Bachelor of Business Administration (International Business & Management Studies) - The Hague University

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If you’re looking for a degree in business studies - in the Netherlands or elsewhere – the choice is huge. Most will cover economics, finance, law, languages, marketing and management.

Multi-cultural 

But if your ambitions lie in the world arena, you need that extra international perspective. Our International Business and Management Studies (IBMS) course is different to the others, because we offer the curriculum - in English – to a multi-cultural group of students.

Nowhere else will you enjoy working with such a group of diverse nationalities? By studying and working abroad, you’ll get the real, hands-on experience you need for a rewarding career.

Study and work experience abroad

We believe in putting learning into practice. You’ll have the unique opportunity to study in a partner university abroad, and do work experience with an international company, as part of your programme.

Our projects and assignments reach further than the textbooks. You’ll delve into the work ethics of actual companies and get familiar with the real world of business during your studies here.

The International Business and Management Studies (IBMS) course stands out from other business programmes because of its international focus and hands-on work experience.

Structure

International Business and Management Studies (IBMS) is a four-year course. Each academic year is split into two semesters – the entire study programme is eight semesters long.

The academic year

Our academic year starts in September and ends in mid-July. We have a six-week summer holiday and two weeks off at Christmas. Each semester is also spilt into two half-terms, both six weeks long. There’s a week-long break between each half-term (in February/March, May and October).

Each half-term includes one test or assignment period. Exams take place twice a year.

Your Foundation Year

Your first two semesters make up your Foundation Year - a general introduction to the core business subjects.

In your Foundation Year, we’ll see if you’ve really got what it takes to complete the course. If you pass this year, you’ll be invited to continue your studies. As the first year is so important, unsuccessful students may have to leave the course. All foundation modules must be completed by the end of your second year in order to continue on the programme.

After your Foundation Year, you’ll study for another three semesters in The Hague.

Studying and working abroad

Then the travel begins. In the second semester of year three, you’ll get to go abroad and study at an international partner university.

The following semester, it’s time for real business. In Semester Seven you’ll do work experience with an international company.

The final steps

Fresh from your business experience abroad, it’s back to The Hague to finish your course. During this final semester, you’ll complete your modules. Now is also the time to specialise in your chosen area and complete an exciting consultancy project for a company or organisation – the Final Integrated Project.

Major-minor

You can specialise in one of two areas during the IBMS programme – Marketing and Finance, or Business Analysis. We call these your ‘major’ subjects.

Once you’ve chosen your major, you can enhance your degree by taking on extra ‘minor’ subjects.

Taking the right minor can help lay the foundations for further studies. At The Hague University, you can get your Master’s degree in just 12 months - or 15 months if you choose the part-time course.

The IBMS course is also ideal for budding accountants – you’ll gain the right knowledge to progress to your chartered accountant qualifications.

Content

During your IBMS programme you will encounter a whole range of business-related topics. The coursework covers five main areas:

Marketing

Learn how to develop and present products, while researching and analysing the potential market for them. Brush up on your mathematics, statistics and quantitative method skills as you go.

Finance and business analysis

Get experience of dealing with day-to-day business management issues. From attracting and investing capital, to tracking costs in a large corporation. Learn how organisations work, and how to manage people effectively.

Business environment

Look at the issues international businesses face. Subjects include macro and micro economics, International Law, International Economic Relations and the influence of the European Union.

Business communication

Your business ideas are more likely to gain support if you can communicate them clearly, and work with others to put them into practice. You’ll develop your business language skills as you study English and one other language.

Development and learning skills

Get to grips with time and study management - skills you’ll need in your future business career. The more you learn through our projects and courses, the more you’ll be able to decide on your career path.

Learning strategy

We want you to interact as much as possible during your IBMS course. We’ll engage you in a mix of classroom tuition, lectures, group activities and project work. But to get your degree, you will have to do more than sit in lectures taking notes – you’ll need to be an active learner. Hands-on assignments will gear you up to work with real companies.

Projects

Each semester, you’ll tackle one integrated project that focuses on marketing, business analysis and finance, or the business environment. All the tuition, project work and self-study in that semester will help you with your project. There are normally no more than twenty two class contact hours of lessons a week - but you should still expect to spend around forty hours a week studying.

International teamwork

Our individual and group assignments and projects will provide you with valuable professional skills - planning, information technology and presentation techniques. Multi-cultural teamwork will broaden your outlook. Lecturers will often assess your individual contribution to a group project.

How we study

During your studies, you’ll use all sorts of sources, from the Internet to real companies and businesses. We want you to be proactive. So not all of your work will be written – expect to give presentations or argue or defend a case in front of your lecturer. All this will give you the independence and initiative you’re going to need in your career.

Modules

The IBMS course is split into modules, to give you the flexibility to focus on areas that matter to you. Modules usually last a half-semester (six weeks), or full semester (12 weeks). All modules have minimum entry requirements.

There’s plenty of time for feedback - some modules factor in consultation hours so that you can meet with your lecturer and discuss your work in more detail.