Peter Middleton - MSc Business Analytics
Originally from St Andrews and now an Aberdonian for more than two decades, Peter, 45, decided to return to education after more than 10 years working in the Offshore Energy sector. Although much of his work focused on data accuracy and structure, he found himself increasingly fascinated by the insights that data could generate.
A short 10-week online course, ‘Data Analytics For Business Decision-Making’, delivered by RGU, was pivotal for Peter.
“That course changed everything. I could immediately apply what I learned to my job and see real results. It sparked a genuine interest in the field and ultimately pushed me to take the leap and retrain.”
Returning to full-time study as a mature student was no small decision. With family commitments, financial considerations and memories of the less-digital teaching methods, Peter approached the idea cautiously. But the structure of RGU’s programme, the modern and accessible learning environment and the opportunity to learn under Dr Ebuka Ibeke, who had led the online taster course, made RGU the clear choice.
“The online taster course gave me a real insight into how teaching works today, a significant step forward from my undergraduate experience in the early to mid-2000s when I gained my undergraduate degree in History. RGU’s communication was clearer, the course structure suited my family commitments and being taught again by Dr Ebuka Ibeke made the choice an easy one.”
Once enrolled in the MSc Business Analytics course, one of Peter’s standout moments was realising how much his professional background supported his new academic journey.
“There was a moment when everything clicked. I realised that I already understood many of the business processes and theories. That gave me a huge confidence boost and helped me contribute meaningfully to discussions.”
Another defining achievement was his dissertation, which explored the underlying factors influencing Scottish school fires, a topic with limited existing research. Peter spent countless hours sourcing data, analysing patterns and building a predictive model, ultimately creating an interactive dashboard capable of generating scenario-based forecasts. His work was awarded an A at 100%.
“It was challenging but incredibly rewarding. So many people across RGU supported me, it felt like a shared success.”
Peter’s hard work paid off almost immediately. Just a week after submitting his dissertation, he began a new role with an international IT services company specialising in business transformation.
“The University helped me make the transition into a completely new field. My previous experience mattered, but being able to talk confidently about my dissertation and what I’d learned at RGU was a major factor in securing the role.”
As a dyslexic student, Peter registered with Access services, though he found the course structure naturally suited his needs.
“It was reassuring to know support was there if I needed it.”
Looking back on his time at RGU, Peter is deeply proud of what he has achieved.
“A year ago, I would have been delighted just to pass the course and hopefully achieve a Merit. To have finished with a Distinction honestly feels incredible. It really shows how the lecturers and support staff at the university helped me realise my full potential. Of course, I had to put in the hard work myself, but having such approachable and supportive staff made a huge difference.
“Considering the well-publicised financial challenges the higher education sector faced during my time there, it’s remarkable that the quality of teaching and delivery of the modules never faltered. That level of professionalism speaks volumes. It truly felt like a team effort.”