2011 – 2012

International
Business and
Management
This brochure contains information about the
bachelor programme. There are separate brochures
providing details about the master programmes.
Visit www.rug.nl/masters

CONTENTS

International Business and

Management in Groningen
1 Cross-border and cross-functional
1 Cross-cultural education
2 Facilities
2 About Groningen…

The content of the degree

programme
6 The Dutch education system
6 Propaedeutic phase
7 Post-propaedeutic phase
8 Master’s phase
11 Study abroad!

Student life
14 Introduction and student associations
14 Study progress supervision

After graduating
16 Another way to do it

Admission
18 Tuition fees

Information and enrolment

19 Information
20 Addresses

No rights whatsoever may be derived from the contents of this brochure.

Welcome to The Netherlands
Information for international prospective students

Situated in the north-west of Europe,

the Netherlands is the gateway to
Europe: one of the founding members
of the EU, high standards of
education, health care and social
equality, and close to most European
capitals.

University of Groningen
› 400 years of academic tradition and
innovation
› Leading research university
› Study in an international environment
› Dedicated to student involvement
programmes

Facts & Figures

› 27,947 students
› 3,100 international students
› 139 nationalities
› 9 faculties
› Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes
› 9 Graduate Schools
› 83 English-taught degree programmes
› 10 English-taught double degree
programmes
Admissions requirements Cost of living: relatively low

The latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that

Prospective students from outside living expenses in the Netherlands are modest compared
the Netherlands to cities like New York, Paris, London and Beijing. In fact,
Applications will be assessed on an it still enjoys one of the lowest costs-of-living in Europe.
individual basis. The admission procedure
includes evaluating your academic
credentials, this includes your pre-
university secondary school grades and Housing Language course
diploma(s), the number of math credits you € 260–450 / month € 100–450 / course
have earned and your English proficiency. (administration € 300 once)

Application Food Security deposit

For International Business and Management € 200 / month € 325 / year
(IB&M) you have to apply early because
of the numerus fixus. IB&M has a limited
number of places available. Details on the Money Bicycle
selection procedure for 2011–2012, the € 55 / month € 45–110 / used bike
numerus fixus and the deadlines can be
found at www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.
Insurance Total
Tuition Fee € 75–100 / month € 9,000–10,000 / year
› EEA-students € 1,672
› non-EEA students € 6,800

Books and other study materials should

come to no more than € 650 per year.

GRONINGEN
AMSTERDAM

www
› www.rug.nl/feb/prospectives
(for details about admission and tuition fees)
› www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus
(details on the selection procedure)
› www.feb-international.com
(student ambassadors)
› www.rug.nl/howtoapply
(application other students)
› www.rug.nl/insandouts
(practical information in English)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
The recent worldwide economic developments have caused quite some
controversy and confusion, but it has made one thing absolutely clear:
employers need graduates with the appropriate academic skills who can
think and act on a global scale.
What is the difference between doing business in India or in Germany?
How does a firm deal with the chances and challenges of inter-
nationalization? Setting up a factory abroad or expanding your market
to other countries is not an easy task. If you like business cases like these,
International Business and Management (IB&M) might be the right
choice for you. The IB&M programme is a profile within the Bachelor’s
degree in Business Administration (‘Bedrijfskunde’ in Dutch). The pro-
gramme focuses on dealing with economic, cultural, legal and political
issues in an international business situation. If you choose to study IB&M,
from day one you will be in an academic and distinctly international
environment. Everything will be in English, and you will develop
substantial academic skills that will help you start a career in diverse
work fields.
Cross-border and cross-functional
The Business Administration degree programme teaches to think criti-
cally at an academic level about organizations, organizational problems
and possible solutions. Graduates of Business Administration are jacks-
of-all-trades. During the programme you study business processes,
human behaviour in relation to work, marketing, information systems
management, law and economic aspects of the business world. You will
also develop a general understanding of management and organization.
Of course, IB&M focuses on the international context of this
The building of the faculty
management perspective. You will learn to understand local, regional,
national and international issues. Imagine a multinational that operates
under regulations and laws that differ from one location to another.
It will be your task to manage the linguistic barriers, foreign exchange
and political risk. It goes without saying that international business
requires a diverse set of skills.
Cross-cultural eduction
Many things influence our behaviour, and culture is one of the most
powerful of them. During the IB&M programme you will learn to be
sensitive to cultural differences, customs and social norms. You may find
that you need to make changes in your product or service in response to
differences in consumer tastes and expectations, in order to marketing
what you have to offer based on given social norms. Business practices
themselves are not free of sociocultural influences. You will learn to
adapt your management style and techniques, and change the way you
deal with your employees, investors, suppliers and distributors. All of
these topics are covered in the programme. You will also start learning
another language in addition to English and your own. You will
professionally be instructed by several members of academic staff from
outside the Netherlands and hear guest lecturers from abroad as well.
You will study and work on projects together with fellow students from
around the world. You will study for at least a semester at another
academic institution outside of the Netherlands.
A ‘DIFFERENCE’ PROGRAMME…
Studying multinational firms is an important part of the programme. They
are responsible for a big share of world production and trade, and also play
a big role in the international diffusion of technological and managerial
knowledge. Many multinationals are major employers. In some countries,
this means that they are powerful engines for social change, especially in
hiring and promoting underemployed women and minorities. Global NGOs
provide humanitarian aid in the short term and training for the future.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN

