Dutch Rankings
Top 3 best International Business Courses (applied)
Source: keuzegids (keuzegids.org) = Official Dutch Rankings: an independent comparison of all Dutch universities and degree courses. Method: expert reviews and an annual survey among all students (anonymous).
What do you study?
As the name suggests, international business focuses on the international business world. In your first year, you get a broad foundation with subjects like marketing, finance, management, economics, sales and statistics. You will also learn about cultural differences between countries and how they affect business and business communication. A good command of the English language is indispensable, which is why English is the language of instruction in all programmes. In addition, most programmes offer one or two extra languages, such as German, French or Spanish. Many programmes require, or at least strongly recommend, an internship or minor abroad in your third year.
Furthermore, there is a lot of focus on practice, you often work with real clients and at HZ University, for example, in the second year you set up your own student company with fellow students.
Differences between institutions Quite all Universities that offer applied programs have an IB course to offer. What are the differences? At some institutions, you can choose multiple languages, such as at Avans in Den Bosch (up to 5 languages). Most institutions offer, French, German, Spanish or Dutch. But at The Hague (THUAS) for example, you can also choose Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese.
Is language not your thing? At HZ, you can choose not to learn an additional language but to immerse yourself in the world of international business.
So ff you are interested in a specific language, check where you can choose it! Do you prefer not to add any language, HZ is the best choice for you.
After your first or second year, you specialise in a field. Common specialisations are finance, organisation and change, marketing and sales, language and culture and supply chain management.
At Saxion for example, you choose a specialisation with an emphasis on either:
- languages
- technology and innovation (unique!)
- entrepreneurship
- international trade.
Sustainable business Most programmes also focus on sustainable entrepreneurship in line with the sustainable development goals: you consider the consequences of international trade for people and the environment. Van Hall Larenstein, for example, offers an in-depth semester on sustainability in the third year. At The Hague, you can choose sustainable business but a minor on trade with rapidly emerging economies in Africa, Asia and Latin America is also offered. At Windesheim, you can get a double degree in cooperation with the University of Munich.
More information about International Business: