1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
  3. Continuing education
  4. Business administration
See table of contents See table of contents

Business Administration

Do you want to cover a wide range of business management skills? This course in business administration will teach you entrepreneurial thinking and methodological knowledge.

You are a decision maker. Would you like a compact overview of the wide range of economic topics? Do you want to carry out new business management tasks with a high degree of flexibility?

  • You take part in a company simulation and run your own business virtually. In this way you internalise entrepreneurial thinking.
  • In class, the focus is on accounting. You will therefore learn to understand the language of accountants and controllers.
  • With your class, you will visit a company, institution or administration, gaining valuable insights and having the opportunity to participate in critical discussions.

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
  • Duration 21 study days
  • Schedule Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • Application deadline 6 weeks before start, later registration also possible if places are available
  • ECTS credits 12 ECTS credits
  • Costs CHF 8,500
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session Please visit the German website for more information

Contact

Downloads (in German)

To register, please visit the German website. 

Content + structure

Portrait

Market-oriented and flexible. Our CAS Business Administration takes into account the structural changes in companies. Decentralisation, the formation of small and flexible organisational units, and a broad scope for decision making create new framework conditions for specialists and executives. All-rounders with practical experience are in demand. This part-time continuing education programme in management provides you with basic business management skills. In addition to solid technical and methodological knowledge, the focus is on social competence, entrepreneurial thinking and decision-making reliability.

Course objectives

With this in-service training programme you will be able to move confidently in the arena of corporate strategy.

  • You will acquire application-oriented basic knowledge of business administration as well as management techniques and methods appropriate to the target group.  
  • You will learn to understand the language of business administration better and to apply the course content, concepts and means to your practical situation.
  • On completion of the programme you will understand discussions of business management issues and be able to make your own contributions.
  • You solve operational problems in a structured way and tackle specific tasks in your company.

The CAS Business Adminstration is a part-time continuing education programme. It is made up of different subject blocks that are coordinated with each other. The programme concludes with a company simulation in which you can demonstrate your new skills. In addition, a repetition day in accounting skills is available.

  • Lectures, teaching talks and exchange of experience
  • Company simulation
  • Group work and case studies
  • Study of best-practice examples
  • Platform O365
  • Learning groups (optional)
  • Accounting repetition day (optional)

Class attendance

Regular attendance in class as well as the passing of the proof of competence are prerequisites for the successful completion of the degree programme. If you are absent for more than 2 days, you will have to make up for this (after consultation with the head of the degree programme).

Assessment in this CAS

  • Transfer report: You prepare a written paper on a topic of your choice in consultation with the lecturer.
  • Self-assessment in accounting (not grade-relevant): You demonstrate your acquired competences using the Moodle platform (multiple attempts possible).
  • Business simulation: You participate actively and fully.

Proof of competence transfer report

  • Content: The transfer report deals with a question on a topic of your CAS. You choose a topic from your own working environment and solve a practical problem.
  • Methodology: You develop an application-oriented solution to your practice-oriented problem. In doing so, you will use existing specialist literature, apply scientific methods such as interviews or surveys to find a solution and undertake a critical reflection.
  • Length: maximum 3000 words (without title page, table of contents, summary, tables, pictures, references and appendix).
  • Language: German (English or French by arrangement)

Qualification + title

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of Bern University of Applied Sciences in «Business Administration» (12 ECTS credits)

Lecturers

Our lecturers are proven experts with extensive practical and theoretical knowledge in their subject areas. They have at least a university degree plus many years of experience in higher education. 

Requirements + admission

Regardless of industry, you will take on specialist, project management and leadership tasks with business management implications. Or you are aiming for professional independence or want to expand your current field of activity.

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 Study before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances applicants may still  be admitted. The head of the degree programme will make a decision based upon your application and extenuating circumstances. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you will in any case attend the course «Introduction to Academic Writing» (in German) before the first CAS.

For all students of our CAS programmes we offer a half-day course Effective Learning. Attendance is recommended and is free of charge for CAS students. At this event, you will learn about the practice-oriented learning style used at universities of applied science.

Organisation + Registration

The duration of the programme is 21 study days. Approximately one module per month takes place in block lessons all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8.45 - 16.15. Maximum of 24 participants.

To register, please visit the German website. 

Documents required for registration

You can register online via registration form. For registration we require following documents (in PDF format, max. 1 MB per document): 

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format) 

Please upload these documents even if you have already submitted them for another application. 

Organisational aspects of the CAS

Approximately one module per month takes place in block lessons all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8.45 - 16.15.

The registration deadline for the programme is six weeks before it begins. If places are available, later registration is possible.

CHF 8,500

All costs for compulsory literature, course materials and assessments are included in the price.

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

Advice and information events

Study Counselling

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

Head of the degree programme

Administration

Information events

In addition to the information events we offer you our personal advice. By telephone or directly online via MS Teams.

Please contact us!

E-mail: weiterbildung.wirtschaft@bfh.ch 
Phone: 031 848 34 02

Location + Facilities

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48