The Bachelor’s degree programme in International Business and Management

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. It takes 180 credits to earn a Bachelor’s degree: 150 in Groningen and 30 abroad. Each course is 5 credits.

Propaedeutic phase

The first year covers 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. The first year features extensive training in how to read and write academic English. Some of the courses in year one are detailed below.