How to build your degree
How to build a full-time degree
If you just finished your secondary education, this is the most common option.
Studying full-time is the equivalent of 40 hours a week - in other words, a regular workweek.
The first degree you take is a bachelor's, which is worth 180 credits. This normally takes three years. We offer a customisable Bachelor of Business Administration programme and a Bachelor of Data Science for Business programme.
When you have completed your bachelor's, you can continue to a master's degree, which is worth 120 credits and normally takes two years. You can choose from a range of full-time master's degrees here at BI.
If you have already completed a master's degree and want to pursue a career in research, we also offer a PhD programme with six different specialisations.
How to build a part-time degree
You can complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees part-time, while working on the side.
There are two ways to complete a bachelor’s degree:
With the classic bachelor programmes you will follow a fixed curriculum. You can decide along the way how far you want to go, as the degree consists of three individual stages.
The other way is through the flexible degree Bachelor of Management, where you will largely decide which courses to include yourself, and you can build upon your previous education.
We also have an option to complete a master’s degree part-time.
With Executive Master of Management you will decide for yourself how much time you want to spend, and which of the many, exciting programmes you want to take. Each programme earns 30 credits, and you can take one or more programmes. You need a total of three programmes to complete the degree. The education is focused around four to six intensive gatherings over the course of a year. But first and foremost, the study programme is organised with a view toward making your experience exciting and motivating, as well as educational.
WHAT IS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE?
A bachelor’s degree is a degree you can receive after completing three years of higher education. In Norway, you can study at this level at either a university college or a university.
The first part of the bachelor’s degree at BI contains many of the same subjects. We call these basic subjects, which fall under the disciplines of economics, organisation, ethics and marketing.
You will also have the option to choose different electives over the course of your bachelor’s degree. This is an excellent opportunity to explore new subject areas, or choose the disciplines you already know and enjoy.
In most programmes, you will write a final paper in the last semester of the bachelor's degree. This is the bachelor's thesis, which is intended to display much of the specialized knowledge you have acquired through the subjects you have taken in the three previous years.
A bachelor’s degree consists of 180 credits. It lays the foundation for continuing with a master’s degree, if that is your goal.
WHAT IS A MASTER’S DEGREE?
A master’s degree is a degree that builds upon a bachelor’s degree and which can be achieved after completing two additional years of higher education. In Norway, you can study at this level at either a university college or a university.
One could say that a master’s degree will provide the student with deep insight within a specific discipline of their choosing.
We offer three types of master’s degrees at BI:
- Master of Science (MSc) – full-time programme that you can take immediately after completing a bachelor’s degree.
- Executive MBA (EMBA) – part-time programme that requires both an economics/business management-related bachelor’s degree and relevant experience
- Executive Master of Management (EMM) – part-time programme that also requires a bachelor’s degree and experience, but does not need to be related to business management
Most full-time master programmes are conducted in English, as well as MBA, while the part-time master programmes (Executive Master of Management) are conducted in Norwegian.
Master programmes are about mastering a subject. You will delve deep into strategy, economics, marketing or some of the other fields we offer. This sharper focus also means that you do not have to take the subjects that do not interest you.
It is possible to choose different specialisations over the course of the master’s degree. This is an excellent opportunity to explore new disciplines, or choose the disciplines you already know and enjoy. We offer a wide range of specialisations at our schools.
Within most areas of study, you will write a final thesis during the last semester for the master’s degree. The thesis will demonstrate the specialised knowledge you have acquired during your studies.
A master’s degree consists of 90 or 120 credits.
WHAT IS A PHD?
The PhD programme is a four-year, full-time study programme.
The admissions requirements include having a Master of Science from an accredited educational institution or an institution that is approved by NOKUT.
This programme is suitable for ambitious and inquisitive people that want to contribute to new and valuable insight within their discipline.
The path to a PhD degree can be challenging and requires many hours of work. On the other hand, this four-year journey is very rewarding and valuable. You will become part of a community consisting of very competent researchers from recognised educational institutions all over the world.
We offer PhD scholarships within several disciplines every year. As a PhD candidate you will be employed by us and receive wages throughout the four years. 25% of the time will be spent teaching while the remaining time is spent on research and course participation.
WHAT IS Executive EDUCATION?
When we talk about Executive education at BI we mean courses and programmes in combination with a job. Most of our part-time students have full-time jobs. Flexibility is therefore a key priority for us.
You can choose the pace that suits you, whether you want classes during the day or online, all according to what is the best fit for your life. Your fellow students are in the same situation, and you will gain a unique opportunity to learn from each other's experiences through class discussions and group work. This will create a network that many also benefit greatly from in a work context.
Executive education is everything from short courses lasting a few days within a specific discipline, via programmes such as basic degree in management, to broader education pathways such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Our Executive programmes are intended to give people who are working the opportunity to refresh their knowledge, gain new knowledge within specific subjects or to perhaps create new career paths.