As per LinkedIn reports, by the second quarter of 2020, there were 14.2 million people working as business analysts in various industries. To add further, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, this will grow by 14% by 2030, which is predicted as the highest growth measure amongst all the professional progression trends. The maximum employment opportunities for analysts arise especially in countries that are known as financial hubs. Thus, following in the footsteps of the US, business analytics courses in Hong Kong not only offer the students the opportunity to study in the world’s top emerging financial hub but also an opportunity for employment in key international firms.
Introduction to the Importance of Business Analytics
If you take a peek at history, you can find evidence about how the trend and volume of businesses have changed from small merchants keeping handwritten manuscripts for data records to huge companies like HUL with voluminous data. With such a volume of big data being available, arose the requirement of “Business Analysts” to read into this data. Following are the main roles of a Business Analytic in nutshell:
- Descriptive Analysis: To collect the business data and present it in coherent charts, pies, graphs, and figures.
- Diagnostic Analysis: To diagnose the trends in the sale volume, production outcomes, manpower efficiency, and trends pertaining to the specific industry.
- Predictive Analysis: On the basis of the data in hand, predict the future movement of the trend, sales, customer behavior, and workforce outputs.
- Prescriptive Analysis: Present solutions based on the predicted trends on how to achieve process optimization, cost efficiency, manufacturing outputs, identifying new business opportunities, and salvaging lost footholds.
The Difference Between Business Analytics and Data Analytics
“Data is the end to means for business analysts, whereas data is the end for data analysts” as termed by Martin Schedlbauer, associate clinical professor and director of Northeastern Universities Information and Data science programs.
A Data Analyst’s main job responsibility is data mining, cleaning the data, preparing it for analysis, figuring out trends, finding out relations in the data trends, preparing statistical methods and visuals to present the data in a more understandable manner, maintaining the database, upgrading the security of the database and proposing various requirements for the software developments and requirements of a business.
Thus, inferring that their main role of them is to analyze, visualize, and present data in a more comprehensible manner. Data Analysts should have knowledge of SQL, statistical programming, R, Python, and knowledge of data structures.
A Business Analyst’s main responsibility is to bridge the gap between the IT department and the Board of Directors. They need not have an Engineering Degree but require a high level of technical understanding and acumen for mathematics and problem-solving. They have to be proficient, not only in hard skills but also should be efficient in soft skills, which requires an excellent level of communication.
The Roles and Responsibilities of a Business Analyst Are as Follows :
- Ability to understand big data reports, trends, and processes.
- Be able to advise the Data Analysts, on the kind of data and reports which are required, to get an insight into the business processes.
- Infer on their own the reports, do a variance analysis, and prepare recommendations and decisions on their own.
- Convert all the trends and results into comprehendible figures and charts to present them to not only the management but also the client.
- Make decisions for an increase in operational efficiencies, work process optimization, changes in old work processes, identification of process loopholes, cost optimization, product pricing, and marketing strategies, better manpower management, and enhancing the customer satisfaction bar.
- High level of analytical thinking, decision-making, judgmental accuracy, and consultative skills
Institutes offering Full Time Classroom Business Analytics Courses in Hong Kong
The following Universities offer full-time classroom Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong
1. The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong is the first university in Hong Kong and has been ranked #23 in QS World University Ranking in the world. The following courses are available to pursue at The Institute:
In Business Analytics
Admission Prerequisite: For Admission, the following conditions have to be met by the student :
- Graduate Degree or Equivalent from a recognized University
- IELTS Score of 6 ( Subtest cutoff 5.5)
- and Toefl Score of 80
- Two good references.
Fees: 4400000 / HK$330,000 /per year
Scholarship: A scholarship of waiver of tuition fees from 10% to 50% for merit-based students. A full fee waiver for outstanding students.
Duration: 1 year (students unable to clear in one year can extend till the second year maximum.)
