What a business analyst actually does
Requirement gathering, process mapping, writing specifications, and validating that what shipped solves the original problem — plus a steady amount of stakeholder management.
How to become one — the qualification route
Any degree; MBA is common but not required. Domain knowledge plus documentation and SQL skills carry the screen.
Regulated professions have statutory entry requirements. Always confirm current rules with the relevant council or university before enrolling anywhere.
Skills the role runs on
Requirement gatheringProcess mappingSQLStakeholder managementAgile delivery
Which online courses actually help
SQL and process modelling first, then agile delivery practice, then analytics and visualisation to make the case with data.
Courses for business analysts
See all business analysts courses →| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA in Product Management : Be a Product Manager ( 2026) | Udemy | 4.4★ | Free | Free — certificate included |
| Master in Business Analytics | Udemy | 4.1★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate |
| Learn SQL | Codecademy | 4.6★ | Free | Quickest to finish (5h) |
| SQL for Data Analysis | Udacity | Udacity | 4.7★ | Free | Free to audit |
| Business Analytics | Coursera | 4.6★ | Free | Beginner-friendly · 2 months |
| AI Product Management | Coursera | 4.7★ | Free | Highest rated (4.7★ from 1.2K reviews) |