Students sometimes expect IB&M to be a managerial practice how-to About Groningen…

programme. This is not the case. Students do learn some techniques, but
more importantly they study business theories as well as organisations
and their settings. It is their intellectual understanding and their
sensitivity to differences in perceptions and approaches that equip them
to correctly analyse situations - when and where they arise - and to
determine effective responses across their entire careers. These are the
focus of IB&M.
The city of Groningen is a great place to live! It is fun and vibrant and as
roughly one out of every six residents is a student, you will feel right at
home. Groningen is large enough and has enough variety to be
interesting and enjoyable, but small enough to mean that you’ll be able
to conveniently get around by bike. You will soon find out that the
cultural activities, nightlife, sports facilities and recreational
opportunities are excellent!

Facilities
Surroundings are important. Our buildings are modern, comfortable
and well equipped. The central library of the university has a core
collection for each discipline. We also have our own library with an
extensive – and always growing – economics and business collection,
plenty of study spaces, meeting rooms, and a plaza café for short breaks.
There is free wireless internet access throughout the complex so you can
go on the Internet, read and send email, and check for updates on the
student intranet (‘nestor’) wich links to just about all programme-
relevant information.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm (more about the course of study)
› www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (information for Dutch prospective students)
› www.feb-international.com (student ambassadors at Groningen)
› www.rug.nl/feb/streetview
› www.rug.nl/honours (Honours College University of Groningen)

Is this the programme for you? IB&M is challenging and fast-paced. You need to start with good study skills, a good command
of English, and a firm grasp of mathematics and economics. To have a successful career in international business, you will need to be receptive
to different ideas, and be willing to challenge some of your own.

Roshni van Zeijst (18)

first year student in International Business and Management

‘At first I didn’t know what I wanted to study, but I soon realized I’ve always had a
feeling for business. It runs in the family: my father and brother are both working in
the business world. This is why I ended up choosing International Business and
Management.
I believe it is a very rich programme because it covers basically every aspect of the field
of business, including law and economics. As the name already suggests, it is a very
internationally oriented programme. This is something I particularly like, as I hope

Study to see more of the world one day. The academic year is divided into four blocks, during
which you follow four separate courses at the same time.
Beforehand, I expected the courses to be more integrated with each other. However,

something I noticed a lot of repetition of theory at some points throughout the year. Still, I really
like the programme as it is, and the only thing that I would advise future students to

you like!
do is to study something you like!’


 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN

Think about it…

Starting up a branch office in New York is not the same as setting up a
factory in New Delhi. What IB&M does, is help you to acquire the knowledge
and analytical skills you will need to confidently handle business
possibilities and challenges, whatever and wherever they might be.
The programme also gives you many opportunities to increase your
cultural IQ. Where better to do that than at a university in the centre
of Europe?
 UNIVERSITY OF
GRONINGEN
27,947 students altogether
778 Bachelor’s students in
International Business and
Management
5,971 first year students
altogether
315 first year students in
International Business and
Management
3,100 international students
from outside the Netherlands
5,500 employees
571 professors
58 Bachelor’s programmes
114 Master’s programmes
9 faculties
190 buildings
400,000 square meters of
facilities
525 million euro annual budget

EXCELLENCE ALLOWED!
Gifted and motivated students
are given the opportunity to make
the most of their talents via the
University of Groningen Honours
College. Completing this challen-
ging programme will result in
an additional Honours diploma.
Students follow special Honours
workshops and other deepening
courses alongside their usual
Bachelor’s degree courses. They
also organize guest lectures and
company visits. Students also
follow a number of broadening
courses and training programmes
with Honours students from other
faculties. There is a selection
procedure. More information:
www.rug.nl/feb/excellenceallowed


 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN

Prof. dr. Luchien Karsten (62)

Professor in International Business and Management

‘We describe our programme as cross-border, cross-cultural and cross-functional. That

means that when we think business, we think globally - physically, socioculturally, and
pedagogically. That way of thinking is reflected in my own career. I have felt at home in
universities in Burkino Faso, England, France, Indonesia, Russia, and Scotland, and
have worked closely on research and development projects with colleagues from across
Africa, Asia and Europe. My degrees are in economics and philosophy, my teaching in
business, management, and history, and my research published in Dutch and English in
Get management and sociology academic journals.
We are doing all that we can to help students learn to think globally too. We send them

students ready around the world to study and intern, immerse them in cultural diversity, and provide
them with training across academic disciplines. Many firms today implement cross-
functional teams that manage business processes across the traditional boundaries of

for a place on functional areas. What we do is get students ready for a place on the team.’

the team


THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

The Bachelor’s degree programme in International Business and

Management consists of two phases: the propaedeutic phase (first year)
and the post-propaedeutic phase (second and third years).

The Dutch education system
An academic year has two semesters of 21 weeks each, September to
February and February to July. Teaching is done with lectures, tutorials
and practicals. It is important that students prepare ahead for lectures
as all of the material cannot be covered in the time allotted for them
alone. Lecturers focus on main points and on particularly difficult
aspects of the assigned literature. Material is explained in more detail
in smaller classes and tutorials. Students also discuss the readings and
lectures and go over individual assignments and joint work in the
tutorials. Practicals give students an opportunity to work together in still
smaller groups on assignments and presentations. Usually there is at
least one written exam as they are a way to gage progress. Course
grades normally are calculated based on exam results and grades earned
on assignments.
We use the European credit and transfer system (ECTS) which expresses
course workloads and learning outcomes in terms of credits. Generally
speaking, one credit represents 28 hours of time spent reading and
studying, attending classes, participating in small groups, working on
individual and team projects and the like. As students are required to
devote more time to some courses, the number of credits per course
varies, for instance five credits for one course and ten for another.
It takes 180 credits to earn a Bachelor’s degree.
Propaedeutic phase
All IB&M students participate in the same courses the first year of the pro-
gramme. These cover the fundamental disciplines of international busi-
ness, the history of management, international management, economics,
financial accounting, as well as international marketing and

To merge or not to merge?

At the beginning of June 1995 everything looked good for the merger of Upjohn, a pharmaceutical
company headquarted in the US, and Pharmacia AB, a Swedish firm with Italian operations.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan, based integration team was already busy scheduling three-way meetings
for the coming two months. But there was a hitch: While Americans get two weeks of vacation
annually, and take them when it best suits the needs of the company, Swedes spend the whole month
of July at their lakeside cottage, and Italians traditionally take off all of August. The US team had to go
back to square one, putting most things off until September.


 THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

international business law. You will also build a solid base in statistics.
The first year features extensive training in how to read and write
academic English. Some of the courses in year one are detailed below.
Introduction to International Business
This course is an overall introduction to the International Business and
Management Bachelor’s programme. It shows how, in spite of advances
in trade and investment, countries still differ in cultural, economical, and
political environments. It analyses internationalisation strategies and
modes of entry into foreign markets, as well as international production,
marketing, financial, and human resource management strategies.
International Marketing
International Marketing is the study of how firms develop new products
or adapt existing ones to meet the needs of customers beyond their
own country, how they price and promote such products, and how they
handle their distribution.
All of these first year courses will form your toolkit. Research Methods
will help you make the most of it in carrying out research. Finally, your
training in English is crucial if you want to operate internationally. You
may read more about all of these courses in the online course catalogue
Ocasys.

