Digital Business

Are digitalisation, processes and transformation more than just buzzwords for you? This EMBA will give you the expertise you need to operate successfully in digital business.

Do you want to actively shape the digital transformation and make your organisation fit for the future? With this Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA) in Digital Business, you will expand your management competences and, of course, your digital skills. The focus is on the use of data, AI and innovations for digital strategies and customer-oriented business models. You will deal intensively with cross-company value chains and new forms of organisation, team-promoting corporate culture and modern working environments. In the EMBA, you will understand and utilise technologies as enablers of digital transformation - without in-depth knowledge of technology and statistics.

If you want to get started digitally and are interested in technologies and data, then our customisable EMBA in Digital Business is just right for you:

  • You determine the sequence of the total of four CAS yourself.
  • You set the focus: Decide on the compulsory-elective CAS that match your goals and interests.
  • You further develop your social and leadership skills: benefit from a Development Day and individual development meetings in the compulsory CAS Leadership or Advanced Leadership.
  • You can customise the time horizon of your studies (2.5 to 8 years including the Master's thesis).

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
  • 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

Content + Structure

Portrait

In the EMBA in Digital Business, you will expand your skills in digital transformation from a business and organisational perspective. You will learn how to use technology as an enabler to successfully shape the digital transformation.

This education combines management knowledge, leadership and technology in the context of digitalisation - with individual focal points that you determine yourself: Are you fascinated by AI and data? Is strategy your topic? Or are you passionate about marketing, service design and innovation?

Whether you work in business, for an NGO or in the public sector – our EMBA will help you advance your career.

Learning Objectives

Use the digital transformation as an opportunity for your career and your company. Or design your own digital business.

  • You will learn to observe trends and changes in the environment and utilise opportunities for innovation and change.
  • You will familiarise yourself with and apply current methods and processes in innovation and change projects.
  • You will take advantage of the changes brought about by digitalisation and realign your organisation strategically, culturally and operationally.
  • You will learn how to manage and support challenging, complex transformation processes and projects.
  • You will be able to rethink the use of data across organisations. You will derive the necessary changes from this. 
  • You will systematically develop new (digital) business models and design the value creation processes for products and services.

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. Contact the Head of Degree Programme in good time and we will be happy to help you with your planning.

Grafik EMBA

Compulsory CAS

In the CAS Leadership or CAS Advanced Leadership, you will reflect on your leadership skills and work with practical tools and instruments for the professional management of employees. For the CAS Advanced Leadership,  you must have at least 5 years of management experience and currently hold a management position.

Compulsory-elective CAS

You choose two CAS from the compulsory-elective group ‘Digital Skills’ and one CAS from the compulsory-elective group ‘Business Administration, Strategy & Project Management’.

Order

And by the way: You determine the order of the four CAS yourself, this also applies to the compulsory CAS.

You have two options: 

  • Model I: You complete the CAS Leadershiop or CAS Avanced Leadership 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 & Business Design. You will then attend a CAS of your choice and a specialist course. At the end, you also write a master’s thesis. 

Recognition of previous course work

Have you already completed a CAS which maches this EMBA? We will be happy to check which credits can be recognised towards the EMBA.

Master's thesis

You complete the EMBA programme with a Master's thesis.

Adults learn differently. That is why the continuing education at the BFH Business school is committed to modern adult education. Our mission with «brain, heart and hand» is an important principle in the design of our offers. Questions in the lessons are based on the participants' professional and practical life experiences. 

It is the mix of contact study and phases for self-study, analogue learning environment as well as digital tools that makes all the difference.

We work with Microsoft Teams in the CAS and in some courses and SAS-programmes. You have access to documents, messages and information and use the chat function within your class.

  • You can find information on the proof of competence for each CAS on the respective website.
  • During or towards the end of the last CAS, you register for the Master thesis module with the EMBA study organisation
  • Information and conditions regarding the Master's thesis and the Master's thesis module.

We offer short, free learning events for all students of our CAS programmes. With the courses Methodology Transfer Report, Effective Learning in Continuing Education at Universities of Applied Sciences and the Transfer Report workshop, we would like to support you in successfully and sustainably completing your CAS. Short overview.
For more details and dates for the online events, please go to the German website.

Eligibility + Admission

Are you a specialist or manager in the business world, administration or a non-profit organisation? Are you interested in new technologies and their practical application? The EMBA in Digital Business is the ideal further education programme to expand your expertise in digital technologies and practice-oriented tools – with a focus on digital strategies, business models, value chains and processes.

If you want to get started digitally and belong to the following target group, then you've come to the right place:

  • Board members, CEOs and members of executive management
  • Heads of business units
  • Marketing managers
  • Business developers
  • Founders
  • Project managers 
  • Municipal, cantonal and federal administration managers
  • Employees from NPOs and NGOs
  • All specialists and managers who are involved in digital transformation

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 Writing course» 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» before the first CAS.

Good to know

Specific admission requirements apply to the individual CAS. The language of instruction and compulsory literature is generally German. Individual texts may be provided in English.

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Bern University of Applied Sciences with specialisation ‘in Digital Busines’ (60 ECTS credits).

Organisation + Application

You register for one or more CAS (depending on dates etc.) via our portal. Good planning is important: For the Master's thesis, you should register directly with the study organisation by e-mail during or towards the end of your last CAS. Expect your EMBA to take an average of 2.5 years. The maximum duration of the programme is 8 years. If you require support regarding planning, finding a topic or selecting supervisors for your Master’s thesis, the programme management will be happy to provide you with the necessary support.

Please register directly via the specific CAS.

Organisational information about the EMBA

Registration via our portal

You will need a Switch edu-ID to register. Please upload the following documents, even if you have already submitted them with another application:

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format)

Your EMBA programme starts with the first CAS. Registration deadlines, dates, teaching days, etc. can be found on the programme pages. We combine face-to-face and guided distance learning an appropriate and relevant form. 

Certain CAS programmes are only held once a year. The number of participants in the individual CAS programmes is limited. We recommend that you arrange a consultation interview and register early.

For the Master's thesis module, please register directly with the study organisation during or towards the end of the final CAS. Please note the teaching dates for the Master's thesis module. The module starts at the beginning of May and the beginning of November.

CHF 34,000  

The total cost of the EMBA is CHF 34,000 and includes tuition fees for the individual CAS programmes (4 x CHF 8,500). All compulsory literature, course materials and proofs of competence are included in the total cost.

The additional costs for the Master's thesis module (CHF 2,500) are waived if you earn all ECTS credits at BFH or through our cooperative study programmes.

Consultation + Information Events

In our FAQ you will find answers to many questions about the administration and organisation of our continuing education programme (available in German). 

Study Consultation

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

Head of Degree Programme

Organisation of Studies

Location + Facilities

Classes take place at Schwarztorstrasse 48 in Bern.