Business analyst
Business analysts work with organisations to help them change and improve.
Salary Range: £30,000 to £70,000
How to become a business analyst
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
University
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in:
- business information systems
- business management
- computing and systems development
- computer science
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You could start by completing a business analyst higher apprenticeship, or a degree apprenticeship in project management, software engineering or cyber security.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
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Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs if you’ve got several years’ experience in project management, consulting or IT.
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Career tips
A working knowledge of project development methods like Waterfall or Agile can help you get into this career.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a business analyst from:
- International Institute of Business Analysis UK
- The Chartered Institute for IT
- Institute of Consulting
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- business management skills
- analytical thinking skills
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- knowledge of English language
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to use your initiative
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could be:
- speaking to managers to find out what they want to achieve
- carrying out fact finding tasks into business processes to see what they do and how they do it
- analysing findings and using data modelling methods to help recommend changes and improvements
- explaining the benefits of your recommendations and looking at the potential impact and risks
- agreeing the best way to put recommended changes into place with management
- overseeing testing and quality checks of recommendations
- supporting staff making changes and reporting any issues
Working environment
You could work in an office or at a client’s business.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into project management, consulting, or work in different industries.
You could set up your own company and work freelance.