Study programme

Business Informatics (MBI) is a two-year research oriented Master's programme (120 EC). EC stands for European Credits in which 1 EC equals 28 hours of work.

Curriculum

The programme is build around 3 specialized tracks, each focussing on a different area of Business Informatics. At the start of the programme you are encouraged to select 1 track to determine the focus of your programme. The curriculum then consists of a 75 EC course part, followed by a 45 EC research part in year 2. 

Course part (75 EC)

The course part of this programme consists of:   

  • 4 compulsory courses (30 EC) 
  • 6 elective courses (45 EC) 

In the course list below you can find a description of the specific courses. Please note: students cannot be guaranteed a spot in a certain (elective) course.  Some courses may have limitations on the number of students that can enroll. 

Research part (45 EC)

The majority of the 2nd year is spend on conducting a research project and writing your Master’s thesis.  

The research project contains both a scientific and an applied study on a specific business informatics topic. Students regularly collaborate with an external organisation, i.e. a knowledge- or IT-intensive company during the project. The project concludes with writing a thesis and possibly a publishable paper based on your research. Thesis results are presented and discussed during the thesis defense. 

The research part can be started when all courses have been completed.

Integrity

Within the MBI programme research and education, integrity plays an important role. Ethical aspects of the research (e.g. privacy, hacking, information security, scientific integrity, etc.) are topics in several courses (Advanced Research Methods, Introduction to Business Informatics, Responsible ICT) and an integral part of the research training. In addition, all students of the entire Graduate School of Natural Sciences must participate in the course Dilemmas of the Scientist (0.5 EC), which focuses on integrity and social responsibilities of the scientist.

Educational methods

  • Lectures with guest speakers  
  • Individual papers  
  • Group projects  
  • Workshops  
  • Virtual business management  
  • Business simulation  
  • Seminars and masterclasses  
  • Excursions and visits  

Examinations

  • Individual papers
  • Presentations
  • Assignments
  • Written exams
  • Master's thesis

Extra opportunities

Utrecht University offers several programmes for students looking for an extra challenge. These programmes are followed on top of your regular Master’s programme and go beyond the regular curriculum. Do you want to know more about extracurricular opportunities?

Read more about the honours programmes