Master in Economic and Business Analytics

Master in Economic and Business Analytics is one of 4 English-taught Data Analytics programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 2 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's in Economic and Business Analytics at JKU Linz is a 120 ECTS programme taught in English over four semesters. It sits at the meeting point of economics, business administration and business informatics, and the focus is on making decisions with data rather than just collecting it.

What you study

The programme opens with base-knowledge courses in Applied Economics, Programming in Python, and Digital Transformation and Technologies. You then apply analytical methods in four areas:

• Econometrics: combining economic theory with statistical methods to make estimates and forecasts.
• Decisions in firms: how companies find the right employees and what motivates them.
• Data Mining: finding hidden patterns in clean, integrated data sets to derive business value.
• Operations Research: optimising distribution networks, simulating business processes and improving resource use.

After that you pick three optional interdisciplinary modules from Organisation and Markets, Financial Markets, Digital Economy and Supply Chain Management, Health, and Analytical Methods. The Health module covers health economics, epidemiology and evaluation, and human resources in healthcare. Financial Markets covers financial economics, corporate finance and asset management. Digital Economy and Supply Chain Management includes operations and supply chain management, industrial organisation and the internet, online marketplaces, software business and E-business.

You also work with real data sets from institutions such as social insurance bodies and Statistics Austria, and you are encouraged to bring company data into your Master's thesis through collaboration projects.

How the programme is organised

The 120 ECTS break down as follows: 24 ECTS in Principles in Applied Economics, Digital Transformation and Technologies; 24 ECTS in Principles in Analytic Methods; 36 ECTS in optional interdisciplinary modules; 12 ECTS in autonomous coursework; and 24 ECTS for the Master's thesis, including a colloquium and a seminar. Most courses are on site, though some are occasionally offered online. Part-time study is possible in principle, but some courses have mandatory daytime attendance, such as internships and intensive courses, so you need some flexibility. Starting in the summer semester is generally possible, but the winter semester is recommended because the required courses are structured around it.

Who it suits

This is a business and economics degree, not a methods degree. The programme page draws a clear line between it and Artificial Intelligence or Statistics: those focus on methods, while this one focuses on business issues and economic relationships. It suits students who want to process large amounts of data and make evidence-based management decisions, and who see themselves in business roles at private companies or public institutions. Prior programming knowledge is not required, since R and Python are taught in the programme. If you already know Python, you can take another class in place of the introductory course.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a Bachelor's or Diploma degree in economics and business, or a comparable degree, with at least 12 ECTS in Business Administration, 12 ECTS in Economics and 6 ECTS in Mathematics or Statistics. If you are missing credits, the Rectorate can admit you on condition that you complete supplementary examinations of up to 24 ECTS. English at level B2 is required. From fall 2026, applicants who did not complete the qualifying degree at a recognised post-secondary institution in the EU or EEA must also submit a Graduate Management Admission Test score of 600 or above, no older than two years. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to JKU, and the university's own page gives the application period. EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters at this public university; other students pay a fee per semester.

How can we improve our healthcare system? Can we prevent large amounts of food from supermarkets from ending up in the trash? How can online shops increase sales? Nothing works without collecting data and information, whether in research, in crime prevention, or in any company that wants to be successful. The master's degree programme in "Economic and Business Analytics" will show you how to keep track of huge amounts of data, how to interpret data, how to make it profitable for companies and to benefit society, and how to make business decisions based on this data.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Johannes Kepler University Linz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.