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Remarks by the Course Management
The figures apply to the entire International Business programme. 'Studie in Cijfers' is not available for the separate profiles.
Job opportunities
1.5 years after obtaining degree
Unemployment
Suitable work
Programme structure
A view of the study programmeVision on education
Everyone is welcome at the study programmes of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Rotterdam). Students and lecturers all know each other and everyone is easy to find. Lecturers work very hard at guiding the students in their studies in a way that fits the student. This demands a sense of commitment and active participation. All of us shape our education.
Characteristic for the education of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is the attention that is paid to:
- A solid theoretical foundation for your profession
- Working in the professional practice
- Your own professional identity
All these elements will be part of your study programme. Starting out the focus will be on your development and competencies, but then the professional practice will be introduced as well. You will learn to handle actual issues of the professional practice together with other students, lecturers, applied researchers, and professionals. At the start you will also receive plenty of guidance from your lecturer, but later you will work in a much more independent manner. During your studies you will learn a lot about yourself and discover your unique qualities as a professional.
First year
During your first year you start to understand the international business world and the place organisations have in it. You will become acquainted with all aspects of business from its external and internal environment. For example, you will learn how the Paris climate change agreement affects international business activities in the Netherlands.
Business is multidisciplinary, and so are the courses you will follow. Most courses are integrated modules where e.g. marketing themes, aspects of finance and operations and elements of economics all work together as they would in a business setting.
The first year is divided into 5 blocks all of which focus on a specific theme. The fifth block, Business Models, is where everything you’ve learned in year 1 comes together. You will use the Business Model Canvas as a tool to answer questions like 'What is the business model of a company?' 'Who are their main partners?' 'What value do they provide their customers?' (and more) and experience how the various elements of a business are linked and influence each other.
After the first year
Year 2
Your studies are taken to the next level. Where you first learned about macro-economics or supply chain management you will now have to start analysing venture strategies, mapping out the management of organisations and people, making recommendations for a company’s e-business opportunities and conduct research on how to grow in a sustainable way. You can take part in an international project and work on a real-life business assignment for an international company. For this project you will have the opportunity to travel abroad to Los Angeles, Taiwan, Berlin or Barcelona (amongst others) and do research for your project.
Year 3
During the third year you will spend a semester on work placement either at an international company in the Netherlands or you can travel abroad. The placement will offer you the chance to work in the field of your interest, learn about business etiquette and intercultural communication, and of course test the knowledge and skills you’ve mastered so far.
Year 4
In the last year of the programme you follow a chosen minor. By focussing in-depth on one specific aspect of your profession or by broadening your horizon through examining terrains bordering your own profession, you can significantly improve your chances on the labour market. You conclude the International Business & Management programme with your thesis, in which you will conduct research to resolve a practicebased issue for an international organisation.
Electives and support
Electives
During your studies, you can choose several elective subjects. This gives you the opportunity to look beyond the boundaries of your own study programme and to give substance to your specific learning needs. Part of the programme is a placement in a company of your choice. Through a specialisation in the main phase of studies, you choose a specific profile that allows you to differentiate yourself. With your graduation assignment you give a personal touch to your education.
Support
Every student is unique and has his own ideas about what he wants to achieve during his studies. We will support you by making you aware of your abilities, opportunities and challenges. Sometimes, during or even before the start of your study programme it becomes clear that you are struggling with a particular subject. It will be useful to brush up your knowledge in that area. As a student you will be assigned a coach (a lecturer) who will guide you and who will monitor your progress. It is also possible to ask for a peer coach, a senior student who trains younger year students.
Studying with a disability
If you have a disability and therefore require some extra facilities, we offer various options (information in Dutch).
Placement
Many students choose to gain working experience abroad in a placement. However, it is also possible to take a placement in the Netherlands, preferably in an international company.
Watch the video below to find out how Niels de Griff experienced his third-year placement at the European Forest Institute in Malaysia.
Minors
In the last phase of your studies, you can choose a minor, to specialize in a field of your choice. Following are some examples of minors you can choose from.
