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

How important is Industry 4.0 for your company? Which data is crucial for your company’s management? With our EMBA, you as a Digital Business Manager will have answers to these questions.

If your company is feeling the impact of the digital revolution, then this EMBA in digital business provides you with the skills you need to transform your business. Key topics in the course include innovation, digital strategies, new working spaces, digital skills, new working spaces, customer-oriented business models, and cross-company value chains. 

This EMBA is designed to be up-to-date and flexible 

  • Modular programme and free choice of order of the CASs 

  • Tailor-made content for individual career and development paths 

  • Clear strategies and design of new digital business models 

  • Innovation- and customer-oriented topics, methods and processes 

  • Solutions and approaches to digital challenges 

  • A wide array of analysis, design and controlling methods of your digital strategy 

  • Holistic, systemic implementation of digital organizational development in strategy, structure and culture. 

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) «Digital Business»
  • Duration max. 8 years
  • Schedule Depending on the chosen CAS
  • 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)

Structure + Content

Portrait

Digital. Strategic. Practical. Our EMBA in digital business not only places a strong focus on the technology of transformation but also gives you a broad economic perspective It will give you what you need to implement digital transformation in whatever organisation you work in. 

The course combines the digital aspects of strategy, structure, and culture with management and leadership issues. In combining all these topics, we will examine the digitisation of innovation, marketing, HR, finance, organization etc. 

Goals & Competencies

With your new knowledge, you will be able to use digital transformation as an opportunity for your organisation. In transforming your business, you will: 

  • learn to observe trends and changes in the environment and identify opportunities for innovation and change. 

  • be able to apply current methods and procedures in innovation and change projects.

  • use structural changes of digitalization to realign your organization strategically, culturally and operationally. 

  • learn to manage and accompany demanding, complex transformation processes and projects. 

  • be able to rethink the use of data across organizations and use it to inform your change process.

  • be able to systematically develop new digital business models and design value-added products and services.

  • be able to identify strategic issues arising from digitization.

  • develop, validate and anchor digital transformation strategies in the culture of an organisation.

  • plan, specify, manage and lead innovation and change projects systematically and successfully.

  • structure business processes and logics and identify areas of action to create the conditions for seamless digitisation. 

  • analyse organisations’ digital competencies.

  • recognise opportunities for new organizational concepts and initiate change in your organization.

Content

Our EMBA in digital business is flexible and can be tailored to your needs. The content is determined by the individual CAS of your specialization in digital business. 

You can choose from two models: 

  • Model I: You complete CAS Leadershiop or CAS Leadership Advanced and three additional CAS and write a master’s thesis.  
  • Model II: You complete two CAS and write a DAS thesis. With 30 ECTS credits, depending on the CAS chosen, you complete the DAS Digital Leadership or the DAS Innovation and Change. You will then attend a CAS of your choice and a specialist course. At the end, you also write a master’s thesis. 

If you have any questions, please contact the programme administration or head of programme directly. They will be happy to assist you. 

You benefit from a range of didactic approaches in a modern, sociable learning atmosphere

  • Lectures, discussions and exchange of experience  

  • Group activities 

  • Learning platform SharePoint - presentations, expert discussions  

  • Study and reflection on best practice examples  

  • Individual coaching 

  • Networking and exchange with lecturers and classmates 

 

Assessment includes a range of methods: 

  • Transfer Reports, papers and case studies 

  • Oral presentations or oral exams 

  • Group work on practice challenges 

  • Learning groups 

Title + conclusion

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Digital Business (60 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. 

Eligibility & Entry

If you are a specialist or manager in the public, private or non-profit sector and you are interested in new technologies and their application, then this EMBA is for you. This is your opportunity to master digital business transformation.

Our EMBA in digital business is perfect for you if you want to expand your know-how of new technologies and their practical implementation in digital strategy, business models, value chains and processes.

This programme It is suitable for people in various positions:  

  • CEOs 

  • Members of executive board 

  • Heads of business units 

  • Heads of marketing 

  • Business developers 

  • Entrepreneurs 

  • Project managers 

  • Administrative managers from the municipality, canton and federal government 

  • Employees from NPO and NGO 

Does this match your profile? Then our EMBA Digital Business is just right for you. Be ready for the digital future. 

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.

Important notes

There are specific admission requirements for the individual CAS.

Language skills

The language of instruction is largely German. The compulsory literature is also in German. In some CASs require work to be submitted in English.

Exceptions

The head of the programme decides according to your application - "sur dossier" - after you have applied.

Applications from abroad 

Please register with the online registration form or contact the responsible head of programme. 

Application + Practicalities

Application + Practicalities

The maximum duration for completion is 8 years. Admission for the program is possible according to the starting dates of the individual CAS. The application deadlines are found in the descriptions for the specific CAS.

Please register directly via the specific CAS.

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. 

Information about the EMBA

CHF 34,000

All tuition fees for the individual CAS courses total CHF 34,000. Additional costs for the master’s thesis module (CHF 2,500) are not applicable if all ECTS credits have been earned at the BFH or within the framework of our cooperative study programs.  

All compulsory literature, course materials and examinations are included in the costs. 

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, 81 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

Information

Study Counselling

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

Head of Degree Programme

Organisation of Studies

Location + Facilities

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48