2014 2015

International Business

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 in Groningen
Cross-border and cross-functional Cross-cultural education 2 Facilities 2 About Groningen
1 1

The content of the degree programme

7 8 8
6 6

The Dutch education system Propaedeutic phase Post-propaedeutic phase Careers weeks Masters phase 11 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

In 2014 the University of Groningen will be 400 years old. That deserves to be celebrated! For a whole month, from 15 May to 15 June, Groningen and environs will be celebrating with the theme For Infinity (4). A whole month of celebrations, sport, science and culture open to all, including prospective students! www.rug400.nl

No rights whatsoever may be derived from the contents of this brochure.

Welcome to The Netherlands

Information for international prospective students 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, with 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 AACSB accredited Study in an international environment  Dedicated to student involvement programmes  Most sustainable university of The Netherlands Facts & Figures 27,512 students 3,700 international students 115 nationalities 9 faculties Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes 9 Graduate Schools 101 English-taught degree programmes 16 English-taught double degree programmes

Aman Sharma (21)

Senior student, from India The good reputation and the international orientation is what made me decide to come to Groningen. I explored my options well, because The Netherlands doesnt come to mind to most Indians as a destination for higher education! Now Im here I know that I couldnt have got such an experience and exposure anywhere else in the world. Adjusting to the way of life was smooth I was made to feel like a local right from day 1. For me University of Groningen is the perfect start to a successful, international career.

International applicants

Cost of living: relatively low

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.

Admissions requirements
Applicants will be assessed on an individual basis. The admissions procedure involves the evaluation of your educational background, including secondary school courses/grades, and your English language proficiency (IELTS 6, with Speaking 6/ Writing 5.5; TOEFL 80, with Speaking 19/Writing 20; CAE; CPE. You should have passed mathematics as a standard/methods level subject during your secondary school education.

Housing
300450 / month (administration 300 once)

Language course
100450 / course

Not directly admissible?

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree programme, then you have the option to enter through an International Foundation Year. www.rug.nl/feb/foundationyear

Food
200 / month

Security deposit
325 / year

Money
55 / month

Bicycle
45110 / used bike

Application
International Business has a limited number of places available. In 2013/2014, they have been allocated by decentralized selection. The procedure for 2014/2015 will probably be similar. This means that you would have to enrol in Studielink at an early stage. Details and deadlines can be found at www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus.

Insurance
75100 / month

Total
10,00011,000 / year

Tuition Fee
EEA-students 1,835 per year non-EEA students 7,500 per year Already completed a Bachelors degree of a Dutch university or a Dutch HBO? You will be charged a higher tuition fee. Books and other study materials should come to no more than 650 per year. GRONINGEN AMSTERDAM

www
www.rug.nl/feb/prospectives (for details about admission and tuition fees) www.rug.nl/howtoapply (international applicants) www.rug.nl/insandouts (practical information)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 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 might be the right choice for you. The programme focuses on dealing with economic, cultural, legal and political issues in an international business situation. If you choose to study International Business, 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. Above all, International Business is an AACSB international accredited programme. You will study at one of the top 5% business schools in the world. Cross-border and cross-functional The International Business degree programme teaches you to think critically at an academic level about organizations, organizational problems and possible solutions.Graduates are jacks-of-all-trades. During the programme you will 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. Needless to say, International Business 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 these. In the International Business programme you will learn to be sensitive to cultural differences, customs and social norms. In order to market what you have to offer according to given social norms, it may be necessary to make changes to your product or service in response to differences in consumer taste and expectations. 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. The professional instruction will be provided by members of academic staff, from outside the Netherlands as well, and guest lecturers from abroad will complement the programme. You will study and work on projects together with fellow students from around the world, and will study for at least a semester at another 1academic 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.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN GRONINGEN

Students sometimes expect International Business 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 International Business. 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 caf 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 wich links to just about all programmerelevant information.

