Especially suitable for those wishing to combine the use of quantitative skills and information technology with modern management methods for effective intervention in business decision making and performance in organisations.
You will learn some of the most widely used mathematical and statistical methods in managerial decision making while also becoming familiar with fundamental managerial disciplines and with the potential offered by information technology.
Modules
Compulsory Modules:
Elective Modules (Choose one):
Students may select modules from a portfolio of non-prescribed Elective Modules.
Candidates must have strong quantitative skills.
Plus one of the following:
As well as:
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Two professional references – at least one must be from an academic referee
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An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
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A completed application form.
For International Students:
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An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades to date
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International students whose native language is not English will also need to satisfy our English language requirements with one of the following:
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TOEFL score of 100 with a minimum score of 23 in writing and speaking and 20 in reading and listening (internet-based)
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IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in listening and reading)
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A PEARSON score of 61 overall with a minimum score of 61 in writing and speaking and 53 in reading and listening.
Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.
*TWE = Test of Written English.
The 10 taught modules are assessed through a mixture of examinations and coursework. The taught element of the programme is complemented by a substantial piece of research leading to the completion of a dissertation.
Typical job roles entered by graduates from these MSc programmes include operational researcher, project manager, business analyst, risk analyst and data analyst, with entry in some cases through graduate training programmes.
All graduate employers recruiting to business roles put a high premium on the numerical, problem-solving and analytical skills developed through these MSc programmes.
Key sectors recruiting postgraduates with an OR background include finance, management consultancy, energy, transport/logistics, marketing/market research, manufacturing, defence, government service and health.
Examples of jobs taken up by our recent graduates include:
Students will acquire skills in the following areas: giving presentations; team working; report writing; negotiation and IT skills.
Modules taught on this MSc will enable you to develop a wide range of technical and transferable skills demanded by graduate employers. These include:
- Project management techniques include Critical Path Method (CPM), GANTT charts and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
- Assessing organisational efficiency and performance using specialist tools including parametric/Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and non-parametric/econometric methods
- Analytical problem-solving developed through problem structuring methods using specialist techniques including Journey Making, Causal/Cognitive Mapping and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
- Statistical and econometric analyses using regression and parametric/non-parametric hypothesis testing
- Report-writing, data presentation skills and group facilitation techniques
- Multi-cultural teamwork and presentation skills developed through group-work
- Analytical skills developed through research dissertation
- Multi-cultural teamwork and presentation skills developed through syndicate group work.
Aston Business School's outstanding student facilities include:
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A purpose-built suite which is accessible exclusively to Masters students
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24 hours access
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Free Wi-Fi connection
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Modern lecture/tutorial rooms
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Computer labs
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Lounge area
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IT equipment and packages and use of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Dr Ali Emrouznejad
BSc, MSc, PhD
My areas of research interest include performance measurement and management, efficiency and productivity analysis as well as data mining. My special interest is on the quantitative methods of performance measurement, and especially those based on the broad set of methods known as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).
Professor Veronica Wong
BSc, MBA, PhD
Veronica's current research interests are focused on marketing strategy, product/ brand innovation and global new product launch, with particular emphasis on high-technology sectors. She has written over sixty articles for refereed and professional journals as well as contributions to research and managerial books. Other scholarly publications include a DTI Handbook on Identifying and Exploiting Innovation Opportunities and Europe's best selling marketing text, Principles of Marketing (5th European Edition forthcoming), co-authored with John Saunders at Aston Business School and American colleagues, Philip Kotler and Gary Armstrong. The text has been translated into seven other languages including Italian, German, Dutch, Spanish, Greek, Lithuanian, Polish and Russian.
Dr Ali Emrouznejad
BSc, MSc, PGCHE, PhD
Ali Emrouznejad has been working in various areas of Operations Research and Statistics generally and Data Envelopment Analysis specifically since 1993. His areas of research interest include performance measurement and management, efficiency and productivity analysis as well as data mining.
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