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

You will work on real case studies involving real companies. A 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 internal organisation, current market, the cereal industry and the economic international environment to identify factors that could be limiting its growth.

During the bachelor International Business, you will acquire broad knowledge of international management, marketing, organisations, supply chain, finance and sustainability. And you will develop relevant professional skills, such as intercultural teamwork, leadership, languages and business communication.

You are trained to make a difference in and for a sustainable international society. As a global engagement professional, you understand how the world works and are involved in what matters.

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

Follow this study programme in Breda
Follow this study programme in Den Bosch
Discover this programme

Programme features

You will be proficient in English + another language
You work in teams on real assignments for companies
You can go abroad 3 times for an internship, exchange semester or graduation
We have a team of teachers with a lot of 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 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. Or you can start your own business.

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.

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

(International) Marketing Manager

You are responsible for developing and implementing the marketing strategy for a company, brand, or product. You ensure that the products or services are promoted in the right way (globally) and that they reach the right target audience. Your goal is often to boost sales, increase brand awareness, and enhance customer engagement.

(International) Sales Manager

You are responsible for leading and coordinating the sales team of a company, with the goal of achieving sales targets and increasing revenue. You play a crucial role in developing sales strategies, motivating the sales team and maintaining customer relationships from various countries.

(International) Entrepreneur

As an Entrepreneur, you start a business with a (global) vision, looking for opportunities to offer new products or services. You use global trends to create a business that creates value not only locally but also internationally.

(International) Market Researcher

You analyse market trends, customer satisfaction and competitors to provide insights for business strategies. You conduct market research and investigate how different cultures influence consumer behavior. You use this data to develop strategies for international market entry or expansion.

(International) Buyer

As a Buyer, you are responsible for planning, selecting, and purchasing goods for retail businesses. Your work involves market research, competitor analysis, product evaluations and testing, tracking purchase orders, and preparing reports for the management team.

(International) Business Development Manager

As a Business Development Manager, you are responsible for identifying business opportunities and driving (international) growth for the company. You play a key role in expanding business operations, forming (global) partnerships, and generating new customers or markets.

(International) Digital Marketeer

You manage the online presence of your company. You use tools like Google Analytics to analyse data from different regions and create targeted campaigns to improve (international) sales. Your goal is to ensure that the company's products are easily accessible and visible to (global) consumers.

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

The study programme International Business varies by location. Choose the programme that suits you best. In Den Bosch you can be matched to an international buddy and you can choose to learn Dutch. Breda has a large international community. You can follow a unique Dual degree track and also study at one of our partner business schools.

Follow-up education

After completing your International Business bachelor, you will have a broad range of opportunities. You can choose to do your master in the Netherlands or abroad and further specialise within the field that most interests you. Think of master's such as International Management, Master of Science in Management, Marketing Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management or you can take a post-graduate MBA-programme.

Stories about the programme

Jette Oltmans

The opportunity to work in an environment abroad is not just an achievement – it’s a stepping stone that sets you apart in your career.

Read more

Sijanda de Boer

I understood the importance of the experience and the knowledge of other cultures I had gained.

Read more

Work placement in Valencia

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

Read more

Philip-Peter Dietz

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

Read more

Programme structure International Business

The study programme International Business varies by location. Choose the programme that suits you best. In Den Bosch you can be matched to an international buddy and you can choose to learn Dutch. Breda has a large international community. You can follow a unique Dual degree track and also study at one of our partner business schools.

Choose a studyprogram:

Study programme

In the IB programme you learn by doing and constantly develop as an international professional. You work with international students on real cases assigned by companies. Your work will be assessed in a group and individually. Out of the 4 years you can be one and a half year abroad besides the Netherlands. And you have the opportunity to follow a two-year Dual Degree track at one of our partner business schools in France or Germany. 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 project meetings, training sessions and workshops to improve skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and intercultural communication. And you attend taster sessions in Chinese, French, German or Spanish. You then choose your preferred language. After that, you start looking for an internship that takes place at the start of year 2.

Important themes:

  • Supply Chain Mapping
  • International Marketing
  • Financial aspects of International Business
  • Project management
  • Sustainability

Year 2

In year 2 you start with a 20-week 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 to specialise or broaden your profile in quarter 3. This can be in the IB programme or another study programme within Avans. In the final quarter you do an International Expansion project.

Programme:

  • Internship
  • Elective module
  • International expansion
  • Language

Year 3

In year 3 you work on international business assignments and further develop your professional skills. You do an interdisciplinary module and work with students from different fields of study on a joint project.

In the second semester you will pick a choice module again at Avans or another university in the Netherlands or abroad. We have partner universities all over the world, have a look at the overview.

