Master's in Software Engineering and Information Systems

Software Engineering and Information Systems is a two-year international Master's programme focusing on either software defined products or human-centred design of information systems.

Software Engineering and Information Systems

Degree title

Master of Science

Study places

55

Duration of studies

2 years

Scope

120 credits

Teaching method

On campus

Open university studies

30 study places available

Next application period

7-21 January 2026

Programme profile

Top reasons to study Software Engineering and Information Systems

  • Unique learning outcomes that focus on either software engineering or information systems - or a combination of both.
  • Choose courses according to your interests and enjoy of a flexible range of courses from study fields such as business and humanities.
  • Get relevant skills and capabilities for a successful career in the ICT companies or the public sector.
  • The quality of content and pedagogical design that combines diverse teaching and assessment methods ensures the highest learning outcomes. Courses are provided by pedagogically highly trained teachers who are experts in their fields.
  • The University of Oulu is among the global top 200 universities in Computer Science.

Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence drive the need for experts

Digitalisation is changing our work, businesses, industries, and everyday life with an ever increasing speed and it is affecting us all from babies to the elders.

Are you interested in ensuring that individuals as technology users and their needs are taken into account and act as the starting point in the digital transformation? Would you like to champion in user-centered digitalisation?

The programme will provide the student with relevant, up-to-date skills and capabilities to have a successful future career as a software and ICT expert or manager in a global company or other organisation. We intent to educate advocates of engaging user-centered design interested in innovation, design thinking and building businesses around digital products and services.

The graduating students will have skills to lead multicultural teams, projects and units as well as capabilities to maintain and update their knowledge in the rapidly developing field.

Choose Software Engineering or Information Systems - or combine both

This master's programme offers two main tracks with different requirements and learning outcomes:

Software Engineering: If you choose this path, you’ll learn how to develop and maintain innovative software systems and services. Topics like advanced software quality, artificial intelligence, and building systems for the future are all part of this focus. This track has technical design aspect and involves coding.

Information Systems: This track focuses on how to use technology and software to make businesses and organizations more efficient, productive, and adaptable to change. With topics like user experience design, digital transformation, and innovation, this is a great path if you want to understand the business side of technology as well.

Students can freely decide their study path, and it is possible to take courses also from the other track.

Core skills and competence

The graduates will acquire solid academic training and essential knowledge and skills to analyse, evaluate and develop solutions related to, for example:

  • Project-based learning with milestones
  • Problem-solving methods

And depending on their study path also:

  • Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems
  • Dynamics of the software business environment
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • User Experience Design
  • Software defined products and processes
  • Digitalisation and digital transformation
  • Persuasive Design and Gamification.

Programme structure and courses

For detailed information about courses and the programme structure, look at the study guide:

Career opportunities

Graduates have the capability to act as independent experts in goal-oriented projects and manage professionally projects in global ICT companies.

Possible titles include:

  • Project Manager
  • Team Leader
  • Chief Technology Officer
  • Chief Information Officer
  • Software Designer / Developer
  • User Experience Designer
  • Lead Developer
  • Senior Software Engineer
  • Product Owner / Manager
  • Business Analyst
  • Solution Designer
  • Data Scientist
  • AI Developer.

You are a great fit for our programme if

The ideal candidate has a keen interest in current ICT research and is adept in applying his/her knowledge in software development or user-centric design. This individual is an analytical problem-solver, eager to lead and collaborate in diverse teams, and committed to lifelong learning to stay at the forefront of technological trends.

They aspire to roles that blend technology with strategic business development. They are ready to thrive in the dynamic high-tech ecosystem of Oulu or globally contributing to the ICT sector with fresh ideas and a user-focused approach to digital transformation.

Admissions criteria

Read about eligibility and admissions procedure for this programme, detailed information available at Studyinfo.

Welcome to Oulu high-tech hub

Oulu is the fastest growing city region in the Northern Scandinavia with a strong technology focus, a vibrant startup scene and plenty of job openings in the software industry.

Open university studies

You can also apply to this master's programme on basis of open university studies. Find more information about the courses and criteria below.