bc
Content
2011 – 2012
International Business and Management
This brochure contains information about the bachelor programme. There are separate brochures providing details about the master programmes. Visit www.rug.nl/masters
CONTENTS
International Business and Management in Groningen
1 1 2 2
Cross-border and cross-functional Cross-cultural education Facilities About Groningen…
The content of the degree programme
6 6 7 8 11
The Dutch education system Propaedeutic phase Post-propaedeutic phase Master’s phase Study abroad!
Student life
14 14
Introduction and student associations Study progress supervision
After graduating
16
Another way to do it
Admission
18
Tuition fees
Information and enrolment
19 20
Information Addresses
No rights whatsoever may be derived from the contents of this brochure.
Welcome to The Netherlands
Information for international prospective students
Situated in the north-west of Europe, the Netherlands is the gateway to Europe: one of the founding members of the EU, high standards of education, health care and social equality, and close to most European capitals.
University of Groningen › 400 years of academic tradition and innovation › Leading research university › Study in an international environment › Dedicated to student involvement programmes Facts & Figures › 27,947 students › 3,100 international students › 139 nationalities › 9 faculties › Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes › 9 Graduate Schools › 83 English-taught degree programmes › 10 English-taught double degree programmes
Admissions requirements
Cost of living: relatively low
Prospective students from outside the Netherlands
Applications will be assessed on an individual basis. The admission procedure includes evaluating your academic credentials, this includes your preuniversity secondary school grades and diploma(s), the number of math credits you have earned and your English proficiency.
The latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that living expenses in the Netherlands are modest compared to cities like New York, Paris, London and Beijing. In fact, it still enjoys one of the lowest costs-of-living in Europe.
Housing
€ 260–450 / month (administration € 300 once)
Language course
€ 100–450 / course
Application
For International Business and Management (IB&M) you have to apply early because of the numerus fixus. IB&M has a limited number of places available. Details on the selection procedure for 2011–2012, the numerus fixus and the deadlines can be found at www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.
Food
€ 200 / month
Security deposit
€ 325 / year
Money
€ 55 / month
Bicycle
€ 45–110 / used bike
Insurance Tuition Fee
› EEA-students € 1,672 › non-EEA students € 6,800 Books and other study materials should come to no more than € 650 per year. € 75–100 / month
Total
€ 9,000–10,000 / year
GRONINGEN AMSTERDAM
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/prospectives (for details about admission and tuition fees) › www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus (details on the selection procedure) › www.feb-international.com (student ambassadors) › www.rug.nl/howtoapply (application other students) › www.rug.nl/insandouts (practical information in English)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
The recent worldwide economic developments have caused quite some controversy and confusion, but it has made one thing absolutely clear: employers need graduates with the appropriate academic skills who can think and act on a global scale.
What is the difference between doing business in India or in Germany? How does a firm deal with the chances and challenges of internationalization? Setting up a factory abroad or expanding your market to other countries is not an easy task. If you like business cases like these, International Business and Management (IB&M) might be the right choice for you. The IB&M programme is a profile within the Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (‘Bedrijfskunde’ in Dutch). The programme focuses on dealing with economic, cultural, legal and political issues in an international business situation. If you choose to study IB&M, from day one you will be in an academic and distinctly international environment. Everything will be in English, and you will develop substantial academic skills that will help you start a career in diverse work fields. Cross-border and cross-functional The Business Administration degree programme teaches to think critically at an academic level about organizations, organizational problems and possible solutions. Graduates of Business Administration are jacksof-all-trades. During the programme you study business processes, human behaviour in relation to work, marketing, information systems management, law and economic aspects of the business world. You will also develop a general understanding of management and organization. Of course, IB&M focuses on the international context of this management perspective. You will learn to understand local, regional, national and international issues. Imagine a multinational that operates under regulations and laws that differ from one location to another. It will be your task to manage the linguistic barriers, foreign exchange and political risk. It goes without saying that international business requires a diverse set of skills. Cross-cultural eduction Many things influence our behaviour, and culture is one of the most powerful of them. During the IB&M programme you will learn to be sensitive to cultural differences, customs and social norms. You may find that you need to make changes in your product or service in response to differences in consumer tastes and expectations, in order to marketing what you have to offer based on given social norms. Business practices themselves are not free of sociocultural influences. You will learn to adapt your management style and techniques, and change the way you deal with your employees, investors, suppliers and distributors. All of these topics are covered in the programme. You will also start learning another language in addition to English and your own. You will professionally be instructed by several members of academic staff from outside the Netherlands and hear guest lecturers from abroad as well. You will study and work on projects together with fellow students from around the world. You will study for at least a semester at another academic institution outside of the Netherlands.
A ‘DIFFERENCE’ PROGRAMME…
Studying multinational firms is an important part of the programme. They are responsible for a big share of world production and trade, and also play a big role in the international diffusion of technological and managerial knowledge. Many multinationals are major employers. In some countries, this means that they are powerful engines for social change, especially in hiring and promoting underemployed women and minorities. Global NGOs The building of the faculty provide humanitarian aid in the short term and training for the future.
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Students sometimes expect IB&M to be a managerial practice how-to programme. This is not the case. Students do learn some techniques, but more importantly they study business theories as well as organisations and their settings. It is their intellectual understanding and their sensitivity to differences in perceptions and approaches that equip them to correctly analyse situations - when and where they arise - and to determine effective responses across their entire careers. These are the focus of IB&M. Facilities Surroundings are important. Our buildings are modern, comfortable and well equipped. The central library of the university has a core collection for each discipline. We also have our own library with an extensive – and always growing – economics and business collection, plenty of study spaces, meeting rooms, and a plaza café for short breaks. There is free wireless internet access throughout the complex so you can go on the Internet, read and send email, and check for updates on the student intranet (‘nestor’) wich links to just about all programmerelevant information.
About Groningen… The city of Groningen is a great place to live! It is fun and vibrant and as roughly one out of every six residents is a student, you will feel right at home. Groningen is large enough and has enough variety to be interesting and enjoyable, but small enough to mean that you’ll be able to conveniently get around by bike. You will soon find out that the cultural activities, nightlife, sports facilities and recreational opportunities are excellent!
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm (more about the course of study) › www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (information for Dutch prospective students) › www.feb-international.com (student ambassadors at Groningen) › www.rug.nl/feb/streetview › www.rug.nl/honours (Honours College University of Groningen)
Is this the programme for you? IB&M is challenging and fast-paced. You need to start with good study skills, a good command
of English, and a firm grasp of mathematics and economics. To have a successful career in international business, you will need to be receptive to different ideas, and be willing to challenge some of your own.
Roshni van Zeijst (18)
first year student in International Business and Management ‘At first I didn’t know what I wanted to study, but I soon realized I’ve always had a feeling for business. It runs in the family: my father and brother are both working in the business world. This is why I ended up choosing International Business and Management. I believe it is a very rich programme because it covers basically every aspect of the field of business, including law and economics. As the name already suggests, it is a very internationally oriented programme. This is something I particularly like, as I hope to see more of the world one day. The academic year is divided into four blocks, during which you follow four separate courses at the same time. Beforehand, I expected the courses to be more integrated with each other. However, I noticed a lot of repetition of theory at some points throughout the year. Still, I really like the programme as it is, and the only thing that I would advise future students to do is to study something you like!’
Study something you like!
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Think about it…
Starting up a branch office in New York is not the same as setting up a factory in New Delhi. What IB&M does, is help you to acquire the knowledge and analytical skills you will need to confidently handle business possibilities and challenges, whatever and wherever they might be. The programme also gives you many opportunities to increase your cultural IQ. Where better to do that than at a university in the centre of Europe?
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN
27,947 students altogether 778 Bachelor’s students in International Business and Management 5,971 first year students altogether 315 first year students in International Business and Management 3,100 international students from outside the Netherlands 5,500 employees 571 professors 58 Bachelor’s programmes 114 Master’s programmes 9 faculties 190 buildings 400,000 square meters of facilities 525 million euro annual budget
EXCELLENCE ALLOWED!
Gifted and motivated students are given the opportunity to make the most of their talents via the University of Groningen Honours College. Completing this challenging programme will result in an additional Honours diploma. Students follow special Honours workshops and other deepening courses alongside their usual Bachelor’s degree courses. They also organize guest lectures and company visits. Students also follow a number of broadening courses and training programmes with Honours students from other faculties. There is a selection procedure. More information: www.rug.nl/feb/excellenceallowed
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Prof. dr. Luchien Karsten (62)
Professor in International Business and Management ‘We describe our programme as cross-border, cross-cultural and cross-functional. That means that when we think business, we think globally - physically, socioculturally, and pedagogically. That way of thinking is reflected in my own career. I have felt at home in universities in Burkino Faso, England, France, Indonesia, Russia, and Scotland, and have worked closely on research and development projects with colleagues from across Africa, Asia and Europe. My degrees are in economics and philosophy, my teaching in business, management, and history, and my research published in Dutch and English in management and sociology academic journals. We are doing all that we can to help students learn to think globally too. We send them around the world to study and intern, immerse them in cultural diversity, and provide them with training across academic disciplines. Many firms today implement crossfunctional teams that manage business processes across the traditional boundaries of functional areas. What we do is get students ready for a place on the team.’
Get students ready for a place on the team
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
The Bachelor’s degree programme in International Business and Management consists of two phases: the propaedeutic phase (first year) and the post-propaedeutic phase (second and third years).
The Dutch education system An academic year has two semesters of 21 weeks each, September to February and February to July. Teaching is done with lectures, tutorials and practicals. It is important that students prepare ahead for lectures as all of the material cannot be covered in the time allotted for them alone. Lecturers focus on main points and on particularly difficult aspects of the assigned literature. Material is explained in more detail in smaller classes and tutorials. Students also discuss the readings and lectures and go over individual assignments and joint work in the tutorials. Practicals give students an opportunity to work together in still smaller groups on assignments and presentations. Usually there is at least one written exam as they are a way to gage progress. Course grades normally are calculated based on exam results and grades earned on assignments. We use the European credit and transfer system (ECTS) which expresses course workloads and learning outcomes in terms of credits. Generally speaking, one credit represents 28 hours of time spent reading and studying, attending classes, participating in small groups, working on individual and team projects and the like. As students are required to devote more time to some courses, the number of credits per course varies, for instance five credits for one course and ten for another. It takes 180 credits to earn a Bachelor’s degree. Propaedeutic phase All IB&M students participate in the same courses the first year of the programme. These cover the fundamental disciplines of international business, the history of management, international management, economics, financial accounting, as well as international marketing and
To merge or not to merge?
At the beginning of June 1995 everything looked good for the merger of Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company headquarted in the US, and Pharmacia AB, a Swedish firm with Italian operations. The Kalamazoo, Michigan, based integration team was already busy scheduling three-way meetings for the coming two months. But there was a hitch: While Americans get two weeks of vacation annually, and take them when it best suits the needs of the company, Swedes spend the whole month of July at their lakeside cottage, and Italians traditionally take off all of August. The US team had to go back to square one, putting most things off until September.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
international business law. You will also build a solid base in statistics. The first year features extensive training in how to read and write academic English. Some of the courses in year one are detailed below. Introduction to International Business This course is an overall introduction to the International Business and Management Bachelor’s programme. It shows how, in spite of advances in trade and investment, countries still differ in cultural, economical, and political environments. It analyses internationalisation strategies and modes of entry into foreign markets, as well as international production, marketing, financial, and human resource management strategies. International Management In this course you will focus on how people behave in organisations, particularly what motivates them, how they perceive and interpret the behaviour of others and communicate with them, how they handle conflicts, and how they exert or resist leadership. International Business Law Firms that do business internationally often have to contend with complicated legal issues. A basic knowledge of international business law is therefore essential.
International Marketing International Marketing is the study of how firms develop new products or adapt existing ones to meet the needs of customers beyond their own country, how they price and promote such products, and how they handle their distribution. All of these first year courses will form your toolkit. Research Methods will help you make the most of it in carrying out research. Finally, your training in English is crucial if you want to operate internationally. You may read more about all of these courses in the online course catalogue Ocasys. At the end of the first year you will be issued with a binding study advice. We presume that you will obtain all your credits. If you have not yet earned forty of the sixty credit points, you will have to stop your studies. You must also complete the first-year programme within two years. Post-propaedeutic phase In the second and third years of the programme you will build on the propaedeutic coursework and deepen your knowledge. You will take further courses in international management, financial management and management accounting, international economics, international
Eat, drink and be global
The Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Thomas Friedman writes in his book The World is Flat that new communication and transportation technologies have drastically reduced international differences. Many see Friedman’s book as an update on the relentless advance of globalisation. Yet, a cursory look at European statistics shows profound and enduring differences even in what we eat and drink. In 2008 the per capita consumption of wine in Luxemburg was 61 litres per year, more than three times that of the Netherlands.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen in China
The course Management of International Business Organizations (MIBO) calls for formulating a research question, finding secondary data resources, and operationalising the constructs. One recent MIBO project was an investigation of how Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen tried to enter the Chinese market. Which strategy did they choose? Where did they locate their plants? Which cultural differences had to be resolved? You will answer questions like these in your MIBO research project.
business law, research methods and statistics, and also take French or Spanish. You will do a lot of reading and independent studying. You will go to classes and the lectures of guest speakers, participate in small discussion groups, work on team projects, attend workshops and seminars, and take short study trips. Study outside the Netherlands Once you have met the requirements of the first part of the programme, ideally by the end of the second year, you will spend a semester abroad at one of our many partner universities in Europe, Latin America, Australia, North America, or Asia. This is a major opportunity to further develop your cross-cultural and language skills and you will be able to take courses in which your host institution has a particular expertise. IB&M students have to hit the ground running! With an obligatory semester abroad, students have just five short semesters to do a lot of work. If they fall too far behind in the beginning, they will not be able to meet the strict mid-programme requirements that must be fulfilled before they can go abroad. Not meeting that first big deadline means postponing the semester outside the Netherlands until the second half of the third year, and that means returning to complete the final semester the next September. This means some students will have to wait another seven months before starting a Master’s programme. So be warned!
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The final stage of the Bachelor’s programme is the writing of a thesis. That thesis will test your ability to apply all the material you have mastered and the research and writing skills that you have acquired throughout the programme to a particular research question. Master’s phase After earning your Bachelor’s degree you may decide to go directly onto the job market. However acquiring additional knowledge and further improving your research skills may give you many more career opportunities. The MSc in International Business and Management is a one year programme focusing on the management of multinational enterprises. In the second semester of that year you will write a Master’s thesis which can be combined with an internship. The MSc in International Business and Management has two specializations besides the regular Master’s programme. The specialization International Financial Management focuses on the financial management of multinational enterprises. For this programme you will spend one semester at Uppsala University in Sweden and one in Groningen. The other specialization is the Dual Award in Advanced International Business Management and Marketing in cooperation with the University of Newcastle in the UK. You will study one semester in Groningen, one in Newcastle and write your thesis in either Groningen or Newcastle.
A solid footing in management
Diana Tircomnicu (21)
Bachelor’s student in International Business and Management ‘I’m from Romania. The flight from Bucharest to Amsterdam takes less than three hours, yet for a long time the rest of Europe was a world apart - not anymore! There are definitely still differences though, and the approach to advanced studies is one of them. At the University of Groningen as students progress they have more autonomy, a real say in what they study. This means that when I’m finished I’ll have exactly the kind of solid footing in management that I came here to get. I remember back when I applied feeling that I was making a very brave leap. In fact, it turns out not to have been so hard, in part because I’ve had plenty of help. Now I’m involved in the student ambassadors project. We try to help others decide if this is the place for them, and if they do come here, to make the most of their experience. I was just a toddler when the transformation in Romania began in 1989. I’m at Groningen because the way I see it, what happens next, not only in my country but also around the globe, depends on my generation.’ › Diana tells more about her Bachelor’s project in a video on www.rug.nl/video/ba-ibm
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
BACHELOR’S PROGRAMME International Business and Management FIRST YEAR (propaedeutic phase) English Introduction International Business History of Management International Management Financial Accounting International Business Law International Marketing Statistics Economics Research Methods SECOND AND THIRD YEAR Financial Management Information Systems Management International Economics and Trade International Business Law Organisational Change Comparative Country Studies Management Accounting & Information Management Strategic Management Statistics Spanish or French Elective: Emerging Markets International Business Negotiations International HRM Business Ethics & Corporate Social Study abroad (one semester third year) International Strategic Management International Financial Management Managing International Business Organizations Bachelor’s Thesis
What’s the difficulty? The programme is entirely in English. Some students feel quite at ease speaking English, but find that it takes them
considerably more time to read and write English than their own language. Usually, the more they work in English, the better and faster they become. Students who do not have sufficiently strong backgrounds in mathematics and in economics are likely to find Financial Accounting and International Economics and Trade especially challenging. We are aware of the potential stumbling blocks and provide supervision and support. It is important that students seek help when they need it.
ACCESSIBLE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMMES › Business Administration, 9 specialisations: Business and ICT Business Development Change Management Finance Marketing Operations and Supply Chains Organisational and Management Control Small Business and Entrepreneurship Strategy and Innovation › International Business and Management, 2 specialisations International Financial Management (18 months) Advanced International Business Management and Marketing (17 months) › Research Master Economics and Business (24 months) › Teacher Training in Economics and Business (24 months)*
* Two degrees are conferred, a Masters in your area of concentration and another in Education and Communication of Economics and Business Studies
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
STUDY ABROAD!
There are roughly a thousand Groningen students taking classes, doing senior projects and working in internship positions outside of the Netherlands each year. If you choose this programme you will be required to spend one semester of the third year abroad. We believe that these are valuable educational and life experiences, and actively facilitate them. You can apply to spend a semester at one of dozens of Groningen’s partner universities, choose from other institutions with which we have established relationships or find a place abroad yourself. It is important that you begin planning your semester abroad well in advance. The Exchange Office can give you valuable information about the many programmes and grants that are available, let you know about practical matters such as visas, and put you in touch with students and academic staff from outside the Netherlands who are at Groningen and who may be able to help you. The exchange coordinator will be able to inform you about earning transferable credits while you are studying away from Groningen. Not only do we want our students to experience studying and living outside the Netherlands, but we also open our own doors. You are sure to meet one of the 3100 students from other countries who come here annually to study, hear one of the many guest speakers from outside the Netherlands or be taught by academic staff members from abroad.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
A guide to successful investment
Your Bachelor’s thesis will give you a chance to demonstrate your ability to think at an advanced academic level. For example, one student carried out research at a Dutch company that wanted to help Dutch entrepreneurs do business in emerging countries. That company also considered the possibility of helping firms from emerging countries to invest in Europe. The student identified under which conditions such investments can be successful, and came up with useful guidelines to avoid potential problems.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
Other MSc Programmes The University of Groningen offers several other Master’s programmes, including the MSc in Human Resource Management, a two-year Research Master’s programme in Economics and Business that will prepare you for a career in academia and the MSc in Business Administration with nine specialisations.
CAREER OFFICE: CAREER ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS
Making the transition from student to professional is a challenge that starts as soon as you start to study. During your degree programme you will have several opportunities to prepare, like doing an internship, attending congresses and career activities, or going abroad. The Faculty of Economics and Business Career Office helps you to exploit these opportunities. It has an overview of internship offers and provides information about internships, career activities and the labour market. You have access to a network of interns who share their experiences through interactive blogs, and the career calendar is an overview of current career activities for students. More information: www.rug.nl/feb/career
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm › www.rug.nl/feb/programmes (overview of courses) › www.rug.nl/feb/msc (Master’s degree programmes)
What’s in a name?
The taste of a Coca-Cola in the Netherlands is not the same as it is in Nigeria. Firms know that tastes are not universal. Sometimes it is the domestic brand name of a product that does not translate well. For example, it is doubtful that English speakers would want to guzzle Japan’s most popular sports drink, Pocari Sweat, or the French soft drink Pschitt. Would you choose White Elephant batteries, buy Darky toothpaste, or feel comfortable putting your savings into South Korea’s Wooribank?
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STUDENT LIFE
Your life as a student in Groningen will start with the general introduction week for all first-year students at the University of Groningen (KEI-week).
Introduction and student associations The KEI-week is the perfect way to get to know the city and learn about all the cultural and sports activities for students in Groningen. At the end of August all incoming students can attend the introduction of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB). Here, new students learn everything they need to know about studying at FEB. You can also attend the introduction camp of the Economics and Business student Faculty Association (EBF). One of the things that students will find out about is EBF itself, an organisation open to all students in the faculty that organises conferences and symposia, arranges company visits and study trips, and sponsors many other activities. International Business and Management students will be especially interested in associations like AIESEC and MARUG. Study progress supervision Unlike at secondary school, at university you are not supervised so closely. We expect you to work independently and plan your studies. However, we will of course help you to do so. Together with other firstyear students, you will be assigned to a mentor group with a mentor. This senior student will help you quickly find your way around the Faculty. There are about 15 students in a mentor group. These are also the students you will share tutorials with. This small-group approach results in a lot of contact between students and between students and lecturers. You will have a progress meeting with your tutor (lecturer-supervisor) after every exam block. If you have specific studying problems, for example with exams, funding or study delay, you can call on the Faculty’s study advisors. If you have questions about studying in general, you can go to the University Student Desk.
www
› www.ebfgroningen.nl, www.marug.nl, www.aiesec.nl (student associations) › www.keiweek.nl (introduction) › www.groningenlife.nl (student life) › www.lefier.nl, www.kamernet.nl (finding rooms)
GRONINGEN, YOUR STUDENT CITY
187,295 inhabitants 52,000 students 33,700 or so student residences 54 student sport associations 36 pizza shops 199 bars 8 discotheques 2,743 café terrace seats 7 laundries 94 employment agencies 24 music stores 65 driving schools 31 bicycle repair shops 3,345 student weblogs 1 Best City Centre in the Netherlands 2006
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Many opportunities to join an organisation
Valdis Salaks (20) Third year student in International Business and Management
‘Groningen offers many activities in addition to studying. You will have many opportunities to join an organisation with people you’ll really enjoy being with. For instance, if you want to be in the best physical shape in your life, look into ACLO, a sports organisation that offers a variety of sports activities in which you can participate. At home in Latvia and while I was in high school in the US I played basketball. That’s why in my first year here I joined basketball club Moestasj. I was on a team with Dutch and international students, Bachelor’s and Master’s students, PhD-students and some were alumni. Playing B-ball with people with such different backgrounds and age broadened my own student experience. I advise everyone to do the same. Join a club. Become a member and be part of the culture. And because practices are in the evening, it should not interfere with your studies. I’m on schedule so far. It’s a three year programme and I am planning to graduate in three years. Finally, I can say that finding a nice apartment sometimes can be difficult, but through my Moestasj connections I got one really fast.’
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AFTER GRADUATING
IB&M can be the starting point for a satisfying career in international management. It is possible to go directly onto the job market with a Bachelor’s degree. However, earning a Master’s degree significantly increases your career options and allows you to eventually reach higher levels in management.
A Master’s in International Business and Management will give you the credentials to work for a multinational firm, and any number of governmental institutions and international organisations. If you were to choose the Research Master’s you could move into academia, perhaps decide to go further and earn a PhD. Plenty of multinationals will be interested in students with an academic degree in business. For instance companies like Microsoft, Siemens, Capgemini, Toyota, Samsung, Ahold, Heineken, Unilever, Ikea, Zara, H&M and Virgin all need internationally trained employees. Your position within these kind of organisations can vary from export manager or international marketer, to international sales manager, product manager or human resource manager. But numerous other career opportunities will lie ahead of you. This of course depends on the choices you make during and after studying. Many organisations also offer traineeships and junior positions which will introduce you to the different types of activities.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/alumni (graduates site) › www.rug.nl/feb/SOM (research school)
Another way to do it…
Lutz Bönisch
started a 2-year trainee programme with the insurance company Allianz in Germany. His focus is on serving customers as a field service representative. Lutz was recruited into his new job out of an internship with the same company. Prior to his studies, Lutz did an apprenticeship in banking.
Liesbeth Bloemendal
works as a controller for Parker Hannafin, an American multinational that just acquired a company with operations in Austria and Germany. She is heading up the team handling the accounting and financial aspects of the acquisition implementation.
Björn van Coeverden
currently works at Microsoft Netherlands. During his study period he spent a semester in Sweden, took an extensive language course in Spain, and also worked in Peru. His final thesis was on the strategic and operational implications of a firm going international. All of these ingredients helped him to get his job at Microsoft.
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AFTER GRADUATING
It turned out to be good training
Doris Fahle (26)
Working graduate at Deloitte ‘I’m from Germany and have studied there, in Austria and in the Netherlands. Along the way I had traineeships in Germany, Portugal, Morocco and Spain, and developed an interest in renewable energy. I first made contact with Deloitte, where I now work, at an energy conference. I was fortunate to be able to combine a five-month internship at Deloitte with writing my thesis on renewable energy projects. There are advances all the time in ways to improve efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. It’s fun to be a part – however small – in a wave of the future. When I was getting my Master’s degree, each new module I took called for gathering, absorbing and applying information. That turned out to be good training. Now when I’m assigned a project I don’t have a lot of time for preparation. The faster I can take in what I need to know and apply it, the more successful I am in my job.’
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ADMISSION *)
VWO
WITH A DUTCH VWO DIPLOMA Candidates with the profiles Economics & Society, Nature & Health or Nature & Technology can immediately enter the Bachelor’s programme. The profile Culture & Society must be complemented with mathematics A or B.
HBO
WITH A DUTCH HBO DIPLOMA With a HBO propaedeutic certificate it is also possible to enter the programme, on the condition that you meet the required level of mathematics. You must at least have taken mathematics A12 or B1 (now mathematics A or B) at Dutch VWO level.
VWO/HBO
X
NO DUTCH VWO OR HBO DIPLOMA? If you do not have a Dutch VWO or HBO diploma but are 21 or older, you may take the university admission exam, the ‘colloquium doctum’, for a fee of € 100,–. If you pass, you will be admitted to the Bachelor’s degree programme.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (Dutch) › www.rug.studielink.nl (application Dutch students) › www.rug.nl/hoezithet (practical information Dutch students) › www.duo.nl (financial assistance Dutch students)
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Tuition fees for Dutch students
There are no costs in addition to the tuition fees, € 1,672 for the 2010–2011 academic year. Books and other study materials should come to no more than € 650 per year.
NUMERUS FIXUS
The bachelor Business Administration (in Dutch) and its English taught profile International Business & Management has a limited number of places available. Details on the selection procedure for 2011-2012, the numerus fixus and the deadlines can be found at: www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.
LEVEL OF REQUIRED MATHEMATICS
The website www.rug.nl/feb/mathtest will provide you with information, exercises, suggestions for reading and sample tests on the faculty’s required mathematics level. The faculty offers a Mathematics Entrance Examination twice a year for students with a Maths deficiency. The exams are only open to students already living in the Netherlands.
* ) Information for Dutch applicants. Admissions information for international applicants can be found in the inside cover of this brochure.
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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT
Would you like to have more information about this programme or others? We invite you to visit one of our information events. Information Day Friday, 5 November 2010; registering in time is compulsory › All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M › In and around the Academy building, city centre Groningen › Each programme gives a short presentation › Talks on housing, student life, etc. › Student Activity Fair Open Day on Location Friday, 4 March 2011; registering in time is compulsory › All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M › Visit programmes on location › Learn about one or two programmes › Lecture, representative class, tour of the facilities, information booths Last Minute Information Day Friday, 10 June 2011 › Morning programme in the Academy building › Workshops on how to chose the programme that fits you best, information booth
› Afternoon programme: current students and faculty members will be available to answer questions Student for a Day On Thursday 9 December 2010 and Thursday 7 April 2011; registering in time is compulsory › For prospective students who have almost made up their minds › Intensive programme at one degree programme › The programme depends on the degree programme: lecture, tutorial, practical, dinner in the city › Many other degree programmes organize a ‘student for a day’ programme, but not all degree programmes › Register with the degree programme itself, via www.rug.nl/feb/eds More information is available at www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, or from the Communication Office at (31) (050) 363 9011. Enrolment Dutch nationals may enrol directly at rug.studielink.nl. Apply for ‘Bedrijfskunde’ (Business Administration, profile IB&M). Studielink is an online service for higher education in the Netherlands, including information on financial assistance. Applicants from outside the Netherlands may enrol at www.rug.nl/howtoapply.
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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT
Friday, 5 November 2010 Information day From November 2010 Dutch student enrolment at www.rug.studielink.nl. Students from outside the Netherlands enrolment at www.rug.nl/howtoapply Apply for ‘Bedrijfskunde/Business Administration, profile IB&M’ For application deadlines for IB&M please go to www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus. Thursday, 9 December 2010 Student for a Day Friday, 4 March 2011 Open Day on Location Thursday, 7 April 2011 Student for a Day 15 April 2011 Deadline for international applicants 15 May 2011 Deadline for Dutch applicants Friday, 10 June 2011 Last Minute Information Day August 2011 General Orientation Week (KEI-week), Presentations by representatives of student associations and tours of the Faculties Monday, 5 September 2011 Official start of the academic year
For questions about enrolment, financial matters, etc. University Student Desk +31 (0)50 363 80 04 www.rug.nl/hoezithet www.rug.nl/insandouts For questions about on-site events Communication Office +31 (0)50 363 90 11 [email protected] www.rug.nl/studiekiezers For questions about the programme Faculty of Economics and Business Student Support +31 (0)50 363 89 00 www.rug.nl/feb/studentsupport
International Business and Management on the Internet www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm Enrolment Dutch students via rug.studielink.nl Helpdesk Studielink +31 (0)88 424 76 00 Enrolment international students via www.rug.nl/howtoapply Information about Numerus Fixus www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
In addition to this brochure there are two others that may be of interest to you: Studeren in Groningen (available only in Dutch) gives information about all of the Bachelor’s programmes, and International Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (in English) which provides information only on the Bachelor’s programmes that are entirely in English. In addition to comprehensive information about individual programmes at the University of Groningen, both of these brochures provide information about admission, application, registration, accommodation, student life, facilities for the disabled, language courses for students from minority groups, opportunities after graduation and more. You can order Studeren in Groningen by visiting www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, and International Bachelor’s Degree Programmes by www.rug.nl/propectivestudents.
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www.rug.nl/studiekiezers
www.rug.nl/internationalstudents
September 2010
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Colophon Publication Communication Office, University of Groningen Text Gracefully Put Lay-out In Ontwerp Photos Johan Zwart, Elmer Spaargaren, Peter Lowie
International Business and Management
This brochure contains information about the bachelor programme. There are separate brochures providing details about the master programmes. Visit www.rug.nl/masters
CONTENTS
International Business and Management in Groningen
1 1 2 2
Cross-border and cross-functional Cross-cultural education Facilities About Groningen…
The content of the degree programme
6 6 7 8 11
The Dutch education system Propaedeutic phase Post-propaedeutic phase Master’s phase Study abroad!
Student life
14 14
Introduction and student associations Study progress supervision
After graduating
16
Another way to do it
Admission
18
Tuition fees
Information and enrolment
19 20
Information Addresses
No rights whatsoever may be derived from the contents of this brochure.
Welcome to The Netherlands
Information for international prospective students
Situated in the north-west of Europe, the Netherlands is the gateway to Europe: one of the founding members of the EU, high standards of education, health care and social equality, and close to most European capitals.
University of Groningen › 400 years of academic tradition and innovation › Leading research university › Study in an international environment › Dedicated to student involvement programmes Facts & Figures › 27,947 students › 3,100 international students › 139 nationalities › 9 faculties › Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes › 9 Graduate Schools › 83 English-taught degree programmes › 10 English-taught double degree programmes
Admissions requirements
Cost of living: relatively low
Prospective students from outside the Netherlands
Applications will be assessed on an individual basis. The admission procedure includes evaluating your academic credentials, this includes your preuniversity secondary school grades and diploma(s), the number of math credits you have earned and your English proficiency.
The latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that living expenses in the Netherlands are modest compared to cities like New York, Paris, London and Beijing. In fact, it still enjoys one of the lowest costs-of-living in Europe.
Housing
€ 260–450 / month (administration € 300 once)
Language course
€ 100–450 / course
Application
For International Business and Management (IB&M) you have to apply early because of the numerus fixus. IB&M has a limited number of places available. Details on the selection procedure for 2011–2012, the numerus fixus and the deadlines can be found at www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.
Food
€ 200 / month
Security deposit
€ 325 / year
Money
€ 55 / month
Bicycle
€ 45–110 / used bike
Insurance Tuition Fee
› EEA-students € 1,672 › non-EEA students € 6,800 Books and other study materials should come to no more than € 650 per year. € 75–100 / month
Total
€ 9,000–10,000 / year
GRONINGEN AMSTERDAM
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/prospectives (for details about admission and tuition fees) › www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus (details on the selection procedure) › www.feb-international.com (student ambassadors) › www.rug.nl/howtoapply (application other students) › www.rug.nl/insandouts (practical information in English)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
The recent worldwide economic developments have caused quite some controversy and confusion, but it has made one thing absolutely clear: employers need graduates with the appropriate academic skills who can think and act on a global scale.
What is the difference between doing business in India or in Germany? How does a firm deal with the chances and challenges of internationalization? Setting up a factory abroad or expanding your market to other countries is not an easy task. If you like business cases like these, International Business and Management (IB&M) might be the right choice for you. The IB&M programme is a profile within the Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (‘Bedrijfskunde’ in Dutch). The programme focuses on dealing with economic, cultural, legal and political issues in an international business situation. If you choose to study IB&M, from day one you will be in an academic and distinctly international environment. Everything will be in English, and you will develop substantial academic skills that will help you start a career in diverse work fields. Cross-border and cross-functional The Business Administration degree programme teaches to think critically at an academic level about organizations, organizational problems and possible solutions. Graduates of Business Administration are jacksof-all-trades. During the programme you study business processes, human behaviour in relation to work, marketing, information systems management, law and economic aspects of the business world. You will also develop a general understanding of management and organization. Of course, IB&M focuses on the international context of this management perspective. You will learn to understand local, regional, national and international issues. Imagine a multinational that operates under regulations and laws that differ from one location to another. It will be your task to manage the linguistic barriers, foreign exchange and political risk. It goes without saying that international business requires a diverse set of skills. Cross-cultural eduction Many things influence our behaviour, and culture is one of the most powerful of them. During the IB&M programme you will learn to be sensitive to cultural differences, customs and social norms. You may find that you need to make changes in your product or service in response to differences in consumer tastes and expectations, in order to marketing what you have to offer based on given social norms. Business practices themselves are not free of sociocultural influences. You will learn to adapt your management style and techniques, and change the way you deal with your employees, investors, suppliers and distributors. All of these topics are covered in the programme. You will also start learning another language in addition to English and your own. You will professionally be instructed by several members of academic staff from outside the Netherlands and hear guest lecturers from abroad as well. You will study and work on projects together with fellow students from around the world. You will study for at least a semester at another academic institution outside of the Netherlands.
A ‘DIFFERENCE’ PROGRAMME…
Studying multinational firms is an important part of the programme. They are responsible for a big share of world production and trade, and also play a big role in the international diffusion of technological and managerial knowledge. Many multinationals are major employers. In some countries, this means that they are powerful engines for social change, especially in hiring and promoting underemployed women and minorities. Global NGOs The building of the faculty provide humanitarian aid in the short term and training for the future.
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Students sometimes expect IB&M to be a managerial practice how-to programme. This is not the case. Students do learn some techniques, but more importantly they study business theories as well as organisations and their settings. It is their intellectual understanding and their sensitivity to differences in perceptions and approaches that equip them to correctly analyse situations - when and where they arise - and to determine effective responses across their entire careers. These are the focus of IB&M. Facilities Surroundings are important. Our buildings are modern, comfortable and well equipped. The central library of the university has a core collection for each discipline. We also have our own library with an extensive – and always growing – economics and business collection, plenty of study spaces, meeting rooms, and a plaza café for short breaks. There is free wireless internet access throughout the complex so you can go on the Internet, read and send email, and check for updates on the student intranet (‘nestor’) wich links to just about all programmerelevant information.
About Groningen… The city of Groningen is a great place to live! It is fun and vibrant and as roughly one out of every six residents is a student, you will feel right at home. Groningen is large enough and has enough variety to be interesting and enjoyable, but small enough to mean that you’ll be able to conveniently get around by bike. You will soon find out that the cultural activities, nightlife, sports facilities and recreational opportunities are excellent!
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm (more about the course of study) › www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (information for Dutch prospective students) › www.feb-international.com (student ambassadors at Groningen) › www.rug.nl/feb/streetview › www.rug.nl/honours (Honours College University of Groningen)
Is this the programme for you? IB&M is challenging and fast-paced. You need to start with good study skills, a good command
of English, and a firm grasp of mathematics and economics. To have a successful career in international business, you will need to be receptive to different ideas, and be willing to challenge some of your own.
Roshni van Zeijst (18)
first year student in International Business and Management ‘At first I didn’t know what I wanted to study, but I soon realized I’ve always had a feeling for business. It runs in the family: my father and brother are both working in the business world. This is why I ended up choosing International Business and Management. I believe it is a very rich programme because it covers basically every aspect of the field of business, including law and economics. As the name already suggests, it is a very internationally oriented programme. This is something I particularly like, as I hope to see more of the world one day. The academic year is divided into four blocks, during which you follow four separate courses at the same time. Beforehand, I expected the courses to be more integrated with each other. However, I noticed a lot of repetition of theory at some points throughout the year. Still, I really like the programme as it is, and the only thing that I would advise future students to do is to study something you like!’
Study something you like!
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Think about it…
Starting up a branch office in New York is not the same as setting up a factory in New Delhi. What IB&M does, is help you to acquire the knowledge and analytical skills you will need to confidently handle business possibilities and challenges, whatever and wherever they might be. The programme also gives you many opportunities to increase your cultural IQ. Where better to do that than at a university in the centre of Europe?
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN
27,947 students altogether 778 Bachelor’s students in International Business and Management 5,971 first year students altogether 315 first year students in International Business and Management 3,100 international students from outside the Netherlands 5,500 employees 571 professors 58 Bachelor’s programmes 114 Master’s programmes 9 faculties 190 buildings 400,000 square meters of facilities 525 million euro annual budget
EXCELLENCE ALLOWED!
