Master of Science in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship

The programme Knowledge‐based Entrepreneurship prepares students for advanced work within the field of entrepreneurship, both in the private and public sectors. This can involve various types of work, such as developing own companies, supporting the ecosystem within incubators and accelerators, developing public policy, working in established organisations with entrepreneurship-related principles or content, and stimulating social entrepreneurship. In addition, the programme provides a basis for those who want to enter a doctoral programme.

General Entrance Requirements

A Bachelor's degree (equivalent to a Swedish kandidatexamen) from an internationally recognized university and English 6/English B from Swedish upper secondary school or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test.

Programme Specific Entrance Requirements 

• A minimum of 15 credits of courses in subject areas related to business, economics, industrial management, innovation and entrepreneurship, or 15 credits in a combination of the subject areas.
• A minimum of 15 credits in Statistics or Research Methods, or 15 credits in a combination of both.

The admission requirements listed above apply for admission to the programme. For continued studies within the programme individual courses might have specific requirements, as provided in each course syllabus.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship (Ekonomie masterexamen med huvudområdet entreprenörskap).

The programme covers four academic terms of full-time study (120 credits) including three terms of courses (90 credits) and one term of Master Degree Project (thesis writing, 30 credits).

Core courses

• Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurship: Service and Design

• Personal and Professional Development for Entrepreneurs

• Methods for Research and Practice in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Risk Management and Finance

• Assessing Entrepreneurial Ideas

• Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Innovation and Structural Transformation

• Sustainability in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Creating New Entrepreneurial Ventures

• Leading New Venture Development

• Managing Ventures: Scaling and Internationalisation

• Master Degree Project

General outcomes for Degree of Master (120 credits) 

Knowledge and understanding 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and

• demonstrate specialized methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information

• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work

• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and

• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work

• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and

• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Local outcomes

• demonstrate understanding of the connection between economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability in relation to entrepreneurship

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

Students admitted to the programme have guaranteed admission to all core courses within the programme given that the course requirements are fulfilled.