The main objective of this minor is to teach students what circular economy is, and how small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and other organizations could make the transition from a linear business model to a circular economy business model. The minor has a strong practical component as students must work with local SMEs or public organizations. International knowledge and experience sharing through the cloud will be the key to the quality of their deliverables. Basic circular economy principles such as: system thinking, collaboration/ competition, business opportunities, innovation is natural, living systems, rebuilding capital, creating value, scale, time and resilience, will be taught. Transfer of knowledge will be done through the flipped classroom concept. Overall at the end of this minor the student must be able to: Translate European Sustainable Development needs into concrete, sustainable and feasible actions based on the Circular Economy principles. Expose themselves to out of the box thinking. Focus on specific targeted groups in specific markets. Critically look into the aspects of added value of the company, its activities and/or products/services within the context of circular economy. In this learning track the student improves the ability to combine knowledge, skills and attitude to show expected behaviour when performing a professional task in a European business context.
It is important that we find new roads which lead towards more economic activity and more jobs. To achieve that, Real Experience Borderless Entrepreneurial Learning (REBEL) appeals to innovative students with guts and entrepreneurial mind set from all study programmes of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. REBEL teaches them to set up their own business with a team in a real international environment, look for opportunities and use them, take risks and to find surprising solutions. From all participants we expect an open mind, an innovative mind set, commitment, a proactive attitude and a willingness to collaborate with others. This minor+ learns students not just to be rebels, but competent rebels. Give us your business idea and we give you a fine set of wings to fly across borders.
Overall at the end of the Minor International Finance and Accounting students should be able to:
- Comprehensively evaluate financial performance of the company and its responsibility centers from different stakeholders’ perspective, applying advanced tools of financial analysis.
- Evaluate existing management control systems, including performance measurement, incentive and management compensation systems from the perspective of their ability to support the implementation of company’s strategy and achievement of goals.
- Apply and evaluate the effects of the accounting systems differences on the process of company valuation.
- Apply and analyze concepts and models of traditional corporate finance and alternative finance to make a contribution to strategic financing decisions.
- Explore the risks involved in using innovative financing for SME’s.
- Illustrate how the auditing process contributes to a fair view of the financial statements and to fraud protection.
- Create (design and produce) a report providing recommendations for dealing with finance and accounting challenges in the real life cases (company or organizations), by conducting comprehensive, business, strategic, accounting and financial analysis and evaluation.
- Critically reflect on the process of working in the group and creating a report for the innovative project and come up with the ways for its improvement.
In the Minor Digital Marketing you will face the challenges of marketing and the Internet. During this minor you get the opportunity to focus on your own chosen individual assignments related to digital marketing and share it with your fellow students. You will also work in a team and together develop workshops on different digital marketing topics. An important part of this minor is the consultancy project, where you are going to develop a digital marketing plan for a company of your choice. This is an individual assignment where you will also redesign their webpage and develop digital campaigns. We are going to share knowledge and experiences and many guest lectures and practical trainings will be offered to inspire you. We expect from you: full dedication, pro-activeness, own initiatives, eagerness to learn, and willingness to share knowledge, creativity, co-creation and a professional attitude.
As markets evolve toward increased globalisation, free trade and outsourcing, a growing interest arises to deploy Supply Chain Management as a strategic business weapon. Collaboration and coordination are the keys to achieving the benefits. When parties in a supply chain relationship win equally, due to their cooperative actions in the supply channel, the benefits are likely to be realised and the relationship remains intact. More and more Supply Chain Management becomes the new frontier for demand generation. The traditional objective of minimizing supply chain costs is replaced by “meeting customer service requirements”. This means that the focus shifts to revenue contribution and profit enhancement. Companies, that are able to manage this tremendous shift effectively, will have a big competitive advantage in contemporary business environments.
Fast track
Aside from the regular four-year programme, we offer a three-year learning track specifically for students with previous education at Dutch pre-university level (VWO) or a similar foreign diploma.
For this three-year Fast track, the International Business programmes work together, resulting in mixed classes. The Fast track programme consists of intensive English-taught courses, in which theory is discussed in the context of the business practice.
Subjects
An indication of the subjects you can expectBlock 1
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Getting Started
Getting Started
What makes you do the things you do? Why do you keep hitting a brick wall with this one person? Why isn’t your message getting across?
In this course the focus is on YOU as an individual and a business professional. Through games, reflection, partaking in workshops and studying best (and worst) practices you take the first steps in becoming a business leader like Jack Ma (CEO, AliBaba Group), in channeling your inner Malala Yousafzai, and in speaking like Steve Jobs.