About Groningen The city of Groningen is a great place to live! It is fun, safe 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 youll 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/bscib (more about the course of study) www.rug.nl/feb/studiekiezers (information for Dutch prospective students) www.rug.nl/feb/aacsb (about our international accreditation) www.rug.nl/honours (Honours College University of Groningen)

Is this the programme for you? International Business 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.

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 Friedmans 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 2010 the per capita consumption of wine in Luxemburg was 54 litres per year, more than three times that of the Netherlands.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 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 International Business 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
27,512 students altogether 1006 Bachelors students in International Business 5,773 first year students altogether 408 first year students in International Business 3,700 international students 5,500 employees 570 professors 45 Bachelors programmes 146 Masters programmes 9 faculties 240,000 square meters of facilities 603 million euro annual budget

EXCELLENCE ALLOWED!
Gifted and exceptionally 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 Bachelors 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

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN GRONINGEN

Laurien Verschuur (21)

first-year student in International Business After I graduated from high school I took the time to figure out what to do next, and decided to go live in China for six months. I worked as an au pair and my time there made me realize I really wanted to study something with an international orientation. When I got back, I decided to do International Business in Groningen, because the study programme and city really appealed to me. Its everything I expected it to be. My study programme is fun and challenging. It requires some degree of self-discipline to keep up with your coursework, but its definitely doable. In my spare time Im also a member of a student association. Together with a committee of freshmen, I organized the parents day for the parents of all first-years. We took a tour of the city and our association. It was a lot of fun, and I gained organizational skills which will be helpful in the future.

Its everything I expected it to be

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

The Bachelors degree programme in International Business 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 comprises four blocks each lasting ten weeks. The year runs from September to July. Tests and exams are taken during and at the end of each block. The first semester runs from September to February, the second from 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. It takes 180 credits to earn a Bachelors degree: 150 in Groningen and 30 abroad. Each course is 5 credits. Propaedeutic phase In order to start off your studies successfully, we provide you with an intensive entry programme in the week of your first classes. During this programme we will answer your questions, you will get to meet your fellow students and you will get important study-related information. The courses of the first year cover the fundamental disciplines of international business. Courses like international management, economics, financial accounting, as well as international marketing and international business law are part of the first year. You will also build a solid base in statistics.

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.

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

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 Bachelors programme. It shows how, in spite of advances in trade and investment, countries still differ in cultural, economic, 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 earned 45 of the 60 credit points, you will have to leave your degree programme. You must also complete the first-year programme within two years. (The BSA threshold may be raised to 50 credits, and the BSA may also be introduced for the second and third 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 and research methods and statistics.You will do a lot of reading and independent

Spotting opportunities in the nuances

Cultural differences are important, but when dealing with them companies should not stress differences. Finding similarities is what helped Starbucks, for example, to become successful outside the US. While China is a tea-drinking nation, the coffee company found its opportunities in the big cities, where people have more money and are more interested in the Western lifestyle than the people from the countryside. And remember: if you reach only two percent of the Chinese population, your market is still larger than the whole of the Netherlands. International Business supplies you with the research tools for spotting the opportunities in the nuances.

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen in China

The course Managing International Business Organization calls for formulating a research question, finding secondary data resources, and operationalising the constructs. One recent 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 research project.

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. International Business 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 Masters programme. So be warned! The final stage of the Bachelors 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.

Careers weeks In order to be well-prepared for your career, a careers week twice a year is part of the programme. Workshops, lectures and meetings will give you more insight in your personal skills and ambitions, the jobs that you are studying for and how to empower your employability. Masters phase After earning your Bachelors 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 Masters thesis which can be combined with an internship. Students can enter a broad variety of Masters degree programmes in and outside of Groningen. The experience is that most students continue with a master programme in International business, Strategy, Marketing, Finance, the double degree international business and marketing (Newcastle and Groningen), or the double degree international financial management (Uppsala and Groningen). For the double degree programmes you spend one semester abroad at our partner university, and one in Groningen, and you will write your masters thesis either in Groningen or abroad. Other MSc Programmes The University of Groningen offers several other Masters programmes, including the MSc in Human Resource Management, a two-year Research Master in Economics and Business that will prepare you for a career in academia and the MSc in Business Administration with four specialisations.

