Business Intelligence and Process Management

  • Degree
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  • Type of study
    Full-time study
  • Standard period of study
    3 semesters without internship, 4 semesters with internship
  • Commencement of studies
    Winter semester (1 Oct)
  • Credits (ECTS)
    90
  • Language of instruction
    English
  • Department / Central Institute
    Department of Business and Economics

Degree programme

Study Info Day / digital on December 13

You want to apply for an an English-language Master's programme at the HWR Berlin? Then be welcome to our online event.


This Master’s degree programme in Business Information Systems teaches applied knowledge at the interface of organization and technology. The course focuses on the use of Information Technology to effect improvements in organizational value creation. »Business Intelligence« is used to establish the significance of data for decision-making processes (Big Data). »Business Process Management« deals with the organizational aspects of this discipline.

The degree programme teaches the interdisciplinary knowledge requisite for the development of sustainable solutions. Graduates will have gained goal-orientated analytic skills and be able to conceive and implement strategic and operative measures and find employment in a wide range of public and private fields. All courses are taught via interactive seminars; the language of instruction is English. The use of case studies enables students to gather practical and first-hand experience. Working in small groups enables students to enter intensive dialogue with their peers and teachers, whilst learning international communication and collaboration skills.

Professional field

Data and process-analysis are gaining ever more importance in a changing world. The marketing researcher consultants »Gartner« interviews some 2000 CIOs (Chief Information Officers) and IT managers every year to establish the challenges currently facing top managers. Respondents have named »Analytics and Business Intelligence« as the most important technological issue which they face and the need to support »operative and strategic business processes« as the most pressing commercial issue. Studies from the trade association BITKOM and McKinsey Global institutes, have identified considerable demand for graduates with data and processing skills.

Graduates of this Master’s degree programme are superbly equipped to take the next step in their career, whether in line management, project management or consulting. The combination of economics-based expertise and IT skills provided by this Master’s degree qualifies its holders to address complex commercial problems and assume responsible managerial positions.

Degree structure

The degree programme consists of a foundation and specialization stage taught in the first semester and a specialization and project stage in the second semester. One focus of the teaching in this degree programme lies on case studies and project work. This seeks to enable students to apply the theoretical knowledge which they have gained to practice-based questions.

The first semester works with the skills and understanding of a Bachelor’s degree programme to generate a common foundation, whilst deepening the students’ understanding of selected topics in Business Intelligence and Business Process Management. The modules of the second semester add to and extend this knowledge. Working in the Analytics & Process Laboratories, students attain a good grounding in the analysis, design and implementation skills fundamental to their later careers. The third semester is intended for the Master’s thesis and the final oral examination. A research methodology seminar supports the acquisition of academic working practices.

Students who have gained less than 210 ECTS in their first degree must acquire the missing credits by completing an internship. If the student undertakes an internship, the degree programme will be extended from three to four semesters (see below).

First semester

  • Module 1: Data Warehousing
  • Module 2: Data Science
  • Module 3: Business Process Management
  • Module 4: Complexity and Organizational Decision-Making
  • Tutorial seminar

Second semester

  • Module 1: Enterprise Architectures for Big Data
  • Module 2: Text, Web, and Social Media Analytics Lab
  • Module 3: Business Process Innovation Lab
  • Module 4: Elective from the Master’s Pool Electives
  • Tutorial seminar

Third semester

  • Research seminar
  • The Master’s thesis
  • Final oral examination
  • Bachelor´s or equivalent degree in Business or Informatics, Business Information Systems, Computer Science or Public Administration Informatics
  • 210 ECTS  (applicants with 180 credits must additionally acquire 30 credits through an integrated internship, i.e. the Master's programme is extended by one semester)

Additionally you need to prove the following:

  • Successfully completed courses in
    – Business Administration (10 ECTS)*, and
    – Quantitative Methods and/or Databases (10ECTS)* and
    – Computer Science and Business Information Systems (10 ECTS)*.
     
  • English language skills on a high B2 level proved by a standardised test, e.g. TOEFL (iBT minimum score 83), IELTS (minimum score 6.0), TOEIC Four Skills (minimum score 1200), PTE Academic (minimum score 67), Cambridge English Scale (minimum score 170), Oxford Test of English (minimum score 126), UNIcert II
    If you have studied in the higher education system a minimum of two semesters entirely in English, this can be accepted as equivalent (please provide proof with your application). You do not need to provide further English certificates if you hold a GMAT.
  • CV in English
  • Motivation letter in English

*)  for a list of possible subjects, please see this document.  It is not a complete list.

Applicants with a degree from a German university:
15.04.-15.06.
Please, apply through our platform (which for technical reasons is only available in German)


Applicants with a degree from an university abroad:
15.03.-15.05.
Students with a Non-German Bachelor degree apply at uni-assist e. V.

Programmakkreditiert durch den Akkreditierungsrat

Students who acquire less than 210 European Credit Transfer System [ECTS] points in their basic course of studies must obtain the missing credit points by way of an integrated period of practical training at the end of the theoretical phase and before completion of studies. The student will be rewarded 30 ECTS.

Students who have obtained 210 ECTS points in their basic course of studies and have already concluded a period of practical training or who obtained no ECTS points during their basic course of studies (mostly non-EU applicants) need not complete a period of practical training.

All information on the offered modules and lectures can be found on the online campus management system S.A.M. (Study Administration Management)

All regulations, forms and documents can be found in your faculty site.

Fees and grants

  • Tuition fees

    None

  • Semesterfees

    ca. € 300 per semester (incl. local transport semester ticket)

Guidance for prospective students

Student Counselling Services

Student advisory service

Department of Business and Economics
Christine Jäkel
Student Office

Academic Director

Department of Business and Economics
Prof. Dr. Roland Müller
Professor of Information Systems

Department of Business and Economics
Prof. Dr. Frank Habermann
Professorship of Business Administration, Management and Organisation