You will work with data from business and organisational contexts and learn how to analyse, interpret, and communicate insights that support strategic and operational decisions. The programme combines analytical methods, programming, and business understanding with practical applications connected to private companies, public organisations, and research environments.
Business Intelligence for Data-Driver Decision-Making
The programme combines technical and analytical skills with an understanding of how organisations use data in practice. You will learn how to collect, analyse, visualise, and interpret data while developing the ability to support decision-making in business and organisational environments.
Courses combine theory with practical applications in areas such as business intelligence, statistical learning, programming, risk analysis, and leadership.
Programme delivery
Teaching mode: Campus-based
Language of instruction: English
Duration: Two semesters, 60 credits
Intakes: Autumn and spring
Should you apply?
If you want to work with data-driven decision-making in business, industry, or public organisations, this programme is for you.
You may be a suitable applicant if you have a background in:
- Statistics
- Economics
- Business Administration (including marketing, accounting and human resources)
- Computer or Information Science
Applicants with degrees in related subects may also be eligible. If you are unsure, please contact us.
The programme combines theory, analytical methods, and practical applications in business intelligence and data analysis. You will study areas such as data visualisation, statistical learning, programming, leadership, and risk analysis while developing the ability to analyse and use data in organisational contexts.
Programme structure
The programme includes mandatory and elective courses that combine technical, analytical, and organisational perspectives on data-driven decision-making.
- 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)
The programme also includes elective courses such as:
- 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. If you complete the mandatory courses listed above, the programme name Business Intelligence will also appear on your degree certificate.
Tuition Fees
150,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid one semester at a time. The first payment (75,000 SEK) needs to be paid before you can apply for a residence permit.
More information about tuition fees and payment procedures is available on:
Our Tuition Fee website
Scholarships
Students admitted to the Master’s Programme in Business Intelligence may be eligible for several scholarship opportunities.
Dalarna University offers scholarships both for newly admitted students and for students currently enrolled in the programme. Applicants from eligible countries may also apply for the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP).
Choose Dalarna First Scholarship
If you rank the Business Intelligence programme as your first choice on Universityadmissions.se and are admitted to the programme, you are eligible for a one-time scholarship of 5,000 SEK.
To receive the scholarship, you must also submit a scholarship application no later than September 15th (spring intake) or February 15th (autumn intake). The scholarship amount will be deducted from your first semester tuition fee.
Academic Excellence Scholarships
Students in the Business Intelligence programme may also qualify for Academic Excellence Scholarships which recognise 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.
For full eligibility details and how to apply for Dalarna University's own scholarships, visit our Scholarships Overview webpage.
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.
Specific entry requirements
To meet the entry requirements, you must have a Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) in Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Science, Informatics, or a related subject.
English language requirements
You must also demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to English 6/Level 2 in the Swedish upper-secondary school system.
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: 4.5 with no section less than 4
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 2027, 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.
When applications are open, you can begin your application by clicking the green “Apply” button on this page.
You will then be directed to UniversityAdmissions.se, Sweden’s national application portal for higher education.
The application process consists of two steps:
- Apply to the programme through UniversityAdmissions.se.
- Submit the required documents to show that you meet the entry requirements:
- A diploma or certificate showing completion of a relevant Bachelor’s degree programme (final-year students may apply but must show proof of graduation before the programme starts)
- Officially issued academic transcripts showing completed courses and grades
- Proof of English language proficiency (see details above)
- A motivation letter (see “What are the selection criteria?” below)
We strongly recommend checking the country-specific instructions on UniversityAdmissions.se before submitting your application, as document requirements and submission methods vary depending on where you completed your studies.
More information is available on the Universityadmissions.se website:
Admission to the programme is competitive, and many qualified applicants are placed on the reserve list.
Qualified applicants are placed into one of two selection groups based on tuition fee status:
- applicants required to pay tuition fees,
- applicants exempt from tuition fees.
Places are allocated separately within each group.
Within each selection group, applicants are assessed based on their motivation letter.
Motivation letter
What guidelines are there for the motivation letter?
Please submit a personal motivation letter in your own words. The letter should not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces). There is no required template.
Your letter should reflect your motivation, background, and future goals. You may use the following questions as guidance:
- Why are you applying to this programme?
- What in your previous studies or experience has prepared you for it?
- Describe a project, paper, job, or experience that shaped your interest in the field.
- How does the programme fit with your future goals?
- What would you contribute to the programme and your fellow students?
- Is there anything else relevant to your application that you would like the admissions committee to know?
These questions are intended as guidance only. You do not need to answer each one separately.
When and how should the motivation letter be submitted?
The motivation letter must be uploaded to your UniversityAdmissions.se account no later than:
- September 1, 2026 (spring 2027, first admission round)
- November 1, 2026 (spring 2027, second admission round)
- February 1, 2027 (autumn 2027, first admission round)
- May 1, 2027 (autumn 2027, second admission round)
Please upload your motivation letter to your UniversityAdmissions.se account as a separate document and name the file:
Motivation Letter DU - (Programme name)
How is the motivation letter assessed?
Motivation letters are reviewed and scored as follows:
- 30 points – Highly competitive
- 20 points – Competitive
- 10 points – Less competitive
- 0 points – No motivation letter submitted (unlikely to be admitted)
Applicants with the highest scores are prioritised for admission. Applicants with scores of 30 or higher are generally offered admission if they rank the programme as their first choice on UniversityAdmissions.se. Applicants with lower scores may also be offered admission depending on the number of available places in each selection group.
Career opportunities
The programme prepares you for analytical and decision-support roles in organisations that work with data-driven development and business intelligence.
Graduates may work in roles such as:
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Data Warehouse Developer
- Marketing Database Analyst
- Business Intelligence Manager
- Data Analyst
Our graduates are working in both private and public organisations where data is used to support strategic and operational decision-making.
Further studies
After completing the programme, you may continue to the second year of Dalarna University’s Master's Programme in Data Science
The programme also provides a foundation for further studies at doctoral level in related fields, including Dalarna University’s PhD Programme in Data Analytics.
Working in Sweden after graduation
International students who complete at least 60 credits in Sweden may apply for a residence permit extension of up to 12 months to look for work or start a business after graduation.
Many graduates from the programme have found relevant employment in Sweden after completing their studies.
International opportunities
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and may be used for employment for further studies outside Sweden.
Students in the programme may also apply for Erasmus+ funding for internships in participating countries, including after graduation.
This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality.
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.
