Curriculum

• Programme content

  The Master programme in Economics and Business Administration has a nominal duration of two years (120 credits):

  • Course part - 90 credits.
  • Independent work (master thesis) - 30 credits.

  The course part consists of:

  1. Courses in the major - 45 credits.
  2. Elective courses - 45 credits, of which at least 22.5 ECTS outside the major.
  3. To ensure that all students completing the master programme in economics and business administration have solid knowledge of and skills in empirical methods and in ethics, responsibility and sustainability, the following requirements apply:

  • At least 7.5 ECTS from the courses marked "Empirical methodology" in the major (see descriptions of the majors).
  • At least 7.5 ECTS from the courses labelled "Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability" (ERS courses).

  Empirical methods must be part of the student’s major. The ERS courses can be included either as part of the major or as an elective course outside the major, depending on the course offerings in each profile.

• The structure of the programme

  The main academic specialisation in the programme is defined as a major. You can also choose an additional specialisation in the form of a minor.

  The programme has the following majors:

  • ACC – Accounting
  • BAN – Business Analytics
  • BUS – Business Analysis and Performance Management
  • ECN – Economics
  • ECO – Economic Analysis
  • ENE – Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment
  • FIE – Financial Economics
  • MBM – Marketing and Brand Management
  • STR – Strategy and Management

  The majors can also be taken as minor. In addition, the programme has the following standalone minors:

  • SKATT – Tax economy (in Norwegian)
  • NBD – New Business Development

  In addition, the following international opportunities can also be included as minors:

  • CEMS MIM
  • Innovation School
  • Gründerskolen (in Norwegian)
  • Sosialt Entreprenørskap (in Norwegian)

  Students who go on exchange cannot take a minor at NHH.

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

  Major:

  • Courses equivalent to 45 ECTS from one of the majors.
  • At least one of the courses in the major must be an empirical methods course - 7.5 ECTS. The empirical methods courses that are approved in each main major are listed in the profile descriptions.
  • Each major consists of compulsory and elective courses, in addition to an empirical methods course. The number of compulsory courses varies from profile to profile. It is strongly recommended that the compulsory courses be taken in the first or second semester of the programme.

  Elective part (45 credits):

  The elective part consists of 45 ECTS. Of these, 22.5 ECTS must be within subject areas other than the student’s major, i.e. they cannot have the same letter code as the major. Exchange can be included with up to 30 ECTS in the elective part.

  The elective part may also include a minor of 22.5-30 ECTS according to what is stated in the profile descriptions. The minor cannot be within the same subject area as the major.

  Students can use CEMS MIM, Innovation school (30 ECTS), Gründerskolen (in Norwegian, 30 ECTS) or Sosialt Entreprenørskap (in Norwegian, 30 ECTS) as minors.

  Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability (ERS)

  At least 7.5 ECTS must be from the list of approved ERS courses. The requirement can be fulfilled inside the major or as one of the electives outside the major.

• Learning outcome

  The programme provides the candidates with a broad platform to work as specialists, advisors or managers in various industries such as finance, consultancy, auditing, energy, IT/telecommunications, manufacturing, media, public administration, non-profit organizations, etc.

  The candidates should also be well equipped to proceed to doctoral studies at home and abroad.

  Upon completion of the programme, the candidates have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  Knowledge

  The candidates

  • have 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 into relevant national and international challenges;
  • have good 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 acquired knowledge in new areas,

  General competence

  The candidates

  • can communicate both with specialists and non-specislists 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 account sustainability and ethical issues;
  • understand the implications of information technology for businesses and society,

• Master thesis

  Master thesis (Independent work)

  During the programme, the master's students will complete a master thesis where they study one or more related problems in depth. The master thesis constitutes 30 ECTS and must be carried out within the subject area of the major. Students will normally write the master thesis together with another student.

  Learning outcome:

  Through the master thesis, the students will

  • develop their analytical skills and gain a deeper understanding of theoretical and/or empirical possibilities and challenges within the chosen academic field
  • be trained to think and work independently
  • analyse and critically relate to various sources of information and use these to structure and articulate academic arguments
  • demonstrate understanding, reflection and maturation in the academic field

  The master thesis must be carried out in accordance with research-ethical standards.

  Further information about the master thesis can be found the Master's thesis website, https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/masters-thesis/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/masters-thesis/

• International opportunities

  Exchange programme

  Students can go on exchange for one semester to one of NHH's partner institutions. Please note that students who go on exchange cannot take a support profile at NHH.

  CEMS Master in International Management (CEMS MIM)

  Students in the Master programme can apply for admission to the CEMS Master in International Management programme. CEMS is a global collaboration between 33 outstanding international business schools, awarding the joint degree CEMS MIM. The programme is practically oriented and has considerable contact with the CEMS's corporate partners. The programme includes compulsory and elective courses, language proficiency requirements, an international internship, a business project and a stay at a partner institution for a semester. CEMS candidates receive the CEMS MIM degree in addition to a Master degree from NHH.

  Further information about CEMS can be found https://www.nhh.no/om-nhh/internasjonale-nettverk/cems/here.

  Double Degree programme

  Students in the master programme can apply for admission to one of NHH's double-degree collaborations. These programmes have a high academic level and provide students with an additional academic challenge. The students spend a year at NHH and a year at a foreign educational institution. Dual degree candidates receive a Master degree from NHH as well as a Master degree from the collaborating institution.

  Further information about double degrees can be found https://www.nhh.no/for-studenter/internasjonale-muligheter/double-degree/here.

  Innovation School

  The Innovation School is a programme that combines international student and internship mobility and provides the opportunity for students to develop theoretical and practical knowledge in a holistic way. The programme includes an internship and period of study in Germany and cannot be combined with an exchange, Internship Abroad, CEMS MIM or a double degree.

  See information https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/international-opportunities/innovation-school/here.

• PhD courses as part of the MSc

  PhD course as part of the MSc

  PhD courses offered at NHH can be incorporated into the master programme.

  • The maximum number of PhD credits is 15 ECTS.
  • Master students must apply to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs in order to take a PhD courses. Application should be sent to opptak@nhh.no.
  • The application must state whether the course is desired as a major course, a minor course or as one of the elective courses.
  • PhD courses cannot replace the compulsory courses within the major.

  Students who integrate a PhD course into their master degree will not be able to use the same courses in any future PhD education.

• Degree

  Upon completion of the programme, 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”.