International Management
In this course you will focus on how people behave in organisations,
particularly what motivates them, how they perceive and interpret the
behaviour of others and communicate with them, how they handle
conflicts, and how they exert or resist leadership.
International Business Law
Firms that do business internationally often have to contend with
complicated legal issues. A basic knowledge of international business
law is therefore essential.
At the end of the first year you will be issued with a binding study advice.
We presume that you will obtain all your credits. If you have not yet
earned forty of the sixty credit points, you will have to stop your studies.
You must also complete the first-year programme within two years.
Post-propaedeutic phase
In the second and third years of the programme you will build on the
propaedeutic coursework and deepen your knowledge. You will take
further courses in international management, financial management
and management accounting, international economics, international

Eat, drink and be global

The Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Thomas Friedman writes in his book The World is Flat that new
communication and transportation technologies have drastically reduced international differences.
Many see Friedman’s book as an update on the relentless advance of globalisation. Yet, a cursory look
at European statistics shows profound and enduring differences even in what we eat and drink.
In 2008 the per capita consumption of wine in Luxemburg was 61 litres per year, more than three
times that of the Netherlands.


THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen in China

The course Management of International Business Organizations (MIBO) calls for formulating a
research question, finding secondary data resources, and operationalising the constructs. One recent
MIBO project was an investigation of how Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen tried to enter the Chinese
market. Which strategy did they choose? Where did they locate their plants? Which cultural
differences had to be resolved? You will answer questions like these in your MIBO research project.

business law, research methods and statistics, and also take French or
Spanish. You will do a lot of reading and independent studying. You will
go to classes and the lectures of guest speakers, participate in small dis-
cussion groups, work on team projects, attend workshops and seminars,
and take short study trips.
Study outside the Netherlands
Once you have met the requirements of the first part of the programme,
ideally by the end of the second year, you will spend a semester abroad at
one of our many partner universities in Europe, Latin America, Australia,
North America, or Asia. This is a major opportunity to further develop
your cross-cultural and language skills and you will be able to take
courses in which your host institution has a particular expertise.
IB&M students have to hit the ground running! With an obligatory
semester abroad, students have just five short semesters to do a lot of
work. If they fall too far behind in the beginning, they will not be able
to meet the strict mid-programme requirements that must be fulfilled
before they can go abroad. Not meeting that first big deadline means
postponing the semester outside the Netherlands until the second
half of the third year, and that means returning to complete the final
semester the next September. This means some students will have to
wait another seven months before starting a Master’s programme.
So be warned!
The final stage of the Bachelor’s programme is the writing of a thesis.
That thesis will test your ability to apply all the material you have
mastered and the research and writing skills that you have acquired
throughout the programme to a particular research question.
Master’s phase
After earning your Bachelor’s degree you may decide to go directly onto
the job market. However acquiring additional knowledge and further
improving your research skills may give you many more career
opportunities. The MSc in International Business and Management is a
one year programme focusing on the management of multinational
enterprises. In the second semester of that year you will write a
Master’s thesis which can be combined with an internship. The MSc in
International Business and Management has two specializations
besides the regular Master’s programme. The specialization International
Financial Management focuses on the financial management of
multinational enterprises. For this programme you will spend one
semester at Uppsala University in Sweden and one in Groningen.
The other specialization is the Dual Award in Advanced International
Business Management and Marketing in cooperation with the University
of Newcastle in the UK. You will study one semester in Groningen, one
in Newcastle and write your thesis in either Groningen or Newcastle.


