Program structure

Modules

Modules are online courses (in the distance-education mode) or face-to-face courses (in the blended-learning mode). A typical online course is similar to a conventional study course, taught in a weekly rhythm. This means, for example, that an electronic lecture is held once a week; review questions and exercises in that week refer to the lecture given before. In the full-time program, there are 5 modules per semester.

The curriculum is binding. However, some of the courses a student has to take can depend on his or her background. Students without a business background, i.e. with a degree in a different area, are required to take business courses and/or prove their business knowledge (see formal requirements).

An introductory course in programming is provided and mandatory for students who are novices in the field of informaiton technology.

Practical

The practical part consists of an internship of three months or a project of one semester. Students do internships in industrial enterprises or other organizations in accordance with guidelines provided by VGU. Projects are conducted by the professors who teach in the program. A typical project goal is to create a solution for a Business Informatics problem occurring in the real world or a case study.

Master's thesis

The master's thesis takes three months to complete if it is written as a full-time job. The duration can be extended to six months if it is written in parallel to doing a project. The thesis is to show that the student is capable of using a scientific methodology to analyze and model complex Business Informatics problems and to develop solutions for such problems.

Examination regulations

Formal details of the MBI program in general and of examinations in particular are stipulated in the examination regulations. Evaluation and exams use a credit-point system. In the distance-education mode, the majority of tests and examinations is done online, not requiring candidates to travel. The final exam, however, is a supervised one.