Bachelor in Business Information Technology
Implement innovative ideas for digitalisation
Key data
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science FHNW in Business Information Technology
- ECTS points
- 180
- Study start
- September
- Studying mode
- Full-time or part-time (Brugg-Windisch: only part-time)
- Duration
- 3 or 4 years
- Teaching language
- English
- Place
- Basel or Brugg-Windisch
- Stay abroad
- Optional
- Semester fee
- CHF 750 with residence in Switzerland (for details see fees*)
Start September: We recommend early registration by April 30.
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As a business IT specialist, you are the digital expert in the business world. In your role as an intermediary between business administration and IT, you are one of the game changers who makes companies more efficient and competitive. Whether it is smart software, data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) or cool digital tools – you are at the forefront when it comes to optimising processes, managing projects, and developing innovative solutions. In short: you shape the digital world of tomorrow!
In your projects, you negotiate with the people involved and recognise their challenges, expectations, and needs. You understand the language of business as well as that of IT and mediate between the two worlds. After your studies, you will be able to master complex business challenges with innovative IT solutions.
Thanks to your interdisciplinary knowledge, you will find and design suitable, innovative IT solutions and take on an advisory role. You optimise processes, analyse and structure data with the help of artificial intelligence, develop effective strategies or new business models. In this way, you help companies to succeed.
You know the possibilities and limitations of IT systems, how they are structured and how they work. You are actively involved in the implementation of projects, whether in project management, software development, quality assurance or other functions.
You analyse situations, regulations, and processes in order to understand them. This allows you to uncover weaknesses and create a basis for decisions. After analysing the current situation, you determine the requirements for your projects, record them in a structured manner and define the target status.
You know the correlations in the business world as well as the success criteria of processes and organisations. You lead projects and/or teams, act in line with the company strategy and always ensure the best cost-benefit ratio.
You are able to critically evaluate and analyse actions, ventures, and contracts. You are convincing in workshops and meetings, document professionally and assess data and facts correctly.
Your studies will provide you with the ideal mix of knowledge from business administration, computer science and business information technology. You will immerse yourself in the world of business administration, learn how companies work and make decisions. At the same time, you will acquire in-depth IT knowledge, from programming to databases, machine learning and cybersecurity.
Business information technology brings together both disciplines (computer science and business): you will learn to understand the needs and expectations of different groups and develop digital solutions to transform business processes and drive companies forward – and everything in English, the language of IT and global business.
In the second half of your studies, you can choose from several specialisations that are tailored to current trends and jobs on the market. Depending on your interests and career plans, you can put together your own study portfolio and turn your studies into your own personal programme.
Here at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, you will gain real insights into the professional world as part of your studies. Whether in a practical project, during your bachelor’s thesis or in project-based modules, you will directly experience the challenges that companies have to overcome.
You use your knowledge to develop practical solutions – always at the forefront of the latest technologies. Be it to optimise processes, support companies in their choice of business software or contribute your ideas on topics such as cloud computing and data management.
During your studies, you will experience how you can apply your knowledge into practice with various real-life projects in actual companies. And after a successful project you might even secure a job in that organisation.
Would you like to concentrate fully on your studies? Then the full-time course is exactly right for you. You will graduate in just three years (6 semesters).
- Instruction days: Monday to Friday (one day off per week)
- Scope: 30 ECTS per semester
- Full-time module overview (PDF)
Would you like to work while studying, or do you have other responsibilities such as caring for a loved one? Then part-time studying is ideal. This allows you to complete your studies in four years (8 semesters). With a 50% workload in a field related to your studies, you can also have your work credited up to a maximum of 18 ECTS through short papers (job reflections).
- Teaching days (Basel): Monday afternoon/evening and Wednesday afternoon/evening, exceptional Saturday morning (some modules online)
- Teaching days (Brugg-Windisch): Thursday, Friday
- Time windows (PDF)
- Scope: 21-24 ECTS per semester
- Part-time module overview (PDF)
The degree programme consists of the assessment stage, which you must complete in the first year of study, and the main study. In the main study programme, you have the opportunity to choose certain modules individually and put together your study portfolio flexibly. The individual modules are assigned to a module group. To complete your studies, you need a minimum number of ECTS points per module group:
Module group | ECTS | Notes |
Foundation | 24 | 3 ECTS each can be substituted * |
Business Administration | 21 | |
Business Information Technology | 33 | 6 ECTS each can be substituted * |
Information Technology | 28 | |
Student Work | 27 |
|
Specialisation * | 36 |
|
Electives * | 12 |
|
* A total of 66 ECTS can be chosen individually. This corresponds to around one-third of your studies.
