1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Studies
  3. Bachelor's degree programmes
  4. Digital Business & AI
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Digital Business & AI

(formerly: Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology)

Help shape a company’s digital transformation: with our Bachelor of Science in Digital Business & AI, you will become an expert in information and communication technology – at the nexus of IT and business.

Effective and interdisciplinary: with a BSc in Digital Business & AI, you will design new business processes. Employing your expertise, you will optimise existing information systems and use digital technologies responsibly as part of a broad vision – for sustainable corporate success.

How do I process huge amounts of data? What sorts of information can be obtained? How can big data help companies? Can digitalisation have a sustainable impact? You will learn all this and more in our bachelor’s programme in Digital Business & AI.

This degree programme is conducted primarily in German (approx. 20% in English). 

Begin your studies in autumn 2024!

Degree programme primarly in German

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Digital Business & AI
  • Specialisations Project Management & Agility
    Business Data Analytics
    Software Design & Architecture
    Sustainable Business
    Business & Digital Law
  • Mode of study Full-time (6 semesters), part-time (8 semesters)
  • Start date Calendar week 38 and one orientation day in calendar week 37
  • Application deadline 31 July (place guaranteed until 31 March)
  • ECTS credits 180 ECTS credits
  • Teaching language German, approx. 20% English
  • Location Bern
  • School Business School

Contact

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Areas of study

With a BSc in Digital Business & AI, you will be the bridge between business operations and IT. You will develop digital business models, plan and manage complex digitalisation projects and factor evolving challenges in data management and protection into your thinking.

What you stand to gain from this degree programme

You’ll enjoy the best of both worlds with our Bachelor of Science in Digital Business & AI: Thanks to your training in the fields of both computer science and business administration, you will be ready to implement digital business models successfully.

Our specialisations allow you to tailor your studies and choose a specific focus early on for careers in IT management, data analysis, software design or sustainable entrepreneurship.

The specialisations

Tailor your degree course to your interests, beyond your main studies. You can choose two areas of specialisation alongside basic modules to compile your individual portfolio.

Programme overview

You will

  • learn how to use agile methodologies to continually expand organisations, infrastructure and processes and enable adaptation to changing business needs.

You will

  • become familiar with methods for structured data analysis and modelling, processes in data science and technologies in machine learning.
  • gain the necessary tools to analyse, document and visualise data in a timely and cost-effective manner.

You will

  • understand how models are built and adapted to bridge the gap between established, stable systems and agile adaptive applications.

You will 

  • learn the latest on such major topics as corporate sustainability, sustainable demand and the circular economy.
  • understand how to frame issues of sustainability within the broader context of such areas as digitalisation, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Combining theory and practice in research projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely connected at BFH. During your studies, you may gain experience in a range of research fields.

In your final year, you will write a bachelor’s thesis, in which you take a rigorous scientific approach to exploring a practical problem. The bachelor’s thesis should ideally reflect your area of specialisation.

Overview of research and research projects at the Business School

Career prospects

With a bachelor’s degree in Digital Business & AI, you are laying the foundation for a successful career in management or as a specialist at the interface between IT and all other departments.

After completing your studies, many doors will open to you in a wide variety of professions. With skills that are in high demand in the labour market, you will make your own personal contribution to the digital transformation.

Ready for challenging leadership and expert roles?

As a general IT manager, for instance, you can adapt business models to changing digital market constellations.

Our graduates work in the following roles:

  • Business Architect
  • Project Manager
  • Business Analyst
  • Process Manager
  • Software Developer

Master of Science

With a Bachelor of Science in Digital Business & AI, you can enrol in a master’s degree programme at BFH. 

More on the Master of Science in Business Information Technology
More on the Master of Science in Digital Business Administration
More on the Master of Science in Business Administration

Depending on your chosen specialisation, you may also qualify to apply for a different master’s programme at Bern University of Applied Sciences. We’re happy to help.