Settling in wasnt hard for me

Julia Gerken (20)
bachelor student in International Business When I was choosing a bachelor programme I knew I wanted to do International Business, but I also wanted to study in English and in an international environment. Groningen met all those prerequisites, and I have not regretted it for one minute. In Groningen, you work and study with a great mix of Dutch and international students. Settling in wasnt hard for me at all. Dutch people are really open and they speak English quite well, so its easy to communicate. The best subject I took so far was International Economics and Trade, because it has a strong connection to the real world. The class consisted of lectures, weekly tests and optional assignments with which you could earn a bonus. It was the mix of theory and application to the current economic situation in the world that made it really interesting. As part of my bachelor programme, Im going to study at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for a semester. Ill take classes there in both business and Chinese culture and I will get 30 ECTS for it. After that, I hope to do an internship to find out what area I want to specialize in. Julia explains about the field of international business taking McDonalds as an example in a video www.rug.nl/video/ba-ib

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

BACHELORS PROGRAMME International Business FIRST YEAR (propaedeutic phase) Introduction International Business Global Supply Chain Management International Management Financial Accounting Organizational Behavior International Business Environment Economics International Marketing Management Accounting Statistics Research Methodology English SECOND AND THIRD YEAR Foreign Direct Investment, Trade and Geography Finance and Risk Management Information Systems Management Cross Cultural Management International Strategic Management International Financial Management Innovation Management in Multinationals Statistics Qualitative Research Methods International Relations and European Integration International Business Law Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility History of Globalization Comparative Country Studies Managing International Business Organization Study abroad (one semester third year) Bachelors thesis

ACCESSIBLE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMMES Business Administration, 4 specialisations: Change Management Organizational & Management Control Small Business & Entrepreneurship Strategic Innovation Management Finance Human Resource Management International Business and Management DDM Marketing (Newcastle) DDM China and the World Economy (Fudan) International Financial Management DDM International Financial Management (Uppsala) Marketing DDM Strategic Marketing Intelligence (Oslo) Supply Chain Management > Technology and Operations Management DDM Operations Management (Newcastle) Research Master in Economics and Business Teaching 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 Groningens 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 3,700 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.

11

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

A guide to successful investment

Your Bachelors 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.

12

THE CONTENT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME

Whats 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 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.

Career services
The path from a degree to the labour market is a challenge that starts as soon as you start your studies. In your bachelor and master programme, there are various opportunities to prepare for your career, for example during the careers weeks that are part of your study programme every year. Or by doing an internship, visiting a congress, studying abroad or participating in career events. Our Career services can help you on your way. Please visit www.rug.nl/feb/career.

www
www.rug.nl/feb/bscib www.rug.nl/feb/brochures www.rug.nl/feb/msc (Masters degree programmes)

Whats 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 Japans 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 Koreas Wooribank?

13

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 study progress supervision You start your studies with an intensive entry programme. You attend your first lectures, receive information about the facilities and study societies, go on a guided tour through the buildings and get to know your fellow students in your mentor group. Moreover, you get the chance to develop your skills in various workshops. Unlike at school, in your studies you will no longer be taken by the hand. We expect you to be able to work independently and to plan your studies yourself. Of course, we will help you doing so. A mentor will take care of you, together with other first-years. This senior student will make sure you know the ins and outs of the faculty very soon. Your mentor group is also the group in which you follow your tutorials. This smallscale approach enables a lot of contact between students and between students and lecturers. After every exam period, you will meet your tutor (lecturer-supervisor) to discuss your study progress. In case of specific study problems, for example exams, funding or study delay, the facultys study advisors are there to help. General questions can be asked at the University Student Desk. Study societies In order to get to know your fellow students, you may want to join the introduction camp organized by EBF, the faculty association of the Faculty of Economics and Business. This association organizes many activities, such as congresses, company trips and lectures by speakers from the international corporate or political world. As a member, you also get a ten percent discount on your study books. International Business students will also be especially interested in associations like AIESEC and MARUG.

