Programme description for Master's Programme in Business Administration (2019–2021)

Please note that two courses are taught in parallel in the first half of the semester with a final exam before the next two courses are taught by the same principle. The course schedule could be subject to further changes.

Electives - Autumn 2019

• BE-409 The Economics of Real Estate

• BE-506 Computational Finance and Portfolio Management

• JU-405 Kontraktsrett

• JU-406 Foretaksrett

• JU-407 Skatte- og avgiftsrett

• ORG419 Judgement and Decision Making

• ORG433 Prosjekter i organisasjonen

• ORG438 Prosjektledelse og styring

• ORG439 Culture and Ethics

• ORG440 Supply Chain Management

• ORG447 Styring og nettverksorganisering i offentlig sektor*

• ORG450 Innovation through Design and Entrepreneurship*

• ORG452 Internship in Nordic Enterprises in High-Growth Economies*

• ORG456 Internship in Enterprises in Norway*

• ORG457 Crowdfunding Lab*

• SE-416-1 Human Resources Economics

• SE-506 Advanced Econometrics for Finance

• IS-403 IT og forretningsutvikling (10 sp)*

• IS-406 Enterprise Systems I (10 sp)*

• IS-500 IT og ledelse (10 sp)*

* Courses taught in English
**Please notice that there is limited enrollment to this course and may require seperate application. Contact your student advisor for more information.

Students can also choose compulsory courses from the other two specialisations as electives.

In addition, students may apply for approval of European Integration (30 ECTS credits summer/autumn) as electives. Those who wish to do so should contact a student advisor at an early stage, and must themselves apply for admission to the summer program by the regular deadline for application.
European Integration courses:
ST-419 History, Institutions and Policies of European Integration* (10 ECTS credits)Summer
ST-420 Current Issues in the European Union* (10 ECTS credits) Summer
ST-421 Current Debates on the European Union* (10 ECTS credits) Autumn

Students may apply for admission to "SV-420-1 UiA Co-creation - OpenLab" (10 ECTS credits) and have it approved as an elective. They may also apply to have courses from other Master's programmes approved. Contact a Student Adviser at the School of Business and Law for further information.

Important information regarding electives
Please note that course schedule collisions might occur, and that courses on offer may be subject to modification as they rely on sufficient student enrolment and available resources.

What do you learn?

Learning outcome

A candidate who has successfully completed this programme should have the following learning outcome defined in terms of general competence, knowledge, skills:

GENERAL COMPETENCE (Programme Goals)

The candidate should be able to:

• analyse key international dimensions related to the core themes in the program

• analyse how new ideas, concepts or products emerge within relevant fields and be able to contribute to innovation processes

• apply ethical reasoning in work life and understand how organisations can act responsibly

• think independently and critically

• communicate scholarly issues in written texts and oral presentations

• solve problems

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate should be able to:

• demonstrate advanced knowledge in the areas of business administration, management and methods

• summarize scientific developments within their field of study

• discuss theory and methodological approaches relevant for analysis of empirical and theoretical problems at hand

SKILLS

The candidate should be able to:

• integrate insights from different fields of study

• identify and use relevant theories and methodological approaches on a specific problem

• evaluate the financial and societal consequences of a given solution to a particular problem

• apply relevant theories and methods in the planning and realisation of a given project

• continue developing their knowledge base in a lifelong learning perspective

Structure and content

Admission requirements

The applicant must hold a three-year bachelor's degree (of minimum 180 ECTS credits) from an accredited institution of higher education in Business (Administration), Accounting and Auditing, Management, Economics, Finance and/or related subjects. The bachelor's degree must meet the NRØA (The Norwegian National Council for Economic and Administrative Studies) course requirements.

Recommended previous knowledge

A thorough knowledge of English is recommended as several of the courses are taught in English.

General description and profile

The Master's programme in Business Administration provides candidates with a high level of theoretical competence, empirical insight and analytical skills. The candidates have insight into contemporary theories and practices and they are able to reflect critically on theoretical, empirical, and ethical problems and challenges they might face in their professional work. In addition, they are exposed to global issues and how new ideas, products and concepts may arise and how they develop. Through exchange abroad and collaboration with incoming exchange or degree-seeking students, students improve their language and cross-cultural communication skills. Candidates graduating from this programme are attractive to a wide range of positions within private businesses, organisations and public sector.

The programme has three specialisations consisting of twelve 7,5 ECTS credit courses and a 30 ECTS credit Master's Thesis. The specialisations are: Financial Economics, Management Accounting or International Management. Within each specialisation the first and second semester consists of compulsory courses, whereas in the third semester the students choose their electives. In the last semester of the programme the students write their Master's thesis.

