| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus and Louvain-na-Neuve (Belgium) | Commencement: August / September (See if this programme also offers a January/February start for international applicants). |
The MSc in Business Administration - Business Innovation is a unique international double degree programme offered jointly by Aarhus BSS and the Louvain School of Management (LSM) at UCLouvain in Belgium.
It prepares you for a career in digital innovation management, equipping you with the analytical, technological, and strategic capabilities required to lead digital transformation across industries.
During the programme, you complete two semesters in Aarhus and two in Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, graduating with two master’s degrees—one from each institution.
The double degree combines a strong focus on digital innovation and organisational transformation with a rigorous analytical perspective on business and technology, all within two vibrant international learning environments.
At Aarhus University, the programme builds on the strengths of the Digital Business Management-degree, focusing on how digital technologies and data-driven approaches transform management, organisation, and work.
You will gain insight into how companies—whether digitally native or undergoing transformation – create value in the digital economy.
The Aarhus component develops your ability to bridge business and technology, combining business insight with a strong understanding of digital technologies, data analytics, and organisational change.
At UCLouvain, the Louvain School of Management complements these competencies through its business engineering tradition, which integrates advanced management training, quantitative methods, and innovation-driven technology management.
Together, the Aarhus and Louvain experiences provide a holistic understanding of digitalisation —combining strategic, organisational, and technological perspectives.
You will learn to connect business models, data, and innovation to rethink how value is created and sustained, and to lead organisations through the opportunities and challenges of the digital economy.
This programme is designed for students with an entrepreneurial mindset, curiosity about and knowledge of digital technologies, and a desire to tackle complex organisational challenges.
Because it involves studying in two different locations — Aarhus and Louvain-la-Neuve — it is particularly suited to students who are adaptable, independent, and comfortable navigating diverse academic and cultural environments.
Graduates are equipped for leadership roles at the intersection of business and technology, driving digital innovation, data-driven projects, and new business models.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Business Administration - Business Innovation. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Methods (IT and statistics must be covered) | 15 |
| Marketing | 7,5 |
| Finance | 7,5 |
| Accounting | 7,5 |
| Organisation- and Leadership Theory | 7,5 |
| Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (both subjects must be included) | 10 |
| Additional ECTS points within the above mentioned areas | 20 |
| Bachelor project | 10 |
| Total | 85 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
The following Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles you to an offer of admission to the Master's degree programme in Business Administration -Business Innovation:
Bachelor's degree programme in Business Administration from Aarhus University
Please note that you must apply for admission to the Master's degree programme within three years of completing your Bachelor's degree programme.
Learn more about Legal right of admission.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Business Administration -Business Innovation:
*Please note that if your BSc in Economics and Business Administration from Aarhus University or another Danish educational institution was completed before the year 2010, it will be assessed in connection with the processing of your application whether you meet the admission requirements described in the section "Admission with other education".
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from a non-Danish university, you must complete the appendix below and upload it to the application portal. The appendix helps the academic assessors with the assessment of your application.
Download appendix
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
For Business Innovation the selection of candidates from among qualified applicants will be performed on the background of interviews. Applicants must upload a CV with the application that describes relevant previous experience. Applicants with a legal right of admission must also upload their CVs in case it becomes necessary to prioritise among such applicants. During the interviews, applicants will be asked to explain why they believe their previous academic qualifications and other relevant experience qualify them for admission.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
Course descriptions for the specialisation can be found in the course catalogue. The courses taught in Louvain are not offered by Aarhus BSS, but you can read more about them below. Please note the descriptions are subject to change.
Knowledge Management (5 ECTS) UCLouvain (2nd semester)
The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to the various facets, emerging issues and perspectives in Knowledge Management. Knowledge management is about organising 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 (2nd semester)
The objective of this class is to introduce the main concepts, models and issues of creating innovation-friendly organisations and environments, from the policy and ecosystem point of views.We address in particular some key implications of innovation management regarding innovative people, teams, organisations, networks and ecosystems.
Economics of Innovation (5 ECTS) UCLouvain (2nd semester)
The course aims at analysing the mechanisms and institutions governing the production, use and diffusion of information and knowledge. It also aims at developing a rigorous economic analysis of a large set of issues surrounding intellectual property, R&D and innovation.
Resource and Energy Management (5 ECTS) UCLouvain (2nd semester)
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 organisations. 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 (2nd semester)
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 (2nd semester)
We live in a complex environment, where the interconnections among economic agents (firms, consumers, ect.), 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 analyse the risks/opportunities that a complex environment can bring to firms’ activities.
Innovation Management I+II (10 ECTS) UCLouvain (3rd semester)
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 (3rd semester)
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 digitisation (the conversion of information into a digital format).
Corporate Social Responsibility (5 ECTS) UCLouvain (3rd semester)
The course aims at providing tools enabling the students to elicit critical thinking on ethical, social and environmental issues raised by contemporary organisations. The specificity of the firms' impact on economic life will be addressed by analysing the principles and practices covered by the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Technological and Quantitative Project (incl. Project Management) (10 ECTS) UCLoivain (3rd semester)
The goal of the project is to conduct a clear and structured analytical reasoning by applying, and eventually adapting, scientifically based conceptual frameworks and models, to define and analyse 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.
As a student on this double degree programme, you will begin your studies at Aarhus BSS at Aarhus University, where you will become part of a dynamic and internationally oriented learning environment. Aarhus BSS conducts research and teaching at the highest academic level, and all faculty members are active researchers, ensuring that your courses are closely connected to the newest developments in the field. The school attracts students and staff from across the world, creating a vibrant international community in which ideas, academic perspectives and personal experiences are shared every day.
Student life in Aarhus balances strong academic traditions with an engaging and welcoming atmosphere. Aarhus offers a compact, safe and lively environment with excellent cultural offerings, cafés, sports facilities and easy access to nature and the coastline. On campus, you will find modern study spaces, student organisations, career services and a wide range of social activities that make it easy to connect with fellow students.
During the second half of your programme, you will continue your studies at UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Here, you will join another international, research-driven environment and experience a student town known for its strong campus culture. The transition between the two universities allows you to grow academically, culturally and personally through immersion in two distinct academic settings.
Read more about UCLouvain.
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Graduates are prepared to take on leadership roles in start-ups, established companies, and consulting firms, where they can:
The double degree equips students with the analytical, technological, and strategic skills to navigate the intersection of business, data, and innovation, giving them a distinctive edge in the international job market. Its international profile exposes students to diverse perspectives, global business practices, and cross-cultural collaboration, preparing them to succeed in multinational and multicultural career environments.