A solid
footing in
management
Diana Tircomnicu (21) Bachelor’s student in International Business and Management

‘I’m from Romania. The flight from Bucharest to Amsterdam takes less than three hours, yet for a long time the rest of Europe was a
world apart - not anymore! There are definitely still differences though, and the approach to advanced studies is one of them. At the
University of Groningen as students progress they have more autonomy, a real say in what they study. This means that when I’m
finished I’ll have exactly the kind of solid footing in management that I came here to get.
I remember back when I applied feeling that I was making a very brave leap. In fact, it turns out not to have been so hard, in part
because I’ve had plenty of help. Now I’m involved in the student ambassadors project. We try to help others decide if this is the place
for them, and if they do come here, to make the most of their experience.
I was just a toddler when the transformation in Romania began in 1989. I’m at Groningen because the way I see it, what happens next,
not only in my country but also around the globe, depends on my generation.’

› Diana tells more about her Bachelor’s project in a video on www.rug.nl/video/ba-ibm


THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

BACHELOR’S PROGRAMME International Business and Management

FIRST YEAR (propaedeutic phase) SECOND AND THIRD YEAR

English Financial Management Elective:

Introduction International Business Information Systems Management
History of Management International Economics and Trade
International Management International Business Law
Financial Accounting Organisational Change
International Business Law Comparative Country Studies
International Marketing Management Accounting & Information
Statistics Management
Economics Strategic Management
Research Methods Statistics
Spanish or French
Emerging Markets
International Business Negotiations
International HRM
Business Ethics & Corporate Social
Study abroad (one semester third year)
International Strategic Management
International Financial Management
Managing International Business
Organizations
Bachelor’s Thesis

What’s the difficulty? The programme is entirely in English. Some students feel quite at ease speaking English, but find that it takes them
considerably more time to read and write English than their own language. Usually, the more they work in English, the better and faster they become.
Students who do not have sufficiently strong backgrounds in mathematics and in economics are likely to find Financial Accounting and International
Economics and Trade especially challenging. We are aware of the potential stumbling blocks and provide supervision and support. It is important that
students seek help when they need it.

ACCESSIBLE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMMES

› Business Administration, 9 specialisations:
Business and ICT
Business Development
Change Management
Finance
Marketing
Operations and Supply Chains
Organisational and Management Control
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Strategy and Innovation
› International Business and Management, 2 specialisations
International Financial Management (18 months)
Advanced International Business Management and Marketing (17 months)
› Research Master Economics and Business (24 months)
› Teacher Training in Economics and Business (24 months)*

* Two degrees are conferred, a Masters in your area of concentration and another in
Education and Communication of Economics and Business Studies

10

STUDY ABROAD!
There are roughly a thousand Groningen students taking
classes, doing senior projects and working in internship
positions outside of the Netherlands each year. If you choose
this programme you will be required to spend one semester of
the third year abroad. We believe that these are valuable
educational and life experiences, and actively facilitate
them. You can apply to spend a semester at one of dozens of
Groningen’s partner universities, choose from other
institutions with which we have established relationships or
find a place abroad yourself. It is important that you begin
planning your semester abroad well in advance. The Exchange
Office can give you valuable information about the many
programmes and grants that are available, let you know about
THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
practical matters such as visas, and put you in touch with
students and academic staff from outside the Netherlands
who are at Groningen and who may be able to help you. The
exchange coordinator will be able to inform you about
earning transferable credits while you are studying away from
Groningen.
Not only do we want our students to experience studying and
living outside the Netherlands, but we also open our own
doors. You are sure to meet one of the 3100 students from
other countries who come here annually to study, hear one of
the many guest speakers from outside the Netherlands or be
taught by academic staff members from abroad.
11
THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

A guide to successful investment

Your Bachelor’s thesis will give you a chance to demonstrate your ability to think at an advanced
academic level. For example, one student carried out research at a Dutch company that wanted to
help Dutch entrepreneurs do business in emerging countries. That company also considered the
possibility of helping firms from emerging countries to invest in Europe. The student identified under
which conditions such investments can be successful, and came up with useful guidelines to avoid
potential problems.