Financial Economics
This specialisation provides the students with the analytical and practical skills to cope with the challenges of an increasingly complex international financial market. Student graduating from this specialisation are able to assess the benefits and risks of financial markets and financial innovations, how the market functions in relation to business financing and ownership, and the relationship between financial markets and economic policy. Students will have in depth knowledge of quantitative financial models, and they will be equipped with statistical tools necessary to conduct their own empirical investigations within the area of corporate finance, risk management, company valuation and asset management. In addition to the Norwegian students international students are admitted to this specialisation where all the courses are taught in English. Candidates with this specialisation are well prepared for risk management and corporate finance positions in large companies, banks and insurance companies, investment banks and consulting firms, as well as in large institutions like central banks, financial supervisory authorities and the ministries.

Management Accounting
The specialization provides students with insight into how firms create values and the challenges firms might meet in domestic markets as well as internationally. Candidates graduating from this specialisation are able to assess how market characteristics and other environmental factors influence a firm¿s strategy and performance, and the role of markets related to business financing and ownership. Further, the students are able to contrast different national and international accounting standards, to evaluate a firms¿ assets and estimate its value as well as discuss how accounting standards and practices influence firms financial statements., This specialisation also makes the students capable of critically reflecting on how management accounting and control systems might be designed and used, to support and control the fulfilment of organisational goals and strategies and to reduce unintentional effects of decisions and control systems. Finally, the candidates understand and are able to critically reflecting on ethical challenges they might face in business decisions. Students that have chosen this specialisation are well prepared for management and controller positions in in business, industry, government and NGOs.

International Management
This specialisation provides the students with the analytical and practical skills to cope with the challenges of an increasingly international labour market. Central to the specialisation is the multinational company, and how they operate, but also, the challenges small and medium-sized enterprises face in connection with entry into the international arena will be discussed. International management specialisation provides insights into this by showing the strategic and operational challenges businesses face and how these can be addressed. It emphasises the analysis of external and internal factors, conditions and strategic choices related to such alliances, international strategy and marketing. In addition to the Norwegian students international students are admitted to this specialisation where all the courses are taught in English. Candidates with this specialisation are attractive both within the business community and among NGO, as banking and other financial institutions, consultancy, industry and microfinance organizations to name a few. The specialisation provides students with increased cultural understanding and knowledge of international business that makes them well -equipped for an international career.

Teaching methods

The Master's Programme in Business Administration is a full-time programme. Two courses are taught in parallel first part of the semester. The final exams of these courses will be arranged in the regular midterm examination period. The last two courses will be taught in the latter part of the semester. These courses will have final exams within the regular exam period. Teaching methods are accounted for in the course descriptions and may vary between lectures, discussion seminars, groups, written assignments and presentations. ICT and library databases will be used in several courses. All compulsory courses in the specialisations International Management and Financial Economics are taught in English, and also several electives and courses in the third specialisation. The remaining courses are taught in Norwegian.

Assessment methods

Several of the courses require the students to submit written assignments (individually or in groups) in order to take the final examination. Some courses might also include oral presentations. Most courses have individual written examinations with graded marks. See each course description for details.

Internationalization

Students are exposed to international dimensions and issues in teaching as well as in the curriculum. Many faculty members have an international background and are active in international research networks. A number of courses are taught in English for incoming exchange students. This contributes to an international study environment, and students use English actively during their studies.

The School of Business and Law offers excellent exchange opportunities at partner institutions in Europe, USA, South Africa, Australia and Asia. Students can go on exchange in their penultimate semester. Studying abroad provides an opportunity to take courses and subjects beyond what is offered at the School of Business and Law at UiA. Additional benefits of studying abroad are improved language skills and cross-cultural communication skills, both highly valued by many employers.

The School of Business and Law at UiA is internationally accredited by AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), and the accreditation opens the doors for collaboration with good institutions worldwide. For further information on exchange opportunities, see the International Office's website.

Internship
In the the penultimate semester students may apply for internship in a local business or a Nordic enterprise in a high-growth economy in Asia or Africa. Internship is taken in combination with two electives at the School of Business and Law or electives (exchange) at a partner university abroad.

Requirements for continuing in programme

60 ECTS credits, including ME-423 Research Methods, must be successfully completed in order to be assigned a supervisor for the master's thesis.

Occupational profiles / further studies

The programme provides solid knowledge in Business Administration, and so a solid foundation for executive level positions in both private and public sector. Further description of occupational profiles in the description of each spesialisation.

Successful completion also qualifies for admission to the PhD programme at the School of Business and Law, and to other PhD programmes in Norway and abroad.

Qualification awarded

Successful completion of the programme awards the degree Master i økonomi og administrasjon - Siviløkonom (Master of Science Degree in Business Administration - "Siviløkonom").

Evaluation

Student evaluations are carried out annually in the Study Programme Advisory Committee in accordance with the quality system for education chapter 4.2.