Structure and contents
The Master of Science in Management & Informatics has been designed to provide graduates from a wide variety of backgrounds (informatics, economics, mathematics, business, engineering, etc.) with the necessary tools and skills for understanding complex information technology (IT) problems while, at the same time, knowing about the needs and requirements of a modern organization. The shortage of professionals who can interface these two sides is apparent in many companies and leads to extra costs, development of less efficient systems, and general misunderstandings between the technical and organizational parts of a company. The purpose of the degree is to offer a solution to this problem, and to educate professionals who can take responsibility for the interface between these two sides of an organization.
This Master offers a balanced combination of courses that cover the necessary background in management as well as the fundamental aspects of current and evolving information technologies. Moreover, the programme provides students with a specialized knowledge in topics at the interface between management and informatics such as enterprise resource planning. Since English is the unique teaching language, graduates are well-prepared to work in international companies. Moreover, the interdisciplinary approach of this Master provides a general skill to work across traditional areas.
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Study Programme 2023-2025
This full-time programme stretches over two years. It allows students to personalize their study curricula according to their interests. The basic knowledge is acquired in the first two semesters. Students who obtained a Bachelor's degree in informatics or a related field (mathematics, engineering, physics, etc.) enter the programme in the Informatics track and follow a set of courses that provide them with a fundamental insight into the management disciplines. In contrast, the Management track is tailored for students with a background in economics or management and teaches the basic aspects of informatics. In addition, all students attend mandatory courses that cover the interface between management and informatics. The third and fourth semesters are dedicated to specialized courses and electives that can be chosen according to the student's preference. Moreover, the students participate in a practical field project, which is done in groups for a real company, and conclude their studies by writing a substantial master's thesis.
First Semester
Core Courses (12 ECTS)
6 3 3 Informatics track (18 ECTS)
6 3 3 6 Management track (18 ECTS)
6 6
6 Total ECTS
30 Second Semester
Core Courses (9 ECTS)
6 3 Informatics track (6 ECTS)
3 3 Management track (6 ECTS)
6 Elective Courses (15 ECTS)
3 Business Analytics (ECO)
3 Business Dynamics (ECO)
3 6 Discrete Structures (INF)
6 3 Information Security (INF)
6 Robotics (INF)
6 6 6 Total ECTS
30 Third Semester
Core Courses (6 ECTS)
6 Capstone Work (12 ECTS)
12 Elective Courses (12 ECTS)
3 Service Design Marketing (COM)
3 Analytical Thinking (ECO)
3 Innovation (ECO)
3
3 Organizational Learning (ECO)
3 Writing Business Plans (ECO)
3 Distributed Systems (INF)
6 Machine Learning (INF)
6 6 User Experience Design (INF)
6 Total ECTS
30 Fourth Semester
Capstone Work (18 ECTS)
Master Thesis
18 Elective Courses (12 ECTS)
Critical Consumer Behavior* (COM)
6 Advanced Corporate Strategy* (ECO)
3 Business Analytics* (ECO)
3
Business Dynamics* (ECO)
3
Human Resources Management* (ECO)
3 Discrete Structures* (INF)
6 Information Security* (INF)
6 Robotics* (INF)
6 Software Quality & Testing* (INF)
6 6 Total ECTS
30 Total ECTS
120 * If not already chosen in the Second Semester.
Please be aware that slight changes in the study programme may occur.
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Research summer internships for students - UROP Internships
The Faculty of Informatics encourages and promotes the talent of its Bachelor and Master students by offering them summer internships in academic research within the programme Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program - UROP.
Internships are extracurricular and access is on a competitive basis. Students work one-on-one with an advisor to develop a deeper understanding of both the concepts taught during the semester and of the research topic. Students that are considering continuing in academia should seriously consider applying for a UROP position.
All research opportunities for this year are listed here.
See all the job and internship opportunities in the USI Job Bank.
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Teaching
Top-level faculty of international renown teach innovative courses, with a strong multi-disciplinary orientation and in collaboration with prestigious institutions at local and international level. Professors are pursuing research on a variety of topics and are active participants in Swiss and international research projects and networks. Visiting professors from renowned universities complement the top-quality teaching.
Teaching methods at both the Faculty of Informatics and the Faculty of Economics stress an interactive approach or dialogue with the students. Further, as most tasks in organisations become increasingly interdisciplinary it is also important to be able to work across traditional areas, which is a skill that is actively encouraged within the programme. This is reflected in the variety of different teaching methods used including lectures, case studies, group work, games and fieldwork.
The Faculty and the students are an international group, with education and work experience from across the world. This increases learning and cultural exchanges, as students learn to work effectively with people from different cultures.
Academic Directors: Marc Langheinrich and Dirk Martignoni
Read our interview with Kai Hormann (first Academic Director of the programme)
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Language
The admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language, are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2 level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).
The language certificate must be included in the application package.
We only accept the English qualifications mentioned below. The certificate must still be valid at the point of the application. We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st.The B2 level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:
IELTS* 5.5 TOEFL* Computer-based: 183
Internet-based*: 65
Paper-based: 513Cambridge English B2 First TOEIC Listening & Reading: 785
Speaking: 150
Writing: 160Students admitted under the above-mentioned condition must achieve a C1 competence in English within the maximum time required to obtain the Master's degree.
The level can be certified either by attending a language course offered at USI during the Fall and Spring semester, by taking the final exam, or by providing an internationally acknowledged language certificate*.The C1 level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:
IELTS* 7.0 TOEFL* Internet-based*: 100 Cambridge English C1 Advanced, grade C or above
BEC (Business English), grade C or aboveTOEIC Listening & Reading: 945
Speaking: 180
Writing: 180*Update 30.01.2023 - Academic Year 2023/24
Certificates obtained by passing the IELTS Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests may also be submitted for admission to the programme.Italian
As Lugano is located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, students might be interested in acquiring the basics in Italian.
The Università della Svizzera italiana offers a free of charge Italian language course: further information can be found here.