12
 THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

Other MSc Programmes

The University of Groningen offers several other Master’s programmes,
including the MSc in Human Resource Management, a two-year Research
Master’s programme in Economics and Business that will prepare you for
a career in academia and the MSc in Business Administration with nine
specialisations.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm
› www.rug.nl/feb/programmes (overview of courses)
› www.rug.nl/feb/msc (Master’s degree programmes)
CAREER OFFICE: CAREER ACTIVITIES
AND INTERNSHIPS
Making the transition from student to professional is a challenge that
starts as soon as you start to study. During your degree programme
you will have several opportunities to prepare, like doing an internship,
attending congresses and career activities, or going abroad. The Faculty
of Economics and Business Career Office helps you to exploit these
opportunities. It has an overview of internship offers and provides
information about internships, career activities and the labour market. You
have access to a network of interns who share their experiences through
interactive blogs, and the career calendar is an overview of
current career activities for students. More information:
www.rug.nl/feb/career

What’s in a name?
The taste of a Coca-Cola in the Netherlands is not the same as it is in Nigeria. Firms know that tastes
are not universal. Sometimes it is the domestic brand name of a product that does not translate well.
For example, it is doubtful that English speakers would want to guzzle Japan’s most popular sports
drink, Pocari Sweat, or the French soft drink Pschitt. Would you choose White Elephant batteries, buy
Darky toothpaste, or feel comfortable putting your savings into South Korea’s Wooribank?

13
STUDENT LIFE

Your life as a student in Groningen will start with the general

introduction week for all first-year students at the University
of Groningen (KEI-week).

Introduction and student associations
The KEI-week is the perfect way to get to know the city and learn about
all the cultural and sports activities for students in Groningen. At the
end of August all incoming students can attend the introduction of the
Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB). Here, new students learn
everything they need to know about studying at FEB. You can also attend
the introduction camp of the Economics and Business student Faculty
Association (EBF). One of the things that students will find out about is
EBF itself, an organisation open to all students in the faculty that
organises conferences and symposia, arranges company visits and study
trips, and sponsors many other activities. International Business and
Management students will be especially interested in associations like
AIESEC and MARUG.
Study progress supervision
Unlike at secondary school, at university you are not supervised so
closely. We expect you to work independently and plan your studies.
However, we will of course help you to do so. Together with other first-
year students, you will be assigned to a mentor group with a mentor. This
senior student will help you quickly find your way around the Faculty.
There are about 15 students in a mentor group. These are also the
students you will share tutorials with. This small-group approach results
in a lot of contact between students and between students and lecturers.
You will have a progress meeting with your tutor (lecturer-supervisor)
after every exam block. If you have specific studying problems, for
example with exams, funding or study delay, you can call on the Faculty’s
study advisors. If you have questions about studying in general, you can
go to the University Student Desk.
www
› www.ebfgroningen.nl, www.marug.nl, www.aiesec.nl (student associations)
› www.keiweek.nl (introduction)
› www.groningenlife.nl (student life)
› www.lefier.nl, www.kamernet.nl (finding rooms)

GRONINGEN, YOUR
STUDENT CITY
187,295 inhabitants
52,000 students
33,700 or so student residences
54 student sport associations
36 pizza shops
199 bars
8 discotheques
2,743 café terrace seats
7 laundries
94 employment agencies
24 music stores
65 driving schools
31 bicycle repair shops
3,345 student weblogs
1 Best City Centre in the
Netherlands 2006

14
Many
opportunities
to join an
organisation
Valdis Salaks (20) Third year student in International Business and Management
‘Groningen offers many activities in addition to studying. You will have many opportunities to join an organisation with people you’ll
really enjoy being with. For instance, if you want to be in the best physical shape in your life, look into ACLO, a sports organisation
that offers a variety of sports activities in which you can participate.
At home in Latvia and while I was in high school in the US I played basketball. That’s why in my first year here I joined basketball club
Moestasj. I was on a team with Dutch and international students, Bachelor’s and Master’s students, PhD-students and some were
alumni. Playing B-ball with people with such different backgrounds and age broadened my own student experience.
I advise everyone to do the same. Join a club. Become a member and be part of the culture. And because practices are in the evening, it
should not interfere with your studies. I’m on schedule so far. It’s a three year programme and I am planning to graduate in three years.
Finally, I can say that finding a nice apartment sometimes can be difficult, but through my Moestasj connections I got one really fast.’

15
AFTER GRADUATING

IB&M can be the starting point for a satisfying career in international

management. It is possible to go directly onto the job market with a
Bachelor’s degree. However, earning a Master’s degree significantly
increases your career options and allows you to eventually reach
higher levels in management.

