Dive into the real-world business experience offered by UCL School of Management's MSc Business Analytics programme, as told by our stellar alumnus, Chen Wu. In this blog, Chen outlines how the programme perfectly blends academic theory with practical applications, especially through an impactful dissertation project with a leading blockchain company, preparing students for thriving careers in London's busy financial district.
You'll also explore the essential strategic business thinking and technical programming skills he developed, along with the incredible networking opportunities and vibrant community that shaped his journey and helped him realise his career potential.
Interested in developing your business analytics skills? Chat with a current MSc student at the UCL School of Management to learn more about their unique experiences and journey with us.
GAINING REAL-WORLD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN LONDON’S BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DISTRICT
What drew me to the programme was how it combined academic knowledge with real-world application. It wasn’t just about studying theory and understanding the prevailing models; instead, you take the core knowledge learnt from expert academics and put your skills and understanding into real practice.
The best example of this is the dissertation project, where you work directly with companies on a business challenge they are experiencing that can be solved with expert data analytics. From the beginning of this module, we had to be highly proactive, taking initiative throughout the entire application process – from preparing resumes to connecting with different companies, going through rounds of interviews and waiting for results—before finally landing a project we were excited about and could put all our learnings into.
Learn more about the three types of dissertation projects you can undertake in the MSc Business Analytics programme.
My data analytics dissertation project
The dissertation project was very much like a simulated job search experience, which I think is incredibly valuable, especially for students who haven’t had much work experience in the competitive job field yet. I managed to secure the opportunity to collaborate with a top blockchain research company and work on ESG research in the cryptocurrency space – an area that I was highly interested in pursuing. The standout part was being able to implement the machine-learning skills I acquired to create predictive models that were hugely impactful in pushing the project forward.
DEVELOPING THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR A THRIVING, DATA-DRIVEN CAREER: STRATEGIC BUSINESS THINKING AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMMING
There are so many skills that I have gained from this programme that I know for sure I wouldn’t have developed otherwise. For instance, after taking the Business Strategy and Analytics module, during my searches on LinkedIn, I began to pick up on specific trends in what global companies were doing and why. I was able to piece together specific bits of information and understand the strategic business moves and decisions they were making and had a much better understanding of why and to what impact.
The MSc in Business Analytics has helped me expand my business thinking and scope from the viewpoint of a lower-level employee to that of a company-wide, top-down perspective of an executive, prepared to make important decisions for the direction of the business. This kind of strategic thinking mindset has been an invaluable asset gained during my time on the programme and has been incredibly valuable for my career path and future planning.
Further modules that I found incredibly insightful for my career and professional development were the Programming for Business Analytics and Predictive Analytics modules, which introduced me to the world of programming. After having spent many years working within operations at a bank, learning to code has been the push that my career needed. Now, my career options are greatly expanded across all industries, as almost every field and function requires data analysts to thrive in today’s data-rich business world.
Networking and community building at the UCL School of Management
This past year was an amazing experience for me, mainly because we had so many opportunities to get involved and interact with others on the programme and across other programmes at the UCL School of Management.
Even before classes started, we took part in a lot of activities organised by the School. For example, we took part in in-person activities like the Connected Cohort Session and the Business Simulation Competition, as well as virtual ‘Meet the Alumni’ sessions. The programme provided plenty of opportunities to connect with professionals and alumni across various industries, which was very helpful for expanding my social network and future business connections.
I also have to highlight the huge welcome party we attended, as it was really exciting, and I had so much fun at it. It gave us a chance to relax and unwind before the programme properly began and get to know our fellow students and academic staff from the get-go. This was something I hadn’t experienced during my previous studies in the UK.
The UCL School of Management community
"At the UCL School of Management, we are committed to fostering a sense of community and belonging by creating the kind of student experience that goes beyond the classroom. From day one, we work to ensure that every student feels supported, connected and part of our special community. So, it’s only natural that our students get to attend a range of social events (our Winter Balls are unmatched!), join various societies and receive attentive support from caring staff. #SoMCommunity" Mick Yuen, Student Experience Officer
REALISING MY CAREER POTENTIAL THROUGH BUSINESS ANALYTICS THEORY AND PRACTICE
Through my Dissertation Project, I landed a potential opportunity to become an analyst in the blockchain field. I was also able to connect with many talented professionals across various industries, which has been a huge advantage when pursuing my next career move. With the School campus located in One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s business and financial district, you are consistently exposed to the who’s who of the business world, opening you up to opportunities you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Why choose the UCL School of Management Business Analytics MSc to further your career?
Personally, I would definitely recommend this programme for many reasons!
On the academic side, if you’re looking to dive deep and gain a comprehensive understanding, this programme covers everything—from company strategy and operations to market research and technical analysis.
On the practical side, most of the assignments are based on real-world cases, giving you the chance to study and learn from actual business scenarios. Plus, with the Dissertation Project, you’re thrown into the thick of a company’s day-to-day operations, working directly with real business analytics to devise the right data strategy that will lead the business out of their problem, all using the skills you’ve picked up along the Business Analytics MSc.
If using data to investigate and produce solutions to business challenges sounds appealing to you, with the added benefit of the most practical experience a Master’s programme can offer, the MSc in Business Analytics at the UCL School of Management is for you.
Read more student and alumni blogs or check out our alumni activities!
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The UCL School of Management Industry Advantage
Taking advantage of our global network and strategic campus location in London's financial and business district, the UCL School of Management recently launched three new speaker series.
Our speakers come from a range of industries and backgrounds to showcase their experiences and skills. Explore what you can gain from our Speaker Series below:
Business Leaders Speaker Series