Gifted and motivated students are given the opportunity to make the most of their talents via the University of Groningen Honours College. Completing this challenging programme will result in an additional Honours diploma. Students follow special Honours workshops and other deepening courses alongside their usual Bachelor’s degree courses. They also organize guest lectures and company visits. Students also follow a number of broadening courses and training programmes with Honours students from other faculties. There is a selection procedure. More information: www.rug.nl/feb/excellenceallowed
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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN GRONINGEN
Prof. dr. Luchien Karsten (62)
Professor in International Business and Management ‘We describe our programme as cross-border, cross-cultural and cross-functional. That means that when we think business, we think globally - physically, socioculturally, and pedagogically. That way of thinking is reflected in my own career. I have felt at home in universities in Burkino Faso, England, France, Indonesia, Russia, and Scotland, and have worked closely on research and development projects with colleagues from across Africa, Asia and Europe. My degrees are in economics and philosophy, my teaching in business, management, and history, and my research published in Dutch and English in management and sociology academic journals. We are doing all that we can to help students learn to think globally too. We send them around the world to study and intern, immerse them in cultural diversity, and provide them with training across academic disciplines. Many firms today implement crossfunctional teams that manage business processes across the traditional boundaries of functional areas. What we do is get students ready for a place on the team.’
Get students ready for a place on the team
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
The Bachelor’s degree programme in International Business and Management consists of two phases: the propaedeutic phase (first year) and the post-propaedeutic phase (second and third years).
The Dutch education system An academic year has two semesters of 21 weeks each, September to February and February to July. Teaching is done with lectures, tutorials and practicals. It is important that students prepare ahead for lectures as all of the material cannot be covered in the time allotted for them alone. Lecturers focus on main points and on particularly difficult aspects of the assigned literature. Material is explained in more detail in smaller classes and tutorials. Students also discuss the readings and lectures and go over individual assignments and joint work in the tutorials. Practicals give students an opportunity to work together in still smaller groups on assignments and presentations. Usually there is at least one written exam as they are a way to gage progress. Course grades normally are calculated based on exam results and grades earned on assignments. We use the European credit and transfer system (ECTS) which expresses course workloads and learning outcomes in terms of credits. Generally speaking, one credit represents 28 hours of time spent reading and studying, attending classes, participating in small groups, working on individual and team projects and the like. As students are required to devote more time to some courses, the number of credits per course varies, for instance five credits for one course and ten for another. It takes 180 credits to earn a Bachelor’s degree. Propaedeutic phase All IB&M students participate in the same courses the first year of the programme. These cover the fundamental disciplines of international business, the history of management, international management, economics, financial accounting, as well as international marketing and
To merge or not to merge?
At the beginning of June 1995 everything looked good for the merger of Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company headquarted in the US, and Pharmacia AB, a Swedish firm with Italian operations. The Kalamazoo, Michigan, based integration team was already busy scheduling three-way meetings for the coming two months. But there was a hitch: While Americans get two weeks of vacation annually, and take them when it best suits the needs of the company, Swedes spend the whole month of July at their lakeside cottage, and Italians traditionally take off all of August. The US team had to go back to square one, putting most things off until September.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
international business law. You will also build a solid base in statistics. The first year features extensive training in how to read and write academic English. Some of the courses in year one are detailed below. Introduction to International Business This course is an overall introduction to the International Business and Management Bachelor’s programme. It shows how, in spite of advances in trade and investment, countries still differ in cultural, economical, and political environments. It analyses internationalisation strategies and modes of entry into foreign markets, as well as international production, marketing, financial, and human resource management strategies. International Management In this course you will focus on how people behave in organisations, particularly what motivates them, how they perceive and interpret the behaviour of others and communicate with them, how they handle conflicts, and how they exert or resist leadership. International Business Law Firms that do business internationally often have to contend with complicated legal issues. A basic knowledge of international business law is therefore essential.
International Marketing International Marketing is the study of how firms develop new products or adapt existing ones to meet the needs of customers beyond their own country, how they price and promote such products, and how they handle their distribution. All of these first year courses will form your toolkit. Research Methods will help you make the most of it in carrying out research. Finally, your training in English is crucial if you want to operate internationally. You may read more about all of these courses in the online course catalogue Ocasys. At the end of the first year you will be issued with a binding study advice. We presume that you will obtain all your credits. If you have not yet earned forty of the sixty credit points, you will have to stop your studies. You must also complete the first-year programme within two years. Post-propaedeutic phase In the second and third years of the programme you will build on the propaedeutic coursework and deepen your knowledge. You will take further courses in international management, financial management and management accounting, international economics, international
Eat, drink and be global
The Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Thomas Friedman writes in his book The World is Flat that new communication and transportation technologies have drastically reduced international differences. Many see Friedman’s book as an update on the relentless advance of globalisation. Yet, a cursory look at European statistics shows profound and enduring differences even in what we eat and drink. In 2008 the per capita consumption of wine in Luxemburg was 61 litres per year, more than three times that of the Netherlands.
7
THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen in China
The course Management of International Business Organizations (MIBO) calls for formulating a research question, finding secondary data resources, and operationalising the constructs. One recent MIBO project was an investigation of how Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen tried to enter the Chinese market. Which strategy did they choose? Where did they locate their plants? Which cultural differences had to be resolved? You will answer questions like these in your MIBO research project.
business law, research methods and statistics, and also take French or Spanish. You will do a lot of reading and independent studying. You will go to classes and the lectures of guest speakers, participate in small discussion groups, work on team projects, attend workshops and seminars, and take short study trips. Study outside the Netherlands Once you have met the requirements of the first part of the programme, ideally by the end of the second year, you will spend a semester abroad at one of our many partner universities in Europe, Latin America, Australia, North America, or Asia. This is a major opportunity to further develop your cross-cultural and language skills and you will be able to take courses in which your host institution has a particular expertise. IB&M students have to hit the ground running! With an obligatory semester abroad, students have just five short semesters to do a lot of work. If they fall too far behind in the beginning, they will not be able to meet the strict mid-programme requirements that must be fulfilled before they can go abroad. Not meeting that first big deadline means postponing the semester outside the Netherlands until the second half of the third year, and that means returning to complete the final semester the next September. This means some students will have to wait another seven months before starting a Master’s programme. So be warned!
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The final stage of the Bachelor’s programme is the writing of a thesis. That thesis will test your ability to apply all the material you have mastered and the research and writing skills that you have acquired throughout the programme to a particular research question. Master’s phase After earning your Bachelor’s degree you may decide to go directly onto the job market. However acquiring additional knowledge and further improving your research skills may give you many more career opportunities. The MSc in International Business and Management is a one year programme focusing on the management of multinational enterprises. In the second semester of that year you will write a Master’s thesis which can be combined with an internship. The MSc in International Business and Management has two specializations besides the regular Master’s programme. The specialization International Financial Management focuses on the financial management of multinational enterprises. For this programme you will spend one semester at Uppsala University in Sweden and one in Groningen. The other specialization is the Dual Award in Advanced International Business Management and Marketing in cooperation with the University of Newcastle in the UK. You will study one semester in Groningen, one in Newcastle and write your thesis in either Groningen or Newcastle.