A Master’s in International Business and Management will give you the
credentials to work for a multinational firm, and any number of
governmental institutions and international organisations. If you were
to choose the Research Master’s you could move into academia, perhaps
decide to go further and earn a PhD. Plenty of multinationals will be
interested in students with an academic degree in business. For instance
companies like Microsoft, Siemens, Capgemini, Toyota, Samsung, Ahold,
Heineken, Unilever, Ikea, Zara, H&M and Virgin all need internationally
trained employees. Your position within these kind of organisations can
vary from export manager or international marketer, to international
sales manager, product manager or human resource manager. But
numerous other career opportunities will lie ahead of you. This of course
depends on the choices you make during and after studying. Many
organisations also offer traineeships and junior positions which will
introduce you to the different types of activities.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/alumni (graduates site)
› www.rug.nl/feb/SOM (research school)

Another way to do it…

Lutz Bönisch Liesbeth Björn van

started a 2-year Bloemendal Coeverden
trainee programme works as a currently works at
with the insurance controller for Microsoft Netherlands.
company Allianz in Parker Hannafin, an During his study
Germany. His focus is American multi- period he spent a
on serving customers national that just semester in Sweden,
as a field service acquired a company took an extensive
representative. Lutz with operations in language course in
was recruited into his Austria and Germany. Spain, and also
new job out of an internship with the same She is heading up the team handling the worked in Peru. His final thesis was on the
company. Prior to his studies, Lutz did an accounting and financial aspects of the strategic and operational implications of a
apprenticeship in banking. acquisition implementation. firm going international. All of these
ingredients helped him to get his job at
Microsoft.

16
 AFTER GRADUATING

Doris Fahle (26)

It turned Working graduate at Deloitte

‘I’m from Germany and have studied there, in Austria and in the Netherlands. Along the

out to way I had traineeships in Germany, Portugal, Morocco and Spain, and developed an interest
in renewable energy.
I first made contact with Deloitte, where I now work, at an energy conference. I was

be good fortunate to be able to combine a five-month internship at Deloitte with writing my thesis
on renewable energy projects. There are advances all the time in ways to improve efficiency
and reduce CO2 emissions. It’s fun to be a part – however small – in a wave of the future.

training When I was getting my Master’s degree, each new module I took called for gathering,
absorbing and applying information. That turned out to be good training. Now when I’m
assigned a project I don’t have a lot of time for preparation. The faster I can take in what
I need to know and apply it, the more successful I am in my job.’

17
ADMISSION *)

VWO HBO X
VWO/HBO

WITH A DUTCH VWO DIPLOMA
Candidates with the profiles Economics &
Society, Nature & Health or Nature &
Technology can immediately enter the
Bachelor’s programme. The profile Culture
& Society must be complemented with
mathematics A or B.
WITH A DUTCH HBO DIPLOMA
With a HBO propaedeutic certificate it is
also possible to enter the programme,
on the condition that you meet the required
level of mathematics. You must at least
have taken mathematics A12 or B1 (now
mathematics A or B) at Dutch VWO level.
NO DUTCH VWO OR HBO DIPLOMA?
If you do not have a Dutch VWO or HBO
diploma but are 21 or older, you may
take the university admission exam, the
‘colloquium doctum’, for a fee of € 100,–.
If you pass, you will be admitted to the
Bachelor’s degree programme.

www Tuition fees for Dutch students

› www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (Dutch)
› www.rug.studielink.nl (application Dutch students)
› www.rug.nl/hoezithet (practical information
Dutch students)
› www.duo.nl (financial assistance Dutch students)
2 There are no costs in addition to the tuition fees, € 1,672 for the
2010–2011 academic year. Books and other study materials should
come to no more than € 650 per year.

NUMERUS FIXUS
The bachelor Business Administration (in Dutch) and its English taught
profile International Business & Management has a limited number of
places available. Details on the selection procedure for 2011-2012, the
numerus fixus and the deadlines can be found at:
www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.

LEVEL OF REQUIRED MATHEMATICS

The website www.rug.nl/feb/mathtest will provide you with information,
exercises, suggestions for reading and sample tests on the faculty’s
required mathematics level. The faculty offers a Mathematics Entrance
Examination twice a year for students with a Maths deficiency. The exams
are only open to students already living in the Netherlands.

