Testimonials
Read what current and former students say about their study choice and experiences with the programme.
Marian Biekart, Student
"I believe completing a thesis can be a rewarding experience which provides you with a unique opportunity to develop a deep understanding of your chosen field."
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
One of the most exceptional features of the Business Informatics programme is the level of flexibility it offers in tailoring your curriculum to your individual interests and career aspirations. This is reflected by the three specialized tracks that the programme offers: software, data and process. Out of the ten courses you're required to take, only four are mandatory, giving you the freedom to choose from a wide array of electives.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?
One common misconception is that this programme is solely about IT or computer science. In reality, it's a multidisciplinary programme that combines elements of business, computer science, and data analytics to provide a comprehensive education in how information technology can transform businesses. Moreover, you have the option to either delve into a more technical curriculum, exploring areas like process mining and cloud and edge computing, which require programming knowledge, or opt for a less technical path where programming skills are not necessary.
What is your favourite assignment of this programme?
For the Requirements Engineering course, the assignment was to build a prototype in pairs with a low code development tool based on the specification document drafted by another pair.
And on the contrary: what is the biggest challenge of this programme?
I think the biggest challenge is the thesis project. While you receive guidance from a supervisor, much of the work is done independently, which requires a high level of self-discipline, time management and motivation. But despite these challenges, I believe completing a thesis can be a rewarding experience which provides you with a unique opportunity to develop a deep understanding of your chosen field.
Anything else you would like to share with prospective students, you would like to have known before you started?
The programme places a strong emphasis on group work, and the group sizes can vary significantly, depending on the course. With that in mind, if you have the opportunity to choose your group partners, do so thoughtfully. Collaborating effectively with your peers can significantly enhance your learning experience. I highly recommend becoming a member of the study association. It offers you a way to connect with your fellow students through various social activities. Beyond the social aspect, study associations also provide valuable academic support and networking opportunities.
Fouad Amiri, alumnus
"The wide variety of subjects in this Master’s makes it exciting."
Why did you choose this Master’s?
As a digital product enthusiast, it has always been important for me to keep up with business and technical progressions. This programme provided me with a nice mixture of both orientations and a well-maintained balance between theoretical and practical courses. Not only did we study how to define structured data-driven digital solutions to overcome real-life problems, but also, we got a chance to flourish our entrepreneurial mindset. The programme covers a broad range of the latest topics of the digital world, and at the same time lays out a scientific foundation to dive deeper into the subjects of our choice.
How did this programme contribute to your career?
I got hired by a large Dutch company right after I defended my thesis and I’m currently working as digital product lead, leading multiple digital squads across the world.
Courses and topics like data science, business process management, process mining and management/advisory related projects allowed me to improve my hard and soft skills together and prepared me for my current role. I’m still using the techniques I learned, for example, in the method engineering classes, on a daily basis and I even used them in my case study job interviews!
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
The wide variety of subjects in this Master’s makes it exciting. Yet it will be challenging for students as well, since they need to find their focus and area of interest along the way. This requires a passion for improvement and hard work.
This programme works perfectly for generalists who want to gain decent insight into trending digital breakthroughs to follow their dreams in the business side of IT. It also enables those who want to become specialists in more hands-on roles to take a look into the business side of IT and to connect WHY’s, HOW’s and WHAT’s of their job.
Daniel Alami, alumnus
"I would encourage anyone with the curiosity to tackle business problems through tech to apply to this programme."
Why did you choose this Master’s?
When I finished my Computer Engineering degree, I wanted to explore the intersection of technology and business. I was keen on challenging myself and getting out of my comfort zone and this Master’s programme seemed like the top choice in Europe. The subjects were inspiring and cutting edge, covering topics that are top of mind in every organization, like knowledge management, software ecosystems and product management.
I particularly liked the insightful group discussions in the seminars, the rigour and scientific approach to any topic as well as the action-oriented teaching methods. Overall the programme allowed me to improve my analytical and problem-solving skills, which are critical for success.
What are you currently working on?
During my studies, I had the chance to intern at IBM’s Extreme Blue program, which helped me kickstart my career in the consulting space. Since then, I have worked as an IT strategy consultant across several industries and top tech companies like IBM and Gartner.
I currently work as a Digital Advisor at Microsoft, helping companies in the Financial Services and Public Sector envision and deliver technology-led business transformation. I work in topics such as health, sustainability, workplace transformation and innovation in the banking and insurance space
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
I would encourage anyone with the curiosity to tackle business problems through tech to apply to this programme. It equips you with the skills needed to become a proficient professional either in industry or academic research. You will learn to work in multicultural environments, tackle challenging and ambiguous problems, and learn to have fun while doing so. If you are passionate about business and technology, you will not regret this Master’s programme.
Oka Arntzen, alumnus
"It was in this course that I thought this is indeed the right place for me"
During my bachelor I already found out about the master Business Informatics. I heard some nice stories from friends who studied BI, who told me that the program was really flexible (which I find an important plus) and that it comes with good job opportunities. Most of my friends got a job right after finishing their studies, so I thought that BI could be a good option for me as well. I knew I wanted something related to business, so I attended the Master's information evening to explore my options. After that I decided for BI since I was clear to me that the combination of computer science (which I studied in my bachelor) and business would broaden my knowledge and I would get the chance to apply my technical skills to a business context.
The programme is indeed very flexible. You can choose to do any course from the Information Science department; and you can also expand your programme by doing courses from any other faculty at the university. One of the subjects I found particularly interesting was Method Engineering. This course lays the foundations of how you can approach problems. Basically you have a problem and you have to see what kind of method or what kind of procedures you want to use to work it out and solve it. And that’s something that really interests me: goal driven work. It was in this course when I thought “yeah, this is the right place for me, this is something I really like to do”.
There are a lot of job opportunities in this area and I already had the chance to try some of them. Last year, for example, I worked at a company which was an eye opening experience. It gives you the feeling of seeing how everything works and how it is to be a grown up. I still have to finish my courses and write my thesis but I know I will have many job offers. I still have to decide what is my cup of tea because there are so many options: big companies, small companies, international or Dutch. The list is endless, I like my odds for the future.
Baharak Bakhtiari, alumnus
"Most of the projects and assignments we do, are done within real companies"
I applied for the Business Informatics Master’s as I wanted to develop myself in information science. I had experience in the entrepreneurial field but lacked technical knowledge, that’s what led me to this Master’s.
I initially applied without any expectation of success, as I thought the university and the programme were too good and I would have minimum chances with my background. But I decided to give it a try and got in!
When I started the programme, I asked our programme coordinator for advice regarding my different background. The professors and coordinators are really helpful, all you need to do is to communicate that you need help.
I am in the second year of my Master’s degree now. Most of the projects and assignments we do, are done within real companies, which is always a great experience. I also like the guest lectures from leading companies, which are not only interesting but also descriptive in terms that it shows us what we will be doing in our Master thesis and/or in professional life. The best part of the programme for me however are the elective courses, as it allows you to choose what you would like to learn most. I am currently taking courses in the entrepreneurial field to become an ICT entrepreneur.