International Business
Our International Business degree teaches you how to be an innovator, an intercultural business communicator and a value-oriented leader. Since every business faces complex challenges, you will tackle multidisciplinary challenges in this programme, as well as learn how to develop data-driven decisions to back up your strategies.
What and how you learn
Just like in the world of business, you decide what and how you learn (as from year two). Our programmes consist of practice-oriented blocks that are centred around one theme.
We teach you how to do applied research and how to develop a professional critical attitude. There is a coach to help with specific study skills, career planning and personal development.
Real companies, real issues
We think it is valuable for you to get out there in the business world as a student. Why wait until after your degree? Less research and more of a practical approach are our approved method of preparing students for the international business world.
It means that your assignments will deal with real issues in real companies. That is the unique approach of the Rotterdam Business School, compared to a more research-based university.
You will get to work on marketing plans and sales techniques. You will test out entry and organisational strategies. You will learn about accounting and assess the financial performances of companies. You will also create supply chain networks, using the latest digital tools.
Multiculturism & Languages
Languages are an important part of the education we offer and are one of the unique elements of our university. You will learn at least one foreign language. This will complement your studies and improve your knowledge and cultural understanding when operating across borders.
At RBS you can choose from French, German, Indonesian, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, Russian or Dutch. Besides the language itself, we also pay attention to cultural differences. Your path is all yours.
So, over the years you might travel to face-paced New York, laid back Cape Town or thrilling Tokyo for an exchange or internship.
With most economies of Asia booming, the Rotterdam Business School offers a unique track: Trade Expert Asia through the Commerce specialisation. If you choose this, you will learn one Asian language and specialise in doing marketing in Asia.
During your third year you will be in Asia for the minimum of six months for study or internship.
Develop hard & soft skills
Having success in international business is not only about knowledge. Skills are just as important: critical thinking, communication, innovation, and collaboration, to name a few.
That is why we have incorporated the so called 21st century skills in all your business classes.
Discover, practice, experience & become
From the first year onwards the three learning lines take centre stage: Business, Languages and Professional & Academic Skills. During this first year, you have the time to discover your specific interest by touching upon all the different subject areas of international business. In year two, you can start specialising to become the business pro that you want to be. We have four fitting specialisations for you to choose from. They cover the fields of marketing, trade and sales, supply chain management, organisations, and strategy.
Your Future
At the Rotterdam Business School, you will become a globally engaged, responsible business professional. As an International Business graduate, you are competent in intercultural leadership and critical thinking. You will be able to execute international projects, while working in groups and conducting business research. You are able to adapt to the fast-changing job market. After graduation, you will be ready to kick-start your international business career. As an IB professional in small and medium-sized companies you will often be the generalist with a wide range of duties, mostly in an international context. In larger, internationally operating companies or multinationals, you will generally have a more specialist role. Our graduates have proven to succeed in every type of business. They are successful founders, consultants, managers and innovators in both start-ups and multinationals.
Year 1
We will challenge you with case studies in marketing, innovation, logistics and finance to discover the essentials of smart international business. The first year has a strong emphasis on self-discovery. What are your strengths, weaknesses and what is going to be your specialisation? Cultural differences heavily influence the way people do business. That is why effective English business communication makes up an important part of the first year. You will also learn the basics of a foreign trade language (French, German, Russian, Indonesian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish). International students must learn Dutch either as their chosen language or as an elective. Since the Dutch have been very successful international traders for centuries now, that might just be a smart move. From the first year onwards the three learning lines take centre stage: Business, Languages and Professional & Academic Skills. During this first year, you have the time to discover your specific interest by touching upon all the different subject areas of international business. This will prepare you for choosing a specialisation in the second year. In your assignments the learning lines of Business and Professional & Academic Skills will be integrated wherever possible. Finally, in your first and second year you can choose elective modules that offer you the opportunity to look beyond your own study programme. It is also possible for you at the end of Year 1 to apply for a Board position within RISA (Rotterdam International Student Association), so there are many opportunities for you to develop yourself and work on your interests.
Year 2
Time to define what kind of professional you want to become. What is your focus going to be? Firstly, before we delve into your choice of specialisation, below you find a chart for the 4-year programme indicating the number of credits (ECTS) accredited to each year, and to each theme within the International Business programme. If you want further clarity of this structure, please feel free to contact the Centre of International Affairs recruitment team. Over the page you can find some usual videos which gives you further insight into the experiences at RBS. Next we will share with you some information about the indivudal specialisation choices.
Organisation & Change
Are you fascinated by the inner workings of a company and how to change them for the better? The specialisation, Organisation and Change will delve into the ins and outs of company management, from small to large organisations. You will learn how to critically think about the functionality of an organisation and look to implement change for the better. Throughout the programme you will delve into Innovation, HR & General Management to teach you how to map the interest of an organisation and translate those into strategic goals and plans.
Supply Chain Management
The introduction of companies such as Amazon and AliExpress has revolutionised how we look at time from production to consumption. These fascinating developments fall under our International Supply Chain Management specialisation. You will learn the ways of managing the flow of goods and services, from the raw material to the consumer goods you can find on the shelf in the supermarket. By looking at the best practices in transportation, urban distribution, warehousing, and port management you will gain an insight into the workings of effective and efficient supply chain management.
Commerce
To beat the competition, you will learn not only about sales, trade marketing and marketing strategy, but also about culture diversity within international companies. Languages are a big part of this specialisation, as they are a vital tool for you in international commerce. You will become experienced in dealing with social and cultural differences, which is needed for successful trade relations with business partners worldwide. You will learn how to develop and build up your network within the business world, how to develop an enterprising attitude and how to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. RBS offers languages courses in the most widely spoken European and Asian languages. In particular, RBS has developed a lot of young professionals that have become a bridge between Europe and Asia through studying one of three Asian languages (Japanese, Mandarin & Bahasa Indonesian). With the students spending an entire year learning about culture and language quite a lot of graduates find themselves going back to that side of the World.
Marketing
Are you interested in learning how products and services are marketed differently around the world? Fascinated by the way target audiences differ from place to place? Then our marketing specialisation is right up your street. You will learn how to create value for both the consumer and for society. Developing proper marketing strategies based on the target group and designing successful marketing communication programmes. Follow our mission and ‘exceed expectations’.
Year 3 & 4
In the third and fourth year of your studies you focus on growth and innovation. You will continue your education with at least one semester abroad. This could either be an internship at a company or an exchange programme at one of our partner universities around the world. The internship is mandatory, and international students have the choice of doing their internship within or outside of the Netherlands. If you select the commerce specialisation, your destination for your internship and/or exchange is dependent on your language selection. You will conclude your studies with your final assessments and a graduation assignment in which you will solve a real business problem with the proper research skills.
What are your plans after graduation? Studying at Rotterdam Business School I started to develop a deep passion for digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Thus, after graduation I‘d like to combine those two passions of mine and create something remarkable out of it. What did you enjoy the most about studying at RBS? Honestly, I enjoyed the whole journey. Experiences from international projects, internship in Asia and all the fascinating people I met along the way shaped me into a professional I am today. That is what I am most grateful for. What did you like less/ dislike? Lack of active societies. Although, lately some associations such as, Cryptocurrency club, Film club, Rotterdam International Student Association emerged. Thus, you cannot really say that there are no associations. What is the most important thing that you have learned while studying at RBS? Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Witnessing how rapidly Rotterdam Business School managed to adapt to the COVID-19 situation and still exceed students’ expectations taught me an important lesson on how to overcome and thrive in complex settings. Do you have any tips for future students? Although, it might sound cliché but GET OUT OF YOUR CONFORT ZONE! There are so many great experiences waiting for you if you manage to push your limits. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? “Life should be lived so vividly and so intensely that thoughts of another life, or of a longer life, are not necessary. " - Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (One of my favourite quotes)
Internship
You will put your training into practice during a six-month internship within an international company. This company could either be in the Netherlands or abroad and could either be a large multi-national or a medium sized enterprise. By choosing to do your internship in another country you will learn the ropes from the international business professionals in the country of your choice.
Minor or Exchange programme
The minor is a programme in which you focus on a theme relevant for your future career. This could for example be digital marketing, entrepreneurship, circular economy or one of the many other options. You will focus in-depth on one specific aspect of your profession or broaden your horizon through examining terrains bordering your own profession. In this way you can significantly improve your chances on the labour market after graduation. In the International Business programme, you can either choose to do your minor at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences or to spread your wings and take part in an exchange programme at one of our partner universities across the globe.
Graduation Assignment
You conclude your studies with a graduation assignment for which you combine all your training and practical experience. By using your practical research skills and coming up with innovative solutions you will help a company of your choice solve a real-life management matter. It is your chance to shine and show off your skills. Your graduation assignment could for example be a marketing entry strategy for Brazil with a special focus on digital channels, a plan for the logistics of a start-up in China or improving sustainability management of a company in Germany.