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

195,800 inhabitants 56,000 students 35,000 or so student residences 54 student sport associations 36 pizza shops 199 bars 8 discotheques 2,743 caf terrace seats 7 laundries 94 employment agencies 65 driving schools 31 bicycle repair shops 3,345 student weblogs 1 Best city of the Netherlands 2010 1 Most fun shop of the Netherlands (Italian shop Ariola)

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A successful conference with Al Gore

Ilse Spoelstra (20) third-year student in International Business

I got to know EBF, the study association for economics and business students, through two friends in my first year. To gain practical skills I decided to become an active member myself. I spent a year organizing the annual two-day EBF Conference in September 2011, together with five other students. As the PR-manager, I was in charge of designing all the promotion material and getting as many people to our event as possible. I took time off from my study programme, because work on this committee is a fulltime job. Learning to work together with my fellow committee members on such a big event was a very valuable experience and during that year I expanded my professional network and made a lot of new friends. The conference was a great success, with a famous international keynote speaker, Al Gore. Now Im preparing for my next big adventure. I am going to study in Bangkok for a semester. As part of the International Business curriculum Ill take classes at Chulalongkorn University to earn 30 ECTS. Its a totally new experience, but thats what I like most about International Business: its incredibly diverse.

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AFTER GRADUATING

After your Bachelors degree you meet the requirements for entry-level positions, but almost all students decide to continue with a Masters degree. Since all our programmes are AACSB accredited, your diploma will be valued even more on the labour market.
A Masters 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 Masters 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
Linsey Teuben
studied International Business and Advanced International Business Management & Marketing in Groningen and Newcastle (UK). Before graduating she worked as Trade Marketing intern for Beiersdorf for 6 months and wrote a thesis on International Finance in the meantime. She currently works as Sales Controller for German multinational Henkel: an exciting combination between International Business and Financial Management.

Esther Bakker
is a consultant at Capgemini Consulting. Specialized in Lean and Operational Excellence, she advises companies on how to improve their operational processes and implements the required changes. During her studies she did an internship at KLM Engineering & Maintenance and spent 6 months in Shanghai where she tookeconomics, business and language courses.

Hugo Smeenk
took two marketing internships: at Heineken and at Coleman Benelux, a company in outdoor products. He now has a job at ING as junior marketeer Investments & Personal Banking. He is for example responsible for the online realization of national marketing campaigns.

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AFTER GRADUATING

The foundation for everything I have done since

Joeri van Geelen (23)

International Business graduate My Bachelors degree laid the foundation for everything I have done since graduating from the University of Groningen. Both diverse and all-inclusive, the programme is an exciting programme that provides you with the essentials for doing business abroad. You get to grips with the most important disciplines, for example organizational strategy, marketing and finance. Upon completion of my Bachelors degree, I decided to attend two MSc programmes: International Management and CEMS a global alliance in management education. I currently live in Beijing, studying Mandarin Chinese, and I established my own internet business. Soon I will start an internship at Siemens Wind Power in Shanghai, which will then grant me access to a challenging career in either the energy or consultancy sector. The most enriching and defining moment of my undergraduate studies was my term abroad at the University of Nottingham. This period broadened my horizons, both academically and personally. I came to realize that I needed to excel academically to earn that entry ticket to a challenging and fast-paced international career. On a personal level, I found that I appreciated my home country more by being away. I would certainly recommend every student to study abroad for a while, and International Business offers you the means to do so.

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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 Bachelors 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 A or B at Dutch VWO level. (This may no longer be possible after September 2014; please keep abreast of the legislation.)

VWO/HBO

NO VWO OR HBO DIPLOMA? If you are Dutch and do not have a 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 are admissible to the Bachelors degree programme.

w ww
www.studielink.nl (application Dutch students) www.rug.nl/hoezithet (practical information Dutch students) www.duo.nl (financial assistance Dutch students)

Tuition fees for Dutch students

The statutory tuition fees are 1,835 for the 20132014 academic year. Books and other study materials should come to no more than 650 per year. In case you already have a Bachelors degree of a Dutch university or Dutch HBO, you will be charged a higher tuition fee. The height of the tuition fee varies per programme.

