Business Administration – Bachelor’s Programme

From the electives students can choose to specialise within one out of the following fields:
- Organisation and Leadership (50 credits)
- Economic Management (50 credits)
- Entrepreneurship and Marketing
For the final 30 credits the students may choose freely from a range of electives.

A normal study progression thus looks as follows:

It is possible to combine electives from across the specialisms in the last part of the programme. If a student chooses to do so, no specialism will be given in the diploma (see Degree underneath). Students wishing to combine freely from the various electives offered should be aware that lectures in different electives may take place simultaneously.

Further information about the programme
Students should acquire knowledge about the most important fields within business administration. An essential part of the programme is geared towards the recognising and solving of practical problems. Students will be trained to use the skills and methods needed critically.

The compulsory part of the programme consists of topics such as business administration, community economy, administration and methods. The compulsory part of the programme gives a thorough introduction to business administration.

In the last part of the programme the students have the choice of specialising within one of three different fields. A final report/paper of 15 pages will have to be written in the field chosen by the student.

The 50 credits course in Organisation and Leadership is based on the compulsory courses in Organisational Theory and Business Strategies. Through specialising in one of the three abovementioned fields, students will be given ample opportunity to work with different problem areas connected to reforms, changes and processes in both the private and the public sector. Further, the students will be specialising in management, especially change management.

The 50 credits course in Economic Management is based on the compulsory courses in the programme. In this field the student specialises in economic management, both practical and theoretical. Logistics is another important part of the course.

The 50 credits course in Entrepreneurship and Marketing focuses on the conditions for starting a company, from the idea stage and the business plan to the marketing of the company’s products or services. Practical training will be given with students developing a business plan for a real company. Further, entrepreneurship and innovation will be discussed from a theoretical angle.

In addition to choosing from three specialisms, students can also choose a number of electives, such as Staff Management, ICT, Tax Laws and Regulations, and Electronic Marketing. It is also possible to choose courses that are part of another specialised field as electives if the time table permits.

A completed three-year study (exams worth a total of 180 credits) is awarded with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration diploma. For students who have chosen to specialise within one of the three fields listed above, the chosen field will written on the certificate. Studentar som avsluttar etter å ha gjennomført det første året av studiet (60 studiepoeng), har då fullført eitt-årig studium i bedriftsøkonomi (sjå også eigen omtale av dette studiet).

A student choosing to quit after having completed years of the programme has a right to the høgskulekandidat i økonomi og administrasjon certificate. A candidate with Tax Laws and Regulations (15 credits) as a part of his/her combination would then, with at least two man labour years (3,400 hours) of and additional relevant practice from accountancy over the last five years, would be entitled to apply for an authorisation as an accountant from the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (Kredittilsynet).

For those looking to build on this education, there are several options:

• The programme gives admission to various studies at master level at other higher educational institutions both in Norway and abroad. Students interested in studying at master level should specialise within a field relevant for future studies.
• We would like to inform that those planning to apply for admission to the master’s programme at the NorwegianSchool of Business and Administration (NHH) have to choose the subject Advanced Community Economy for the fifth semester in order to satisfy the credits required for admission (25 in total).

For those students only completing one or two years of the three-year bachelor’s programme there are certain possibilities:

• Former students with two years of Business and Administration will normally be able to complete the third year with minor adjustments. Those interested in this should write an application to the college specifying this.
• Former students with one year of Business Administration may also apply for Tidlegare studentar med eitt-årig studium i bedriftsøkonomi kan også søkje høgskulen om innpassing til bachelorstudiet.
• College candidates with Law and Tax Law can apply for admission to the third year of the bachelor’s programme in Audit at TelemarkUniversityCollege (Bø), the University of Stavanger or MoldeUniversityCollege. Since admission requirements may vary from institution to institution, we advise students themselves to contact the college/university where he or she wants to study.

The programme is suitable for candidates with a completed 3-year certificate from upper secondary school (videregående) within mathematics, business administration and/or relevant experience from working life. The programme, however, is open for everyone with a completed 3-year certificate from upper secondary school.

The programme is also open to external candidates (see course description for each subject).

The 3-year programme in Business Administration aims to provide the students with a vocationally oriented study that can be used within the business sector, public administration and various organisations.

The admission requirements are Higher Education Entrance Qualification or prior learning and work experience. The teaching is nevertheless based on knowledge that exceeds the minimum requirements. The college will organise a preliminary course for those lacking knowledge in mathematics.

The preliminary course in mathematics will start the week before the semester itself starts. All candidates with less than 2MS/2MN, 2MX/2MY or three years of business studies should attend this course.

The preliminary course in mathematics is not compulsory, and no credits are awarded. We would nonetheless stress the fact that many of the other subjects taught during the programme are based on knowledge introduced during the preliminary course. Students may also be tested in topics from the preliminary course at the exam in mathematics.

At the beginning of the first semester an introductory course in computing will be given. Attendance is compulsory for use of HSF’s computers.

The programme consists of a number of courses. Credits for the various courses depend on the workload, and each course will lead a final evaluation. For students without the necessary previous knowledge in mathematics the preliminary course in mathematics is compulsory. (See above)

The programme is organised as follows:

-100 credits in compulsory courses in semesters 1-4

-50 credits in specialisms in semesters 4-6 – Students should take the three courses offered within the chosen area of specialisation. These three courses give a total of 35 credits. In addition 15 credits are offered for a compulsory project report in the sixth semester.

-30 credits in electives in semester 4-6 – One elective worth 10 credits is taken in the fifth semester, while the other 20 credits can either be taken in the fourth or sixth semester.

The average workload corresponds to 30 credits per semester. A more detailed description of each course can be found in the various course descriptions.

Deadlines for course registration for the specialisms, the electives and the project report will be given at a later stage.

The teaching will a combination of lectures and organised group work with tutor. The use of ICT is an essential part of every course.

The department is currently working on offering work placement in the private and ublic sector for students in the fifth semester. The work placement should cover 8 weeks and will be worth 10 credits.

The Department for Economy and Languages has exchange programmes with the following universities and colleges:

• AugsburgCollege and Pacific Lutheran University, USA
• University of St. Petersburg, Russia
• KarlstadUniversity and Växsjö University, Sweden
• University of Huddersfield and University of Stirling, UK
• University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Fachhochschule Kempten, Kempten, Bavaria, Germany

At these universities and colleges it is possible to apply for an exchange programme for one or two semesters from the third semester and onwards. Further, students can apply for admittance to studies at master’s level at one of these institutions after having completed a bechelor’s degree at HSF.

Most courses (both compulsory and electives) have work requirements, such as compulsory written assignments to be handed in to tutor. Some of these assignments are group-based, while others are individual work.

See each course description for assessment.

See each course description for reading lists.