B.Sc. in Business Analytics Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

How can you use data to predict future demand? And how do you then use this prediction to set prices or make optimal use of capacity? In short: how can you use the power of data science, big data, statistics, and machine learning to help organizations make strategic decisions?

During the Bachelor of Business Analytics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you will study every step of the path from raw data to optimal decisions.

Discover your Business Analytics program

Organizations today have vast amounts of data at their disposal. To handle all these data, they need professionals who can perform razor-sharp analyses. During the Bachelor of Business Analytics program, you will learn to optimize business performance by crunching data with algorithms from mathematics and artificial intelligence.

Combine disciplines to reach data-driven solutions

Nowadays, everything revolves around data. To make the right decisions, organizations need people with expert skills and an analytical approach. During the Bachelor of Business Analytics, you will use the power of data science, big data, statistics, and machine learning to optimize business performance. You combine mathematics, computer science, and business administration to come up with innovative solutions to problems in the business world.

As a Bachelor’s student in Business Analytics, you are immersed in the unique combination of mathematics, computer science, and business administration. You study the relevant theories, but also work on challenging projects in small groups. You develop your communication, consulting, and presenting skills. You attend lectures from guest speakers from the business world, and you visit companies such as IBM and Deloitte to get a taste of possible career paths after your studies.

Business Analytics goes beyond mastering statistical methods and programming languages. Your lecturers confront you with challenging problems from professional practice. Your task is to apply the right analytical and forecasting methods and arrive at creative solutions. In making connections and coming up with solutions, you learn to make optimal use of the available data in the business world. These skills are in high demand by all prospective employers. Business Analytics is your gateway to a successful career, in the Netherlands or abroad.

1st year

In the first year, you are introduced to computer science, business economics, and in particular mathematics. You learn the basic principles of calculus, probability, and decision-making based on mathematical modeling. You learn how to code using R and Java. Every six months, you join a handful of your fellow students on a small project team, using simplified datasets to solve real-world problems.

Subjects

• Calculus 1
• English Language Test
• Introduction to Business Analytics
• Introduction to Programming (Java)
• Calculus 2
• Project Business Analytics 1
• Sets and Combinatorics
• Operations Research
• Linear Algebra
• Probability Theory
• Accounting
• Project Business Analytics 2

2nd year

In the second year, you dive deeper into the key subjects from maths, computer science, and business economics. In the first semester, you learn to work with statistics and models involving uncertainty. In the second semester, you focus on different aspects of data and data analysis. You also further develop your programming skills in the Advanced Programming course and learn to program in Python.

Subjects

• Advanced Programming
• Statistics
• Stochastic Modelling
• Finance
• Business Simulation
• Business Intelligence and Analytics
• Dynamics and Computation
• Statistical Data Analysis
• Databases
• Project Big Data

3rd year

In the first semester, you choose a minor to specialize in. To conclude the program, you collaborate with four fellow students on a final project. This is a practical case study on a topic such as the pricing of cargo for transportation by air. Which price do you use for which destination? How do the weight of the cargo and the date of the flight factor in? What is an acceptable price? Using data and algorithms, you come up with innovative solutions.

Subjects

• History of Science
• Machine Learning
• Combinatorial Optimization
• Bachelor Project: Business Case
• Philosophy and Ethics

Change your future with the Business Analytics program

After the Bachelor’s you can specialize further by following a Master’s program. As a graduate of Business Analytics, you could work as a consultant, data scientist, or researcher, for example at a financial institution, a knowledge institute, a hospital, an internet firm, or a transport company.

So you’ve graduated—now what?

Most graduates of the Bachelor of Business Analytics program choose to continue their studies, but you can also dive straight into the workforce as a data scientist or consultant. Many organizations are keen to recruit professionals with a unique mix of maths, computer science, and business economics.

During your studies, you learn to use data to solve complex problems. You can perform rigorous analyses to arrive at innovative solutions. You also have strong consulting and communication skills. In other words, not only are you able to come up with optimal solutions, but you can also persuade people to put them into practice. All this makes you an asset to every organization that works with data.

You enjoy maths and embrace the challenge of working with large amounts of data. You know how to use models from maths and computer science to make accurate predictions, and based on the innovative solutions you come up with you are able to advise banks and other organizations.

What can you do after your Bachelor’s degree?

Further your education

Would you like to continue your studies in Business Analytics? The logical next step is to enroll in the Master of Business Analytics program. You can also opt for a related specialization, such as the following master’s programs:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Information Sciences
• Econometrics and Operations Research

Start your career

With a Bachelor of Business Analytics, you can work in many different sectors and all sorts of organizations. These days, myriad organizations both in the Netherlands and abroad have large amounts of data at their disposal, and a great need for qualified, talented analysts.

You could work as a data scientist in the government, at a financial or knowledge institution, an internet company, a transport company, the police, and more. You are also well-suited to work as a consultant at a multinational like Deloitte or KLM.