LIMITED PLACES
International Business has a limited number of places available. In 2013/ 2014, they have been allocated by decentralized selection. The procedure for 2014/2015 will probably be similar. This means that you would have to enrol in Studielink at an early stage. Details and 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 facultys 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.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Admissions information for international applicants can be found in the inside cover of this brochure.

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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT

Information Day Friday, 8 November 2013; registering in time is compulsory All Bachelors programmes 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 Friday, 31 January 2014; registering in time is compulsory All Bachelors programmes Visit programmes on location Learn about three or four programmes Lecture, representative class, tour of the facilities, information booths Student for a Day On Thursday 12 December 2013 and Thursday 13 March 2014 at International Business; registering in time is compulsory Intensive programme at one degree programme The programme depends on the degree programme: lecture, tutorial, practical Many other degree programmes organize a Student for a day programme, but not all Register with the degree programme, via www.rug.nl/feb/eds Free webclass Prospective students can participate in the webclass of International Business. During four weeks you will work on assignments. You will get personal feedback and receive a certificate if you finished the class sufficiently. www.rug.nl/feb/webclass More information is available at www.rug.nl/studiekiezers.

Enrolment Dutch students may enrol directly at www.studielink.nl. 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 Deadlines International Business has a fixed quota and has an early deadline, 15 April, for Dutch nd international applicants. The deadline for Dutch applicants for programmes without a fixed quota will probably be brought forward to 1 May. Matching Once Dutch students have registered via Studielink, they will automatically be provided with an opportunity to check wether the chosen degree programme matches their interests. (Not for degree programmes with a fixed quota like International Business). During this procedure, your motivation for, ideas and expectations concerning the degree programme will be examined. You must not only be registered but also have paid your tuition fees by 1 September.

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INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT

From November 2013 Dutch student enrolment at www.studielink.nl. Students from outside the Netherlands enrolment at www.rug.nl/howtoapply For numerus fixus degree programmes (limited places) the enrolment dealines are earlier! For the deadlines of International Business, please go to www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus Friday, 8 November 2013 Information day Thursday, 12 December 2013 Student for a Day Friday, 31 January 2014 Open Day Thursday, 13 March 2014 Student for a Day 15 April 2014 Application deadline International Business 1 May 2014 Possible new general deadline for registering for a degree programme without numerus fixus. (Programmes with a fixed quota like International Business have different registration deadlines.) August 2014 General orientation week (KEI-week), Presentations by representatives of student associations and tours of the Faculties Monday 1 September 2014 The official start of the academic year. You must not only be registered but also have paid your tuition fees.

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 studiekiezers@rug.nl 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 on the Internet www.rug.nl/feb/bscib Free webclass www.rug.nl/feb/webclass Enrolment Dutch students www.studielink.nl Enrolment international students www.rug.nl/howtoapply Information about Numerus Fixus www.rug.nl/feb/numerusfixus

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MORE INFORMATION In addition to this brochure there are also two general information guides, titled Studeren in Groningen (available in Dutch; with information about all Bachelor programmes), and International Bachelor Degree Programmes (available in English; with information about the English bachelor programmes). Apart from comprehensive information about study possibilities at the University of Groningen, these brochures contain information about admission, application, registration, accommodation, student life, facilities for the disabled, language courses for students from minority groups, the labour market and more. To order the general information guides, please visit www.rug.nl/studiekiezers (for the Dutch guide) or www.rug.nl/internationalstudents (for the English guide). www.facebook.com/universityofgroningen www.twitter.com/univgroningen

www.youtube.com/universitygroningen www.unifocus.nl (weekly online video magazine RUG)

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www.rug.nl/studiekiezers

www.rug.nl/internationalstudents

June 2013

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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