Duration + Content

In the bachelor’s degree programme in Digital Business & AI, you can focus fully on your studies or choose the perfect blend of work and part-time study. You may work 50-60% over the course of eight semesters. You may also opt for a lighter workload and longer programme duration.

Full-time or part-time

Both are possible: Full-time students typically complete the programme in three years (or six semesters). Extensions are possible. The workload is comparable to a full-time job. Lectures are usually held from Monday to Friday.

Part-time students typically complete the programme in four years (or eight semesters). Extensions are possible. Lectures are usually held on Thursdays and Fridays. From the fourth semester on, study days depend on the modules and specialisations chosen (approx. 2.5 days per week).

During Special Weeks and exam periods, certain obligatory sessions may be held from Monday to Saturday. There are no obligatory sessions held during lecture-free periods. 

Study schedule

The degree programme is modular in structure, meaning different topics will be addressed in various modules. Each module is assigned a certain workload, expressed in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits (one ECTS credit corresponds to a 30-hour workload).

The compulsory modules provide you with broad basic knowledge of business IT and the adjacent disciplines of economics and computer science. You design most of the main study programme yourself, selecting from a large number of elective and optional modules. This allows you to develop your own individual profile. You will conclude the programme with your bachelor’s thesis.

BSc in Digital Business & AI full-time curriculum Enlarge image
BSc in Digital Business & AI curriculum (in German)

Additional opportunities

We partner with numerous top universities worldwide. You may study abroad at another university for one or two semesters. Courses taken during your exchange can be credited towards the Swiss degree, pending approval by the head of your degree programme.

We also offer double degree programmes with selected universities. You will spend your final year of studies at the partner university and graduate with a degree from both institutions.

More information can be found here:

The «Certificate of Global Competence» gives you the opportunity to gain skills in the areas of inter- and transculturalism as part of your regular studies.

The «Certificate of Engagement» provides proof of the time and effort you dedicated to the BFH Business School.

The supplementary «Certificate of Engagement in Sustainability» recognises your social commitment and additional effort put into expanding your knowledge and skills pertaining to sustainability.

You may participate in the Business School mentoring programme during your studies.

More information: Mentoring programme

Admission requirements

There are many paths leading to the Bachelor of Science in Digital Business & AI. The prerequisite is a basic training qualification in business or a relevant technical field. The head of the degree programme makes the final admission decision.

Your entry requirements

You will be admitted to the programme:

  • with a vocational baccalaureate with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in one of the related professions or one year of full-time employment in one of the related professions

  • with a general baccalaureate plus one year of full-time employment in one of the related professions

  • with a specialised baccalaureate plus a one-year full-time internship in one of the related professions

  • with a higher technical school degree with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in one of the related professions or one year of full-time employment in one of the related professions

Applicants from abroad must have an equivalent degree (as per the swissuniversities regulations) plus one year of full-time employment in a related profession/field.

List of related professions (PDF, 66 KB)

Supplementary information on admission

Instruction is conducted primarily in German. Non-native speakers must show proof of C1-level proficiency or higher.

Some instruction and technical literature will be in English.

We are offering the following preparatory courses in the summer (calendar weeks 32‑37):

  • company accounting
  • financial accounting
  • Mathematics

We recommend that part-time students wait until shortly before the third semester to attend the preparatory courses for business and financial accounting.

The registration window, detailed timetables and course descriptions will be made public around late April.

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the course administration.

Skipping ahead and enrolling in an advanced semester is possible

  • if you are a current or former student at a different university in the same field of study and would like to continue your studies at BFH (depending on the level you have reached)
  • for graduates of information technology programmes at higher technical schools

Please indicate your wish to enrol in an advanced semester in the comments section of our online application and contact us to clarify your options.

Have you completed some studies at another university in Switzerland or abroad? Before starting at BFH, you may request a credit transfer and equivalency assessment. This request will only be considered after your admission to the programme. 

