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You will become an expert in doing business in a cross-cultural setting and learn how companies can grow internationally. International Business is taught in English.

A Dutch company produces cereals for people with food allergies and exports its products to various countries in Europe. Unfortunately, its market share in Eastern Europe is not growing as planned. As the company's international market intelligence officer, you analyse the current market, the cereal industry and the economic environment to identify factors that could be limiting its growth.

You are open-minded, independent, self-motivated and adventurous. You take an interest in international businesses, how they are organised and how they can improve. Your work makes an impact and also respects people and planet. Discerning and creative, you are a born communicator. And you embrace challenges and enjoy working in an international team.

During the bachelor International Business you will acquire broad knowledge of international management, marketing, organisations, finance and sustainability. And you will develop relevant professional skills, such as intercultural teamwork, leadership, languages and business communication. You will work on real case studies involving real companies.

You will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (BBA).

Follow this study programme in Breda
Follow this study programme in 's-Hertogenbosch
Discover this programme

Programme features

You work on assignments for real companies
You learn several foreign languages
You go abroad at least 2 times for an internship, minor or graduation
All our teachers have international work experience

More about this study programme

What will you be trained to do

Your job

What can you become with your bachelor International Business? The world of international business offers many opportunities, both in the Netherlands and abroad. These can be at multinational corporations with subsidiaries in the Netherlands, or with family-owned, mid-sized companies with ambitious goals in developing their international sales. Governmental institutions that promote trade or development, regional development agencies or large cities also offer opportunities for young international business professionals.

Depending on your talents and which areas you choose to specialise in during your studies, you may go on to a career in the fields of Sales and Marketing, Organisation management, Finance or Operations and Supply Chain Management. You could join an existing company or start a business of your own.

When recruiting, international companies often prefer candidates with experience abroad. Your solid foundation in International Business, combined with the experience that you will acquire abroad during your studies, will help you to stand out as a candidate.

Potential careers after the programme

Brand Manager

Brand managers develop strategies that determine how people perceive the brand. This can involve advertising, design and events. Brand managers are also responsible for making sure that branding is consistent across advertising and campaigns.

Market Researcher

A market researcher is responsible for collecting and analysing data to make informed political, social and economic decisions.

Buyer

Buyers are responsible for planning, selecting and purchasing merchandise for retail establishments. Their work includes researching the market, competitor analysis, product evaluations and testing, monitoring purchase orders and producing reports for the management team.

Business Development Manager

A business development manager helps to grow a business by finding new opportunities, researching leads, establishing relationships with potential clients and arranging appointments for sales executives.

International Trade Officer

An international trade officer coordinates credit and financial activities and obtains payments for import/export operations. They act as advisors regarding tariffs, markets, and federal and foreign regulations.

Export Manager

An export manager plans and coordinates the shipment of goods across international borders.

Country Manager

A country manager oversees operations in a specific country or region of the world, developing the business and increasing profitability for a company.

What is expected of you

You take an interest in international businesses, how they are organised and how they can improve. You like to set your own learning goals. You are open-minded, independent, self-motivated and adventurous. Your work makes an impact and also respects people and planet. Discerning and creative, you are a born communicator. And you embrace challenges and enjoy working in an international team. If you recognise yourself in this, then the International Business study programme is something for you.

Differences between the two locations

In Den Bosch you can create your own learning path by choosing specialisation profiles. The programme is fully project-based and you will have the opportunity to build your own professional profile. The lecturers act as coaches who will guide you in your learning development. You will focus on marketing, (intercultural) communication and sales. Assessments are integrated in projects.

In Breda you focus on international trade, supply chain design and marketing. The structure of the programme is predetermined. You attend classes and apply the knowledge in group projects. The international community is large with over 40 nationalities.

Follow-up education

After your bachelor International Business you can choose to complete a Master's degree at a Dutch research university or a university abroad: International Management, Master of Science in Management, Marketing Management, Financial Management, Logistics or Supply Chain Management. Or you can take a post-graduate MBA programme.

For Den Bosch, you could also consider the Master's in International Business at Tilburg University. This enables you to complete the pre-Master's programme as a min

Stories about the programme

Philip-Peter Dietz

Living and studying abroad turned out to be such an enriching experience.