Course Curriculum: The students are required to attend a Pre-Programme Boot Camp course which brushes up their knowledge in the following subjects :
- Programming
- Mathematics
- Database
- Statistics
The following Core subjects are as follows, which are mandatory :
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
- Business Statistics
- Operation Analytics
- Quantitative Analysis Methods
The student has to choose any 5 Elective Courses from the following subjects offered:
- Accounting Analytics for Managerial Decisions
- Big Data Analytics on the Cloud
- Blockchain Cyber Security Risk Analysis
- Business Simulation
- Database Design & Management
- Deep Learning
- Digital Experimentation Methods
- Digital Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Financial Technologies
- Financial Engineering
- Forecasting & Predictive Analytics
- Geospatial & Business Analytics
- Machine Learning
- Marketing Analytics
- Prescriptive Analysis
- Quantitative Trading
- Service Operations Management
- Social Media & Digital Marketing Analytics
- Story Telling with Data
- Supply Chain & Logistic Management
Major Feature: Capstone Course to give real-life experience while working on real-life Business Projects.
Internship Opportunities: Non-Resident students have the following choices for internship :
- Part-time on-campus employment
- Summer Internship
- Curriculum related Internship
Course Feature: The following features of the course makes it count itself amongst the list of prestigious Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong :
- The course is modular based, with 6 modules in an entire year, with a time duration of 6-8 weeks. This gives students time to focus on the concerned subject only.
- The program is taught entirely in English. There are group project presentations and ample case studies to illustrate the application knowledge of Business Analytics in the real business world.
- Students learn hard and soft skills pertaining to simulations and forecasting in social media, finance, marketing and logistics, and supply chain.
2. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is ranked at #65 as per the QS World University Ranking. It offers an excellent choice to students for Business Analysts courses in Hong Kong. The course prepares the students for core sectors like supply chain, logistics, retail, banking, finance, financial product pricing, and development.
MSc in Operational Research & Risk Analysis
Admission Prerequisite: For admission, the following is required :
- A bachelor’s degree with honors in Computer Science, Engineering, Basic Science, Economics, Finance, or equivalent.
- TOEFL Score of 80
- IELTS Score of band 6
- Letter of Experience in case of Previous Employment
- Interview
Fees: 160000 approx/per year or HK$7600/per credit
Scholarship: None
Duration: 5 years, Non Local students can only apply for a full-time course.
Course Curriculum: The students are required to complete these 7 compulsory subjects :
- Operations Research Methods
- Probability & Stochastic Models
- Principles of Risk Analysis
- Financial Modelling
- Business Forecasting
- Simulation & Risk Analysis
- Advanced operations research methods
There is a choice of 3 Elective Subjects from the following subjects or a Dissertation :
- Advanced Topics in Quantitative Finance
- Corporate Risk Management
- Investment Science
- Loss Models
- Mathematics of Finance
- Mathematics of Derivative Pricing
- Scientific Computing
- Statistical Inference
- Optimization Methods
- Statistical Data Mining
- Quantum Computing for Data Science
- Principles of Corporate Finance
Internship Opportunities: As and when the opportunity arises
Course Features: Among the Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong, the following are the main features of this course :
- The course enhances the statistical, analytical, and decision-making acumen of students.
- The course gives valuable insight into the areas of logistics, supply chain, finance, product pricing, and procurement.
- The course helps the students develop the communicative skills required in the above-mentioned fields, for strengthening relations with investors and clients.
MSc/Ph.D. in Global Business & Decision Analytics
Admission Prerequisite: For admission of foreign students in Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong, the following is required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or equivalent in any other discipline
- TOEFL score of 80
- IELTS score of 6
- Letter of Experience in case of previous work experience
- Interview round with the candidates
Fees: 2633593/ year or HK$250500/year
Scholarship: Merit-based on academic and nonacademic excellence as deemed by the Institution of upto HK$50,000 per recipient
Duration: For Msc and Ph.D., the duration is 1 year and can be extended until 1.5 years
Course Curriculum: The following subjects are covered in the Msc. Module:
These are the compulsory courses :
- International Logistics Systems, Operations & Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Global Sourcing & Supply
The following are the elective subjects, out of which students have to choose only 3:
- Managing Operations Systems/International Operations Management
- Contract Management /Digital Procurement Management and Analytics
- Information Systems for Supply Chain Management/ E-Commerce
The following are Free Elective subjects that are only for Msc students and not required for Ph.D. students. Students have to choose only 4 subjects out of the following list :
- Accounting for Managers
- Air Transport Logistics and Management
- Application of Decision-Making Models
- Business Analytics
- Enterprise resource Planning
- Lean Thinking and Practise
- Maritime Logistics
- Managing Innovation
- Models of Decision Making
- Organizational management in Shipping and Logistics
- Project Management
- Practice Global Supply Chain Management
- Project(6 credits)
- Risk Management in Operations
- Supplier Development
- Statistics for Management
- Strategies and Technologies for Warehouse Management
- Transport Logistics in China
- Total Quality Management
Internship Opportunities: Opportunities available by the institution for nonlocal students through Work-Integrated Education(WIE) Programme.
