Business Analytics Major

Business analytics is the practice of using data, statistical analysis, and quantitative methods to gain insights into business performance and drive decision-making. It involves examining historical data, predicting future trends, and providing actionable recommendations to improve business outcomes.

Business analytics professionals play a crucial role in helping organizations make these data-driven decisions using powerful tools including data visualisation, predictive and prescriptive analytics, and machine learning and deep learning across the applied business disciplines, including accounting, finance, human resource management and marketing.

In addition to the compulsory core subjects in the BCom, students completing the Business Analytics major need to complete the following subjects:

One first year subject Foundations of Business Analytics
Two second year subjects Visualisation and Data Wrangling
Critical Thinking with Data
A capstone subject Business Analytics Challenge
Two further third year Business Analytics elective subjects

Third year Business Analytics electives Students completing the Business Analytics major must choose one subject from pool A, and a further subject from either Pool A or B.

Pool A subjects

Pool B subjects

  • Business Data Governance and Ethics
  • Unstructured Data Analytics for Business
  • Machine Learning & AI for Business Analytics
  • Analysis of Firms & Financial Statements
  • Enterprise Performance Management
  • Actuarial Analytics and Data I
  • Basic Econometrics
  • Econometrics 2
  • Applied Microeconometric Modelling
  • Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
  • Computational Economics & Business
  • Foundations of FinTech
  • Algorithmic Trading
  • Data Driven Marketing
  • Analytics for Supply Chain and Operations
  • Human Resource Analytics

Concurrent Diploma

Students completing the Business Analytics major in the Bachelor of Commerce can also complete a Concurrent diploma alongside their degree. These diplomas allow you to broaden your studies and enhance your employability. Concurrent Diplomas are offered in:

  • Computing,
  • Mathematical Sciences,
  • Music, or
  • Languages.

Equivalent to a major from a different faculty (100 points of study) they add a year to the usual full-time study load, but with approval can be completed within 3.5 years with cross-crediting (of up to 50 points) and/or overloading.

Breadth subjects

The Melbourne curriculum allows you to incorporate breadth subjects into your BCom, and the opportunity to explore subjects or disciplines outside of commerce. Breadth can be used to explore creative interests or topics you have always been curious about; or subjects that complement your major and career
development.

Students completing the Business Analytics major are encouraged to consider taking breadth subjects in computer science and/or mathematics.

The Mathematics Pathway

Students can elect to complete the quantitative requirement for the BCom via the mathematics pathway. This pathway allows you to elect to take two first year mathematics subjects as breadth, and to complete two second year subjects towards meeting the quantitative requirement in the BCom.

Students who complete the Business Analytics major and are wanting to develop more advanced technical analytic skills are encouraged to consider the mathematics pathway.

Studying business analytics opens the door to a variety of roles across different industries where graduates will be transforming data into valuable business insights. Each of these roles requires a blend of analytical skills, technical proficiency, and business acumen

Career Outcomes

Your first job could see you as a:

  • Business Analyst
  • Data Analyst
  • Data Scientist
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
  • Data Engineer
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Operations Analyst
  • Financial Analyst
  • Strategy Analyst
  • Customer Insights Analyst
  • Product Analyst
  • Risk Analyst

Graduates with a Business Analytics major typically find work in these types of businesses:

  • IT providers and consultancies
  • Corporate professional service firms
  • Banks and other financial institutions
  • Digital marketing agencies
  • Industrial manufacturing companies

Coursework

The Business Analytics major leads to a range of pathways preparing you for a range of professions.

Some of our business and economics focused graduate study options include:

Research

If you’re interested in a pathway to academia or becoming an industry expert in accounting, you can undertake further study at Melbourne Business School.

Why study at the University of Melbourne?

Strong links with industry and government for relevant, forward-thinking programs with a global outlook

Flexible, practical and challenging programs designed to advance professionals at key stages of their careers

Australia’s leading provider of business education and insight*

*No.1 in Australia and No.40 Globally for Business and Economics (THE, 2025)