Read more

Work placement in Valencia

Living with a Spanish family was a great experience for me.

Read more

Programme structure International Business

In Den Bosch you can create your own learning path by choosing specialisation profiles. The programme is fully project-based and you will have the opportunity to build your own professional profile. The lecturers act as coaches who will guide you in your learning development. You will focus on marketing, (intercultural) communication and sales. Assessments are integrated in projects.

In Breda you focus on international trade, supply chain design and marketing. The structure of the programme is predetermined. You attend classes and apply the knowledge in group projects. The international community is large with over 40 nationalities.

Choose a studyprogram:

Study programme

The IB programme takes 4 years. Year 1 is divided into 4 quarters of 10 weeks each. Years 2, 3 and 4 consist of semesters of 20 weeks or quarters of 10 weeks. During the semesters you do an internship or study exchange at a company or university of your preference. You also follow 2 choice modules that best meet your personal goals and interests. This all contributes to your personal learning path. The programme is fully project-based. Sustainability and internationalization are important topics

Year 1

In year 1 you study the principles of global marketing, supply chain management, international trade and identifying business opportunities. You attend workshops to improve skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication. In quarter 1, you attend taster sessions in Chinese, French, German or Spanish. You will then choose your preferred language, which you study from quarter 2 onwards. In semester 2 you start looking for an internship that takes place at the start of year 2.

Important courses:

  • International Business Design
  • Supply Chain Mapping
  • Marketing Mix
  • Financial aspects of International Business
  • Cross-cultural skills
  • Project management
  • Sustainability
  • Foreign Languages: English and Chinese, French, German or Spanish

Year 2

In year 2 of the IB study programme you start with a 20 weeks fulltime internship at an international organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. An ideal chance to get exposure to the world of international business. After your internship, you study a choice module of your preference in quarter 3. This can be in your own study programme or another study programme within Avans. What topic do you want to know more about? In the final quarter you do an International Expansion project.

Important courses:

  • Internship
  • Elective module
  • International expansion
  • Language

Year 3

In year 3 you continue exploring the world of International Business. And further develop your professional skills and language skills. You will do an interdisciplinary module and work with students from a different field of study on a joint project.

In the second half of year 3 you will do a 20 weeks minor programme at Avans or another university in the Netherlands or abroad. You choose the university of your preference. We have partners all over the world, have a look at the overview.

Important courses:

  • Elective modules
  • International business
  • Interdisplinary modules

Year 4

The first quarter you choose the modules you want to study. Modules in your own study programme or another within Avans. Then you prepare the graduation project that you execute in the second half of the year. About a problem for a real organization, related to at least 2 of the central themes: solving or redesigning supply chain issues, identifying international business opportunities, setting up and executing international trade activities or developing strategies for global or local delivery.

Important courses:

  • International business
  • Elective modules
  • Graduation

Programme structure International Business

In Den Bosch you can create your own learning path by choosing specialisation profiles. The programme is fully project-based and you will have the opportunity to build your own professional profile. The lecturers act as coaches who will guide you in your learning development. You will focus on marketing, (intercultural) communication and sales. Assessments are integrated in projects.

In Breda you focus on international trade, supply chain design and marketing. The structure of the programme is predetermined. You attend classes and apply the knowledge in group projects. The international community is large with over 40 nationalities.

Choose a studyprogram:

Study programme

The 4-year programme consists of professional achievements to complete to become an IB professional. The main focus of the programme is on international Marketing and Sales. You can develop your individual learning path by choosing specialization profiles. You will work on real-life projects, which you carry out with fellow students and professional field representatives. You will choose and decide which learning resources will help you to obtain the expected results in order to graduate.

Contact

Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact student Annelieke about the IB study programme via WhatsApp 06 - 82 70 50 58.

Year 1

The first year is a general introduction to international business topics. There are 4 specialization profiles and each profile is linked to a project. Therefore you will complete 4 projects based on real-life assignments for companies. You will increase and develop your professional knowledge base, cross-cultural capabilities and professional and personal skills. You can also choose 1 foreign language besides English. At the end of year 1 you will complete a discovery internship.

