A 15-credit compulsory area provides you with the foundations of Business Innovation, while the elective core area focuses on the key competencies of six MBI profiles.
The programme offers you a high-quality course of studies and covers the most current topics of the time around...
Methods courses teach you the basics in statistics, research methods and scientific work and can be applied in the research, practice and venture projects (RPV) and issue coverage courses (IC). With this base, you are optimally prepared to be able to systematically solve problems in the real world. You will also establish valuable contacts with companies while you are still studying.
Our master's programme is conducted by four institutes with over 70 lecturers. This guarantees that our education provides both a broad scientific foundation and professional competence with practical relevance.
The integrative, multidisciplinary structure of the MBI addresses the increasingly complex demands placed on future leaders. The competencies of four institutes combine in the MBI to form four complementary perspectives on entrepreneurship, complemented by the views of the School of Computer Science (SCS).
From insight to impact – You will profit from an integrative and multidisciplinary structure.
The MBI combines the traditional strengths of the University of St.Gallen (HSG) with theory, methodology, mindset, network, research proximity, innovative teaching formats, and practical relevance in the field of Business Innovation.
Learning objectives include:
The MBI curriculum is composed of three parts: core studies (54 ECTS credits), contextual studies (18 ECTS credits), and the Master’s thesis (18 ECTS credits). While the core studies focus on developing students' expertise in business innovation, the contextual studies aim to enhance social and cultural competencies.
The Contextual Studies programme is another unique feature of the University of St.Gallen (HSG). It integrates knowledge across disciplines and strengthens the social and cultural competencies of our students distinctively. Students take a holistic approach by "thinking outside the box" and enrol in courses within focus areas and skills areas. The cultural and social science offerings in the focus areas are highly diverse and aligned with the study programme. In the skills area, students acquire additional competencies and practical skills necessary for success in the business world. The Contextual Studies programme complements your main field of study and is awarded with 18 ECTS credits.
learn more about the Contextual Studies
Our MBI programme is designed for a study duration of 3 - 4 semesters. It is only possible to start in the autumn semester, with HSG degree also in spring semester.
The MBI is characterised by a hybrid language model. One third of the core studies (18 ECTS) have to be completed in German language, another third of the core studies (18 ECTS) have to be taken in English language.
A total of 90 ECTS credits must be completed, which are structured as follows:
The core studies in MBI are composed of
The MBI program begins with the "MBI Kick-off " in week 37 as an introductory event before the start of the program. Through four compulsory subjects you will gain a basic understanding of Business Innovation:
The area includes three different vessels:
The core competencies of the MBI program are concentrated into five profiles in the core electives. Each MBI profile is described by a job outline and is equipped with a portfolio of courses from which you can, but do not have to, compile your core electives:
See Downloads for an overview with detailed descriptions and recommended core courses. Ensure that your chosen profile provides you with the necessary technical, methodological and practical competencies to be optimally prepared for future-oriented fields of activity:
In the electives, courses from other Master's degree programmes of the HSG can be taken. Alternatively, you can take other courses from the MBI's core electives or Methods instead, but none from the "FPV/IC".
The contextual studies represent one of the most important unique selling points of the University of St. Gallen by strengthening the social and cultural competences of our students in a special way. Here, our MBI students can "think outside the box" and receive credit for courses in focus areas as well as in the skills area. The cultural and social science courses are very diverse and can be tailored to the MBI programme, while the skills area teaches essential competencies and practical skills for success in the corporate world. In focus areas such as "Technology", "Media" or "Responsibility" you will complete a total of 12 to 18 credits. In the optional area "Skills" you can take up to 6 credits. Up to 6 credits can also be substituted by practice credits or campus credits. The contextual studies complement the core studies and are compensated with 18 credits.
You can write the Master's thesis (18 credits) during your studies, whereby the topic of the thesis may originate from both the core and contextual studies.
Practice credits can be awarded for activities that have a close thematic relation to the Master in Business Innovation. Criteria for this can be found on StudentWeb.
Graduates hold the title "Master of Arts HSG in Business Innovation". Before the fall semester 2013, the program was called "Master of Arts HSG in Informations-, Medien- und Technologiemanagement".
“I had the privilege of working with HSG MBI graduates in the course IC: Innovation with the United Nations. They developed innovative, professional projects to strengthen the UN and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.”