to me. However if a MSc in Technology Mamangement would be more suitable I would have to reconsider.

So are there any current or past students out there can give some feedback on this course and how useful you found it? Thanks

boobar

Annuv wrote: »

I know there have been many threads on this course over the last few years, and I've read them all but I was hoping to get fresh input from people who have done or are doing the course.

The course interests me, I have a purely technical background and I am weighing up whether I should do this course or a more managment
focused one. It's clear that the course is technical and would help one work in a Business Analyst role, but it is stated in the presentation on the course that it the course is aimed at people "who want to use their technical strengths at the start of their career in management"
I would like to get more information about about this aspect of the course, I mean if one was not to work as a business analyst how would the course benefit someone who wants to enter management?

I currently work in the software industry, I don't intend leaving my company to pursue an analysts role and the idea of doing a technical course that will stand to me if I apply for a team lead or management role as opposed to
a course in Managment appeals to me. However if a MSc in Technology Mamangement would be more suitable I would have to reconsider.

So are there any current or past students out there can give some feedback on this course and how useful you found it? Thanks

As far as I know there is an open day for this course next week. Check out the college website. You could ask for some details of past students, I know they won't be able to pass on these contact details directly but they could have a past student contact you.

Annuv

boobar wrote: »

As far as I know there is an open day for this course next week. Check out the college website. You could ask for some details of past students, I know they won't be able to pass on these contact details directly but they could have a past student contact you.

Thanks boobar, I was aware of this upcoming open day but unfortunately I am out of the country for a few months. However I suppose I could contact them at any time to ask for a past student to get in touch. Thanks for the tip

ucdperson

I currently work in the software industry, I don't intend leaving my company to pursue an analysts role and the idea of doing a technical course that will stand to me if I apply for a team lead or management role as opposed to a course in Managment appeals to me.

The MSc in Business Analytics is primarily about Analytics as you would expect, if your company is producing software that could benefit from analytics then they need managers that understand this field. If not, then the MSc is a good training in rational business thinking, but you may wish to consider other programmes.

The Open Evening presentation on the MSc is on Wednesday 23rd Feb at 16:30.

Sweetcorn01

Annuv wrote: »

I know there have been many threads on this course over the last few years, and I've read them all but I was hoping to get fresh input from people who have done or are doing the course.

The course interests me, I have a purely technical background and I am weighing up whether I should do this course or a more managment
focused one. It's clear that the course is technical and would help one work in a Business Analyst role, but it is stated in the presentation on the course that it the course is aimed at people "who want to use their technical strengths at the start of their career in management"
I would like to get more information about about this aspect of the course, I mean if one was not to work as a business analyst how would the course benefit someone who wants to enter management?

I currently work in the software industry, I don't intend leaving my company to pursue an analysts role and the idea of doing a technical course that will stand to me if I apply for a team lead or management role as opposed to
a course in Managment appeals to me. However if a MSc in Technology Mamangement would be more suitable I would have to reconsider.

So are there any current or past students out there can give some feedback on this course and how useful you found it? Thanks

Can you be more specific as to what role you would hope to be suitable for upon completion of this MSc?
I think the term "analyst" is thrown around somewhat in job descriptions, and can therefore be open to different interpretations.
Analytics is largely about using technical techniques to derive management solutions from data. However, many "analysts" do not work with data at all.
Im a past pupil so feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it.

graduate

I think the term "analyst" is thrown around somewhat in job descriptions, and can therefore be open to different interpretations.

This is one of the problems. "Analysts" may be concerned with IT systems analysis or business process analysis or they may be dealing with analytics. You have to read the detail. Eg. Google are currently looking for "Business Intelligence Analyst", "Business Systems Analyst" but require a degree of a quantitative and statistical nature. This is MSc Business Analytics territory.

If the OP does not want to leave his present company, then the question is whether his present employer is (or should be) introducing more analytics. Most companies should, many don't yet realise this or haven't got around to it.

Annuv

Thanks everyone for their advice, I'm still weighing up whether it's the correct direction for me to go at this time

ucdperson

Perhaps not relevant to the OP, but First Derivatives who today announced an expansion with 350 jobs are significant employers of MSc Business Analytics graduates. There is a lot going on out there in the Analytics space.

Lexor

I am thinking about doing the MSc in Business Analytics myself. I was mainly thinking that the analytics bit would be a lot of data mining and using various statistical techniques to find patterns in the data to better aid business decisions. Am I wrong in thinking this?