Important courses:

  • Specialisation Creation
  • Specialisation Dealmaking
  • Specialisation Identification
  • Specialisation Connection
  • Personal Leadership
  • Foreign languages (English and French, German, Spanish or Dutch)

Year 2

In year 2 you have the opportunity to choose 2 out of the 4 specialisation profiles. This will enable you to develop your personal international business focus area. The year is divided in 2 semesters of each 20 weeks. In this year you will complete 2 more in depth projects related to the 2 chosen specialisation profiles. You will also have the ability to continue with your choice of year 1 foreign language or switch to another foreign languages.

Important courses:

  • Specialisation Creation
  • Specialisation Dealmaking
  • Specialisation Identification
  • Specialisation Connection
  • Personal Leadership Coaching
  • Foreign languages

Year 3

In year 3 you will have your internship in the first semester. In the second semester you will be able to choose between a minor or the semester “Future-Proof IB”. You can do your minor at Avans or another university in the Netherlands or abroad. We have partners all over the world. Also your internship can be abroad if preferred. You need to spend at least 2 out of 3 semesters abroad.

Year 4

Before you start your graduation internship you will complete your last semester at Avans “Future-Proof IB”. This semester consists of 2 modules to prepare you for graduation. Or you can do your minor if you did the “Future-Proof IB” in year 3. Your graduation internship is in your chosen specialization profile. You will complete a business research project as well as an implementation project for your internship organisation. You can do your graduation internship abroad.

Admissions requirements International Business

  • Exam

  • Score

  • IELTS overall band
    6
  • TOEFL computer based
    213
  • TOEFL internet based
    80

Read the detailed information on English language admissions requirements.

More about admission requirements

Prior education

The level of your prior education has to be equivalent to the Dutch havo, vwo or mbo 4 level. English must have been one of your courses. If your prior education is equivalent to the Dutch HAVO, you should have graduated in mathematics, accounting or economics. If we are not familiar with your foreign diploma, NUFFIC, the Dutch organisation for international recognition of diploma, will check the level for us.

Read more about international secondary education diplomas.

Practical Information International Business

Apply

If you have decided to pursue this study programme you will need to register for it. Before you do, make sure you have informed yourself about our rules and regulations.

Please apply via our Dutch website if you are a Dutch student.

Application procedure

You must apply for this bachelor's degree programme via the Studielink website.

In addition to the application procedure via Studielink you must also send us several documents.

Be sure to keep an eye on the enrolment deadline. You will find the deadline on the page 'Admissions requirements' of this programme.

Start month Location Application deadline
September EEA 1 August 2024
September Non EEA 1 May 2024

Please note: applicants with a Dutch diploma must have applied by the 1st of May. Non-EEA students with a non-Dutch diploma also apply by the 1st of May. The deadline for EU students with a non-Dutch diploma is 31 August. When you meet the deadline you give Avans enough time to process your application and, if applicable, apply for a visa.

After application we will contact you to inform you on the further procedure.  

Scholarships

Scholarships are much sought after nowadays: nearly every student who decides to study abroad considers applying for one. Information about scholarships specific to Avans University of Applied Sciences can be found on our scholarship page

More information

For more information please contact Student Info on +31 (0) 88 525 75 50 or via this contact form.

Tuition fees

In the overview below you will find the tuition fee amounts that have been set for new students at Avans University of Applied Sciences.

Which of these 3 fees applies to you depends on the category you are in. In general, students from the European Economic Area (EEA) pay the statutory fee, while other students pay the institutional or non-EEA fee. Exchange students generally pay their tuition fees to their home institution and not to Avans.

Please check the tuition fees page for detailed information.

Fee Amount Year
Statutory fee € 2,314,- 2023 - 2024
Non-EER fee € 8,852,- 2023 - 2024
Institution fee € 8,852,- 2023 - 2024

Location

Discover location Hogeschoollaan

Hogeschoollaan

Hogeschoollaan 1
4818 CR Breda

Study in Breda

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Discover location Stationsplein

Stationsplein 50
5211 AP 's-Hertogenbosch

Study in 's-Hertogenbosch

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Contact

Student Support

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Follow this study programme in Breda
Follow this study programme in 's-Hertogenbosch