* ) Information for Dutch applicants.

Admissions information for international applicants can
be found in the inside cover of this brochure.

18
INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT
Would you like to have more information about this programme or
others? We invite you to visit one of our information events.
Information Day
Friday, 5 November 2010; registering in time is compulsory
› All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M
› In and around the Academy building, city centre Groningen
› Each programme gives a short presentation
› Talks on housing, student life, etc.
› Student Activity Fair
Open Day on Location
Friday, 4 March 2011; registering in time is compulsory
› All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M
› Visit programmes on location
› Learn about one or two programmes
› Lecture, representative class, tour of the facilities, information booths
Last Minute Information Day
Friday, 10 June 2011
› Morning programme in the Academy building
› Workshops on how to chose the programme that fits you best,
information booth
› Afternoon programme: current students and faculty members will be
available to answer questions
Student for a Day
On Thursday 9 December 2010 and Thursday 7 April 2011;
registering in time is compulsory
› For prospective students who have almost made up their minds
› Intensive programme at one degree programme
› The programme depends on the degree programme: lecture, tutorial,
practical, dinner in the city
› Many other degree programmes organize a ‘student for a day’
programme, but not all degree programmes
› Register with the degree programme itself, via www.rug.nl/feb/eds
More information is available at www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, or from the
Communication Office at (31) (050) 363 9011.
Enrolment
Dutch nationals may enrol directly at rug.studielink.nl. Apply for
‘Bedrijfskunde’ (Business Administration, profile IB&M). Studielink is an
online service for higher education in the Netherlands, including
information on financial assistance. Applicants from outside the
Netherlands may enrol at www.rug.nl/howtoapply.
19
INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT

Friday, 5 November 2010 For questions about enrolment, financial International Business and Management on
Information day matters, etc. the Internet
University Student Desk www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm
From November 2010 +31 (0)50 363 80 04
Dutch student enrolment at www.rug.nl/hoezithet Enrolment Dutch students
www.rug.studielink.nl. www.rug.nl/insandouts via rug.studielink.nl
Students from outside the Netherlands Helpdesk Studielink
enrolment at www.rug.nl/howtoapply For questions about on-site events +31 (0)88 424 76 00
Apply for ‘Bedrijfskunde/Business Communication Office
Administration, profile IB&M’ +31 (0)50 363 90 11 Enrolment international students
studiekiezers@rug.nl via www.rug.nl/howtoapply
For application deadlines for IB&M please go www.rug.nl/studiekiezers
to www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus. Information about Numerus Fixus
For questions about the programme www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus
Thursday, 9 December 2010 Faculty of Economics and Business
Student for a Day Student Support
+31 (0)50 363 89 00
Friday, 4 March 2011 www.rug.nl/feb/studentsupport
Open Day on Location

Thursday, 7 April 2011
Student for a Day

15 April 2011
Deadline for international applicants

15 May 2011
Deadline for Dutch applicants

Friday, 10 June 2011

Last Minute Information Day

August 2011
General Orientation Week (KEI-week),
Presentations by representatives of student
associations and tours of the Faculties

Monday, 5 September 2011

Official start of the academic year

20
FOR MORE INFORMATION
In addition to this brochure there are two others that may be of
interest to you: Studeren in Groningen (available only in Dutch) gives
information about all of the Bachelor’s programmes, and International
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (in English) which provides information
only on the Bachelor’s programmes that are entirely in English.
In addition to comprehensive information about individual programmes
at the University of Groningen, both of these brochures provide
information about admission, application, registration, accommodation,
student life, facilities for the disabled, language courses for students
from minority groups, opportunities after graduation and more.

You can order Studeren in Groningen by visiting

www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, and International Bachelor’s Degree
Programmes by www.rug.nl/propectivestudents.

21
 www.rug.nl/studiekiezers

www.rug.nl/internationalstudents

September 2010
86 Colophon Publication Communication Office, University of Groningen Text Gracefully Put Lay-out In Ontwerp Photos Johan Zwart, Elmer Spaargaren, Peter Lowie