Studies and students
We are committed to creating an environment where students thrive and develop, both academically and socially.
Programmes and students
At BI, our goal is to provide people, regardless of their background, with the opportunity to an education that can transform their lives and careers. We will deliver high-quality teaching, develop excellent research and collaborate closely with business. In this way, our graduates can use their knowledge to have a positive impact on society.
- In 2024, we had 3980 graduations (not standardised time, but all who graduated in 2024).
- In 2024, we held 1314 exams. Of these, 1011 were digital, 335 group exams, 791 home exams, 460 school exams and 63 other types of exams.
At BI, we prioritise reducing dropouts, ensuring study progression, and increasing the graduation rate for BI students.
I 2024, the graduation rate was:
- Bachelor students 45%
- Master students 78%
- PhD 57 %
- In 2024, the dropout rate among bachelor students in their first year at BI was 10%. Dropout refers to first-year bachelor's students who have a three-year contract with BI but have either terminated it or had it terminated by BI in the following academic year.
Number of students
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| *Total number of students | 21,369 | 20,626 | 20,520 |
| *Full-time | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Bachelor’s programmes | 15,798 | 13,183 | 12,601 |
| Master of Science | 1722 | 1738 | 1587 |
| *PhD programmes | 87 | 104 | 71 |
| *Executive | Spring | Autumn | Total 2024 | Total 2023 | Total 2022 |
| Online programmes | 1416 | 1557 | 2334 | 2411 | 2749 |
| Executive Bachelor | 761 | 904 | 1403 | 1984 | 2140 |
| Executive Master | 1111 | 1148 | 1804 | 2315 | 2535 |
| Executive MBA | 57 | 27 | 57 | 66 | 69 |
| Executive Master of Management in Energy | 76 | 39 | 76 | 68 | 51 |
| BI-Fudan MBA | 134 | 154 | 181 | 258 | 243 |
| Short Learning Modules | 169 | 56 | 221 | 277 | 1496 |
| Corporate | 1638 | 1608 | 2720 | 2469 | 2350 |
*Total number of students
The total number of students is taken from BI's Discover Dashboard Student Insight and shows the number of unique students who completed a course or programme at BI in the fall of 2024. This number does not include PhD students, as these are considered employees at BI.
*Full-time
All figures are taken from BI's Discover Dashboard Student Insight. The statistics do not include students on leave or those with extended study periods who are not actively registered for exams or courses. BI's full-time studies only have admissions in the autumn.
*Executive
All figures are taken from BI's Discover Dashboard Student Insight. The table shows the number of active students for each programme at BI Executive, categorised by spring, autumn, and total for the year. Some courses are active over two semesters, with admission taking place in the preceding semester; therefore, they are counted in both semesters. A student can follow courses and programmes in several areas during a year and, in these cases, will be counted twice. The table includes students on leave, re-admission and those registered for courses and exams in the current semester.
*PhD
The figure is taken from BI's Discover Dashboard Student Insight. PhD candidates who were active last fall, both on standard time and extended study time, with and without active course and exam registration, are counted.
Full-time
- The full-time division had a turnover of MNOK 1,106 in 2024, an increase of MNOK 126.2 from 2023.
- In 2023, 5,044 new bachelor's students began their studies at BI, an 8% increase from the previous year.
- 914 master's students started at BI last year, an increase of 5% compared to 2023.
- The bachelor's programme with the most applicants in 2024 was Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
- The master's programme with the most applicants in 2024 was Master of Science in Business.
Executive
- In 2023, Executive had a turnover of 430 MNOK, an increase of MNOK 9,9 from 2023.
- 5991 new students started at Executive last year, a decrease of 5% compared to 2023
- The bachelor's course with the most applicants in 2024 was Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping.
- The master's programme with the most applicants in 2024 was Management: Power and Meaning.
We continually work to develop our study portfolio to meet the needs of society, market trends, employer requirements and student preferences.
In 2024, the following Executive courses and programmes were launched for the first time:
- Sustainability law – classification, reporting and actions
- The value-creating board
- Basic management education, online
- Health management, quality and development
- Human Resource Management and labour law - specialisation
- Leadership and change - specialisation
- Project management – specialisation
- Marketing management and strategy
- Value-creating project management
- Project management, project team and agility
- Efficient and sustainable project management
- Practical Change Management
- Human Resource Management
Regardless of their background and starting point, BI's study programmes should provide students with the opportunity to realise their ambitions and talents through education. BI offers several different scholarships and facilitates internships with companies.
- A total of 69 students from 27 nations received scholarships from BI in 2024. 23 of these were bachelor's students, and 46 were master's students. 56.5% of the recipients were women and 43.5% were men.
- Six bachelor's students and four master's students received financial support from BI for individuals under collective protection or with refugee status in Norway in 2024.
- Last year, 319 master's students and 249 bachelor's students were on internships. 14 students had an internship in their own startup company.
- We are proud to offer generous scholarships to our most qualified candidates.
We work to ensure that students thrive at BI, which is important both to reduce dropout rates and to increase the graduation rate. At the same time, being part of a good social environment also contributes to students receiving academic benefits from the teaching. In 2024:
- Coffee hour was arranged twice a week at Studenkroa. Between 500 and 800 students attended each event.
- 103 teaching assistants contributed 487 assignment guides distributed across 32 different courses.
- 461 students were assisted in forming study groups
- Examples of events in connection with the start of studies for both Norwegian and international students:
- Fadderrullan
- Matriculation for bachelor's and master's students
- Social Day (meet your classmates)
- Academic Day (welcome to your programme)
- Class reunion for all first-year bachelor's students
- Essential Soft Skills course for master's students.