MSc in Business Administration - Business Innovation
MSc
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Mar 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* summer 2026 | application deadline (Non-EU): 15 january 2026
** for non-EU/EEA students only | EU/EEA/Swiss citizen students study for free
Key Summary
Learn about Aarhus as a student city, Aarhus University, our English taught Master's and Bachelor's programmes from staff and students.
The MSc in Business Administration - Business Innovation is a unique international double degree programme that is offered jointly by Aarhus BSS and UCLouvain in Belgium. It prepares you for an international career in innovation and technology, in leadership roles or consulting activities related to managing innovation and technology. You will spend two semesters in Aarhus and two semesters in Belgium. After completing the required credits of each university, you will obtain two separate degrees, one from each university.
The management of technological innovation is essential for the survival of companies. Innovation, through new and improved technology, as well as products and services, supports both the development of new markets and strengthens the position in existing markets. The importance of managerial decisions related to innovation is magnified, as many new products and businesses fail due to the fierce and dynamic competitive environment.
This line is for students who wish to develop their competencies in the management of innovation and technology, who wish to develop skills in managing complex and innovative projects, who are motivated by a desire to learn how to work effectively in teams and who possess an entrepreneurial drive.
Double Degree - AU and UCLouvain
The double degree enables you to experience innovation from a truly international perspective by spending two semesters at AU and two semesters at UCLouvain.
You will see how two accredited universities approach innovation as a subject and become part of a vibrant campus full of international students.
During your studies, you will gain insight into the international context for innovation by expanding your academic horizon and learning about innovation in companies as well as the surrounding ecosystem that defines innovation in the two European countries.
Aarhus BSS
Aarhus BSS (School of Business and Social Sciences) is one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS ranks among the largest business schools in Europe, encompassing both traditional business and social science disciplines in its broad academic portfolio. Aarhus BSS holds the distinguished AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations and is thus a Triple Crown School.
Aarhus University offers a limited number of scholarships to the most talented applicants from outside Europe.
Scholarships can only be awarded to applicants who are liable to pay tuition fees.
Find out more about Aarhus University’s Danish state scholarships, external scholarships and loan programs, and some of the frequently asked questions about funding.
1st Semester
Innovation Challenge: Hands-on Project (10 ECTS) AU BSS
The course is designed to give students hands-on experience in working with the innovation process, using the principles of Design Thinking. Student groups will work on real-life challenges formulated by my companies and experience the ups and downs of the innovation process, enabling them to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of innovation work.
Classic Readings in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS) AU BSS
In this course, students learn to read, understand, and relate classic readings in innovation and entrepreneurship research. With this knowledge, the students create the ability to position, critically assess, and not least choose relevant literature in this field when applied to their argumentation and writing.
Appropriating Innovation, Managing Intellectual Property (5 ECTS) AU BSS
This course is designed to expose students to the foundational concepts and discussions surrounding innovation appropriation. The course will offer an introduction to a range of topics concerning how firms can make profits from technological innovation and manage intellectual property.
Research Methods (10 ECTS) AU BSS
The course provides students with knowledge of the designs, data collection, and data analysis techniques commonly used and applicable in management research. The course will equip participants with the advanced methodological knowledge, understanding, and skills required for the successful completion of the program.
2nd Semester
Knowledge Management (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
This course aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to the various facets, emerging issues, and perspectives in Knowledge Management. Knowledge management is about organizing the development and use of knowledge in such a way that it directly contributes to the competitive edge of a company.
Innovation Policy and Ecosystems (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
The objective of this class is to introduce the main concepts, models, and issues of creating innovation-friendly organizations and environments, from the policy and ecosystem points of view. We address in particular some key implications of innovation management regarding innovative people, teams, organizations, networks, and ecosystems.
Economics of Innovation (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
The course aims to analyze the mechanisms and institutions governing the production, use, and diffusion of information and knowledge. It also aims to develop a rigorous economic analysis of a large set of issues surrounding intellectual property, R&D, and innovation.
Resource and Energy Management (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
The course focuses on understanding the business and policy logic for making the environment, sustainability, and natural resources core elements of the strategy and management of organizations. It studies the processes and tools that can be used to link environmental, sustainability, and natural resource concerns with strategies, development of products and services, and operations management.
Social and sustainable Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
This course uncovers the popular concepts of social and sustainable entrepreneurship. It applies entrepreneurial thinking to different business models as seen through a social, environmental, and economic sustainability perspective. The course will explore the relationship between business development and its social and environmental impacts.
Managing Complexity (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
We live in a complex environment, where the interconnections among economic agents (firms, consumers, etc.), their choices/decisions under uncertainty, and as a response to unforeseen events determine the successfulness of firms’ activities. In this course, students will learn basic tools that companies can use to identify, report, and analyze the risks/opportunities that a complex environment can bring to firms’ activities.
3rd Semester
Innovation Management I+II (10 ECTS) UCLouvain
The objective of this class is to introduce the main conceptual frameworks, analytical tools, and issues related to the management of innovation and its implications, in particular regarding new ventures. We also address some key implications of innovation management regarding opportunity identification, assessment, and implementation.
Digital business Systems (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
The objective of this course is to provide students with a broad and solid grasp of the challenges and opportunities raised by datafication (the transformation of social action into data) and digitization (the conversion of information into a digital format).
Corporate Social Responsibility (5 ECTS) UCLouvain
The course aims to provide tools enabling the students to elicit critical thinking on ethical, social, and environmental issues raised by contemporary organizations. The specificity of the firms' impact on economic life will be addressed by analyzing the principles and practices covered by the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Technological and Quantitative Project (incl. Project Management) (10 ECTS) UCLoivain
The goal of the project is to conduct clear and structured analytical reasoning by applying, and eventually adapting, scientifically based conceptual frameworks and models, to define and analyze a problem. Furthermore, to initiate, develop, and implement ideas around a new product or service, having evaluated the risks. To learn and apply the basics of team and project management. And to express, both orally and in writing, a clear and structured message adapted to the audience.
The Business Innovation programme will provide students with competencies and skills to take up managerial positions in manufacturing companies and consulting firms, as well as start-ups:
- Planning and implementation of strategies for innovation and technology
- Creation and advancement of innovative projects and processes
- Development of new business opportunities.
Learning in an International Context
At Aarhus BSS, we conduct research and teaching at the highest academic level. We provide our students with the exact knowledge, skills and experience that are essential for engaging in professional business activities in a global marketplace.
Our broad portfolio enables us to attract researchers, lecturers and students from all over the world. With their help, we have built an international environment that promotes the exchange of different academic and cultural views and fosters new experiences and friendships.
We encourage our students to take a semester abroad at one of the school’s approximately three hundred partner universities around the world. Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons academically, culturally and personally. It is also a great opportunity for you to acquire valuable international experience and qualifications that are in high demand in companies and organisations everywhere.