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Business Understanding
Business Understanding
What makes an organization tick? How are they structured and what’s the link between the different business functions? Is it really all about profit or can you make it big and be good to your community at the same time?
Through (guest)lectures in the fields of Marketing, Logistics, Finance and Human Resource Management and playing the Red Bull Business Simulation game you will start to understand the international business world and the place organizations have in it. You’ll get a taste of what’s to come in the rest of your studies and future profession.
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English Refresher
English Refresher
Get ready to refresh your memory! How did those tenses work again? Do I write beautifully or beautiful? Their, they’re and there are three completely different words, remember? In this practical application of grammar you will write in order to enhance (and refresh) your English grammar skills.
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
Hola, dos cervezas por favor. Ich bin ein Berliner. Je suis chaud. Hoe bereid je een paard?
Always wanted to able to ask for more than a beer in Salou? Want to avoid comparing yourself to a German pastry or not be embarrassed because you just told a client you’re hot (not related to the weather)? Want to avoid being accused of cooking your own horse?
Boost your labour market performance and increase your chances of getting the job you want by choosing Spanish, French, Russian or German as your foreign language. Through various written and oral exercises, you will improve your professional language proficiency.
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose from one of the following languages: French / German / Russian / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language.
In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you, either as your Foreign Language or as Elective.
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Elective
Elective
Always wanted to know How to Survive in Italy? Take a Masterclass Sales? Do you love to cook and want to know more about Food (Culture) and Marketing?
The University offers over 30 electives in English that cover a wide array of subjects (from arts and culture to anthropology and augmented reality and everything in between). Partake in 3 electives this year to boost your labour market performance, add depth to your studies, or just do something because it’s fun (after all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy).
Block 2
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International Business Environment: Principles
International Business Environment: Principles
Forget about the BRICS, Poland is the new emerging market for business. Or perhaps Malaysia is a country to focus on? Or Columbia?
What makes International Business different? What are the possibilities in new markets and relevant trends? How does e-commerce influence the way international companies do business? Is what’s happening in the outside world a threat to your organisation or an opportunity?
Study basic business theory and get a broad overview of the external environment of business from a Macro- (the landscape a company works in) and Meso (the environment a company can influence indirectly) point of view.
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International Business Environment; Applied
International Business Environment; Applied
Time to put all your knowledge to good use. Apply the theory you’ve learned in the principles module and gather, manage and analyze relevant data for a Macro- and Meso analysis. Communicate your research results verbally and in writing to your organization – in English AND another foreign language.
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English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
The results of your diagnostic test are in and you know your score on the Global Scale of English (GSE). Are you more advanced in English? Partake in advanced classes at year 2 level and speed your progress along. Need a little more help boost your language skills? No problem! Partake in our remedial classes and we’ll help get you at the level you need.
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
Hola, dos cervezas por favor. Ich bin ein Berliner. Je suis chaud. Hoe bereid je een paard?
Always wanted to able to ask for more than a beer in Salou? Want to avoid comparing yourself to a German pastry or not be embarrassed because you just told a client you’re hot (not related to the weather)? Want to avoid being accused of cooking your own horse?
Boost your labour market performance and increase your chances of getting the job you want by choosing Spanish, French, Russian or German as your foreign language. Through various written and oral exercises, you will improve your professional language proficiency.
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose from one of the following languages: French / German / Russian / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language.
In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you, either as your Foreign Language or as Elective.
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Elective
Elective
Always wanted to know How to Survive in Italy? Take a Masterclass Sales? Do you love to cook and want to know more about Food (Culture) and Marketing?
The University offers over 30 electives in English that cover a wide array of subjects (from arts and culture to anthropology and augmented reality and everything in between). Partake in 3 electives this year to boost your labour market performance, add depth to your studies, or just do something because it’s fun (after all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy).
Block 3
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Project Management
Project Management
“Trying to manage a project without project management is like playing a football game without a game plan” - Karen Tate.
Get ready for future business collaboration! Learn, understand and apply the key principles of project management through PRINCE II and AGILE and apply the SCRUM framework by developing a promotional product for the upcoming Business Week.
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Leadership & Professional Development
Leadership & Professional Development
“Communication is the sister of leadership”- Prof. John Adair.
Learn how to look at yourself with a fresh new perspective through feedback from your LPD coach and your fellow classmates, as well as the input gained from a variety of personality instruments. Turn your dreams, ambitions and goals into a ‘personal mission statement’. Develop new ways of thinking, communicating and collaborating with others with help of practical (in-class) tools.