A solid footing in management
Diana Tircomnicu (21)
Bachelor’s student in International Business and Management ‘I’m from Romania. The flight from Bucharest to Amsterdam takes less than three hours, yet for a long time the rest of Europe was a world apart - not anymore! There are definitely still differences though, and the approach to advanced studies is one of them. At the University of Groningen as students progress they have more autonomy, a real say in what they study. This means that when I’m finished I’ll have exactly the kind of solid footing in management that I came here to get. I remember back when I applied feeling that I was making a very brave leap. In fact, it turns out not to have been so hard, in part because I’ve had plenty of help. Now I’m involved in the student ambassadors project. We try to help others decide if this is the place for them, and if they do come here, to make the most of their experience. I was just a toddler when the transformation in Romania began in 1989. I’m at Groningen because the way I see it, what happens next, not only in my country but also around the globe, depends on my generation.’ › Diana tells more about her Bachelor’s project in a video on www.rug.nl/video/ba-ibm
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
BACHELOR’S PROGRAMME International Business and Management FIRST YEAR (propaedeutic phase) English Introduction International Business History of Management International Management Financial Accounting International Business Law International Marketing Statistics Economics Research Methods SECOND AND THIRD YEAR Financial Management Information Systems Management International Economics and Trade International Business Law Organisational Change Comparative Country Studies Management Accounting & Information Management Strategic Management Statistics Spanish or French Elective: Emerging Markets International Business Negotiations International HRM Business Ethics & Corporate Social Study abroad (one semester third year) International Strategic Management International Financial Management Managing International Business Organizations Bachelor’s Thesis
What’s the difficulty? The programme is entirely in English. Some students feel quite at ease speaking English, but find that it takes them
considerably more time to read and write English than their own language. Usually, the more they work in English, the better and faster they become. Students who do not have sufficiently strong backgrounds in mathematics and in economics are likely to find Financial Accounting and International Economics and Trade especially challenging. We are aware of the potential stumbling blocks and provide supervision and support. It is important that students seek help when they need it.
ACCESSIBLE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMMES › Business Administration, 9 specialisations: Business and ICT Business Development Change Management Finance Marketing Operations and Supply Chains Organisational and Management Control Small Business and Entrepreneurship Strategy and Innovation › International Business and Management, 2 specialisations International Financial Management (18 months) Advanced International Business Management and Marketing (17 months) › Research Master Economics and Business (24 months) › Teacher Training in Economics and Business (24 months)*
* Two degrees are conferred, a Masters in your area of concentration and another in Education and Communication of Economics and Business Studies
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
STUDY ABROAD!
There are roughly a thousand Groningen students taking classes, doing senior projects and working in internship positions outside of the Netherlands each year. If you choose this programme you will be required to spend one semester of the third year abroad. We believe that these are valuable educational and life experiences, and actively facilitate them. You can apply to spend a semester at one of dozens of Groningen’s partner universities, choose from other institutions with which we have established relationships or find a place abroad yourself. It is important that you begin planning your semester abroad well in advance. The Exchange Office can give you valuable information about the many programmes and grants that are available, let you know about practical matters such as visas, and put you in touch with students and academic staff from outside the Netherlands who are at Groningen and who may be able to help you. The exchange coordinator will be able to inform you about earning transferable credits while you are studying away from Groningen. Not only do we want our students to experience studying and living outside the Netherlands, but we also open our own doors. You are sure to meet one of the 3100 students from other countries who come here annually to study, hear one of the many guest speakers from outside the Netherlands or be taught by academic staff members from abroad.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
A guide to successful investment
Your Bachelor’s thesis will give you a chance to demonstrate your ability to think at an advanced academic level. For example, one student carried out research at a Dutch company that wanted to help Dutch entrepreneurs do business in emerging countries. That company also considered the possibility of helping firms from emerging countries to invest in Europe. The student identified under which conditions such investments can be successful, and came up with useful guidelines to avoid potential problems.
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THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
Other MSc Programmes The University of Groningen offers several other Master’s programmes, including the MSc in Human Resource Management, a two-year Research Master’s programme in Economics and Business that will prepare you for a career in academia and the MSc in Business Administration with nine specialisations.
CAREER OFFICE: CAREER ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS
Making the transition from student to professional is a challenge that starts as soon as you start to study. During your degree programme you will have several opportunities to prepare, like doing an internship, attending congresses and career activities, or going abroad. The Faculty of Economics and Business Career Office helps you to exploit these opportunities. It has an overview of internship offers and provides information about internships, career activities and the labour market. You have access to a network of interns who share their experiences through interactive blogs, and the career calendar is an overview of current career activities for students. More information: www.rug.nl/feb/career
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm › www.rug.nl/feb/programmes (overview of courses) › www.rug.nl/feb/msc (Master’s degree programmes)
What’s in a name?
The taste of a Coca-Cola in the Netherlands is not the same as it is in Nigeria. Firms know that tastes are not universal. Sometimes it is the domestic brand name of a product that does not translate well. For example, it is doubtful that English speakers would want to guzzle Japan’s most popular sports drink, Pocari Sweat, or the French soft drink Pschitt. Would you choose White Elephant batteries, buy Darky toothpaste, or feel comfortable putting your savings into South Korea’s Wooribank?
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STUDENT LIFE
Your life as a student in Groningen will start with the general introduction week for all first-year students at the University of Groningen (KEI-week).
Introduction and student associations The KEI-week is the perfect way to get to know the city and learn about all the cultural and sports activities for students in Groningen. At the end of August all incoming students can attend the introduction of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB). Here, new students learn everything they need to know about studying at FEB. You can also attend the introduction camp of the Economics and Business student Faculty Association (EBF). One of the things that students will find out about is EBF itself, an organisation open to all students in the faculty that organises conferences and symposia, arranges company visits and study trips, and sponsors many other activities. International Business and Management students will be especially interested in associations like AIESEC and MARUG. Study progress supervision Unlike at secondary school, at university you are not supervised so closely. We expect you to work independently and plan your studies. However, we will of course help you to do so. Together with other firstyear students, you will be assigned to a mentor group with a mentor. This senior student will help you quickly find your way around the Faculty. There are about 15 students in a mentor group. These are also the students you will share tutorials with. This small-group approach results in a lot of contact between students and between students and lecturers. You will have a progress meeting with your tutor (lecturer-supervisor) after every exam block. If you have specific studying problems, for example with exams, funding or study delay, you can call on the Faculty’s study advisors. If you have questions about studying in general, you can go to the University Student Desk.
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› www.ebfgroningen.nl, www.marug.nl, www.aiesec.nl (student associations) › www.keiweek.nl (introduction) › www.groningenlife.nl (student life) › www.lefier.nl, www.kamernet.nl (finding rooms)
GRONINGEN, YOUR STUDENT CITY
187,295 inhabitants 52,000 students 33,700 or so student residences 54 student sport associations 36 pizza shops 199 bars 8 discotheques 2,743 café terrace seats 7 laundries 94 employment agencies 24 music stores 65 driving schools 31 bicycle repair shops 3,345 student weblogs 1 Best City Centre in the Netherlands 2006
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Many opportunities to join an organisation
Valdis Salaks (20) Third year student in International Business and Management
‘Groningen offers many activities in addition to studying. You will have many opportunities to join an organisation with people you’ll really enjoy being with. For instance, if you want to be in the best physical shape in your life, look into ACLO, a sports organisation that offers a variety of sports activities in which you can participate. At home in Latvia and while I was in high school in the US I played basketball. That’s why in my first year here I joined basketball club Moestasj. I was on a team with Dutch and international students, Bachelor’s and Master’s students, PhD-students and some were alumni. Playing B-ball with people with such different backgrounds and age broadened my own student experience. I advise everyone to do the same. Join a club. Become a member and be part of the culture. And because practices are in the evening, it should not interfere with your studies. I’m on schedule so far. It’s a three year programme and I am planning to graduate in three years. Finally, I can say that finding a nice apartment sometimes can be difficult, but through my Moestasj connections I got one really fast.’
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AFTER GRADUATING
IB&M can be the starting point for a satisfying career in international management. It is possible to go directly onto the job market with a Bachelor’s degree. However, earning a Master’s degree significantly increases your career options and allows you to eventually reach higher levels in management.
