Universität Fribourg Université de Fribourg Suisse | Universität Freiburg Schweiz Course offerings

Information Systems

Abstract

Information Systems deals with the use of information and communication technologies in companies and public organisations. Its main task is to design new IT solutions, improve existing processes and assist in their implementation. It thereby plays a central role in mediation between such corporate departments as marketing, sales, production and logistics.
In the Bachelor's programme, students get a demanding basic course of studies in informatics, with a focus on the topics of information systems, project management, IT security, programming and quantitative methods on the one hand. On the other they also learn about such subjects as business administration and economics.
Practical relevance is highly valued in Fribourg, both when teaching and in independent work. In addition, the students acquire valuable language skills by absolving the study programme multilingually.

Show the study programme profile

Profile of the study programme

In the Information Systems Bachelor's programme, the foundation is laid for a university education in computer science systems with a focus on information management. Information Systems deals with the use of informatics – so-called information and communication technologies – in companies in the private and public sectors. One of the recurring, varied and exciting tasks of information management is to consider how existing processes or procedures can be improved or how new processes can be made possible with the help of innovative IT solutions and to substantially contribute to the design and implementation of such. Even the layman can sense how fundamental such tasks are by considering services in the Internet, such as tracking mail, ticket orders and other products that are offered by auctions and exchange markets.

As a rule, the design and realisation of IT solutions is often done in team projects with specialists from different departments, such as marketing, sales, production and logistics. In such teams information management specialists not only have a central mediating role, but also a leadership role. So they must have a solid education in informatics as well as in-depth knowledge of business administration and economics and – finally – language and social skills.

Fribourg profile
Correspondingly, on the one hand the Bachelor's programme in Information Systems at the University of Fribourg provides a challenging basic education in computer science, which, in addition to the typical subjects such as information systems, project management, security, etc., also includes programming and quantitative methods. On the other, a substantial part of the course of studies comprises the study of business administration and economics, especially during the first and second academic years. During studies, great emphasis is placed on practical relevance, both when teaching and in independent work. Therefore the Bachelor's thesis typically deals with a concrete problem posed in cooperation with a company. The study programme is also multilingual, with some of the lectures held in German and others in French with additional material in English. Experience shows that students not only master but also enrich the valuable language skills referred to, not least thanks to the good support and the multilingualism practiced during training exercises and examinations.

Learning outcomes and career openings
The University of Fribourg Bachelor's degree in Information Systems provides a solid foundation for a professional career. It makes it possible to enter directly into professional life or to tackle a Master's programme in Information Management, in order to open up an even wider range of career prospects. The majority of Bachelor graduates pursue their Master's programme at the University of Fribourg and profit, among other things, from the wide range of courses in the Swiss Joint Master in Computer Science of the Universities of Bern, Neuchâtel and Fribourg (see study programme «Computer Science»), an attractive Master's programme in Computer Science made possible by the cooperation between the three Swiss universities. They gain access to the other universities, even if they are enrolled in Fribourg.

The need for well qualified specialists in information systems is and remains high: increasingly, a lack of such professionals is expected. As an information management specialist, graduates help design the future – in industry, trade, administration, the service sector and research. All in all, they have the best prerequisites for a successful start in a professional career.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

180 ECTS credits, 6 semesters

Curriculum

http://studies.unifr.ch/go/4F2Tn

Admission

The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to Bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg:

  • Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
  • Swiss vocational or specialised Baccalaureate in conjunction with the supplementary exam certificate from the Swiss Maturity Commission
  • Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)

A complete list of all further recognized Swiss school-leaving certificates is to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities (in French and German only): http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-swiss-certificates

Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education. Foreign school-leaving certificates are considered to be general education if the last three years of schooling include at least six general education subjects, independent from each other, in accordance with the following list:

  1. First language (native language)
  2. Second language
  3. Mathematics
  4. Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics/law)
  6. Elective (an additional language or an additional subject from category 4 or 5)

The general admission requirements to the Bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg for holders of foreign school-leaving certificates as well as the admission requirements for individual countries are to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities: http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-countrylist
In addition, foreign candidates must present proof of sufficient language skills in French or German.

The assessment of foreign school-leaving certificates is based on the «CRUS Recommendations for the Assessment of Foreign Upper Secondary School-Leaving Certificates, 7 September 2007» (http://studies.unifr.ch/go/crus07en). The admission requirements are valid for the respective academic year. The Rectorat of the University of Fribourg reserves the right to change these requirements at any time.

Alternatives

Also offered as a minor study programme (60/30 ECTS credits).