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
Hola, dos cervezas por favor. Ich bin ein Berliner. Je suis chaud. Hoe bereid je een paard?
Always wanted to able to ask for more than a beer in Salou? Want to avoid comparing yourself to a German pastry or not be embarrassed because you just told a client you’re hot (not related to the weather)? Want to avoid being accused of cooking your own horse?
Boost your labour market performance and increase your chances of getting the job you want by choosing Spanish, French, Russian or German as your foreign language. Through various written and oral exercises, you will improve your professional language proficiency.
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose of one of the following languages: French / German / Russian / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language.
In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you, either as your Foreign Language or as Elective.
Block 4
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Internal Organisation Analysis; Principles
Internal Organisation Analysis; Principles
“The primary asset for any business is its organization” – William Feather. The question is: how do organizations work internally?
We take you on a company visit and let you experience the culture of a successful international organization: IKEA. Then it’s up to you to apply what you’ve seen and learned there in (in-class) discussions and presentations. Enhance your theoretical knowledge of the internal workings of international organizations through a case study on Ikea and (guest) lectures in the fields of HRM (Organization and People), Marketing and Sales, Operations (Logistics) and Finance and Accounting.
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Internal Organisation Analysis; Applied
Internal Organisation Analysis; Applied
You’ve studied the place organizations take in the international business world, you’ve studied the internal operations of Ikea in the principles module. You know all the ins and outs of project management. Take all that and in a project team identify and solve one of the issues Ikea is struggling with. Do (desk) research, conduct interviews, analyse and communicate your findings in an original way (build a website, shoot a video, or create a leaflet for example) and pitch them in class.
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English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
Your English skills will continue to grow through various types of exercises and a variety of topics. Did you need a little more focus on grammar in the previous block? Take another diagnostic test and see if you can advance to the regular or perhaps the advanced classes.
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
Hola, dos cervezas por favor. Ich bin ein Berliner. Je suis chaud. Hoe bereid je een paard?
Always wanted to able to ask for more than a beer in Salou? Want to avoid comparing yourself to a German pastry or not be embarrassed because you just told a client you’re hot (not related to the weather)? Want to avoid being accused of cooking your own horse?
Boost your labour market performance and increase your chances of getting the job you want by choosing Spanish, French, Russian or German as your foreign language. Through various written and oral exercises, you will improve your professional language proficiency.
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose from one of the following languages: French / German / Russian / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language.
In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you, either as your Foreign Language or as Elective .
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Elective
Elective
Always wanted to know How to Survive in Italy? Take a Masterclass Sales? Do you love to cook and want to know more about Food (Culture) and Marketing?
The University offers over 30 electives in English that cover a wide array of subjects (from arts and culture to anthropology and augmented reality and everything in between). Partake in 3 electives this year to boost your labour market performance, add depth to your studies, or just do something because it’s fun (after all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy).
Block 5
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Business Models; Principles
Business Models; Principles
“A business model describes the rationale of how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value” – Alexander Osterwalder
What does a company do, actually? Who are their main partners? Why should a customer pick their product over another? What value do they provide their customers? How do companies interact with their clients?
In this module both the external and internal elements of a real organisation come together. By using the Business Model Canvas, and answering the questions given above (and more) you will learn and experience how the various elements of a business model are linked and influence each other.
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Business Models; Applied
Business Models; Applied
Now it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. In previous modules you’ve learned all about internal and external factors influencing businesses and seen how it’s all connected with help of the Business Model Canvas. Now take all that you’ve learned and studied and together with your project team choose a company and apply the Business Model Canvas to their organisation.
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Leadership & Professional Development
Leadership & Professional Development
This module helps you develop your skills in personal management and continue building inter-personal communication and personal leadership skills. You start reflecting on what you’ve learned and achieved this first year of your studies and start building your personal development plan for your second year of study.
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English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
English (Remedial, Regular or Advanced)
Take your final exam and see how your hard work in the previous blocks paid off. You receive a score on the Global Scale of English (GSE) which you list on your c.v.
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose of one of the following languages: French / German / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language. In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you.
Always wanted to able to ask for more than a beer in Salou? Want to avoid comparing yourself to a German pastry or not be embarrassed because you just told a client you’re hot (not related to the weather)? Want to avoid being accused of cooking your own horse?
