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, Mathematics, 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.
The Master’s Programme in Business Intelligence is a one-year programme taught entirely in English. It comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and begins either in late August (autumn semester) or in January (spring semester).
The programme combines theory, research, and practical applications in data analysis, risk management, and leadership. You will gain skills in business intelligence, visualization, programming, and statistical learning, preparing you for work in data-driven organisations across sectors.
Programme structure
To have the programme name Business Intelligence included on your degree certificate, you must complete the following mandatory courses:
- Business Intelligence, 7.5 credits (spring)
- Data Analysis and Visualization, 7.5 credits (spring)
- Data-Driven Leadership, 7.5 credits (autumn)
- Risk Analysis, 7.5 credits (autumn)
- Master’s Thesis, 15 credits (autumn/spring)
In addition, the following elective courses are available within the programme:
- Python and R Programming, 7.5 credits (autumn/spring)
- Data Warehousing, 7.5 credits (autumn)
- Statistical Learning, 7.5 credits (spring)
- Data Collection and Data Quality, 7.5 credits (autumn)
- Logic and Mathematics, 7.5 credits (spring)
Note: 1.5 credits = one week of full-time study.
Degree Awarded
Upon completion of the programme, you will receive a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits), Main Field of Study: Microdata Analysis. The programme name Business Intelligence will appear on your degree certificate if you complete the mandatory courses listed above.
Tuition Fees
150,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid in one-semester installments and the first payment (75,000) needs to be paid before you can apply for a residence permit.
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 support@du.se.
Scholarships
Students admitted to the Master’s Programme in Business Intelligence (BI) may be eligible for two scholarships offered by Dalarna University.
Choose Dalarna First Scholarship
If you apply on time and are admitted to the BI programmeas your first-choice on UniversityAdmissions.se, you are eligible for a one-time scholarship of 5,000 SEK. This amount will be deducted from your first semester tuition fee, provided that you also apply for the scholarship no later than September 15th (spring intake) or February 15th (autumn intake).
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Students in the Business Intelligence programme can also qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, which recognises outstanding academic achievement during the programme.
- Semester Award: Receive 10,000 SEK per semester when you meet the criteria for outstanding academic results.
- Programme Distinction: An additional 15,000 SEK may be awarded if you receive the Semester Award in every semester of the programme.
To qualify for the Semester Award, you must:
- Complete all 30 credits that are part of the programme curriculum for that semester.
- Earn a VG (pass with distinction) in at least 15 credits.
- Have all course results reported within 6 weeks after the semester ends.
The Semester Award is evaluated independently for each semester—you may receive it for one semester even if you do not qualify in the other.
For full eligibility details and how to apply, visit our Scholarships Overview webpage
The Semester Award is evaluated independently for each semester—you may receive it for one semester even if you do not qualify in the other.
Swedish Institute Scholarships (SISGP)
A limited number of students from select countries may be eligible to apply for the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP), a national scholarship programme managed by the Swedish Institute. This scholarship is highly competitive and awarded independently of Dalarna University.
For full eligibility details and how to apply for Dalarna University's own scholarships, visit our Scholarships Overview webpage.
How to apply
You apply to the Master’s Programme in [Programme Name] in two steps:
- Click on the green "Apply" button to create a user account and add the programme to your account in the online application portal (UniversityAdmissions.se).
- Upload the required documents to verify that you fulfill the entry requirements:
- Proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree (final-year students may apply but must show proof of graduation before the programme starts).
Tip: Check the country-specific instructions (UniversityAdmissions.se). - Proof of English language proficiency (see details below).
- A letter of motivation (see “How are applicants selected?” below).
- Proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree (final-year students may apply but must show proof of graduation before the programme starts).
What are the entry requirements?
Specific entry requirements
To be eligible, you must have a completed Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) in Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Science, or Informatics, or an equivalent degree.
English language requirements
You must also demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to English B/English 6 at Swedish upper-secondary school. If you need to take a test, the following minimum results apply:
- IELTS (academic): 6.5 overall, with no part below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: 90, with a minimum of 20 on the written part
For more details, see the English documentation webpage (UniversityAdmissions.se).
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 2026, 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.
How are applicants selected?
Letter of motivation
The main selection is based on a letter of motivation, which you must upload to your UniversityAdmissions.se account no later than:
- September 1, 2025 (spring 2026, first admission round)
- November 1, 2025 (spring 2026, second admission round)
- February 2, 2026 (autumn 2026, first admission round)
- May 1, 2026 (autumn 2026, second admission round)
The letter should not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces). It should explain your academic and professional background, its relevance to the programme, and how the programme supports your career goals. There is no required template. Letters are reviewed and scored between 10–50 points. The higher your score, the greater your chance of admission.
Fee-paying status
The second selection factor is tuition fee status. A certain number of seats are reserved for fee-paying students and a certain number for students exempt from fees.
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 2026, 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.
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.
At Dalarna University, our teaching is closely connected to active research in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and decision support. Our researchers work in collaboration with industry partners to explore how data can be used to solve real-world challenges and support sustainable development.
Meet our experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related fields.
