The Master of Science (MSc) in Business Information Systems has been designed for ambitious students who are committed to pursuing a career on the interface between business and information technology.
Practice-orientation and Innovation
The goal is to empower students to effectively exploit information and information systems for the success of enterprises in a globalized, networked and digital economy. Going beyond the current state of practice, we enable students to gain result-oriented problem solving competences and empower them to become drivers of innovation in their enterprises.
International
We prepare students for a future career in multi-cultural, cross-border business environments. Being taught entirely in English, and offering international study opportunities makes the course truly international.
Excellent Career Prospects
The programme prepares students for a broad context of demanding tasks in the corporate and academic world. Graduates of the programme have excellent prospects in the future job market. Ongoing digitalization will raise the importance of information systems for the success of companies. This will lead to an increasing demand for information systems specialists over the coming years.
PhD Opportunities
The programme qualifies graduates to write a doctoral thesis. In cooperation with our partner university in Camerino we offer opportunities for subsequent PhD studies. There are further PhD options with other universities in Switzerland and abroad.
Individual Study Design and Flexible Time Planning
The programme is offered as a full-time or as a part-time course. A variety of electives allow students to design their course individually according to their preferred areas of interest.
Secure your study place now!
We recommend early registration until April 30 (start in September) or October 30 (start in February).
The MSc in Business Information Systems is divided into three main module groups. Projects and a variety of electives allow students to design their course programme individually according to their preferred areas of interest.
The core modules cover essential topics in the area of business information systems.
*Module offered by other FHNW faculties or by approved learning partner abroad, replacing one of the elective modules described above. Module descriptions
Applied Research is an important element for know-how development in the Master of Science in Business Information Systems. In their own research projects students learn how to expand the current state of practice and to aspire towards new solutions. This opens their mind for bringing up-to-date concepts into practice and thus be the driver for innovation in their enterprises.
The programme typically stretches over three semesters (1.5 years). The course can be flexibly adapted to personal constraints and opportunities. The first semester includes the core modules and the innovation thinking project. Between the 1st and 3rd semester the electives are taken. In addition students prepare their master’s thesis proposal in the 2nd semester. The course is completed in the 3rd semester with the master’s thesis.
Part-time mode
The programme typically extends to five semesters (2.5 years). The course can be flexibly adapted to personal constraints and opportunities. The core modules and the innovation thinking project are taken in the 1st and 2nd semester. Students are left free to decide on their electives between the 2nd and 5th semester. Toward the end of the course students prepare their research proposal and write up their master’s thesis.
A combination of full-time and part-time studies over 4 semesters or even an extension to 6 semesters and more is possible.
Lectures are from Tuesday to Saturday. For each semester the timetable is published before the students enrol in the modules. This means that the students can influence their individual timetable and their lecture days - depending on the modules they choose.
Each module is taught in a half day lecture (8:15 - 12:00 or 13:15 - 17:00). Full-time students usually have 5 modules per semester (i.e. 5 half days of lecture per week). Part-time students usually have 3 modules per semester (i.e. 3 half day of lecture per week). Typically, part-time students choose lectures on Saturday and on one day in the week.
One of the critical steps in developing a global mindset is familiarity and comfort with non-home country settings. Understanding other countries’ economic, social, political and cultural systems and imprints is key.
USA, South Africa and China
The field trips to Silicon Valley, South Africa and Shenzhen open up opportunities for our students to see the world through the eyes of others. This is what a truly global mindset is all about. Through a combination of a pre-departure session, company visits, group interviews with managers, cultural activities and an analytical paper at the end, students are exposed to and have to reflect upon the realities of huge emerging economies.
The international immersion experiences in the USA, South Africa and China provide unique insights into a fascinating world marked by diversity and innovation. The international field trips aim at providing a connection between concepts and models learned in the classroom and the real world abroad. Students participating in one of these field trips will be awarded ECTS credit points.
We offer the opportunity to enhance the Master of Science in Business Information Systems with additional degrees
University of Camerino
In collaboration with the University of Camerino (Italy) we offer the opportunity to undertake an exchange and gain an additional Master of Science in Computer Science from our partner university.
Institut Teknology Bandung
In collaboration with the Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia) we offer the opportunity to undertake an exchange and gain an additional Master of Science in Management from our partner university.
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW
Students have the opportunity to undertake an exchange semester in one of our carefully selected partner universities abroad. Typically, exchange programmes can be combined with undertaking research projects or writing the master’s thesis in cooperation with universities and companies in the selected destination. Successful partnerships have been established with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa and the Department of Informatics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Organisational details
The registration requirements for the Master of Science in Business Information Systems programme encompass
a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Business Informatics (Wirtschaftsinformatik), Business Information Technology, Information Systems, Business Administration (Betriebsökonomie)*, Management*, Economics*, Computer Science (Informatik)*, Information Technology*, Information Science*, Industrial Engineering* or a similar field of study
good or very good linguistic abilities in English
work experience
The transcript of records (modules completed) of bachelor’s degrees which are marked with * will be checked in detail. Missing required modules may be studied in the pre-master’s programme. Each student providing evidence of meeting the registration requirements will be invited for an interview. The number of places for this programme is limited.
Application deadline
for start in September: apply until 30th April 2024
for start in February: apply until 30th October 2024
If a candidate lacks some of the knowledge required for the Master of Science in Business Information Systems, the admission commission can request her/him to attend a Pre-Master programme before the start of the Master's course. We offer three different courses:
Pre-Master Business Administration
Pre-Master Business Process Management
Pre-Master Information Systems
The Pre-Master courses are offered in a distance-learning mode. Students who are requested to do a course will get an access code and will be advised on how to pass the course. After successful completion of the requested Pre-Master courses, students are officially enrolled in the MSc in Business Information Systems.
Lectures in the Master of Science in Business Information Systems programme are mainly held on the Olten campus. It is also possible to enroll in electives offered by the FHNW School of Life Sciences at the campus in Muttenz.
Application fee
once
CHF 200
Personal course fee*
per semester
CHF 700 (international: CHF 1000 for EU/EFTA; CHF 7500 for other)
Copying and materials
per semester
CHF 100
Student organisation
per semester
CHF 10
Break semester
per semester
CHF 100
Diploma fee
once
CHF 300
*Personal course fee:
Personal course fee is CHF 700 per semester for Swiss citizens and holders of Swiss residence permits not issued specifically for study purposes.
Personal course fee is CHF 1000 per semester for EUor EFTA citizens and holders of EU or EFTA residence permits not issued specifically for study purposes.
Tuition fee for all other students is CHF 7,500 per semester