I would be very interested to hear what positions past students who completed this course are working at. Giving the blurring of the 'analyst' roles, would the course be suitable for someone who wanted to work as, say, a quantitative research analyst who had maths as their primary degree?

ucdperson

"Business Analyst" jobs requiring maths would generally be the type of job that graduates of the MSc would be in contention for. Graduates often end up in consulting organisations like Accenture, Distinct, Bearing Point, PA consulting, or specialist software companies like Murex and First Derivatives (as noted above), Google, IBM etc. But there are a significant number of organisations with need for quant analysis who might hire one graduate in a year, these vary from time to time. There is no shortage of jobs, only of suitable applicants.

Shakakan

Hi

I'm a 1st year part time student in this course and I'm (for the most part) enjoying it! Here's a couple of thoughts in addition to what's been said:

Firstly, for now I would stop thinking about the similarity between "Business Analysis" and "Business Analytics". While there is some over-lap, you're basically coming at business problems from different angles... or from different levels. I'm a pure maths graduate who works as a business analyst as it happens

Analytics is the science of analysis and, well, this is first and foremost a science or even an applied maths type degree.

The course looks pretty deeply into the "how and why" of numerical algorithms that are used to tackle problems. Data mining appears in the course but it's only an example of an optimisation problem, ditto for project management - and to avoid doubt: optimise means minimise, or maximise, depending on the context!

Have look at the course curriculum on the UCD website.

It's a really cool course but it is a pretty maths / quants intensive - some of it a step up from the 3rd / 4th year level of an undergraduate maths degree. I was cool with that but I know a lot of people in the class weren't.

Also, two of the courses (so far) get quite intense with Java programming. It's not a prerequisite to know Java, but you had better be prepared to get stuck in. Theres a 2 day introductory course in Java but it jumps from "hello world" to things like "polymorphism" and "abstract classes" pretty quickly (in less than an hour!). And what was worse (for me - a Java retard) the programming element only comes in the assignments or maybe for the thesis - ie it's not tought in class!

Have a look on wikipedia at things like genetic algorithms and ECJ and see if these get your juices going...

Hope the above helps! Good luck:cool:

Lexor

@Shakakan: Thanks very much for taking the time to give some feedback regarding the course.

I had a good look at the course curriculum and it was it's quantitative nature that drew me to the course but my main problem was with the blurring of the 'analytics' word. It can mean so many different things to so many different people!! In our place, two people would be called 'business analysts', with one doing project specs/project management and the like (with no maths/stats whatsoever), while the others would be generating all the financial reports from the databases (while using very basic maths/stats).

This is why I was wondering what sort of a role did past pupils get themselves into and how quantitative in nature their role was.

There is a one hour sample lecture for the course this day week (Tuesday 29th March), so I'm going to definitely go along to that and ask a few more questions, but thanks again for giving your feedback and you never know, I might see you next year in class..:)

ucdperson

There is a one hour sample lecture for the course this day week (Tuesday 29th March)

UCD Smurfit School is holding a 'Taste Lecture' at 1pm on Tuesday, March 29th in Room 204, UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, where we will be showcasing our MSc Business Analytics Programme. This is a great opportunity for prospective students to find out more about the programme and to sample a lecture.

http://www.smurfitschool.ie/tastelectureba/

Everyone welcome, even if you are not a Belfield person. The Engineering building is right by the bus stop!

Paddy Orwell

I have an interest in the course but I am wondering if anyone can tell me more about the maths content, particularly if one was a part-time student. I already have some prob/stats and programming experience but i need to get up to speed on the quants side (i have some exposure - but need more and need to refresh). looking at the website it seems that the quantitative methods module comes in the first semester of the second year for part-timers and this is a foundation for some other second year second semester modules and Numerical Methods and Software in the second year first semester. There is also a datamining course in the first year which presumably doesn't have as high a maths content which can be taken in lieu of one of the other second semester modules . Basically my question is if I took the part-time option and went for the datamining option would i be able in the first year to beef up my quants for year 2? Additionally if i took the datamining option would that mean i could avoid the most intensive module in terms of maths in year 2? In other words does a part-time option with datamining provide you with a bit more grace and a bit less maths intensity. Finally can anyone recommend a textbook or link that would get me up to the level needed for to be ready for the quants course? Many thanks

Paddy Orwell

Sorry one more question. Is there anyone out there who is doing the Msc. in Data Analytics in Kevin Street and if so what is their opinion of it so far?
Cheers

Lexor

@Paddy Orwell: Just my own two cents on this one...From reading the syllabus, it looks to mainly focus around numerical analysis. A good book I used in the past for that would be 'Numerical Analysis 8th Edition - Burden & Faires) though there's probably a later edition out by now. Will you be going to the 'Taste Lecture' this coming Tuesday?

