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!
Everything explained in three minutes
What do you do as a business IT specialist?
Bridge the gap between IT and the business departments
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.
Help shaping the digital future
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 what a computer scientist is talking about
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.
Get to the bottom of things
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 what the business is talking about
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.
Convince across the board
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.
Secure your study place now!
Start in September: We recommend early registration until April 30.
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.
Specialisations
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).
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. 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). This allows you to complete your studies in four years (8 semesters). In addition to your studies, we recommend a maximum workload of 70% over the entire year. You should reduce your workload during the semester so that you have enough time to study. In the summer months, when there are no classes, you can work more.
Teaching days (Basel): Monday, Tuesday, Saturday morning
Teaching days day model (Brugg-Windisch): Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning
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:
As an IT consultant, you advise customers on finding solutions, assess the feasibility of different approaches and support the implementation of IT projects.
As a requirements engineer, you determine the requirements of various stakeholders. You mediate between customers, developers and project teams and ensure that everyone has the same expectations about the implementation.
As a project manager, you ensure that IT projects satisfy the client, are implemented on time, meet the required quality standards, and stay within budget.
As a data scientist, you ensure a solid database, develop new algorithms to find correlations and create forecasting models.
As a Cyber Security Consultant, you shape the IT security of companies, identify risks, define measures, and assess their effectiveness.
As a (Junior) Developer, you have the necessary skills to use software development tools in a company and to work productively on projects.
Success stories
«Die Kombination von Innovation und Zusammenarbeit war aufregend und bereichernd»
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 700*
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
Start in September: We recommend early registration until April 30. Depending on your previous education, the following documents must be enclosed with the application:
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: Mid-January to the beginning of February
Spring semester (from week 8)
Duration: 15 weeks (mid-February to the beginning of June)
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.
No. Our students have a wide variety of educational backgrounds. That is why we impart knowledge step by step during your studies and do not require any prior knowledge of business or IT.
If you already have some knowledge, you will make faster progress and can invest the time you have gained in subjects that are new to you.
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.
Previous programming knowledge is not necessary.
The lessons are designed in a way that no previous programming experience is required. However, interest in analytical thinking and problem solving is expected. If you would still like to get a taste of it, you can find numerous introductory videos on YouTube. The first programming language you will learn is called “Python”.
Assessment modules are compulsory modules in the first semester. You must pass them to be able to enter the second year and thus the main course of study.
The FHNW is fundamentally a face-to-face university. Participation in face-to-face teaching is therefore expected. However, individual teaching units may take place online.
The number of credits indicates how much study work is expected.
One ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) represents approximately 30 hours of student work for an average student. A 3 ECTS module therefore corresponds to about 90 hours of study work.
Examples of student workload
Contact lessons: only net time (45' per lesson) credited
Bridge the gap between IT and the business departments