Boost your labour market performance and increase your chances of getting the job you want by choosing Spanish, French, Russian or German as your foreign language. Through various written and oral exercises, you will improve your professional language proficiency.
In case you are in the possession of a Dutch diploma, you can choose from one of the following languages: French / German / Russian / Spanish. It is not possible to choose your native language.
In case you are in the possession of a Non-Dutch diploma, Dutch is mandatory for you, either as your Foreign Language or as Elective.
Block 6
- Resit weeks
Block 1
- Leadership and Professional Development
- Venture Strategy
- Tools for International Business
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Foreign language
Foreign language
You continue studying your chosen language:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Dutch
- Russian
- English
- Elective
- International Project
Block 2
- Tools for Managing Organisations and People
- Organisation Analysis and Entry Strategy
- Leadership and Professional Development
- English
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
You continue studying your chosen language:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
- Dutch
- International Project
Block 3
- Cultures and Business
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
You continue studying your chosen language:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
- Dutch
Block 4
- Tools for Digital Business
- Implementation Plan
- Leadership and Professional Development
- English
- Elective
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Foreign Language
Foreign Language
You continue studying your chosen language:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
- Dutch
- International Project
Block 5
- International Project
- Leadership & Professional Development
- Business Models For Sustainable Future
- English
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Foreign language
Foreign language
You continue studying your chosen language:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
- Dutch
Block 1
- Placement (abroad)
Block 2
- Placement (abroad)
Block 3
- Placement (abroad)
Block 4
- Consultancy & Innovation
- Case Solving
- Business Skills and Leadership
Block 5
- Consultancy & Innovation
- Case Solving
- Business Skills & Leadership
Block 1
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Minor
Minor
The IBM programme offers the following Minors in 2018-2019:
- Digital Marketing
- Finance and Accounting
- International Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Circular Economy and Business Innovation
- Real Experience Borderless Entrepreneurial Learning
Block 2
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Minor
Minor
The programme offers the following Minors:
- Digital Marketing
- Finance and Accounting
- International Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Circular Economy and Business Innovation
- Real Experience Borderless Entrepreneurial Learning
Block 3
- Graduation placement/Thesis
- Study Career Coaching
Block 4
- Graduation placement/Thesis
- Study Career Coaching
Block 1
- Principles of Business Tools
- Applied Business Tools
- Professional Development
- Project Management and Collaboration 1
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture), part 1
Block 2
- Principles of Business Environment Analysis
- Applied Business Environment Analysis
- Professional Development
- Project Management and Collaboration
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture), part 2
Block 3
- Expert Track Management
- Professional Development
- Project Management and Collaboration
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture)
Block 4
- Principles of Business Models
- Applied Business Models
- Professional Development
- Project Management and Collaboration
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture), part 4
Block 5
- Principles of International Trade and Globalisation
- Applied International Trade and Globalisation
- Professional Development
- Project Management and Collaboration
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture), part 5
Block 1
- Corporate Strategy
- Consultancy & Innovation
- Professional Development
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture)
Block 2
- Innovation and Sustainability
- Consultancy and International Project
- Professional Development
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture)
Block 3
- Expert Track Management
- Professional Development
- Expert Track (Language, Society, History & Culture)
Block 4
- Placement
Block 1
- Minor
Block 2
- Minor
Block 3
- Graduation placement
- Study Career Coaching
Block 4
- Graduation placement
- Study Career Coaching
Type of education
Structure of the study programme- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
- Practice
- Knowledge
- Choice
- Coaching
After your graduation
Various possibilitiesAfter your graduation
After completion of your studies, you will receive your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. You will also receive a supplement: a DS-label. With this English document, you can show the value of your degree abroad when you apply for further study or when you look for a job.
If you participate in the honours programme, you will also receive an honours degree.
Career opportunities
International Business & Management graduates have a solid foundation in all elements of managing a business and are able to navigate between the various business areas of an organisation. In line with 21st-century skills, graduates are competent in intercultural leadership, critical thinking, and intercultural sensitivity, in executing international projects while working in groups, and conducting business research. Our graduates work in an international business environment in various industries on a general management level, or in business areas such as (digital) marketing, sales, financial services or logistics management.
Continue your studies
Many students start working after finishing their bachelor studies. However you may also choose to continue your studies at Master level. For example