Society needs leaders with specialized expertise in developing and delivering new solutions. That could be you with a Master's in Service Leadership in International Business from the University of Stavanger.
2 years (4 semesters)
120
English
Services and service industries are the driving force in both the public and private sectors – from hotels, tourism, and logistics to healthcare and digital services like banking solutions and online platforms.
- Become a strategic leader: Learn to build effective teams, develop employees, and deliver results-oriented service solutions using modern management tools.
- Develop modern leadership skills to balance effective teamwork with independent decision-making.
- Gain advanced knowledge of management theory, human resource management (HRM), marketing and service operations. Also, learn methods for strategy development and operational improvement in global businesses.
- Specialize in a topic that interests you: The master's thesis is an independent research project with supervision, where you choose a topic within key management and scientific areas from the master's program.
- Apply what you learn in another country: You can go on an exchange in your third semester. This allows you to tailor your master's degree with courses in your specific areas of interest – in an international environment.
This is primarily a management education, and that is the part I know I will benefit from the most. Additionally, NHS is a recognized institution and a mark of quality on my CV.
Career prospects
With a Master's in Service Leadership in International Business, you can work as:
- Sales or Marketing Manager
- Product and Customer Manager
- Key Account Manager
- Business Consultant
- Project Manager
- Service Leader
Former NHS students work in various leadership roles across many areas within the service industries.
Further studies
This master's degree can qualify you for admission to a PhD program.
Consciously or unconsciously, you form many good and useful relationships at NHS that I have greatly enjoyed and benefited from both professionally and personally afterwards.
Learning outcomes
All study programmes at the UiS have a set of defined learning targets. Read more about the learning outcome for this study programme.
Knowledge
The candidate
- Has advanced knowledge within service leadership in international business and particular insight in leadership theories, human resource management, marketing and aspects of developing and controlling service operations.
- In- depth knowledge of a chosen field within international service leadership.
- Has thorough knowledge about methods applied in strategy development, marketing and operational development and assessment within service leadership in international business.
- Can analyze professional problems based on knowledge within service leadership in international business, its history, traditions and societal role and functions.
Skills
The candidate
- Can analyze and be critical to various information channels.
- Can structure and formulate professional reasonings, especially concerning responsible leadership, business accountability and sustainable industrial and business development.
- Can analyze existing theories, methods and interpretations within service leadership in international business, and,
- work independently with solving practical and theoretical problems.
- Can employ relevant methods in research and development projects addressing development and assessment of service business operations, nationally and internationally.
General competence
The candidate
- Can analyze relevant professional, practical and research ethical issues within service business industries.
- Can employ his/ her knowledge and skills on new areas in order to accomplish advanced task and projects.
- Can communicate extensive independent work and master expressions used within service leadership in international business.
- Can communicate professional issues, analyzes and conclusions within service leadership.
Academic requirements
A bachelor’s degree, which includes at least 80 ECTS credits in one or several of the following subjects, is required:
- Hotel/Hospitality Management
- Restaurant Management
- Tourism
- Business Administration
- Economy
Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree.
Application and admission
Contact
For inquiries regarding admission to international Master's programmes, send an email to: admissions@uis.no.
Find more information here: When to apply?
Q&A about the study program
Can I study and have a part time job? Who are the students on this program?
What are the living costs and living condition in Norway?
studyinnorway.no address these questions and guide you in order to be a successful student in Norway.
How much is the tuition fee?
The program is free of tuition fees.The only thing you have to pay is a fee to the student welfare organization (about NOK 700 per semester). The welfare organization will provide you with a lot of good services during your time as a student at UiS.
Can UiS give me a pre-assessment of my background before I apply?
No, the university has no capacity for this, you have to apply.
Can I study and have a part time job?
This master program expects that you put in 40-50 hours a week and you should be able to attend lectures and group meeting with fellow students. Therefore, there is only limited time for a job, but working 8-10 hours a week / in the weekends, should be OK. Foreign students with a student visa are allowed to have a part time job in Norway.
