Curriculum, start before autumn 2022

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration programme. Applies to international students enrolled from 2015.

  • Programme content

    The Master programme in Economics and Business Administration (MScEBA) is a two-year programme (120 ECTS):

    • Courses - 90 ECTS
    • Master thesis - 30 ECTS

    The course requirements consist of:

    • Courses in the major - 45 ECTS
    • Elective courses - 45 ECTS

  • The structure of the programme

    The MSc-programme has eight majors (specialisations):

    • Business Analytics (BAN)
    • Business Analysis and Performance Management (BUS)
    • Economic Analysis (ECO)
    • Economics (ECN)
    • Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment (ENE)
    • Finance (MIF)
    • Marketing and Brand Management (MBM)
    • Strategy and Management (STR)

    International degree students apply to and are (if successful) accepted into one of these international majors.

    The courses in the programme shall be completed according to the following plan:

    Major :

    • Courses equivalent to 45 ECTS from one of the majors.
      At least one course in the major shall be an empirical methods course - 7.5 ECTS. The description of each major indicates which empirical methods courses have been approved in the individual major.
    • Each major consists of compulsory and elective courses in addition to an empirical methods course. The number of compulsory courses varies between the majors. It is highly recommended that the compulsory courses be taken in the first or second semester

    Elective courses :

    Elective courses equivalent to 45 ECTS.

    The elective courses can be chosen from the entire portfolio of courses in the Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration programme, including

    • courses from the chosen major
    • courses from other majors or minors
    • courses taken in an exchange programme

    At least three of the elective courses (equivalent to 22.5 ECTS) must be from outside the chosen major.

    International degree students are not required to have a minor. It is, however, possible to combine three elective courses (22.5 -30 ECTS) into a minor by choosing these from one of the other specialisations.

    In order to ensure that everyone who completes the Master programme in Economics and Business Administration (MScEBA) has a sound knowledge of and skills in empirical methods and ethics, the following requirements are specified for the portfolio of courses:

    • At least 7.5 ECTS from the courses designated "Empirical methods" (see the individual descriptions of majors)
    • At least 2.5 ECTS from the courses designated "Ethics"

    The Ethics courses can either be included as part of the major or be taken as elective courses, depending on the course portfolio in the profiles. It is also possible to take a 2.5 ECTS ethics course as an addition to the other course requirements, in which case the master degree will add to 122.5 ECTS.

    International students may take courses offered in Norwegian provided they are fluent in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.

  • Learning outcome

    Upon completion of the programme, the candidates shall have achieved the following learning goals at the programme level:

    Knowledge

    The candidates

    • have an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of relevant theories and empirics within economics and business administration
    • have solid competence in empirical methods
    • have broad insight in relevant national and international challenges
    • have knowledge of sustainability and ethical issues

    Skills

    The candidates

    • have strong analytical skills
    • can work independently with advanced problems
    • can update themselves and apply new knowledge throughout their career
    • can apply achieved knowledge to new areas

    General Competence

    The candidates

    • can communicate with both specialists and non-specialists about their academic field
    • have solid basis for operating professionally in an international setting
    • can contribute to innovation and entrepreneurship
    • can reflect upon, and take into consideration, sustainability, and ethical issues.
    • understand implications of information technology in business and society

  • Master thesis

    During the programme, the students shall complete a master thesis where they study one or more related problems in depth. The master thesis is equivalent to 30 ECTS and shall be completed in the subject area of the major. The master thesis is normally undertaken by two students together.

    Learning outcomes:

    Through the master thesis, the students shall

    • develop their analytical skills and get a deeper understanding of theoretical and/or empirical possibilities and challenges in the selected academic field
    • be trained to think and work independently
    • analyse and critically relate to different sources of information and use these to structure and articulate academic arguments
    • show understanding, reflection and maturity in the academic field

    The master thesis shall comply with research-ethical standards.

  • International opportunities

    Exchange programme

    The students may take part in an exchange programme for one semester in one of NHH's partner institutions. For the exchange to be approved, at least 30 ECTS must be taken at the partner institution. The exchange replaces electives (or a minor plus an elective); it is not possible to take major courses on exchange.

    CEMS MIM

    Students in the Master programme may apply for admission to the CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) programme. CEMS is a collaboration among 30 outstanding international business schools, which awards the joint degree CEMS MIM. This programme is practically oriented and has considerable contact with CEMS's corporate partners. The programme includes compulsory courses, language requirements, an internship, a business project and a stay at a partner institution for one semester. The CEMS candidates are awarded a Master degree from NHH as well as a CEMS MIM degree.

    Double Degree programme

    Students in the Master programme may apply for admission to one of NHH's double degree collaborations. These programmes have a high academic level and give the students an extra academic challenge. The students spend a year at NHH and a year at a foreign academic institution. The double degree candidates are awarded a Master degree from NHH as well as a Master degree from the collaborating institution.

    Innovation School


    The Innovation School is a program for students who are curious about innovation. It combines a modern academic study program with a study trip and an internship in Germany.
    For mor information: https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/international-opportunities/innovation-school/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/international-opportunities/innovation-school/

  • PhD courses as part of the MSc

    PhD courses offered at NHH may be included in the Master programme.

    • The maximum number of PhD credits is 15 ECTS.
    • Master degree students must apply to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs in order to take PhD courses. Applications should be sent to opptak@nhh.no.
    • The application should specify whether the PhD course is intended as a major or an elective course.
    • PhD courses may not replace the compulsory courses in the major.

    Students who take PhD courses as part of their Master degree will not be able to use the same courses in any future PhD education.

  • Admission requirements

    General admission requirements:

    Bachelor degree amounting to 180 ECTS or equivalent.

    Special admission requirements:

    The Bachelor degree must include 90 ECTS in economics and business administration subjects. 30 of these 90 ECTS shall be in business administration subjects, i.e. excluding economics courses such as micro and macroeconomics.

  • Possibilities for recognition of previous education

    Recognition of previous education can be granted if the student has passed a course that is equivalent to a course at NHH in terms of scope, content and academic level. An application form is used, and the application must include grade transcript, course description and reading list.

  • Degree

    Upon completion of the programme of study, the candidates will be awarded the Norwegian degree title of "Master i økonomi og administrasjon". The English translation is: "Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration".