Main Module (120 ec)
All students take the courses in the main module. Students who have started the programme before September 2020 need to complete all main courses except for Capstone Cases (only if they have chosen for the specialization ICT in the Public Sector), System Development, Cyber Security Management,, Marketing, Accounting, Machine Learning for Business Analytics, Process Modelling, and Foundations of Software Testing.
Students that started before September 2023 and already succesfully passed Advances in Data Mining don't need to complete Cyber Security Management and Machine Learning for Business Analytics.
Students that started before September 2023 and already passed Machine Learning for Business Analytics and Cyber Security as a foundation course are advised to take Introduction to Machine Learning or Advances in Data Mining as mandatory courses.
February 2023 starters are advised to take Cyber Security Management, Leading and Managing People and Machine Learning for Business Analytics in their fourth semester. They are also advised to do their internship/thesis writing in their third semester.
As of September 2023 the following course has been renamed: Cyber Security Management (was Cyber Security). The previously completed course is considered equivalent.
As of September 2020 the course Capstone Cases is worth 4 EC (it was 3 EC). Students who have followed a previous version of this course before September 2020 but have not yet passed it, can still get 4 EC (instead of 3 EC) under the condition that they take the extra two Consultancy classes that will be organized in the new Capstone Case course. Arrangements for this need to be made via the programme coordinator.
Foundation Module Business (15 ec)
Students with an ICT background follow the foundation courses on Business (15 EC total). Students with a bachelor degree ‘Informatica & Economie’ from Leiden University are exempted from the courses in the foundation modules. These students follow additional electives instead for 15 EC.
As of September 1st, 2021, the following courses have been renamed: Strategy and Technology (was Strategy), Marketing Science (was Marketing) and Operations Management (was Technology Operations Management). Previously completed courses are considered equivalent to those renamed in September 2021.
Foundation Module ICT (15 ec)
Students with a Business background follow the foundation courses on ICT (15 EC total). Students with a bachelor degree ‘Informatica & Economie’ from Leiden University are exempted from the courses in the foundation modules. These students follow additional electives instead for 15 EC.
Students that started before September 2023 and succesfully completed Cyber Security and Machine Learning for Business Analytics don't need to take Introduction to Machine Learning.
As of September 1st, 2022, the following course has been renamed: Machine Learning for Business Analytics (was Business Intelligence). Previously completed courses are considered equivalent to those renamed in September 2022.
Specialisation ICT in Business (15 ec)
Students who choose for the specialisation ICT in Business need to take all courses from the Module specialisation ICT in Business (15 EC in total), whereas students who choose for the specialisation ICT in the Public Sector take all courses from the Module specialisation ICT in the Public Sector (15 EC in total). Students who choose both specialisations have to take all specialisation courses from both specialisations resulting in a total of 144 ECTS.
Students with a bachelor degree ‘Informatica & Economie’ from Leiden University are exempted from the course Strategic Financial Management and follow within this module 3 extra EC as elective courses instead of 9 EC.
Students that started before September 2023 and did not already succesfully pass Managing Software Evolution are advised to take the Management Science course in Fall instead (in order to avoid study delay) or take Managing Software Evolution in Spring 2024 in combination with writing their thesis.
As of September 1st, 2021, the following course has been renamed: Strategic Financial Management (was Financial Management). Previously completed courses are considered equivalent to those renamed in September 2021.
Students who started before 1 September 2021 and have already successfully completed the previously mandatory courses Managing Innovation or Managing the Digital Business do not need to follow Managing Software Evolution or AI for Strategy.
Specialisation ICT in the Public Sector (15ec)
Students who choose for the specialisation ICT in Business need to take all courses from the Module specialisation ICT in Business (15 EC in total), whereas students who choose for the specialisation ICT in the Public Sector take all courses from the Module specialisation ICT in the Public Sector (15 EC in total). Students who choose both specialisations have to take all specialisation courses from both specialisations resulting in a total of 144 ECTS.