Who are the students on this program?
Normally half of the students are Norwegians, the other half will come from all over the word – Europe, North and South America, Asia.
What does “case-based teaching" mean?
In all courses the teaching will be based on cases describing real leadership / management challenges. Students are expected to take active part in such discussion and must do several presentations as well.
Study plan and courses
Enrolment year: 2024
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Compulsory courses
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Research Methods
Year 1, semester 1
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Strategic Leadership
Year 1, semester 1
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Fundamentals of Service
Year 1, semester 1
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International HR Perspectives
Year 1, semester 2
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Services Marketing
Year 1, semester 2
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Cost and Revenue Management
Year 1, semester 2
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Master's thesis in service leadership in international business
Year 2, semester 3
Master's thesis in service leadership in international business (MSERMAS)
Study points: 30
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Term 3 at UiS or exchange study
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Exchange studies, term 3
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Courses in term 3 at UiS - Choose 3 courses
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International Marketing
Year 2, semester 3
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Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology
Year 2, semester 3
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Applied Service Innovation Project
Year 2, semester 3
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Leadership Challenges
Year 2, semester 3
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NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation
NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation has educated hotel managers and other leaders in the tourism and service sector since 1912, and is the second oldest school of hotel and tourism in the world.
The service industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. In that context, expertise in service management, hospitality management, experience and destination development is essential, along with traditional knowledge in service, marketing, economics, and leadership.
Future leaders in the service sector must be able to handle both human and digital aspects, drive continuous service development and innovation, extract value from data and information, and use advanced analytical methods. They need to address new challenges such as artificial intelligence and novel business models, while also understanding the interconnections across various fields like IT, marketing, sales, customer experiences, and psychology.
NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation offers bachelor’s and master’s programs that prepare students for careers in service, management, service development, hospitality, and tourism. In addition, we offer a research school in Service Leadership, International Business and Hospitality Management as part of the PhD Programme in Social Sciences.
The department is cooperating with universities all over the world for student and teacher exchange programs, and we also offer exchange programs in English.
Students from more than 40 nations from all over the world are studying at NHS – Department of leadership and service innovation.
A department with a long history
NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation was previously known as Norwegian School of Hotel Management and has existed since 1912.
Student exchange
By going on exchange to one of our partner institutions abroad as part of your studies, you will have an opportunity to get a unique education. In addition to improving your career opportunities, you grow as a person and gain the ability to greater reflect on the topics you study as part of your degree. All about exchange
Exchange semester
In the 3rd semester the students can choose to study abroad for one semester and take courses equivalent to 30 credits (ECTS).
By going on exchange to one of our partner institutions abroad as part of your studies, you will have an opportunity to get a unique education. In addition to improving your career opportunities, you grow as a person and gain increased social, cultural and academic competence. In an increasingly international job market, this is a positive asset on your cv.It is also a positive signal to potential employers that you have taken part of your degree abroad.
The application process
The application deadline for applying to go on exchange in the autumn semester is 1 February. You apply in the digital student service desk. The application is processed by the International Office. Remember to meet the application deadline. Applications sent after the formal application deadline of 1 February will not be processed.
Prior to the application deadline, information meetings will be arranged about the exchange and information about the procedure with prior approval of courses. At NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation, information meetings are held in October and January. An invitation to the meetings is sent out in advance with information about time, date, and meeting room. This is also posted in the time schedule. Up until the application deadline on 1 February, the International Office will also have additional information meetings where you can ask questions and get practical information about exchange.
The procedure in the application process to become an exchange student can be divided into several stages:
- Apply to become an exchange student within 1st. of February in the digital student service desk.
- Once you have been nominated, you will be assigned a contact person at the International Office who will assist with practical help and information about the process ahead, host university, etc.
- Find relevant courses and apply for pre-approval.
