Data Science for Business
This programme is designed to give you advanced expertise in the data science field combined with a broad business understanding. Get the knowledge and skills needed to create business value from data and pursue a career in data-driven organisations.
What will you learn?
In this highly quantitative interdisciplinary master's programme, you will build a solid foundation in mathematics, advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, and optimization. You will gain expertise in data engineering, big data analytics, and AI-based techniques and algorithms, all anchored in core business principles. With a keen understanding of data-driven decision-making and the importance of communication and domain knowledge, you will emerge with strong problem-solving skills, ready to tackle complex organizational challenges.
You will learn to:
- use foundations in economics, finance, strategy and risk to identify business-value relevant challenges and solutions.
- professionally apply machine-learning algorithms and AI, and explain their assumptions and limits.
- programme in Python for tables, text and time series, and design efficient workflows that move projects into production.
- evaluate quantitative risk for decision-making, reflect critically, and communicate results to technical and non-technical audiences.
- integrate sustainability and data protection, addressing the ethical and legal aspects of applied data science in international contexts.
Why choose this programme?
Engaging learning experiences and quality teaching are something we strive to provide, to help you build a solid skill and competency base, making you relevant for the future of work. In the video below, you will get the perspectives of our faculty, and the industry to understand the reasons for choosing to study an MSc in Data Science for Business at BI.
The MSc in Data Science for Business is quantitative demanding, but also very much applied. We encourage students to obtain work experience via our internship elective, and also actively collaborate with a diverse set industry partners in both the private and public sector, such as BearingPoint, Boston Consulting Group and Norges Bank.
"Students with an MSc in Data Science for Business from BI Norwegian Business School possess a combination of technical skills and business understanding which is crucial for PwC and our purpose - to build trust in society and solve important problems."
Trying to decide which master programme is right for you? Take our Master Quiz to find your best match.
Career Possibilities
Graduates with a MSc in Data Science for Business background are highly sought after by leading consultancies, financial institutions, technology firms, and global corporations. They often pursue roles as data scientists, analytics managers, or data strategists, leveraging their insights to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and sharpen competitive advantage. This programme’s graduates find exciting career paths in fast-growing fields, as well as opportunities to launch entrepreneurial ventures or contribute meaningful data-driven solutions in diverse business environments.
Examples of areas you can work in:
- Data infrastructure and machine learning in production – build data pipelines, deploy models, and operate them.
- Experiments and causal analysis – A/B tests and quasi-experiments to measure the impact of interventions.
- Optimisation and operations research – capacity planning, pricing, and network design.
- Quantitative finance and risk – time-series analysis, forecasting, and risk and portfolio modelling.
Customise your degree
As a master student at BI, you have several exciting opportunities that will contribute to varied and interesting student life, at the same time as you build relevant competence and gain an advantage in the job market by tailoring your degree.
Internship
Our Internship programme is a credit-bearing course that allows you to test subjects and industry based on interests, competence and personal qualities. Conducting an internship is valuable as a means of allowing you to experience how your field of study is operationalized in the business world and provides you with work experience that can be highly attractive to potential employers.
Elective courses
We offer several elective courses so that you can adapt your studies to your interests and goals. In this way, you can build up competence and get a professional combination that makes you attractive and unique.
- Learn more about elective courses for this programme
Programme Structure
1. Year
- 60 credits (ECTS)
Autumn
-
6 ECTS
Spring
2. Year
- 60 credits (ECTS)
Autumn
-
Exchange
- ECTS
-
Specialisation electives/Internship
12 ECTS
-
6 ECTS
Please be aware that the study plan and courses can be subject to change.
Admission Requirements
- Admission requirements for all Master of Science programmes
- Programme specific admission requirements for Master of Science in Data Science for Business
- If you are a current student at BI, log in to the student portal to find specific admission requirements in your education plan
Priority application deadline for Master of Science: 1 March
After 1 March, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Tuition fee
The tuition fee is invoiced per semester and adjusted annually. It includes access to lectures and the standard examination fee.
Students with a bachelor's degree from BI are eligible for a discounted tuition fee. Different rates apply to students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Certain exceptions and variations may apply.
Read more about tuition fees.
Practical information
Useful links: