During the programme

This module introduces basic marketing concepts and vocabulary as a foundation for further learning. Students will then explain concepts and apply them in a variety of contexts. Topics covered in the module include (but are not limited to):

• Understanding the marketing environment
• Creating value for customers
• Applying strategic frameworks
• Social responsibility of Marketing

All businesses, whether they are private, start-ups or multinational corporations, are made up of many moving parts and business disciplines. Central and core to all of these various companies, no matter what size, is the flow of cash/money throughout the organisation.

The course Financial Accounting aims to teach you how the basic internal workings of the financial functions of a company work and how cash flows are transacted, recorded, analysed and prepared for both internal and external stakeholders.

In the Business Communication module, students develop essential skills for professional environments, focusing on relationship management and effective communication. They learn how to write clear and structured business texts, such as professional emails, communication plans, short reports, and proposals.

Students practice formal business writing and use AI tools to enhance their work. They receive constructive feedback on their final assignments from both peers and the lecturer.

After completing this module, students understand the basics of international business. The module is a game-based simulation of international business management: Marketing, Finance, Operations and HR.  Student teams compete to design, manufacture, and market a consumer technology product while running their multinational organization.  Academic work focuses on evidence-based decision-making and planning skills.  The module is integrated with other modules in the first semester, making it the backbone of the semester.

In an increasingly diverse business environment, business managers need intercultural competence in order to navigate the complexities of a global marketplace. Intercultural Competence and the ability to recognize, respect and integrate different cultural viewpoints form the cornerstones for successful international managers. This course will take students on a journey of discovery of their own unique cultural value orientations, broaden their awareness of other cultures and equip them with essential skills for fostering a global mindset.

International Business requires more than understanding Marketing, Finance, HRM or Operations. To thrive as a student and as a young professional, you need a strong foundation of skills that help you learn effectively, collaborate confidently, and navigate an international environment. Essential Skills is designed to build that foundation.

The “Lean Startup” module is about three things:

• Understanding customers
• Solving problems
• Dealing with uncertainty, because that is what entrepreneurs do. They do that all day and they do that in a very effective way. You wouldn’t think so, but startup entrepreneurs spend 80% of their time on doing applied research. Mostly to invalidate their “great ideas” (assumptions). Learning these entrepreneurial skills might come in handy when you desire to start your own company, but they are for sure essential skills to survive in an ever changing corporate and social environment.

Learn how to make and use the Business Model Canvas and KPI’s to analyse, measure and track a company's performance. Understanding how to calculate the company’s cash flow needs and how to finance its future growth and profitability, will be key aspects in modelling and forecasting the company's strategic turnaround.

During the Social Impact Project in term C, you will work in teams from your class on developing and implementing a ‘real life’ project that impacts society in a positive manner. In the Social Entrepreneurship Project in term D, you will work in multicultural virtual teams with students from all over the world. Teams will write a business concept proposal for a low initial cost venture that profitably progresses a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

The overall content of the course covers a range of concepts and topics related to sustainable business practices.

In this module, you will get introduced into the why, what, and how of sustainable business practices. In doing so we take a hands-on approach using materials and cases from the business world next to some more theoretical sources.

This module introduces students to the core principles of economics and their relevance for international business. Students learn how markets work, how consumers and firms make decisions, and how economic developments such as inflation, unemployment, and global trade affect businesses. The course equips students with the economic reasoning needed to interpret market trends and assess business opportunities in an international context.

In the course Data Driven Business the students will get an introduction to working with data and basic statistical concepts in the business world using examples from sales, finance, human resources, marketing and social sciences. We aim that the student develops a critical thinking approach to results, including those from formulas, graphs, statistical models, machine learning and large language models.

To find the best possible internship placement, we prepare you for success. You will position the best version of yourself in the market by choosing an industry and discipline in which you can develop your talents most effectively—one that aligns with who you are and what you want to achieve.

In this course, no simulation but real practice. You will be coached on how to use the right channels for your search and how to understand and apply the art of networking.

For the networking component of this course, we will also dive directly into practice: you will start making contacts and having interactions and conversations, allowing you to expand both your knowledge network and your opportunity network.

Assignments in this course will be instrumental to building a professional network and defining what the internship semester 4 will bring. 

Responsible production and consumption is one of the Sustainable Development Goals to which 193 governments have committed themselves. Businesses are expected to contribute to this goal significantly. Not only for the purpose of doing good for society but also as it is increasingly considered as being a profitable and future-proof way of doing business. In this module you will be introduced to the concepts and tools needed for this future-proof way of doing business. Together with your fellow team members, you will analyse the global value chain of a cotton t-shirt/pair of jeans. You will identify the environmental and social problems in the different parts of this value chain. By doing so, you will find out how complex global value chains are and how extensive the impact of the value chain of a product can be on both the environment and on people/communities.

Responsible production and consumption is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to which 193 member states of the United Nations have committed themselves to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity by 2030. Businesses are expected to make a significant contribution to this goal. Not only to generate positive societal impact, but also because it is increasingly regarded as a profitable and future-proof business approach. Building on the results of the Value Chain Analysis module, you will be challenged to develop feasible and innovative solutions for the most significant sustainability risks faced by an assigned company. These solutions should carefully consider the interests of the company and those of its most important stakeholders. By the end of the module, you will present and defend your solutions in the form of a project report and an oral defense.

In the module Stakeholder Collaboration you will develop the skills that are needed to set up a cross sector partnership. This is in line with the following Programme Learning Outcomes:

• Create innovative ideas in a changing business environment in a systematic fashion.
• Collaborate effectively with different kinds of stakeholders in different cultural, organisational and political landscapes to contribute to achieving agreed goals.
• Mitigate the pitfalls of cultural differences in business and social contexts.
• Assess the effect of cultural differences on organisational behaviour and strategic choices.
• Incorporate developments of the digital landscape in a marketing strategy.

There are about 486 million native speakers of Spanish, making it second only to Chinese in terms of the most spoken languages in the world. English is just behind Spanish, with approximately 380 million native speakers. Spanish is the third most studied language in the world, after English and French. In addition to the 486 million native speakers, around 74 million people around the world speak Spanish as a second language. When negotiating with companies in Spanish speaking countries, knowledge of the Spanish language is essential, as most people do not speak enough English.

This Spanish for Business 2 course is a sequel to the  Spanish for Business 1 course taught in the first term of semester 3 and helps you to further develop and improve your command of Spanish. Similar to the first course, Spanish for Business 2 offers grammar, vocabulary and further training of your language skills. Meanwhile, there is a clear focus on speaking and listening to help you prepare for the oral assessment at the end of the erm and, in the long run, for an internship or study abroad in a Spanish speaking country. All skills will be practiced at a basic level for normal day-to-day activities and simple business situations.

Dutch for Business 1 is a beginner-level course designed to help students build a solid foundation in Dutch, with no prior knowledge required. The focus is on practical, everyday communication, and students are encouraged to apply what they learn in real-life situations—both with fellow Dutch students and native speakers outside the university. By actively using the language, students not only develop their Dutch skills but also gain insights into Dutch culture, habits, and daily life.

Dutch for Business 2 is a continuation of the beginner’s course, Dutch for Business 1, and further develops students' basic Dutch language skills. Like in Dutch for Business 1, the focus remains on practical, everyday communication. Students are encouraged to apply their learning in real-life situations with fellow Dutch students and native speakers outside the university. This hands-on approach not only strengthens language skills but also deepens students’ understanding of Dutch culture, habits, and daily life.

This course offers you a basic knowledge of Business German A1 level, preparing you partially for an internship or study abroad in a German speaking region. You will expand your knowledge of German vocabulary and grammar in order to be able to communicate with German speaking business partners. All skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) will be practiced on a basic level for day-to-day and business situations but the focus will be on language acquisition related to businesses.

Apart from the language, you will also learn more about the culture and companies in German speaking countries.

This course offers you a basic/intermediate knowledge of Business German on A2 level, preparing you for an internship or study abroad in a German speaking region. You will expand your knowledge of German vocabulary and grammar in order to be able to communicate with German speaking business partners. All skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) will be practiced on a basic/intermediate level for day-to-day and business situations but the focus will be on language acquisition related to businesses.

Apart from the language, you will learn more about the culture and companies in German speaking countries.

This course offers you a basic knowledge of Business French A1 level, preparing you partially for an internship or study abroad in a French speaking region. You will expand your knowledge of French vocabulary and grammar in order to be able to communicate with French speaking business partners. All skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) will be practiced on a basic level for day-to-day and business situations but the focus will be on language acquisition related to businesses.

Apart from the language, you will also learn more about French culture.

This course offers you a basic/intermediate knowledge of Business French on A2 level, preparing you for an internship or study abroad in a French speaking region. You will expand your knowledge of French vocabulary and grammar in order to be able to communicate with French speaking business partners. All skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) will be practiced on a basic/intermediate level for day-to-day and business situations but the focus will be on language acquisition related to businesses.

Apart from the language, you will learn more about French culture.

Students experience day-to-day work in a professional business environment during their first internship. They intern for a minimum of 16 weeks in a field that corresponds to the IB curriculum. During that time, students carry out relevant, actionable tasks for the company. During their internship, students develop the skills needed to become a professional within an international environment.

International business graduates need applied research skills for analysing complex business problems in professional life. The IB programme therefore provides opportunities to practice research in modules such as Value Chain Analysis, Consulting Skills and the Graduation Project.

This module is one early step towards developing research-related knowledge and skills for further study at bachelor level and beyond. During this module, students practice basic applied research skills during lectures, through group and individual assignments, and at teacher-led feedback sessions.

The module theme is consumer purchasing decisions. Consumers with an eye to sustainability can face tough choices. Consumer choice depends on trade-offs between various factors including sustainability, economy, quality, desirability and convenience.

The Cultural Onboarding for Business elective is aimed at both supporting students with cultural onboarding in their host countries at an individual level, and integrating knowledge dimensions of the ways culture shapes business practices across the globe. As organizations increasingly operate in multicultural and international environments, managers and professionals must develop the skills and awareness needed to work effectively across cultural boundaries.

The module investigates the tendency and necessity for organisations to transform from bureaucratic hierarchies to agile networks of teams when confronted with an industry environment that is increasingly complex, volatile and thus uncertain. You will actively investigate the industry trends of an company of your own choosing, interviewing employees to learn about organisation (dis)abilities for managing disruptive change, and proposing management practice innovations to overcome the disabilities.

The challenge facing global civilisation requires a mission-oriented, ecosystemic strategy. In this module, rather than think about innovating the competitive strategy of a single business through sustaining or adjacent innovation, you'll be tasked to adopt a macro-view on firm strategy, adopting the point of view of a single firm within the ecosystem. In the 21st century, as the transition to resilient, sustainable business ecosystems of value creation accelerates, how can a firm incentivise the business ecosystem to focus on its mission?

Professional Skills prepares you for successful negotiations with customers and business partners.

“In business today, effective influence is essential. Want your ideas implemented? You must influence others to act on them. Want more clients? You must influence people to buy from you. Want more advancement or responsibility? You must influence leaders to see the value you offer. And to be an effective leader, you must be able to influence others. In all respects, being able to influence others is the ultimate power tool.” (R. Cialdini, influenceatwork.com)

Professional Skills Spanish prepares you to establish and develop contacts and conduct successful negotiations with Spanish speaking customers and business partners. The module aims to help you become an independent speaker at B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), with a strong focus on business communication in the Spanish speaking world. Throughout the course, you will expand your Spanish language knowledge and strengthen communication skills related to business, sales, marketing, negotiations, and small talk.

Study Abroad is a mandatory part of the IB curriculum, unless you have spent more than 50% of your life abroad. In that case you may choose to follow a minor in the Netherlands, for example at HU. 
You will spend a semester abroad at one of our many partner universities across the world. This space is your Minor, which means that you are free to pick whatever minor you want, provided it does not overlap with courses you’ve already taken here at IB.

You have two options for studying abroad in the 3rd year, either in Fall (Term A & B) or in Spring (Term C & D). You must complete 30 EC during your Study Abroad.

Organizations today operate in complex and rapidly changing environments. To navigate these challenges, they rely on consultants who can structure problems, analyse data, and translate insights into clear strategic advice.

In this advanced module, you will develop the mindset and practical skills of a professional consultant. Working with real-world inspired cases, you will learn how to break down complex business problems, apply structured consulting frameworks, and turn analysis into actionable recommendations.

You will gain hands-on experience with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis using professional tools such as SPSS and Atlas.ti, while also developing key consulting competencies such as stakeholder communication, structured thinking, and persuasive presentation.

In the Consulting Project, you step into the role of a junior consultant and work on a real assignment for an external client. Together with your team, you investigate a real business challenge, define the project scope, carry out research, and translate your findings into practical advice. Projects may address topics such as internationalisation, market opportunities, organisational change, business development, or strategy. You will collaborate closely with your team, tutor, and client, work with professional project management tools, and produce deliverables such as a consultancy advice and a presentation. This project gives you hands-on experience in consultancy, strengthens your research and teamwork skills, and prepares you for professional practice in international business.

This module teaches the student about Strategic Marketing. It follows modules such as Marketing Tools and Lean start-up in year 1, and prepares students for Online Marketing and Media, which follows this module. In this module, students will learn:

• How to create a strategic marketing plan with an emphasis on digital marketing
• How to do a deeper analysis of a company's current business environment
• Introduction to the terminology of digital marketing
• Strategic use of digital marketing channels
• Practical use of AI tools to produce creative marketing collaterals

Students require digital marketing skills that they will use to market themselves and bring value to future employers.  OMM focuses on digital marketing topics such as Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Advertising, User Experience, and Social Media Management.  The role of Artificial Intelligence in Marketing is also explored, with students given an opportunity to gain hands-on skills with AI tools of their choice, as part of completing the assignment.

The aim of this subject is to master the most important principles of corporate finance, as well as develop a practical insight into sound financial management tools.

It gives an overview of financial analysis and the financial environment, time value of money (TVM) valuation principles, cost of capital, capital structure decisions, sources of long and short-term cash management, stock and bond valuation models, and company valuation techniques. It will address the changes in the landscape of the financial industry covering investment appraisals and valuation of business techniques. Apply theories to practical corporate assignments performing various analyses by delivering comprehensive corporate finance report.

Sustainable Finance, explore the intersection of finance and sustainability.

Sustainable Finance module teaches you to evaluate ESG factors, manage investment impacts, long-term financing, carbon pricing and accounting, risk and returns including understand climate risk, and incorporate these into financial models, while developing a perspective on investing and impact.

In your final semester, you complete your graduation phase. This involves a full-time internship where you work on a real business challenge within an international organisation. You will create a solution that delivers real value to your company. This can be either an applied research project, where your gathered insights form evidence-based recommendations or a professional product, where you develop a concrete solution such as a market entry plan. With guidance from your supervising lecturer and company supervisor, you take ownership of your project and work independently in a professional environment. This is the final step of your studies, where you show that you are ready to start your career as an international business professional.