A Master’s in International Business and Management will give you the credentials to work for a multinational firm, and any number of governmental institutions and international organisations. If you were to choose the Research Master’s you could move into academia, perhaps decide to go further and earn a PhD. Plenty of multinationals will be interested in students with an academic degree in business. For instance companies like Microsoft, Siemens, Capgemini, Toyota, Samsung, Ahold, Heineken, Unilever, Ikea, Zara, H&M and Virgin all need internationally trained employees. Your position within these kind of organisations can vary from export manager or international marketer, to international sales manager, product manager or human resource manager. But numerous other career opportunities will lie ahead of you. This of course depends on the choices you make during and after studying. Many organisations also offer traineeships and junior positions which will introduce you to the different types of activities.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/alumni (graduates site) › www.rug.nl/feb/SOM (research school)
Another way to do it…
Lutz Bönisch
started a 2-year trainee programme with the insurance company Allianz in Germany. His focus is on serving customers as a field service representative. Lutz was recruited into his new job out of an internship with the same company. Prior to his studies, Lutz did an apprenticeship in banking.
Liesbeth Bloemendal
works as a controller for Parker Hannafin, an American multinational that just acquired a company with operations in Austria and Germany. She is heading up the team handling the accounting and financial aspects of the acquisition implementation.
Björn van Coeverden
currently works at Microsoft Netherlands. During his study period he spent a semester in Sweden, took an extensive language course in Spain, and also worked in Peru. His final thesis was on the strategic and operational implications of a firm going international. All of these ingredients helped him to get his job at Microsoft.
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AFTER GRADUATING
It turned out to be good training
Doris Fahle (26)
Working graduate at Deloitte ‘I’m from Germany and have studied there, in Austria and in the Netherlands. Along the way I had traineeships in Germany, Portugal, Morocco and Spain, and developed an interest in renewable energy. I first made contact with Deloitte, where I now work, at an energy conference. I was fortunate to be able to combine a five-month internship at Deloitte with writing my thesis on renewable energy projects. There are advances all the time in ways to improve efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. It’s fun to be a part – however small – in a wave of the future. When I was getting my Master’s degree, each new module I took called for gathering, absorbing and applying information. That turned out to be good training. Now when I’m assigned a project I don’t have a lot of time for preparation. The faster I can take in what I need to know and apply it, the more successful I am in my job.’
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ADMISSION *)
VWO
WITH A DUTCH VWO DIPLOMA Candidates with the profiles Economics & Society, Nature & Health or Nature & Technology can immediately enter the Bachelor’s programme. The profile Culture & Society must be complemented with mathematics A or B.
HBO
WITH A DUTCH HBO DIPLOMA With a HBO propaedeutic certificate it is also possible to enter the programme, on the condition that you meet the required level of mathematics. You must at least have taken mathematics A12 or B1 (now mathematics A or B) at Dutch VWO level.
VWO/HBO
X
NO DUTCH VWO OR HBO DIPLOMA? If you do not have a Dutch VWO or HBO diploma but are 21 or older, you may take the university admission exam, the ‘colloquium doctum’, for a fee of € 100,–. If you pass, you will be admitted to the Bachelor’s degree programme.
www
› www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (Dutch) › www.rug.studielink.nl (application Dutch students) › www.rug.nl/hoezithet (practical information Dutch students) › www.duo.nl (financial assistance Dutch students)
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Tuition fees for Dutch students
There are no costs in addition to the tuition fees, € 1,672 for the 2010–2011 academic year. Books and other study materials should come to no more than € 650 per year.
NUMERUS FIXUS
The bachelor Business Administration (in Dutch) and its English taught profile International Business & Management has a limited number of places available. Details on the selection procedure for 2011-2012, the numerus fixus and the deadlines can be found at: www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.
LEVEL OF REQUIRED MATHEMATICS
The website www.rug.nl/feb/mathtest will provide you with information, exercises, suggestions for reading and sample tests on the faculty’s required mathematics level. The faculty offers a Mathematics Entrance Examination twice a year for students with a Maths deficiency. The exams are only open to students already living in the Netherlands.
* ) Information for Dutch applicants. Admissions information for international applicants can be found in the inside cover of this brochure.
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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT
Would you like to have more information about this programme or others? We invite you to visit one of our information events. Information Day Friday, 5 November 2010; registering in time is compulsory › All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M › In and around the Academy building, city centre Groningen › Each programme gives a short presentation › Talks on housing, student life, etc. › Student Activity Fair Open Day on Location Friday, 4 March 2011; registering in time is compulsory › All Bachelor’s programmes, including IB&M › Visit programmes on location › Learn about one or two programmes › Lecture, representative class, tour of the facilities, information booths Last Minute Information Day Friday, 10 June 2011 › Morning programme in the Academy building › Workshops on how to chose the programme that fits you best, information booth
› Afternoon programme: current students and faculty members will be available to answer questions Student for a Day On Thursday 9 December 2010 and Thursday 7 April 2011; registering in time is compulsory › For prospective students who have almost made up their minds › Intensive programme at one degree programme › The programme depends on the degree programme: lecture, tutorial, practical, dinner in the city › Many other degree programmes organize a ‘student for a day’ programme, but not all degree programmes › Register with the degree programme itself, via www.rug.nl/feb/eds More information is available at www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, or from the Communication Office at (31) (050) 363 9011. Enrolment Dutch nationals may enrol directly at rug.studielink.nl. Apply for ‘Bedrijfskunde’ (Business Administration, profile IB&M). Studielink is an online service for higher education in the Netherlands, including information on financial assistance. Applicants from outside the Netherlands may enrol at www.rug.nl/howtoapply.
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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT
Friday, 5 November 2010 Information day From November 2010 Dutch student enrolment at www.rug.studielink.nl. Students from outside the Netherlands enrolment at www.rug.nl/howtoapply Apply for ‘Bedrijfskunde/Business Administration, profile IB&M’ For application deadlines for IB&M please go to www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus. Thursday, 9 December 2010 Student for a Day Friday, 4 March 2011 Open Day on Location Thursday, 7 April 2011 Student for a Day 15 April 2011 Deadline for international applicants 15 May 2011 Deadline for Dutch applicants Friday, 10 June 2011 Last Minute Information Day August 2011 General Orientation Week (KEI-week), Presentations by representatives of student associations and tours of the Faculties Monday, 5 September 2011 Official start of the academic year
For questions about enrolment, financial matters, etc. University Student Desk +31 (0)50 363 80 04 www.rug.nl/hoezithet www.rug.nl/insandouts For questions about on-site events Communication Office +31 (0)50 363 90 11 [email protected] www.rug.nl/studiekiezers For questions about the programme Faculty of Economics and Business Student Support +31 (0)50 363 89 00 www.rug.nl/feb/studentsupport
International Business and Management on the Internet www.rug.nl/feb/bscibm Enrolment Dutch students via rug.studielink.nl Helpdesk Studielink +31 (0)88 424 76 00 Enrolment international students via www.rug.nl/howtoapply Information about Numerus Fixus www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
In addition to this brochure there are two others that may be of interest to you: Studeren in Groningen (available only in Dutch) gives information about all of the Bachelor’s programmes, and International Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (in English) which provides information only on the Bachelor’s programmes that are entirely in English. In addition to comprehensive information about individual programmes at the University of Groningen, both of these brochures provide information about admission, application, registration, accommodation, student life, facilities for the disabled, language courses for students from minority groups, opportunities after graduation and more. You can order Studeren in Groningen by visiting www.rug.nl/studiekiezers, and International Bachelor’s Degree Programmes by www.rug.nl/propectivestudents.
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www.rug.nl/studiekiezers
www.rug.nl/internationalstudents
September 2010
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Colophon Publication Communication Office, University of Groningen Text Gracefully Put Lay-out In Ontwerp Photos Johan Zwart, Elmer Spaargaren, Peter Lowie
