What should I study before a business degree if I have little experience with data?
Before a business degree, focus on practical numeracy and data literacy: percentages, ratios, graphs, averages, probability basics, and interpreting tables. Practice using spreadsheets and consider introductory statistics, economics, accounting, or finance. Advanced programming is not generally necessary unless the specific course requires it, but comfort with organising and questioning data will help.
Key points
- Work on spreadsheet skills such as formulas, sorting, filtering, and charts.
- Learn to distinguish correlation from causation and to recognise misleading summaries or graphs.
- Review algebra and basic financial concepts, including revenue, costs, profit, and interest.
- Short online courses, textbooks, or practical projects can provide preparation without requiring prior university-level study.
Things to check
- Entry requirements and the amount of quantitative work vary by business degree and institution, so check the official course information for prerequisites or recommended preparation.