Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation

Learn for, through, and about entrepreneurship. Kick-start your own business or intrapreneurship project during our new master’s degree programme in Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation. Along the way, develop your entrepreneurship competences.

Do you need flexibility to combine working on your job or your idea with your studies? No problem: the hybrid and flexible nature of the master’s programme allows you to do just that.

Begin your studies in autumn 2025!

((Störer)) Degree programme in English

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master of Science (MSc) in Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation
  • Specialisations None
  • Mode of study Part-time (standard study period: 4 semesters)
    Hybrid program combining online and on campus sessions (approx. 4 on campus session of 2-3 days each semester)
  • Start date CW 37
  • Application deadline 31 July (place guaranteed until 31 March)
  • ECTS credits 90 ECTS credits
  • Teaching language English
  • Location Bern and asynchronous virtual learning
  • School Business School
  • Next info event 9 December 2024, 5pm - 6pm, online (MS Teams)
    17 January 2025, 5pm - 6pm, online (MS Teams)
    17 February 2025, 5pm - 6pm, online (MS Teams)

Focus areas

Become an entrepreneurship expert with a MSc in Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation. Apply your skills in the role of entrepreneur, intrapreneur, or company successor.

What you will gain with your degree

Our master’s programme equips you with the necessary scientific knowledge, cutting-edge methods, and valuable networking opportunities to bring your entrepreneurial vision to life. 

We give you the space to develop into informed experts who know the current state of the debate in entrepreneurship research and can reflect on the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in society. We educate entrepreneurs who can build and shape companies in a reflective and responsible way. 

Combining theory and practice in research projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely connected at BFH. During your Master’s degree programme, you will be able to gain experience in a range of research fields.

Career prospects

Become a more effective entrepreneur, intrapreneur, or company successor. Develop entrepreneurial ideas that resonate with your values and are truly worth your time.

We'll connect you to the vibrant Bernese and Swiss entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing the support and resources you need to turn your vision into reality.

Ready for challenging leadership and expert roles?

Build and shape companies in a reflective and responsible way.

Our graduates will be able to work in the following fields: 

  • Entrepreneurs 

  • Intrapreneurs, for example business innovation managers, new product developers or product owners 

  • Company successors 

  • Entrepreneurship ecosystem experts 

  • Professionals working in startups 

Duration + Content

You should have no difficulty balancing the MSc in Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation with your career. Our hybrid study model combines on-campus presence blocks with flexible virtual learning cycles. We recommend limiting employment to 50%.

The module groups

The master’s program can be divided into five topic areas. 

You will:

  • Gain an understanding of why entrepreneurship and innovation are essential and explore the various forms they can take.

  • Gain an understanding of the relevant debates in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation

  • Understand the role of entrepreneurship and innovation at the micro, meso, and macro levels 

  • Debate the ethical challenges associated with entrepreneurship and innovation

  • Develop an awareness of the dark sides of entrepreneurship and innovation

You will: 

  • Acquire the tools to master the early stages of your startup or intrapreneurship project 

  • Develop a go-to-market strategy 

  • Generate leads and first sales 

  • Understand the different funding sources available for entrepreneurial projects 

  • Select and access suitable funding sources for your entrepreneurial project 

  • Master the financial planning tools required for the steering of your entrepreneurial project 

You will: 

  • Benefit from individual and group coaching to further develop your entrepreneurial project 

  • Gain access to entrepreneurship and innovation experts who can support you  

You will: 

  • Immerse yourself in subjects that arouse your interest 

  • Be able to choose electives from an exciting list, including modules on digital entrepreneurship, wellbeing, social entrepreneurship or affordable innovation 

You will: 

  • Understand and apply different scientific research methods 

  • Select suitable research methods for your own research 

  • Write a master's thesis that is academically sound and will help you develop your entrepreneurial project further 

Additional opportunities

We partner with top universities worldwide and an international exchange is possible. More information will follow.

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

More information: Mentoring programme

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 the additional effort you put into expanding your knowledge and skills pertaining to sustainability.

Admission requirements

There are many paths to our master’s programme. With a bachelor’s degree in business or economics, you can start right away. Otherwise, we offer options to earn 30 ECTS. Final admission is decided by the programme head.

A degree in business or economics will allow you to start immediately. However, we welcome a diverse range of students with various bachelor’s degrees (including technical, scientific, and artistic degrees, etc.). At the same time, we must ensure that all students in a year have sufficient business knowledge, which is why the following requirements must be met: 

  • The bachelor’s or university of applied sciences diploma must encompass 180 ECTS. 