When registering online, please tick the box ‘Requesting credit transfer’. The following supplementary documents must be submitted after registration:

  • Proof of completed modules (certificates)
  • Module descriptions
  • Curriculum

Information on deadlines and procedures for withdrawing, terminating matriculation and taking a leave of absence

Further information is available by contacting business@bfh.ch .

Application

Secure your place early.
You can always submit any missing documents later.

Application deadlines

Application deadline: 31 July (place guaranteed until 31 March)
Start date: calendar week 38
Induction day (compulsory): one day incalendar week 37 
Request for credit transfer: 15 August
Deadline to withdraw application: 31 July

Information on deadlines and procedures for withdrawing, terminating matriculation and taking a leave of absence (PDF, 108 KB)
Academic year structure (PDF, 33 KB)

Start your studies in autumn 2024!

Apply by 31 July (place guaranteed until 31 March). 

Brief explanation of online application

Online applications only.
Our Online Application Guide explains how it works, step by step.

Online Application Guide (PDF, 66 KB)

Application documents

You will need to make PDF or JPG copies of the following documents:

Mandatory requirements:

  • ID or passport
  • Photo that meets international passport requirements

Other documents (certificates, etc.)

  • Diplomas and leaving certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, university entrance qualification, Abitur or upper secondary level qualification)
  • Swiss federal VET certificate with grades (if available)
  • Employer references and/or internship certificates
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Additional documents may be required, depending on your educational background

The costs for the programme comprise application, tuition and examination fees plus the cost of course materials and excursions.

The costs per semester are: 

CHF 964.– 
CHF 1'164.– for international students*

Detailed cost breakdown:

Application (per application)** / Matriculation***

CHF 100.–
Tuition fee (per semester)

CHF 750.–
Tuition fee for international students* (per semester)

CHF 950.–
Performance assessment (per semester)

CHF 80.–
Material fees (per semester)**** CHF 95.–

Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester)             

CHF 24.–
Voluntary contribution to the student body (per semester)

CHF 15.–

*International students are defined as persons of foreign citizenship who at the time of obtaining their university entrance qualification were domiciled under civil law neither in Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein.
**plus CHF 10 processing fee for payment via payment slip / paper invoice.
***If the registration leads to enrolment, the registration fee will be credited as the enrolment fee.
****excl. costs for teaching materials, specialist literature, consumables, etc.
Fees information sheet (PDF, 63 KB)

There are two ways to finance your studies: loans and grants. More information here:

Information page on educational grants

Advice + information

Still have questions about the programme? Get in touch or visit one of our information events.

Prof. Reto Jud

  • Studiengangsleiter
  • +41 31 848 44 60
  • Show e-mail

Student Services Business School

  • +41 31 848 34 00
  • Show e-mail

Information event

Visit one of our information events and find out all about the degree programme, the admission requirements and your career prospects. Our students will share their experience of life at the university.

Location + facilities

Pursue your bachelor’s degree on our ‘green campus’ in Bern’s Marzili district, situated directly on the Aare River with a view of the Parliament Building.

Marzili

Brückenstrasse 73, 3005 Bern

We generally recommend travelling by bus or on foot.

There are no parking spaces available for students. Please use the public parking facilities.

Travel by bus and on foot:

  • Brückenstrasse is an approx. 10-minute walk from Bern railway station.
  • The «Marzilibahn» funicular descends into the Marzili district from the upper station (Bundeshaus-West). Brückenstrasse is around 450 metres from the lower station.
  • In the evening (from 8.37pm), bus line 30 runs between the railway station and the Marzili district (Dampfzentrale stop).

Facilities

Our green campus offers a wide range of facilities.

  • Library: self-checkout is available to students around the clock.
  • Cafeteria: the cafeteria is open to students year-round. There is a full range of food and drink on offer during the semester, while vending machines are available during breaks.