As a business IT specialist, you have the choice between many exciting job profiles in a wide range of industries. During your studies, you will find out which areas interest you the most and what best suits your particular strengths. This will allow you to decide later on whether you would prefer a technical job, plunge into the analytical world or work in management.
Typical examples of job profiles:
With the following qualifications you are directly admitted to the course:
- Professional Baccalaureate, commercial or technical
- Commercial School (with Professional Baccalaureate)
With the following qualifications, you need at least one year of practical experience (1) after your initial training:
- Other Professional Baccalaureate
- General Baccalaureate (2)
- International Baccalaureate (4)
- Specialised Middle School Baccalaureate
- German University of Applied Sciences Entry Diploma entitling studies in all federal states of Germany (5)
- Higher Vocational School
We will consider the admission procedure individually with the following degrees:
- Degree from a higher vocational school in the fields of business, technology, or business information technology (number of creditable ECTS is checked individually, max. 60 ECTS)
- Foreign Certificate on request (3)
- Federal PET Diplomas (entrance exam)
- Transfer from Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (determination of equivalence)
1) Work experience must include a predominantly commercial or technical activity and have taken place after the completion of upper secondary education.
2) Baccalaureate certificates obtained outside Switzerland are accepted if granted access to Swiss universities without examination.
3) For international students: The entrance examinations are held in English. Subjects: English, Business Studies, Accounting, Mathematics. Registration Deadline: End of January.
4) Accepted, if in final diploma 32 out of 42 points achieved (without bonus points) as well as 6 subjects from the IB group list. At least 3 subjects have to be at Higher Level (one of these being a mathematics or natural sciences subject).
5) A minimum grade of 2.5 is required.
You do not need to submit a language certificate for the BSc in Business Information Technology. However, for successful studies we recommend that you have already reached the level of at least B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in all language skills before starting your studies.
Tuition fees qualify for attendance of any Bachelor course within FHNW, independent of the particular enrolment at a faculty.
Registration fee (1) | once | CHF 200 |
Personal course fee (2) | per semester | CHF 750* |
Copying and materials | per semester | CHF 100 |
Teaching materials, books, projects | per year | ca. CHF 1'000 |
Diploma fee | once | CHF 300 |
(1) A separate registration fee has to be paid for each programme you register for.
(2) For students domiciled in a Swiss canton or in the Principality of Liechtenstein with legal entitlement to a grant, for Expatriate Swiss citizens or for students domiciled in a Swiss canton, who are holders of a residence permit that has not been issued specially for their studies. All other students, please contact the secretariat.
*Personal course fee for EU or EFTA citizens: CHF 1'000.00 per semester
*Personal course fee for non-European citizens: CHF 5'700.00 per semester
- Fees and regulations (PDF in German, valid from academic year 2025/2026)
- Grants and loans
Start in September: We recommend early registration until April 30. Depending on your previous education, the following documents must be enclosed with the application:
- University entrance qualification incl. report card (vocational baccalaureate certificate, baccalaureate certificate, etc.)
- Federal diploma of higher education
- Residence permit (if available)
- Exmatriculation attestation (if available)
Timetable
You will receive your timetable for the first semester in July.
Introduction days
In week 37, before the start of your first semester, obligatory introductory days take place. You will be informed of the exact dates in August.
Autumn semester (from week 38)
- Duration: 14 weeks (from mid-September to End of December)
- Block week: week 45 (from the 2nd year of study)
- Examinations: Early January to the beginning of February
Spring semester (from week 8)
- Duration: 15 weeks (mid-February to the beginning of June)
- Block week: week 16 (from the 2nd year of study)
- Examinations: Mid-June to early July
Regulations FHNW School of Business (in German)
Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses may apply for disadvantage compensation.
The aim of disadvantage compensation is to eliminate or reduce the disadvantages resulting from disabilities and chronic illnesses during studies with appropriate measures. The term describes the adaptation of the conditions under which learning and/or examinations take place, but not a modification of the learning objectives or a subject dispensation. Compensation for disadvantages can be applied both in the admission procedure and in the degree programme.
The FHNW will be happy to help you to coordinate your studies and conscription in the best possible way. More information
Flyer Bachelor Business Information Technology (PDF)
Flyer Bachelor degree programmes (in German)
Students and programme heads will answer your questions in an open consultation hour. Simply open the link during the specified time and take part. Further dates will follow.
Social Media FHNW School of Business
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