1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM
  3. Continuing education
  4. Human Resource Management
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Human Resource Management

Rethinking HR, shaping it strategically and leading it into the future. With this part-time EMBA programme, you will continue to handle your range of responsibilities competently in the future.

The Executive Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management (EMBA) opens up a wide range of development and career opportunities for specialists and managers who deal professionally with strategic issues in human resource management and wish to actively drive the development of their organisation.

  • You will identify key developments and megatrends and use these to draw well-founded conclusions about the strategic implications for modern human resource management.
  • You understand the design principles of a human-centred organisation and implement them effectively within your organisation.
  • You plan and design a sustainable HR transformation.
  • You further develop your personal specialist and leadership skills in line with your needs by selecting the appropriate CAS modules. 
  • You are free to choose the order of the CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) (exception: start with study model 1).
  • You organise the time horizon of your studies individually (2.5 to 8 years including the Master's thesis).

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
  • Duration max. 8 years
  • Schedule Depending on the chosen CAS. Guided distance learning and face-to face- classes are combined.
  • Application deadline Depending on the chosen CAS
  • ECTS credits 60 ECTS-Credits
  • Costs CHF 34,000
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session According to the individual CAS

Contact

Downloads (in German) and link

Content + Structure

Portrait

HR is undergoing profound change. AI is fundamentally transforming work, organisations and the role of HR professionals and leaders: anyone who wants to shape the future today needs more than just specialist knowledge. What is required is strategic thinking, digital literacy and a sound understanding of how people work and develop within modern organisations.

The EMBA in Human Resource Management prepares you to position HR as a driver of transformation – from AI-supported people management and future-proof organisational structures to the development of learning and corporate cultures that empower both people and organisations alike.

Learning Objectives

With our EMBA, you will acquire key skills for a sustainable career in human resource management:

  • You will identify relevant megatrends and developments and strategically assess their significance for forward-looking human resource management.
  • You will understand how artificial intelligence can be used effectively and purposefully in various HR fields – from analytics and talent acquisition through performance and talent management to personnel and organisational development.
  • You are familiar with the principles of people-centered organisational design and apply them specifically in your professional environment.
  • You will actively support change projects within your organisation from an HR perspective.
  • You are familiar with the possibilities of digital technologies in HR and use this knowledge for the strategic realignment or further development of HR processes.
  • You acquire in-depth knowledge of resilience and workplace health management.

With the EMBA in Human Resources, you choose the four CAS that best suit your academic background, professional experience and personal learning objectives. Please note that the EMBA comprises compulsory CAS, compulsory-elective CAS and one elective CAS.
Contact the Head of the Degree Programme early on. We will be happy to assist you with your planning.

Abbildung Studienmodelle EMBA HRM Weiterbildung BFH Wirtschaft

Compulsory CAS: you choose at least two of them

Compulsory-elective CAS

You choose a CAS with a focus on general management or law from the following list. Admission to a compulsory-elective CAS is subject to prior advising. Special admission requirements may apply to some CAS programmes.

Elective CAS

You can choose an elective CAS from the wide range of BFH Business School Continuing Education to perfectly complement your portfolio.

1CAS on the topic of business administration or sustainability

2CAS on the topic of leadership

Recognition of previous course work

Have you already completed a CAS which matches this programme? We will be happy to check which credits can be recognised towards the EMBA/MAS.

Master's thesis

You complete the EMBA or MAS programme with a Master's thesis.

Adults learn differently. That is why the continuing education at the BFH Business school is committed to modern adult education. Our mission with «brain, heart and hand» is an important principle in the design of our offers. Questions in the lessons are based on the participants' professional and practical life experiences. 

It is the mix of contact study and phases for self-study, analogue learning environment as well as digital tools that makes all the difference.

We work with Microsoft Teams in the CAS and in some courses and SAS-programmes. You have access to documents, messages and information and use the chat function within your class.

