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How do international corporations, banks, UN bodies and multinationals make profits? How can an organization contribute to a truly global community? By taking the International Business (IB) degree you can make a difference to the world and earn a living. You’ll build strong foundations in economics, marketing, sales, finance and management. Lectures and workshops in the various modules will provide you with in-depth knowledge and experience working in a global team.

We call it business + impact. Break new ground in international business management in a classroom where fellow students and lecturers come from 40+ countries. Tap into our industry contacts who’ll prepare you to step into high-flying business management and consultant jobs as a ‘manager of change’. 

The IB programme will prepare you for a successful international business career. Anywhere in the world. You’ll build strong foundations in economics, marketing, sales, finance and management. Lectures and workshops in the various modules will provide you with in-depth knowledge and experience working in a global team. You’ll get to put knowledge into action during a semester-long internship at an international company. 

Admission requirements

Required qualification
Preliminary education     Required profile
Havo (senior general secondary education)
  • Culture & Society (Economics or Management & Organisation or Mathematics A or Mathematics B) 
  • Economics & Society 
  • Nature & Health 
  • Nature & Technology 
Vwo (pre-university education)
  • Culture & Society 
  • Economics & Society 
  • Nature & Health 
  • Nature & Technology 
Mbo (senior secondary vocational education and training) Level 4, middle management or specialised secondary education programme 

This programme also offers a 3-year track
If you have an academic background comparable to the Dutch VWO level, you might want to consider enrolling for the 3-year track of this degree programme instead. Check out this website.

You have a non-Dutch diploma

To enrol for the IB 4 year programme you will need a secondary school diploma comparable to a Dutch HAVO, VWO or MBO (level 4) diploma and a good command of English. Also, you need to have passed your exam in mathematics or economics or business studies. 
 
Before we can decide on your eligibility, we’ll need to assess your secondary school certificate.  
To make sure your certificate is evaluated fairly, we work with NUFFIC, an organisation that specialises in the assessment of international education qualifications. 

English and mathematics are strongly recommended for MBO students. The most suitable profile for either HAVO and VWO is E&S. 

Language requirements  
If you were not educated in the Netherlands you usually have to submit a language test to be admitted. Depending on the type and country of your diploma you may however qualify for exemption. Please check our entry requirements page for more information.

Decisions regarding your qualification for admission

There are no exceptions to the official admission requirements. The Enrolment Office is the only party that can make decisions regarding your qualification for admission based on official regulations. You can’t rely on any other sources of information for your qualification for admission. 

Degree programme in figures

60

credits per year

14-18

hours of lectures per week

10

hours of projects per week

10-12

hours of independent study per week

Programme content

What will you study each year?

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Working methods

Lectures, workshops, self-study, group activities and projects

During the program you not only gain knowledge; you also learn how to develop into a business professional. Initially you will mainly receive lectures and workshops, while later you will gain more work experience with for example an internship. You also carry out a project every semester; first in groups and later individually. 

Career perspective

What will you become?

  • Investment advisor

  • Junior financial analyst

  • Financial consultant

  • Client reporting specialist

  • Marketing manager

  • Junior associate

  • Assistant accountant

  • Corporate communications manager

  • Regional financial analyst

Continue studying

There’s no need to stop your studies after graduation. Thuas Pro offers a few post graduate courses that complement the IB curriculum, such as its Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Financial Management and Control and Master in International Communication Management

Specialization
We offer courses in accounting, but you’ll need a master in accounting after your bachelor to become a certified accountant. There are several options at other universities, both in and outside the Netherlands. 

Practical information

What else do you need to know?

How to apply

Your enrolment request must be submitted through Studielink. Before you do, please check the official name of the programme below. Would you like to find out more about the application process first? Check our page How to apply . The key deadlines are listed here as well. This degree programme starts in September and there is no intake in February. 

Tuition fee

You will have to pay tuition fees when you enrol on a bachelor's programme. You can pay in one or more instalments. If you pay in more than one instalment a small administration fee is charged. 

More information about tuition fees 

Scholarships 

Find out more about scholarships for international students. Please note that these scholarships are one-off scholarships only, meaning that if you obtain them it is only for your first year of study. 

Student finance 

Dutch students qualify for extra financial support via a loan. Dutch students automatically qualify for this financial assistance and international students may be eligible if they have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years or are employed for at least 56 hours per month. 

Additional Costs 

You must also budget for books, excursions and field trips. You can expect to pay approximately €800 per year to cover these additional costs. During your semester abroad, you will also need to pay for tickets, housing and insurance. 

Visa and residence permit 

More information about the visas and residence permits. 

Help in choosing your study

We would like to help you make the right decision 

It takes a bit of thought and research to find the right programme. The Hague University of Applied Sciences organizes various activities throughout the year to give you the best possible idea of the various studies offered. You also learn what it’s like to study at THUAS. This way, you can click on the registration button without a doubt in mind. Or you’ll know for certain it’s not right for you.   

Walk in at our Study & Career Centre for…  

Assistance during your studies

Mentoring, coaching and advice 
As an IB student you’ll be paired with a mentor to support your personal and professional development on and off campus. In year one, your mentor can act as a sounding board and help you settle in as you leave home and get used to an international classroom and the Dutch culture. Later on, mentors can support your academic growth, help you face any challenges and be on hand during semesters abroad and internships.
 
For more information about student counsellors/student psychologists, high-performance sports, Dutch language support or studying with a functional disability, go to our page about support during your studies. 

Official details of the programme

This degree programme is registered in Registration of Institutions and Programmes (RIO):

Official Dutch name of degree programme: International Business 
Official international name: International Business 
Programme code (Isat): 30029 
Institution code (Brin): 27UM  

Both the official Dutch and the official international name of the degree programme (current at the time of your graduation) will be printed on your diploma.

For more information on the accreditation of this degree programme, see the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) website.

Downloads
Binding Study Advice (BSA)

To continue your degree programme after the first year, you need to earn 50 of the 60 credits (EC or Credits). In some cases, the degree programme may also require that you pass a specific subject as European art of the credit requirements. We call this a qualitative requirement. If you meet the credit requirements as well as the qualitative requirement where applicable, you will receive a positive binding study advice (BSA) from the Examination Board at the end of your first year and you will be able to continue your degree programme. 

If you earn less than 50 credits or don’t meet the qualitative requirements where applicable, you will receive a negative binding study advice and will have to leave the degree programme. This is why this advice is called a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA).  

Your academic progress may be affected by personal circumstances such as illness or the professional practice of a sport. It is important that you inform the Examination Board immediately of any personal circumstances that might apply to you. The Board can take these into account when issuing its study advice. 

Read all the rules for the binding study advice in Chapter 7 of the Programme and Examination Regulations (PER) for your degree programme. 

Looking for a different degree programme?

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