Course Features: Among the various Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong, the following are the strong points of this course curriculum :
- The students gain a deeper insight into the global management of supply chain, procurement, and finance related to the organization, procurement, and operations.
- The course emphasizes the development of the overall analytical, statistical, quantitative, and qualitative skills of the students.
Accounting and Finance Analytics
- Admission Prerequisite: For admission of foreign students the following is required :
- A bachelor’s degree, preferably in engineering, computing, or in science.
- TOEFL score of 80
- IELTS score of 6
- Letter of Experience in case of previous work experience
- Interview round with the candidates
- Fees: 3248602/ year or HK$309000/year
- Scholarship: None
- Duration: 1year
Course Curriculum: The students are required to complete these compulsory subjects :
- Applications of Computing and Technology in Accounting and Finances I
- Accounting for Business Analysis
- Business Analytics in Accounting and Finance
- Contemporary Issues in Accounting Information Systems
- Investments
- Principles of Corporate Finance
- Quantitative Methods for Accounting and Finance
- Financial Analysis and Valuation with Programming (Only for MSc students)
- Applications of Computing and Technology in Accounting and Finances II
The list of Elective Subjects is as follows, out of which students have to choose 1:
- Auditing Framework
- Accounting and Finance Analytics Project
- Artificial Intelligence Concepts
- Business Intelligence and Decisions
- Corporate Risk Management
- Derivatives Securities
- Data Structure and Database Systems
- Fixed Income Securities
- Management Accounting
- Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Internship Opportunities: Opportunities available by the institution for nonlocal students through Work-Integrated Education(WIE) Programme.
Course Features: As compared to other Business Analyst courses in Hong Kong, the following are the important features of this course :
- The students learn big data analytics and understanding especially related to the finance sector.
- Students are given a deeper insight into the core process of finance and accounting.
- Students are trained to develop a sharper decision-making process especially related to the finances and accounting of companies.
- Business Analytics
- Admission Prerequisite: For admission of foreign students the following is required :
- A Masters’s degree or Post Graduate Diploma from any University recognized by PolyU.
- One year of relevant work experience is mandatory.
- Students above 27yrs should have a minimum of 6 years of work experience in the industry, commerce, or public administration, with 3 years in a managerial role.
- TOEFL score of 80
- IELTS score of 6
- Letter of Experience in case of previous work experience
- Interview round with the candidates
Fees: 2220219/ year or HK$250500/per program
Scholarship: None
Duration: 5 year
Course Curriculum: The students are required to complete credits in these subjects :
The following are compulsory subjects :
- Business Intelligence and Decision
- Business Analytics
- Management Information Systems
- Organisation and Management
The following is the ethics subject :
- Business Ethics
The following is a list of Elective courses which are categorized, out of which any 6 subjects are to be chosen by the student for a Non-Dissertation Option and only 2 for a Dissertation Option:
- Applications of Decision-Making Models
- Business Forecasting
- Business Applications of Blockchain
- E-commerce
- Marketing Management
- Models for Decision Making
- Managing Operations Systems
- Research Methods
- Strategic Management
- Social Media Marketing
- Seminars in Emerging Technology
- Textual Analysis in Business
- Transformation to Sustainable Smart Cities
- Technology Innovation and Management
The following are the Dissertation subjects :
- Business Analytics Dissertation
- Research Methods
Course Features: In a sea of various Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong, the following are the highlights of this program:
- The students are taught the professional ways to analyze and interpret big data analysis, problems, and statistics which are an essential part of the company processes.
- Numerous case studies and research teach the students the actual problems and loopholes in the working of a business.
- Systematic training of the technique of business analytic application domains and application in real-life cases.
Recommended Reads:
- Business Analytics Courses in Vietnam
- Business Analytics Courses in Germany
- Business Analytics Courses in Liverpool
- Business Analytics Courses in Ireland
- Business Analytics Courses in Amsterdam
- Business Analytics Courses in Doha
3. City University of Hong Kong
The City University of Hong Kong is ranked #54 as per the QS World University Ranking. There are two streams of Business Analytics Courses in Hong Kong offered by the University, that is, Information Analytics Management and Quantitative Analysis for Business. Admission can be given to the student in either of the streams depending on merits.
Admission Prerequisite: For the admission process the following is required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or any other discipline with the required mathematical knowledge.
- IELTS score of 6.5
- TOEFL score of 79
- Interview performance
- Academic performance and work experience(if any)
Fees: Rs.23,36463/ approx. per year / HK$ 7400/per credit
Scholarship: None
Duration : Full time 1year ( can be extended max. till 2.5yrs)
Course Curriculum: The courses offered in the two streams for the Business Analytics course are :
The core course for both streams is as follows:
- Database management Systems
- Data Visualisation
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Data Mining
- Machine Learning & Social Media Analytics (Only for Information Analytics Management Stream students)
- Applied Linear Statistical Models ( Only for Quantitative Analysis for Business students only)
Elective Courses for Information Analytics Management program are as follows out of which 9 credits have to be chosen :
- Analytical Programming with Python
- Business Data Analytics
- Business Intelligence Applications
- Blockchain Technology & Business Applications
- Innovation & Technology Entrepreneurship
- Information Systems Project
- Knowledge Management
- Management Support & Business Intelligence System
- Project Management & Quality Assurance
Elective Courses for Quantitative Analysis for Business are as follows, out of this 4 elective to be chosen :
- Contemporary Topics in Quantitative Analysis for Business
- Decision Analytics
- Managerial Decision Modelling
- Predictive Analysis with Excel & R
- Predictive Modelling & Forecasting for Business
- Predictive Modelling in Marketing
- Project Management
- Statistical Modelling in Risk Management
- Statistical Modelling in Economics & Finance
Course Features: Among the Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong the following are the main features of this course :
Enhancing the business data analytical skills of the students through various research, case studies in the field of data mining, applied statistics, and social media analytics.
4. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has been ranked at #40 by the QS World University Rankers. It is a fast-emerging prestigious college in Asia and is counted among the youngest college which has been awarded the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB) in 1999, just eight years after its foundation in 1991. Thus, amongst the Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong, it ensures an excellent curriculum with ample opportunities for employment.
MSc in Business Analytics
- Admission Prerequisite: For the admission process the following is required :
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or any other discipline with the required mathematical knowledge. Knowledge of SQL and Python.
- IELTS score of 6.5
- TOEFL score of 80
- GRE/GMAT scores (highly recommended but not compulsory)
- Interview performance
- Academic performance and work experience(if any)
Fees: 3159599/ approx. per year / HK$ 335000/per year
Scholarship: None
Duration: Full-time 1year
Course Curriculum: The course curriculum offers 18 credits to be taken from the required course list and 12 credits from the Elective courses, which are as follows :
The following is the list of compulsory courses :
- Introduction to Business Analytics
- Visual Analytics for Business Decisions
- Social Media and Network Analysis
- High Dimensional Statistics with Business Applications
- Business Modelling and Optimization
- Privacy Management in the Digital Age
- Big Data Analytics
- Decision Analytics
The following are the Elective Courses :
- Special Topics in Business Analytics
- Business Analytics Practicum
- Big Data Technologies
- Operations Analytics
- Business Modelling with VBA
- Digital Business and Web Analytics
- Learning Statistics with Python
Course Features: Amongst the various Business Analysts courses in Hong Kong, this course curriculum has the following strong points :
- Interactive workshops with industry experts at regular intervals.