  • At least 30 ECTS credits of your bachelor’s degree must be in business or economics-related modules. If this is not the case, applicants will be offered options to earn 30 ECTS and are encouraged to get in touch with us early.

  • You must demonstrate at least six months of professional experience, recognised by the Business School. 

  • Applicants from abroad must hold an equivalent degree (as per swissuniversities regulations) plus at least six months of professional experience recognised by the BFH Business School.

Before applying to BFH, please check with the Swiss embassy in your country about the regulations and process for obtaining a student visa. In some countries, school and university degrees must be notarised before they can be submitted to the Swiss embassy. The notarisation process can take up to 10 weeks. When applying to BFH Business School from these countries, you must include copies of the certified documents with your application forms. 

Once you have applied, our Administrative Assistant will schedule a personalized advisory interview for you. During this 45-minute meeting, we will discuss your personal motivation and your submitted Business Idea Proposal.

Administrative Assistant

Teaching is in English. You must have at least C1 level English. Proof of language proficiency can be provided, for example, by a C1 certificate, an equivalent diploma, or by proof that the applicant has studied or worked in English. 

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 37
Request for credit transfer: 15 August
Deadline to withdraw application: 31 July

Start your studies this autumn semester

If you need to apply for a visa, we recommend that you register for this degree programme by 31 March. 

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

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

Mandatory requirements:

  • Passport or ID card (front and back) 
  • Passport photo that meets international passport requirements
  • Up-to-date CV
  • Proof of proficiency in English to at least C1 (C1 English certificate or equivalent/alternative proof e.g. degree/modules attended in English)
  • Confirmation of termination of matriculation
  • Diplomas and leaving certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, university entrance qualification, Abitur or upper secondary level qualification)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent qualification plus transcript of records (ToR)

Required documentation if you were educated abroad or if your educational background is in a related field and you are looking to transfer credit from other universities

  • Passport or ID card (front and back) 
  • Passport photo that meets international passport requirements
  • Up-to-date CV
  • Proof of proficiency in English to at least C1  (C1 English certificate or equivalent/alternative proof e.g. degree/modules attended in English)
  • Confirmation of termination of matriculation
  • Comparable non-Swiss university degree with at least 30 ECTS credits in business and economics subjects (bachelor’s degree certificate) including transcript of records (ToR)
  • Proof of at least six months of professional experience, recognised by the Business School

An incomplete dossier will be rejected for revision and correction. A short period of grace is granted on the understanding that the application will be deemed withdrawn if it is not resubmitted within the specified time limit.

Outline your personal reasons and development perspectives in relation to the Master's programme in Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation (max. 500 words).

The programme strongly emphasizes experiential learning, allowing you to further develop your idea by applying what you’ve learned, reflecting on your experiences, and progressing at an advanced level.

Submit a description of your entrepreneurial idea. This could be an idea for a startup (or its further development), an intrapreneurship project, or a business acquisition. The Business Idea Proposal should include:

  • Analysis of the problem or challenge being addressed (e.g., customer problem, societal issue, challenge related to a business succession)
  • Description of the entrepreneurial idea
  • Current status of the entrepreneurial idea
  • Expected development of the idea during the course of study
  • 1000 - 2000 words

In addition to the motivation letter, the Business Idea Proposal serves as a basis for the obligatory advisory interview.

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.–

Voluntary contribution to the student body (per semester)

CHF 15.–

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

CHF 24.–

*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.

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

Advice + Information

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

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 master’s degree on our ‘green campus’ in Bern’s Marzili district and at Haslerstrasse / Effingerstrasse. Both locations are a 10-15 minute walk from Bern railway station.

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).

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.
Business School
Brückenstrasse 73

Haslerstrasse 30 / Effingerstrasse 47

You can reach the location from Bern railway station in seven minutes by tram/bus to the Kaufmännischer Verband stop.

Tram Nr. 6, direction Fischermätteli
Tram Nr. 7, direction Bümpliz
Tram Nr. 8, direction Bern Brünnen Westside
Bus Nr. 17, direction Köniz Weiermatt

There are no parking spaces available.

Haslerstrasse is a 15-minute walk from Bern railway station.

The cafeteria is located at Schwarztorstrasse 48.

Haslerstrasse / Effingerstrasse
Haslerstrasse / Effingerstrasse