This English-taught MSc is aimed at graduates from Germany and abroad who hold a career-oriented first degree (typically a Bachelor’s) and want to study in an international cohort. The programme treats information technology as a key driver of corporate value creation and lets you specialise in one of two streams: Business Intelligence, which deals with the increasing role of data (including Big Data) in decision making; and Business Process Management, which examines the organisational effects of information and communication technologies.
Teaching is delivered through small, interactive seminars that promote close contact with academic staff. The curriculum emphasises applied learning via case studies, project-based work and team learning, creating an environment for intensive collaboration and lively discussions. Graduates are prepared for roles such as business IT specialist, data scientist, data engineer, business analyst, consultant, project manager or executive manager in companies operating internationally.
The programme is organised in three consecutive parts that build from common foundations to specialised practice and independent research. In the first semester you consolidate and extend knowledge from your Bachelor's degree through core modules that establish a shared baseline across the cohort. Key foundational subjects covered include business analytics, data warehousing, decision-making, and business process management — preparing you to analyse data-driven problems and understand underlying process structures.
In the second semester the focus shifts from theory to applied competence and specialisation. You put classroom concepts into practice through hands-on projects in an analytics lab and a process lab, where you develop, test and deploy solutions for real-world scenarios. This semester also contains a specialised module on IT architectures for big data and allows you to choose one elective from the Master’s curriculum to tailor your study pathway.
The final (third) semester is dedicated to independent research: you write a Master’s dissertation and defend it in an oral examination. A research methodology seminar is provided to guide your thesis work and ensure methodological rigour. If you opt to undertake an internship during what would normally be the third semester, the thesis submission and defence are deferred to the fourth semester.
Key modules and requirements
Learning outcomes emphasized across the curriculum
This master’s programme is aimed at applicants with a relevant bachelor’s degree and a solid foundation in both business and informatics. Successful applicants typically hold a first degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in fields such as business information systems / business informatics, administrative information systems / administrative informatics, applied informatics / applied computer science (with a minor in business), or in business administration / business studies / business engineering (with a minor in informatics, computer science, or business information systems). Equivalent qualifications will also be considered.
You must be able to demonstrate that your undergraduate studies included specific subject modules: introductory business administration, quantitative methods or databases, and applied informatics — each worth about 10 European credit points (ECTS) or an equivalent workload. In addition to academic prerequisites, the admissions process requires strong English skills and several supporting documents, all submitted in English where specified.
Required application documents include a motivation letter and a CV in English. If relevant to your background, you should also provide proof of work experience in the field. Applicants who submit a GMAT or GMAT Focus score above 600 do not need to provide separate English-language proof.
Admission requirements (summary)
Winter Semester (International)
15 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 June 2026
Graduates are equipped for applied and managerial roles where IT and data drive business decisions. Typical positions include data scientist, data engineer, business analyst, business IT specialist, consultant, project manager and executive roles in international companies and consultancies.
The curriculum develops technical skills (data warehousing, big-data architectures, analytics), process-management competencies (modelling and optimisation), and transferable abilities (project work, teamwork, communication), enabling careers across sectors such as finance, consulting, manufacturing, logistics, public administration and technology companies.
HWR Berlin (Berlin School of Economics and Law) — Berlin
Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts — Dortmund
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
Harz University of Applied Sciences — Wernigerode