When the courses have been pre-approved, an online learning agreement (OLA) is made, which is a mutual agreement and confirmation between you, UiS, and the host university. A signed online learning agreement is a prerequisite for receiving an Erasmus+ scholarship. (Valid for student exchange within Erasmus+)
Students without a nominal study progression and who are delayed in their studies are advised not to go on exchange.
Choice of courses
The students can choose courses freely if they are consistent with the master's programs profile and do not overlap with compulsory courses already included in the program.
Help for pre-approval of courses
After the deadline for applying for student exchange, the department will assist on the process of pre-approval of courses. The department has lists over courses that have been pre-approved earlier at the various universities in order to make the pre-approval process easier.
When you need to find relevant courses, it is easy to get confused on the websites of the various educational institutions. We recommend that you take your time. In Norway, we use credits or ECTS to indicate the course's workload. In other countries, they can use points, or credits.
Here are some examples:
- Australia: Credits: 10 credits at Griffith University equals 7.5 credits. Then you must have 4 courses to get 30 credits in total.
- New Zealand: Points: 18 points at the University of Otago equals 10 credits. Then you must have 3 courses or 54 points in total to get 30 credits.
You should start the process of pre-approval of courses as soon as you have been nominated to a host university. Applications for pre-approval should be sent to your student advisor for approval by 1st of May.
Please note that some universities do not publish courses open to incoming exchange students until March/April.
Do not choose courses that overlap with courses that are already included in your education plan. For example, introduction to marketing.
You apply for pre-approval of courses in the digital student service desk.
ECIU Short term mobility
Would you like to try exchange for a shorter period of time?
ECIU – European Consortium of Innovative Universities is a consortium of 13 European universities, and a partner in Mexico that offers micro-modules from 3 – 5 credits (ECTS). These courses can be virtual – online, in-person, or a combination of both.
The great thing about ECIU courses is that you can also receive an Erasmus+ grant to participate if the course also includes a physical session of at least 5 days, and is a minimum of 3 ECTS.
The Erasmus+ scholarship is 50 – 70 Euro per day.
To receive an Erasmus+ scholarship, you must also sign an online learning agreement (OLA)
The ECIU collaboration means that all courses offered are already approved as higher education.
You can find all available courses in a common course catalogue: ECIU
ECIU courses have a duration of a few days, to a couple of weeks.
ECIU courses are suitable for those who are:
- Curious about what it means to study abroad
- Have interests across study programmes
- Want to fill their CV with relevant courses
Please note that even if ECIU courses are already approved as higher education, it does not mean that you will automatically have courses incorporated into your degree. In order for a course to be incorporated into your educational degree, you must apply for and be granted prior approval.
For more information about short-term mobility, contact the International Office by email: outboundexchange@uis.no
The ECIU team at UiS is available for questions and information at SIS Book Café every Tuesday from 11.00 – 13.00.
Do want to know more?
Please contact administrative coordinator for the program Oddvar Norland for more information.
General information about exchange: Exchange guide in Digital student service desk
Student exchange
- All countries
University of Otago
Oseania er mer enn Australia. Hva med et studieopphold på New Zealand? University of Otago er New Zealands eldste og ledende forskningsuniversitet. Universitetet ble grunnlagt i 1869 og er internasjonalt anerkjent. Campus ligger i sentrum av den livlige og multikulturelle studentbyen Dunedin sør på New Zealand.
- Australia
- Danmark
- Italia
- New Zealand
University of Otago
Oseania er mer enn Australia. Hva med et studieopphold på New Zealand? University of Otago er New Zealands eldste og ledende forskningsuniversitet. Universitetet ble grunnlagt i 1869 og er internasjonalt anerkjent. Campus ligger i sentrum av den livlige og multikulturelle studentbyen Dunedin sør på New Zealand.
- Sverige
- Tyskland
Contact us
NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation
Faculty Administration SV
Administration NHS