Paddy Orwell

Many thanks for that reference Lexor. Hope to go unless someone puts me off based on the maths content that is needed.

ucdperson

Just a general observation. The MSc in Business Analytics is designed for people from a range of disciplines. So for maths you need to have done the basics at university level, but there is no expectation of having covered a lot of specifics. You are expected to be mathematically able though. Consequently, the courses cover things from the beginning but proceed at a fast pace.

Looking at the website it seems that the quantitative methods module comes in the first semester of the second year for part-timers and this is a foundation for some other second year second semester modules and Numerical Methods and Software in the second year first semester.

Half of the courses are taught in the late afternoon/evening on the MSc in Business Analytics, to facilitate part-time students. These alternate from year to year. For a student entering in Sept 2011 Quant Methods and Statistics would be in their first year, but these would be in second year for a student entering in Sept 2012.

Finally can anyone recommend a textbook or link that would get me up to the level needed for to be ready for the quants course? Many thanks

Our experience is that people who did maths years ago but who haven't used it have forgotten the little things that used to be second nature. So they understand the concept of the material presented, but have forgotten how to multiply a matrix or calculate its determinant, so can't follow the examples.

So for prospective students we suggest that they get out the dogeared leaving cert or first year university maths book out and remind themselves of things they once knew.

If you need more, then apply and if you are accepted the programme director can give more detail.

Paddy Orwell

Many thanks for your feedback UCDPerson - that was very helpful.

ucdperson

There is a one hour sample lecture for the course this day week (Tuesday 29th March), so I'm going to definitely go along to that

If anyone didn't make it to the Tuesday gig, this was the presentation.

And this kind of event gives you an indication of how Analytics is viewed in the corporate world (and by the IDA).

darraghw

Hi I have just completed my application for this course. I have a question regarding the referee forms, do you just print out 2 copies of the form and then have them filled out and sent to smurfit?

Thanks

Lexor

@darraghw: I done that for my academic reference in that I sent the form to my referee and they then posted the completed form onwards to Smurfit. I'll be getting my employer to post in their reference as well. Smurfit will send you an e-mail on receipt of any reference just to let you know that they have received it...Hope that helps..

Hornd

Just offered a place today.

Probably going to accept. Are there much marks for assignments or are the modules based purely on the exams in Christmas and summer obviously excluding the thesis project?

Also anyone have any links to course notes or past exam papers, just to get a feel of what is contained in the course? Thanks

Lexor

@Hornd

The details of how all the modules are marked can be viewed on the following page http://mis.ucd.ie/courses/analytics/MScBA_programme/view.

I would be very interested in viewing any past papers myself. If you come across any on the web, could you please post a link.

Hope that helps

Hornd

Managed to get my hands on the half of them. You can pm me your email if you want them!

graduate

Just offered a place today.

Congratulations on finding a way to beat the recession.

I would be very interested in viewing any past papers myself. If you come across any on the web, could you please post a link.

Exam papers are on the website, but are restricted to people in UCD. If any of your mates are in UCD , they can just search for the subject codes e.g. MIS40540

Hornd

Ha thats what I did.

Could only find the course modules for half the course(taken from the sample timetable on the site). I have the other half now but am in the middle of studying for my last exam so I'll get the rest on the weekend.

darraghw

Just a quick question for people who have been offered places, how long typically did it take for your application to be processed? Waiting to hear back now myself.

Lexor

Within a day or two.

hotspurs

hello all,
i've been offered a place on MSc Business Analytics. I have a bit of Java programming experience & plenty of cobol programming but I'm a bit concerned about the Math aspect as i haven't been to College in 16 years & have no idea how difficult University math in Ireland is. could you please suggest reference books for brushing up basics required for Quant methods & Applied Probability/Stats? how do i prepare myself to get the best out of these 2 subjects in the 1st Semester? i'll worry about the Numerical Analytics later !

many thanks !

Lexor

As mentioned by ucdperson in an earlier post in relation to level of maths required going into the course:

So for prospective students we suggest that they get out the dogeared leaving cert or first year university maths book out and remind themselves of things they once knew.

For the Quantitative Methods module, I will be doing some pre-course work using Engineering Mathematics by K.A. Stroud. It covers most of the topics mentioned in the module syllabus.

For the applied probability and statistics module, 'Advanced Statistics from an elementary point of view' by Michael Panik is a good place to start. It covers just about all the topics mentioned in the syllabus.

The two books above can be gotten relatively cheaply on Amazon (check the other bookstores prices as well!!) and you would have a solid base to work from if you understood both of them well before the course started. Both books explain their subject matter very well and are fairly easy to progress through (from a self-study perspective).

And if I only had time/money to choose between the two books mentioned above, then I'd start with Engineering Mathematics (6th edition) by Stroud.

Hope that helps..

P.S. If you have a copy of the timetable for the 2011/2012 academic year for this course, can you pass on a link? Thanks in advance.

