MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems

You learn how to use information and information technology to add value to companies and organisations. You gain an understanding of how IT affects the organisational structure and financial results of a company – and how the organisational needs and economic reality creates possibilities and constraints on the IT architecture.

About the programme

The significance of information and information technology in business is greater than ever. Almost every activity and decision in a company depends on IT and therefore information and information technology is at the core of a number of different departments including human resources, finance, manufacturing and security.

Companies and organisations rely on IT when communicating with employees, suppliers and customers, and IT is used to observe changes in markets, to keep up with supply and demand, and to reduce cost and risk by collecting and analysing data and information.

Dealing with information and information technology is not a choice for companies and organisations. It is a necessity.

IT as a tool
In this programme you learn how to use information and information technology to add value to companies and organisations. IT is viewed as something you can use and manage to reach the goals and solve the problems of a company.

You will gain an understanding of the company and learn to analyse its needs providing the background for designing and implementing specific IT solutions. You will learn how IT affects the organisational structure and financial results of a company – and how the organisational needs and economic reality creates possibilities and constraints on the IT architecture.

You will also learn how to box in the problems of a company – reducing the complexity and making it possible to analyse, create and implement IT solutions. And you will learn to think outside the box – and thereby not only find more effective ways of doing things but also create new solutions to old problems.

Speaking two languages
The dependence of companies and organisations upon information and information technology creates a need for IT- and non-IT-departments to understand and collaborate with each other – and a need for employees with an understanding of the implementation of IT into business. Employees with skills restricted to either business administration or programming and computer science is no longer sufficient. Companies need people with qualifications that cross the boundaries of the two different areas.

You work with the integration between business administration and information technology and not only gain experience and knowledge of the two fields, their intersections and different needs, possibilities and constraints   – but also learn to understand and speak two different languages.

You will be able to assume the role of a communicator and facilitator enabling collaboration and communication between IT- and non-IT-departments of a company.

Customise your programme

During the programme, you have various opportunities to create your own academic profile.

Electives
On the 3rd semester, you can choose to study courses of your specific interest. CBS offers a large number of electives within a wide range of topics. You can also choose to take electives at other Danish universities. The electives you choose have to be relevant for your programme.

See the current selection of CBS electives on Single courses and electives - Master

Minor
On the 3rd semester, you can also choose to study a so-called minor. A minor is a package of electives within a specific academic area. Typically, it consists of 3 courses. By taking a minor, you strengthen your competences within a specific area of interest, and you can use it to qualify for specific jobs or industries. 

See the current selection of CBS minors on Minors

Exchange
Many students choose to go on exchange on their 3rd semester; usually at one of CBS’ more than 300 partner universities. When you go on exchange through CBS, you do not have to pay for the teaching at the foreign university (with a few exceptions), and you can bring your SU (student grant). 

Find a list of all CBS partner universities here

Academic internship
You can choose to replace some of your electives with a so-called academic internship. The academic internship consists of an internship period at a company, which is then completed with a project report. You can do the internship at a company in Denmark or abroad.

When doing an internship you get the opportunity to relate theory to practice and reflect on the academic training you receive at CBS in a practical setting. Therefore, the project report and work assignments during your internship have to be relevant to your study programme.

Double Degree 
On MSc IT, you can apply for a double degree with Mannheim Mannheim Business School. As a double degree student, you get a degree from both CBS and Mannheim Business School.

For the 1st year of your programme, you will study at CBS and for the 2nd year at Mannheim Business School in Germany. This way, you achieve a degree and a diploma from both CBS and Mannheim Business School in Germany.

Learn more about Double Degree

Learn more about  Double Degree with Mannheim Business School in Germany

Master's thesis
Your 2nd year is completed with a master's thesis. You choose the topic you want to write about, which allows you to focus on a specific topic of your interest. Typically, you write your master's thesis with a fellow student. 

What to consider

Studying in English
If you do not have bachelor’s degree taught in English, we recommend that you read more about what to consider before applying for an English taught programme. 

See Studying in English on Student Life

Study environment

DIT-LAB
DIT-LAB is a meeting place for students at HA(it.) and MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems to hang out, talk informally, and work on study projects.

Alumni association
There is an active alumni association which hosts events and posts new letters. This offers a chance to talk with alumni and often also companies about career opportunities.

Student life at CBS
Studying at CBS is much more than just preparing for and going to classes.

At CBS, there are more than 23,000 students with different backgrounds and nationalities. Teamwork is an essential part of studying at CBS both in classes and in extracurricular activities. 

With more than 100 student organisations, you also have plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with students across programmes and classes. 

Learn more about the vibrant student life at CBS, the student organisations, and the international environment on Student life

For internationals
If you are an international student, we have gathered a lot of information about what it is like to be an international student at CBS and how you can prepare for life in Denmark.

Read more on For internationals 

Teaching and exams

Teaching 
Read about Teaching and working methods on Student life

Exams
Read about Exams and exams types on Student life

Time consumption
You should know that it is demanding to study in a graduate programme, and both the curriculum and workload is  significantly higher than at bachelor level. 

If you are studying on a full-time graduate programme, you should expect spending approximately 37 hours on average on your studies each week. The workload will vary during the year.

The time leading up to assignment submissions and exams can be hectic, and you can easily work more than 40 hours a week in this period. Preparing for oral exams can be especially time consuming, because you have to be able to explain and discuss the covered concepts and theories and learn things by heart.

Read more about Time consumption on Student Life

Student job
Most programmes are quite flexible in terms of combining studies with a student job. Most students work a maximum of 15 hours a week in order to have sufficient time for their studies.

Studying in Denmark - for internationals
If this is your first time studying in Denmark, you may find teaching and exam formats, the grading scale and the academic calendar very different from what you are used to.

Read about everything you need to know as an international student studying at CBS on For internationals > Academic information  

Career

What gets you the job?
The programme has a reputation for excellence in the Danish IT landscape and is one of the highly rated programmes of its kind.

Graduates are known to possess an unusual combination of skills: combining IT concepts and skills with economics and management. This is a combination of skills that has proven to be in great demand on the job market, and graduates have had great success in a broad spectrum of positions including consultants, analysts, project managers, and system developers. 

Career opportunities
Many graduates are sought after as data scientists with expertise in machine learning as applied in business contexts. Most graduates seek commercial employment, and some continue on an academic path, pursuing a PhD. 

Students find jobs in Danish as well as international companies both large and small. Many graduates have an entrepreneurial spirit and work within recent startups.

Competence Profile
In the competence profile you can read more about the purpose of the programme and the competencies you achieve in the programme:

Competence profile for MSc in Business Adminsitration and Information Systems

 

Course overview

1. semester

2. semester (Choose 4 out of 6 courses)

3. semester 4. semester

Managing IT Project Complexities (7,5 ECTS)

 

 

 

Technology and Organization in a Digital World (7,5 ECTS)

Electives / Internship / Exchange (30 ECTS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master's thesis (30 ECTS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internet of Things (7,5 ECTS)
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (7,5 ECTS)
Innovation in a Digital World (7,5 ECTS)
Information Economics and Business (7,5 ECTS)
Strategy Making and Information Technology (7,5 ECTS) Advanced Strategic Information Management (7,5 ECTS)
Big Data Management (7,5 ECTS) Researching Technologies: Explanatory and Design Strategies (7,5 ECTS)

You can read more about the programme, academic content and exams in the in programme regulations for MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems.

 

Sidst opdateret: Web editor - Student Communications // 28/11/2023