From September 2022 Data-Driven Policy Making changed to 6 EC instead of 3 in the previous years, and, dually, Working for the Government as ICT Expert changed to 3 EC instead of 6. Students following Public Sector specialisation who successfully completed the 3 EC version of Data-Driven Policy Making before September 2022 will be able to follow the old 6 EC version of Working for the Government as ICT Expert after consulting the program coordinator.
Electives
Elective courses on ICT, business and governmental topics allow students to individualise their programme and accommodate their specific interests.
Students that take the ICTiB specialisation are allowed to follow the public sector courses as electives and dually.
Eventual other electives need to be discussed with the programme coordinator and may need the approval of the Board of Examiners if the selection includes courses not in this programme.
As of September 1st, 2022, the following course has been renamed: Financing Technology Ventures (was Entrepreneurial Finance). Previously completed courses are considered equivalent to those renamed in September 2022.
Career Orientation
During the Master program ICT in Business and the Public Sector (ICTiBPS) we want to provide you with the best possible preparation for the job market. In addition to knowledge, it is important that you develop skills, gain practical experience, orientate on positions & careers, and reflect on your own profile and development. In addition to substantive knowledge, it is also important to be aware of the so-called transferable skills that you develop outside and during your education. These are, for example, your cognitive skills such as critical thinking and communication. Altogether, this contributes to your development as a professional and offers good preparation for the labour market.
The career perspective for ICTiBPS is very promising. Most students find a job within 3 months after graduation. Students benefit from the department’s strong links to industry. There are well-developed in -company research thesis internships, often followed by excellent career opportunities. With a master’s degree in ICT in Business, job opportunities are excellent and diverse, ranging from consultancy to IT management and from entrepreneurship to PhD research.
Nevertheless, questions about this subject may arise during your studies, such as: How can you use the knowledge and skills you gain within and outside your study program in the labor market? Which direction do you choose within your study and why? What are you already able to do, and what skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses you choose into something you would like to do later?
You may have already discussed this with the study advisor, mentor, tutor, the Science Career Service, fellow students or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. All kinds of activities are organized where you get the chance to orientate yourself on the job market and gives opportunities to reflect on your own development, possibilities and (study) career profile as well. Central to this are the questions: "What are my capabilities?", "What do I want?" and "How do I achieve my goals?".
In the prospectus, learning objectives have been formulated for each subject, the purpose of which is to inform you which components are covered in the development of your (study) career profile and preparation for the labour market. Various activities are also organized that help you in making all kinds of career choices and to develop skills. An overview of activities is shown below.
Activities
First and/or second year
Company visits and presentations
Lunch & Learn lectures by companies
Introductory meeting with the study advisor
Mentorship and tutoring
Workshops and Career Colleges Science Career Service
De Leidsche Flesch meeting
Second year
Masterclass ICT in Business and the Public Sector
Alumni lectures
Company visits and presentations (Capstone Cases)
Master Career Orientation Day via De Leidsche Flesch
Science Career Event
Master's Open day (Leiden University)
Workshops and Career Colleges Science Career Service
Science Career Service
Science Career Service, one of the utilities of the Science faculty, offers information and advice on study (re)orientation, career planning and personal professional profile as well as preparation for the job market, such as job applications. Facilities provided to students include online information, walk-in consultations, workshops and individual counselling sessions. In addition, Science Career Service offers expertise and support to programmes that want to strengthen the connection between their curriculum and the job market. This can vary from providing specific guest lectures/workshops to advising on integrating career orientation programmes into the curriculum.
LU Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career planning. You will find advice, information, video recordings of webinars and tools such as professional tests to get an idea of your personal profile. You can also explore positions and sectors, you will find tips about CV, job application, LinkedIn and there is a vacancy platform that you can make use of.
Mentornetwerk
Leiden University likes to prepare students and young alumni well for the job market. For this we use the knowledge and experience of Leiden alumni. To bring students and young alumni with questions about their careers into contact with experienced alumni, Leiden University has established the Mentor Network. Students and young alumni can register for free.
Contact
Do you have questions about your (study) career choices and has the above information not been able to help you further? Please contact your study advisor via mastercs@liacs.leidenuniv.nl.