- Theoretical practices to gain mastery in business communication, data analysis, and decision-making process.
5. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong stands at #38 QS World Ranking of Universities. The University is the first among Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong and offers excellent placement opportunities for students due to its close affiliation with the Chinese Market Economy. It also offers Risk Management and Data Analytics Actuarial Science and Insurance Analytics course apart from Business Analytics courses.
In Business Analytics Course
- Admission Prerequisite: For the admission process the following is required :
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or any other discipline from a recognized University.
- IELTS score of 6.5
- TOEFL score of 79
- GRE/GMAT scores
- Interview performance
- Academic performance and work experience(if any)
Fees: Rs.3317678/ approx. per year / HK$315000/per year
Scholarship: None
Duration: Full-time 1year
Course Curriculum: The courses are divided into 3 trimesters with an optional Summer Term. In all the trimesters a student has to choose 2 core courses and 1-2 Elective courses. In the Summer Term, a student has the option of selecting any Elective course. The list is as follows :
The following is the list of Core Courses:
- Business Intelligence Techniques and Applications
- Decision Models and Applications
- Data Mining for Managers
- Risk and Operation Analytics
- Statistical Analysis
The following is the list of Elective Courses :
- Artificial Intelligence for Business
- Advanced Business Analytics Practicum
- Business Process Analysis and Simulation
- Database and Big Data Management
- Economic Analytics
- Fintech and its Applications
- Supply Chain and Logistics Management
- Managing Service Operations
- Technology Field Study
- Web Analytics and Intelligence
Course Features: The following are the advantages of this course as compared to other Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong :
- During the Technology Field Study elective course students get the opportunity to either work in any renowned company or any R and D centers to gain first-hand knowledge of real-world business processes.
FAQs
1. What are the requirements for enrolling in Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong?
The following are the requirements for enrolling in full-time Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong :
- A Bachelor’s Degree in either Engineering or any discipline with a focus on Mathematical abilities.
- TOEFL Score of 80
- IELTS Score of 6 generally, although few institutions require 6.5 bands.
- Good academic performance
- Some institutes conduct an interview for the final selection
- Work experience certifications if applicable
2. What are the advantages of studying in Hong Kong?
The following are the advantages for students enrolled in Business Analytics Courses in Hong Kong :
- Hong Kong is fast emerging as the financial hub for not only Mainland China but also the rest of the world. There are as per the 2021 census data 1260 top US firms and offices of 70 leading banks in the world. Thus there are ample employment opportunities for students.
- Language is no barrier as mostly English is spoken due to the presence of many foreign nationals living and working in the city.
- Scholarships are available for students given by the Government, apart from scholarship opportunities present in different institutions. Part-time jobs and internships are also available for foreign students.
3. What is the average salary of a Business Analyst post the course?
In India, the average salary of a Business Analyst ranges between Rs.14 lacs per annum to Rs.40lacs per annum. After completing any Business Analysts courses in Hong Kong the average starting salary is HK$ 60518 /month on an average of HK$76000/month for a senior business analyst, as per Glassdoor Agency.
4. What is the average duration of the Business Analytics courses in Hong Kong?
The average duration for a full-time, classroom Business Analytics course is 1 to 1.5 years. The Institutes give an option of an extension of 1 year further to students unable to complete all examinations. For part-time students, the course duration is between 2-2.5 years. With additional extension given by the institutions, the student has to finish in a maximum of 5 years anyhow.
Summary
Hong Kong is the best place, especially for Indian students looking for education opportunities in a foreign land. The biggest advantage is the strong and rising financial economy which offers ample employment opportunities not only in Hong Kong and China but all across the globe. Language is not a major barrier for students due to its multilingual community. Business Analysts courses in Hong Kong give the flexibility to a student to opt for an MSc degree, and in case of any unseen circumstances one cannot complete the entire course, then a Pg Diploma can be awarded on completing the main courses.