Continuing Education at the Business School (PDF, 154 KB)
  • You can find information on the proof of competence for each CAS on the respective website.
  • During or towards the end of the last CAS, you register for the Master thesis module with the EMBA study organisation. 
  • Information and conditions regarding the Master's thesis and the Master's thesis module.

We offer short, free learning events for all students of our CAS programmes. With the courses Methodology Transfer Report, Effective Learning in Continuing Education at Universities of Applied Sciences and the Transfer Report workshop, we would like to support you in successfully and sustainably completing your CAS. Short overview.
For more details and dates for the online events, please go to the German website.

Requirements + Admission

Achieve your career goals in HRM with this management education. Thanks to our flexible modular structure, we offer an attractive and personalised study programme for both career changers and experienced specialists and managers in HR management.

Typical participants are: 

  • Managers and executives in human resource management
  • Experts in HR and organisational development
  • Experts in business development
  • Innovation and change managers
  • Management consultants

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our «Introduction to Academic Writing course» before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

The Head of the Degree Programme or of the CAS will decide on admission based on a portfolio analysis and assessment of your current situation. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you must attend the course ‘Introduction to Academic Writing’ before the first CAS.

Specific requirements

You have several years of qualified professional experience as an HR professional.

Good to know

Specific admission requirements apply to the individual CAS. The language of instruction and compulsory literature is generally German. Individual texts may be provided in English.

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)  from Bern University of Applied Sciences with specialisation in «Human Resource Management» (60 ECTS-Credits).

Organisation + Application

You register for one or more CAS (depending on dates etc.) via our portal. Good planning is important: For the Master's thesis, you should register directly with the study organisation by e-mail during or towards the end of your last CAS. Expect your EMBA to take an average of 2.5 years. The maximum duration of the programme is 8 years. If you require support regarding planning, finding a topic or selecting supervisors for your Master’s thesis, the Head of the Degree Programme will be happy to provide you with the necessary support.

Please register directly via the specific CAS.

Registration via our portal

You will need a Switch edu-ID to register. Please upload the following documents, even if you have already submitted them with another application:

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format)

Organisational Information

Your EMBA oder MAS programme starts with the first CAS. Registration deadlines, dates, teaching days, etc. can be found on the programme pages. We combine face-to-face and guided distance learning an appropriate and relevant form. 

Certain CAS programmes are only held once a year. The number of participants in the individual CAS programmes is limited. We recommend that you arrange a consultation interview and register early.

For the Master's thesis module, please register directly with the study organisation during or towards the end of the final CAS. Please note the teaching dates for the Master's thesis module. The module starts at the beginning of May and the beginning of November.

CHF 34,000  

The total cost of the EMBA is CHF 34,000 and includes tuition fees for the individual CAS programmes (4 x CHF 8,500). All compulsory literature, course materials and proofs of competence are included in the total cost.

The additional costs for the Master's thesis module (CHF 2,500) are waived if you earn all ECTS credits at BFH or through our cooperative study programmes.

The continuing education regulations of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the implementation regulations for the continuing education regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences (WBR) (PDF, 133 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations WBR in the Business School (PDF, 81 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations (PDF, 77 KB)
Framework Study Regulations at Bern University of Applied Sciences (PDF, 127 KB)
Regulations on Scientific Integrity at Bern University of Applied Sciences (WissIR) (PDF, 140 KB)
Legal foundations

Consultation + Information Events

In our FAQ you will find answers to many questions about the administration and organisation of our continuing education programme. 

Study Consultation

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Head of Degree Programme

Study Organisation

Information events in German

In addition to the online information events of BFH Business school, we naturally offer you our personal counsellingconsultation service. By telephone or online via MS Teams. Contact us via e-mail weiterbildung.wirtschaft@bfh.ch or telephone 031 848 34 02

Location + Facilities

Classes take place at Schwarztorstrasse 48 in Bern.

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48