The sheer amount of data that is being produced each and every day is redefining our world: according to IBM, 90 percent of all current data has been created in the last two years alone. The collection and evaluation of this data can transform behaviours, business models, markets and every imaginable organisational structure. The Business Intelligence Programme at Dalarna University prepares you to be at the centre of this transformation working within private companies, public organisations and research institutions.
A Programme for Fast-Paced Data Management
Our programme provides you with both hands-on training in the collection and interpretation of data as well as broad knowledge and an understanding of how data analysis is used for decision-making within organisations. You will gain a unique cross-disciplinary skill-set that will prepare you for jobs both of the present day and of the future.
Should you apply?
If you want to have an impact on data-driven decisions that affect the daily operations of companies and organisations, then you will find your calling in our Business Intelligence Programme. If you have previously received a degree in Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Science or Informatics from an internationally recognised university and if you have documented knowledge of English proficiency, then you are strongly encouraged to apply to our Business Intelligence Programme.
*Please note that admission to this programme is incredibly competitive. Therefore you should pay careful attention to the selection criteria listed in the "Check if you are eligible" information and list this programme as your first priority to increase your chances of being admitted.
What will you study?
Programme Overview
The programme is a one-year Master's Programme in Business Intelligence. All courses are taught in English.
The programme comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and commences twice a year in January and in late August. The semester a course is offered is denoted with a "f" (fall) or "s" (spring) next to the course name.
The following courses are mandatory for the name of the programme (Business Intelligence) to be included on the degree certificate:
- Business Intelligence (s)
- Data Analysis and Visualization (s)
- Data-Driven Leadership (f) OR Economics of Leadership (f)
- Risk Analysis (f)
- Master's Thesis (15 credits) (f/s)
The following courses are also available within the BI programme.
- Python- and R- programming (f/s)
- Data Warehousing (f)
- Statistical Learning (s)
- Data Collection and Data Quality (f)
- Logic & Maths (s)
Degree Awarded
Degree of Master of Science (60 credits), Main Field of Study: Microdata Analysis
The programme name is written on your degree certificate subject to completing the specific courses required within this programme.
After graduation (work and further study opportunities)
The Master Programme in Business Intelligence from DU will prepare you for work in an expanding global industry as well as for further studies at the PhD level, including Dalarna University's PhD Programme in Microdata Analysis. You can also continue to the second year of the Master's Programme in Data Science offered by Dalarna University upon completing the BI programme.
Possible future positions for our graduates are as follows:
- Data Warehouse Developer
- Growth Trends and Peak Business Periods Analyst
- BI Manager
- Architect and Developer in Business Intelligence
- Marketing Database Analyst
Business Intelligence: a Career for the 21st Century
The short- and long-term outlook for graduates of Dalarna University's Business Intelligence Programme is extremely favourable. Restaurants, professional sports teams, retail giants, e-commerce sites and banks are just a few examples of the organisations already implementing BI to improve their organisation so that they can be the leaders in their particular field or industry. Not least, The Harvard Business Review writes that Data Scientists have "the sexiest job of the 21st century", while the US Department of Labor predicts strong growth in the number of positions in the next decade for individuals with a skill set in BI.
Stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programme in Business Intelligence.
During the past few years the majority of our students who graduate from the BI programme have been able to find relevant work in Sweden.
Using your degree overseas
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.
You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.
Check your eligibility and what documents to submit when applying
Entry Requirements:
- Completed bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Science or Informatics equal to a Swedish Bachelor degree comprising at least 180 credits (60 credits = 1 academic year full-time study), or an equivalent degree.
- Documented English language proficiency equivalent to English B/English 6 at Swedish upper-secondary school (more information below).
Selection Criteria
This programme uses two selection processes to determine applicant admission.
Letter of Motivation
The first and main selection is based on a letter of motivation that you must write and upload to your user account on UniversityAdmissions/Antagning.se no later than September 2nd, 2024 (for the spring 2025 intake) or no later than February 1st, 2025 (for the autumn 2025 intake). The letter should not exceed 3000 characters (including spaces). It should state your academic and professional history, with relevance for the programme, as well as provide a statement as to how the programme will benefit your future career. There is no letter template that you need to use.
The motivation letters are reviewed and given a score between 10 and 50. The higher the score your letter receives, the more likely you are to be admitted.
Fee-Paying Status
The second selection is determined by your fee-paying status. A number of spaces will be allotted to students who are required to pay tuition fees and a number of spaces will be allotted to students who are exempt from tuition fees.
Documents to Submit:
- Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree, equal to a Swedish bachelor's degree in one of the approved subject areas. It is also possible to apply if you are currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree.
Tip: Be sure to read the information specific to the country where you previously studied to know how to submit the appropriate documents. - A letter of motivation, if provided will be used as part of the selection process (see above).
- Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5
In some cases your previous studies may fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
Tip: Please check the University Admissions information on English Language Proficiency to see if you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result.
If you have taken an English proficiency test that fulfills the requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website then you can ignore the information below.
For 2025, Dalarna University has made a temporary local exemption to the English proficiency requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website.
If you previously studied in India or Sri Lanka
Applicants from India and Sri Lanka should submit your upper-secondary documents to show your English proficiency as explained on the UniversityAdmissions website.
This will fulfill the formal English proficiency requirements for most courses and programmes at Swedish universities.
If you do not have the required proof of English proficiency from your upper-secondary studies and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
If you previously studied in Nepal
If you have not taken a TOELF or IELTS and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
Tuition Fees and Scholarships
Tuition Fees
135,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid in one-semester installments and the first payment (67,500 SEK).
The tuition fee for new students commencing in the autumn 2025 semester will be 75,000 SEK per semester (150,000 SEK SEK total for the programme).
In order to have a reasonable time to process a residence permit application you should pay the tuition fee as soon as possible after you have received your invoice and no later than the deadline on the invoice.
Visit our Tuition Fee website for more information about paying tuition fees and what is included in the fee.
If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available for successful applicants to this programme who are not EU/EEA citizens.
For more information about scholarships, please visit our webpage about international student scholarships or contact us using the contact form on this website.
