International Business  fulltime programme

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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.

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.