Paddy Orwell

Lexor, I presume the timetable will follow the 2009-2010 timetable (given that the part-time course runs every two years). The 2009-2010 timetable is here: http://www.smurfitschool.ie/t4cms/BA%20Sample%20Timetable.xls

hotspurs

Thanks a million, Lexor. The Programme Manager told me that the timetable hasn't been agreed upon. Paddy Orwell could be right - probably the same as 2009-10.

dimbodoyle

Hi
I've just accepted a part time place on this program, if anyone else is on the program this September pm me!

hotspurs

hello dimbodoyle, great to have company ! forgive my ignorance, i don't see the PM option on this thread. PM me with details of how you're preparing for the programme. cheers

Joe_Soap

Are there many companies in Ireland looking for people with this qualification? Has anyone on here gotten a job (or know someone who has gotten a job) due to doing this course?

graduate

Are there many companies in Ireland looking for people with this qualification?

Of course there are!
http://www.analyticsinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=219%3A400-jobs-go-unfilled-due-to-skills-gap-&catid=72%3Apress-releases&Itemid=175

Joe_Soap

graduate wrote: »

Of course there are!
http://www.analyticsinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=219%3A400-jobs-go-unfilled-due-to-skills-gap-&catid=72%3Apress-releases&Itemid=175

Fair enough

ucdperson

This course has always had lots of demand for its graduates, but the rather odd situation in a recession of not having high demand for places, although the graduates were easily getting jobs. This year this seems to have changed and applications have greatly increased, so if there is anyone else thinking about it I would stop thinking immediately and get my application in. Today.

darraghw

@ ucdperson was just wondering what format will the programming entrance exam be in? How is it examined exactly?

Joe_Soap

darraghw wrote: »

@ ucdperson was just wondering what format will the programming entrance exam be in? How is it examined exactly?

Entrance Exam?!? What the ...??

darraghw

Sorry should have stated that this is only for people without sufficient programming experience!

ucdperson

As darraghw said, if applicants are otherwise qualified but haven't done a formal programming course then they can sit a programming test, if they wish. This can be in a number of languages, although Java is used on the program.

Darraghw, you should contact the programme director about this, not least because of different languages etc the tests may be different. But the format of the test is something like 90mins or two hours where you write a program. The program has loops and if statements and would do something like calculate averages, calculate prime numbers or the like.

The intention here is to ensure that people have some aptitude for programming and that they have a clear idea of what they are signing up for!

The graduates of the MSc in Business Analytics are in such demand as they both understand quant techniques and have the ability to implement these on a computer, but this requires filtering of applicants for ability in both of these areas.

AIM69

Hi

I have a place offered and under pressure to accept or reject it. I am post graduate in engg with 15+ yrs experience. Working full time and would like to move away from Civil Engg. Well conversant with Linear Programming, Multiple Linaer Regression, Java, etc and attracted to it.

I am very much confused choosing between MSc Business Analytics and MBA in IBAT.

Any suggestions welcome.

AIM69

graduate

I am very much confused choosing between MSc Business Analytics and MBA in IBAT.

An MBA is an overview of various business subjects to help you manage.

The MSc Business Analytics is the application of quantitative techniques to analyse business problems to improve management.

Well conversant with Linear Programming, Multiple Linaer Regression, Java, etc and attracted to it.

Well this means that you have a fair idea of what's involved. Do you want to do this kind of thing, or perhaps manage the doing of this kind of thing or do you want to become a general manager?

Joe_Soap

Have the dates been confirmed yet for the two day crash course on Java ?

AIM69

graduate wrote: »

An MBA is an overview of various business subjects to help you manage.

The MSc Business Analytics is the application of quantitative techniques to analyse business problems to improve management.



Well this means that you have a fair idea of what's involved. Do you want to do this kind of thing, or perhaps manage the doing of this kind of thing or do you want to become a general manager?

graduate, well I want to manage the doing of this kind of thing.

graduate

graduate, well I want to manage the doing of this kind of thing.

A thirty something with experience of running projects, even engineering ones, is going to be in contention for leading analytics projects after doing the MSc, whereas a 21 year old might not be.

Will an MBA qualify you for the work you want? This is personal thing, some people like tech stuff some don't.

Joe_Soap

Looking at the part-time provisional timetable, I see that a java programming exam is a compulsory part of the Producing the Dissertation module... :eek: ...wasn't expecting that.

graduate

I see that a java programming exam is a compulsory part of the Producing the Dissertation module...

Programming is an integral part of this programme, one of the reasons why you get such a cheap fee!

Joe_Soap

graduate wrote: »

Programming is an integral part of this programme, one of the reasons why you get such a cheap fee!

???

Why would programming in the course make the fee cheaper?