University of Western Australia

What you'll study

The programme covers core topics in data science and business practice, emphasising the end-to-end analytics lifecycle from data management to interpretation and implementation. Core subjects typically include statistical modelling, predictive analytics and machine learning, optimisation and simulation, database systems and data engineering, and data visualisation and communication.

• Foundational analytics and statistics – probability, regression, time series and inference for business contexts.
• Machine learning and predictive modelling – supervised and unsupervised learning methods applied to business problems.
• Data management and engineering – data warehousing, SQL, data cleaning and handling large datasets.
• Optimisation and decision analytics – linear and nonlinear optimisation, simulation for operational decision making.
• Visualisation and communication – tools and techniques to present insights to stakeholders and drive business action.
• Industry project / capstone – an applied project partnering with industry or faculty to solve a practical analytics challenge.

Students may select electives to tailor the degree to sectors such as finance, resources, health or marketing, and the course typically includes practical workshops, case studies and team-based projects to build workplace-ready skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants are usually expected to hold an undergraduate degree. Competitive candidates will have a bachelor’s degree with substantial quantitative content (for example mathematics, statistics, engineering, economics, computer science or related fields) or relevant professional experience demonstrating quantitative and analytical capability.

The university assesses applications holistically, taking into account academic transcripts, work experience and any relevant technical skills (such as programming or statistics). Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency through recognised tests or equivalent evidence of tertiary-level study in English.

Career prospects

Graduates enter roles that bridge technical analytics and business decision making. Typical job titles include data analyst, business analyst, data scientist, analytics consultant, operations analyst and optimisation specialist. The degree prepares candidates for work across a broad range of industries, including finance, resources and mining, health care, government, consulting and technology.

The programme’s applied projects and industry links help students build a portfolio of work and professional contacts, supporting transitions into analytics roles or progression from analytics into strategic and leadership positions.

Why study at University of Western Australia

UWA Business School combines business and analytics education with research-led teaching and strong engagement with the Western Australian economy. Students benefit from access to computing facilities, specialist software, and opportunities to work on industry-aligned projects that reflect the state’s strengths in resources, energy and health sectors.

The university offers support services for career development and networking with local and national employers, and the Perth location provides a pragmatic setting for internships and industry partnerships. The Master of Business Analytics is designed to equip students with both the technical and communication skills needed to translate data into business value.