Programme:

  • International business assignments
  • Interdisciplinary module
  • Choice module

Year 4

The first quarter you can further specialize or broaden in a topic of your interest. Then you prepare for the graduation project that you execute in the second semester. This is focused on problem solving for an organization, related to themes such as: 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.

Programme:

  • Choice module
  • International business assignments
  • Graduation internship

Freedom of choice in your study programme

For the first 1.5 years of your full-time programme at Avans, you will take courses within your own study programme, so that you have a steady home base and gain the necessary fundamental knowledge. After that, you have the opportunity to customise a quarter of your remaining programme by opting for elective modules from your own programme or other programmes that are best suited to what you want to learn.

You can also opt for more depth in your own field by charting a course that closely follows your home programme. You do not have to make these decisions alone; you will receive guidance from study and career counsellors and lecturers.

Programme structure International Business

The study programme International Business varies by location. Choose the programme that suits you best. In Den Bosch you can be matched to an international buddy and you can choose to learn Dutch. Breda has a large international community. You can follow a unique Dual degree track and also study at one of our partner business schools.

Choose a studyprogram:

Study programme

In the International Business programme you will develop your individual learning path while working on real-life projects, which you will carry out with fellow students and professional field representatives. You can also be matched to an international student buddy, who eases you in the study programme and introduces you to social activities. Besides that, you can choose Dutch as a second language.

Questions? Contact student Annelieke about the IB study programme via WhatsApp +31 6 82 70 50 58.

Year 1

In the first year, you will be introduced to key themes in International Business, such as marketing, sustainability, internationalisation, relationship management and value chain discovery. Additionally, you will broaden and develop your knowledge of other cultures, as well as your professional and personal skills.

Important courses:

  • Basics of International Business
  • Business Opportunity Discovery
  • Sustainable entrepreneurship
  • Strategic Sales & Negotiation

Year 2

In the second year of IB in Den Bosch, you will further expand your knowledge and skills. You will take elective modules that align with your interests. These modules can be taken within your own program, but you also have the option to choose a module from another program within Avans University of Applied Sciences. This allows you to broaden your studies and develop skills in a direction that appeals to you.

Important courses:

  • Sustainable Future Innovations
  • Choosing Business Partners
  • Elective module (for example 'Entrepreneurship or Sales')
  • Elective module (for example 'Start your own business')

Year 3

In year 3 of the International Business program in Den Bosch, you will start with an international internship. For 20 weeks, you will work at an organisation or company abroad. During this internship, you will apply and further develop your skills in an international or internationally oriented work environment. This allows you to gain practical experience and strengthen your professional competencies. Additionally, you will take an elective module, which you can complete in the Netherlands or abroad.

Important courses:

  • International Internship
  • Elective module/Exchange

Year 4

In the fourth year, your focus will be on graduating. During your graduation internship, you will work on a business-related issue and provide recommendations in the areas of international market opportunities, business transformation or relationship management. This process is the highlight of your studies, where you apply all the knowledge and skills gained in previous years. You can complete this graduation internship either in the Netherlands or abroad.

Important courses:

  • International strategic expansion
  • Impact on global change on your organisation
  • Graduation Internship (advice + implementation at (international) company)

Freedom of choice in your study programme

For the first 1.5 years of your full-time programme at Avans, you will take courses within your own study programme, so that you have a steady home base and gain the necessary fundamental knowledge. After that, you have the opportunity to customise a quarter of your remaining programme by opting for elective modules from your own programme or other programmes that are best suited to what you want to learn.

You can also opt for more depth in your own field by charting a course that closely follows your home programme. You do not have to make these decisions alone; you will receive guidance from study and career counsellors and lecturers.

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 deadlines.

Start month Location Application deadline
September EEA 1 June 2025
September Non EEA 1 May 2025

Apply for this programme

Please note: applicants with a Dutch diploma must have applied by the 1st of June. 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 the 1st of June. 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 € 2,530,- 2024 - 2025
Non-EER fee € 9,680,- 2024 - 2025
Institution fee € 9,680,- 2024 - 2025
Statutory fee € 2,601,- 2025 - 2026
Non-EER fee € 9,949,- 2025 - 2026
Institution fee € 9,949,- 2025 - 2026

Location

Discover location Hogeschoollaan

Hogeschoollaan

Hogeschoollaan 1
4818 CR Breda

Study in Breda

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Discover location Stationsplein

Stationsplein 50
5211 AP Den Bosch

Study in Den Bosch

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Contact

Student Support

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Follow this study programme in Breda
Follow this study programme in Den Bosch