Business Administration - Master of Science

The MSc program in business administration offers a broad and interesting platform of theory and tools that will make you relevant and attractive for today's labor market. The UiS Business School has close contact with business, and offers an active and social environment for students.

The MSc program in business administration ranks among the most recognized studies in the country, and offers broad-ranging career opportunities both in Norway and abroad.

Students at the MSc program in business administration choose the main specialization profile that includes at least three specialisation courses and the master thesis within the specialisation. Students are also required to widen their general knowledge in business administration by taking common courses (Business Decision + Data Analytics and Research Methods) and at least 10 ECTS elective courses outside their specialisation. 

All the specialisations are open to international applicants. We provide an international and stimulating environment for students. 

The program offers five specialisations: Applied Finance , Economics , Strategic Marketing and Analytics , Leadership in a Digital Economy , and Business Development and Innovation. 

Applied Finance

A specialisation in applied finance will prepare you for work with the financing of investment and operations of private and public enterprises. Relevant themes include capital structure, valuation of assets and investment projects, evaluation of M&A decisions, as well as various types of capital (fund) management. This specialisation also offers specific competence in corporate organization and governance, as well as processes related to acquisitions and divestitures. You will be introduced to methods and tools that form the basis for valuation and investment decisions in various types of businesses and financial institutions. With a specialization in finance, you are highly relevant for job opportunities in banking, capital management, and corporate finance.

Economics

A specialisation in economics will set you up with competence and research tools to analyse economic behaviour and relationships in business, for the public sector, and for society at large. You will be capable of conducting competent analyses of business cycles and capital markets, labour markets and wage formation, environmental economics and energy markets. Within the economics profile we have two tracks for sub-specialisation, namely motivation and labour markets and energy, resource, and environmental economics. A specialisation in economics will offer career opportunities in private businesses (finance, industry, energy) and in the public sector (local and central government, directorates).

Strategic Marketing and Analytics

A specialisation in Strategic Marketing and Analytics provides you with knowledge of marketing from a strategic perspective, enhances your strategic capabilities and skills, and prepares you for a successful career. The specialisation blends the knowledge of strategy and marketing science with a data-analytic approach to decision making. This applied specialisation allows you to address real-world business challenges by learning from world-class faculty who know you by name, working in teams on business cases, and engaging with industry through lectures by industry experts and work-integrated learning experiences. The career specialisation in strategic marketing and analytics is built on the principles of an engaged collaborative learning community, where your fellow students, faculty, industry, and alumni form your network of personal and professional relationships, enabling you to achieve your professional goals throughout your career.

Leadership in a Digital Economy

The specialisation in Leadership in a Digital Economy provides you with knowledge of leadership, strategy, and technology so that you can take part in the digital challenges for current organisations. Digital technology is all around us, it is ubiquitous, and the claim is that all businesses need to digitalize or die. However, technology is both an opportunity and a threat. Technology enables new business models and new products and services. Jobs are created, but jobs are also destroyed, and there are other threats like a breach of privacy and security. We believe that digital transformation is about adopting business processes and practices that position organisations to compete effectively in the increasingly digital economy. This is about leadership and strategy, and you will be able to take a lead on this important journey.

Business Development and Innovation

The specialisation in Business Development and Innovation offers specialist knowledge on how supportive conditions for sustainable business development are created and evolve over time. The profile features learning about the roles local administrations, national authorities, consultancies, and diverse support organizations play therein and how measures like promoting collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship and policy-related work. This profile is suitable for students who, for example, aim for careers in: industry development, regional, national or international administration, development agencies, consultancies, think tanks, chambers of commerce, innovative firms, or in research.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: 

Students … 

• are able to demonstrate sufficient scientific knowledge in theories and methods within key functional areas of business (accounting, finance, marketing, management, leadership, innovation, and strategy).  
• are competent in investigating business challenges based on an understanding of their context and significance in the decision-making process.  
• are engaged in the societal, environmental, and economic challenges of our time.  
• possess advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of their specialisation (strategic marketing and analytics, economics, applied finance, leadership in a digital economy, and business development and innovation).  
• possess a basic understanding of the diverse theoretical and empirical approaches in the wider field of business administration.  
• have internalized the three dimensions of sustainability (Equity, Environment, Economy) and understand the role of the economic perspective therein.  

Skills: 

Students possess the skills to …  

• effectively present ideas and decisions through the proper use of oral and written communication.  
• identify, access, process, and analyze a variety of information sources and employ them to construct, test, and evaluate practical as well as scientific arguments.  
• apply contemporary theories, methods, and interpretations within business administration in general and their areas of specialisation in particular.  
• apply scientific knowledge to make appropriate business decisions.  
• independently and in collaboration develop and/or carry out research and projects within their areas of specialisation.  
• evaluate business practices from a sustainability perspective.  
• thrive in a fast-changing business environment by applying intellectual breadth in business administration.  

General competence 

Students are able to … 

• apply knowledge and skills to gain insights into new and unfamiliar areas.  
• analyze relevant issues in a scientifically sound way.  
• update their skills and pursue life-long learning.  
• promote ethical and professional behavior.  
• analyze relevant professional, academic, and ethical issues and act accordingly in a responsible and sustainable way.  
• communicate with specialists and the general public on professional issues.  
• contribute to innovation and innovation processes.  
• take leadership to contribute to social goods through both for- and non-profit organizations.  

Syllabus

The four semester curriculum are organized as follows:

Semester 1

To establish a common point of departure in terms of mindset and methodology, and to encourage connecting to students from diverse backgrounds and interests, two out of the three first semester courses are devoted to common courses offered to all students on the program. One course in this semester is to take a specialisation-core course, a touch-point for a student to be introduced to the specialisation.  

Semester 2

Students advance with specialisation knowledge by taking two specialisation courses for each of the profiles, while continuing on the research method course tailored for the need of each specialisation. 

Semester 3

Flexibility is introduced in Semester three, when all students are free to pursue elective courses or international exchange, or participate in internship programs offered through our industry partners. A minimum of one course has to be outside of the specialisation.

Semester 4

In the fourth and final semester, students are expected to devote themselves to research and writing for their MSc thesis.  

Career prospects

The MSc program in business administration offers wide-ranging career opportunities in business, industry, government, and professional organisations, with prospects in terms of both leadership and professional expert careers. Examples of job content include economic research, fund management, investment analysis, corporate finance, energy and environmental impact analyses, system design for incentivized motivation, brand building and strategic marketing, industry development, regional, national or international administration, development agencies, consultancies, think tanks, chambers of commerce, in innovative firms.  

A master of science degree in business administration also meets the formal requirement for admission to Ph.D. programs.

Course assessment

Student evaluation of subjects in the programme will be in accordance with the UiS and the UiS Business School's evaluation system.