BS in Business Administration with emphasis in Service Management

Service is becoming an increasingly important focus of the current marketing environment. Bifröst University is the only higher education institution in Iceland to offer specialised instruction in service management. The study programme is 180 ECTS and leads to a BS degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Service.

Bifröst University has many years’ experience in teaching service management in connection with retail management studies. Service also forms a key element of the BS in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing Communications. The new study programme thus builds on a solid foundation of experience and knowledge, ensuring its quality.

The undergraduate study programme in Business Administration at Bifröst University is a general business degree programme, designed to prepare students for leadership, responsibility and management positions within the economy and the community. The study programme consists of core business disciplines, such as finance, accounting, management and marketing. Students may spend one semester on exchange at a partner university abroad.

Programme structure

Students gain a good grounding in business-related subjects, including management, marketing and financing. All students complete interdisciplinary courses, equipping them with applied knowledge in fields such as law, scientific methodology, information technology, public health and confident communication. A specialised coursework component, focused on service, accounts for over 30% of total credits. When term projects and other service-related assignments are factored in, nearly 45% of all credits in the study programme are devoted to service.

Learning is strongly project-based. Students carry out project work in close partnership with businesses and/or through engagement with social issues. Students complete term projects during the summer semesters. These projects are grounded in a teaching method known as learning by developing. This method involves close cooperation between students, project supervisors and other working professionals. Project work places great demands on students. Guiding the process is the aim of developing new solutions to improve competitiveness, sustainability, value creation and innovation. 

Using the method of learning by developing, students have a major role throughout, strengthening and enhancing their ability to tackle real-life challenges in the working world on completion of their studies. The study programme emphasises the human element of management and service provision, and includes a course in servant leadership.

Courses offered in service management are:

• Service management
• Innovation and digital service development
• Quality and service
• Tourism innovation and establishment and management of tourism enterprises* -
• Tourism and leisure marketing* -
• Tourism and culture* -

* Required course for students who chose to focus on the tourist industry