Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply for a maximum of two Numerus Fixus programmes in the Netherlands. It is important that you submit the enrolment application via Studielink before 15 January at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). 

Yes, you can already apply before you recieve your diploma. Due to the early application deadline, RSM normally uses the grades of the penultimate year (year before your final year) for the evaluation. This allows us to evaluate each applicant based on a full year of grades. 

As you may have received fewer grades than normal due to the the COVID-19 pandemic, for the 2022 admission RSM will use the grades of your penultimate year and the grades obtained in the last year until December/January. Please note that it is not possible to submit grades after the 31 January deadline.

You can only apply online. No other means are available to apply for our Bachelor programme.The application procedure for International Business Administration (IBA) consists of two parts:

1. Registration in the Dutch national web-based registration database Studielink which is mandatory for all applicants. Studielink opens on the 1 October 2021 and closes on 15 January 2022 at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). This is not the actual application! Only once you have completed the 2nd step of the process, the  RSM Online Application Form (OLAF), you will be considered an applicant. If you are not successfully registered in studielink by the national deadline, it will not be possible to apply. No exceptions can be made.
2. Within 24 hours of a successful registration via Studielink you will receive your log in details (also known as ERNA credentials) and a link to the RSM Online Application Form (OLAF). You must fill in and submit the Online Application Form (OLAF) by the 31st of January. OLAF closes on 31st January 2022 at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). View the application steps on the website. We strongly advise you to apply well in advance of the 31 January application deadline to avoid any issues that may arrise.

The registration deadline for the IBA programme in Studielink is 15 January, 2022 at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). The deadline has been set by the Dutch government and is very strict. Applications after the deadline cannot be accepted. For futher details view the admissions pages. 

Please note that all admissions related information for the September 2022 intake will be updated by end September. We therefore recommend that you consult our website before applying.

No. As part of the selection process for the IBA programme we ask our applicants to illustrate their drive and suitability for the programme by either uploading their CV OR answering the motivation question "What attracts you to an international business administration programme?" It is not possible to choose both, so which one should you choose? To give you some guidance in making your choice, we have created a document to explain both options in more detail and to give you some tips. CV (resume) vs Motivation - How do I choose?

Next to either CV or motivation, RSM also asks applicants to reflect on their suitability for the programme by answering three "reflection" questions. Answers to these questions have no impact on the ranking but are purely meant for self reflection. Your CV or motivation and the reflection questions must be written in English. If you submit your CV or answer the motivation question in a language other than English it will not be scored.

As of 1 October 2016 RSM’s Bachelor of International Business Administration (IBA) programme is classified as Numerus Fixus programme. This means that there are only a limited number of places available in the programme and that the selection should be done according to the guidelines outlined by the Dutch government. For the IBA programme these changes mean:

• Fixed date admission. Applications will be evaluated upon submission. Applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements will be added to the IBA ranking. The first 750 candidates will be offered admission to the programme on 15 April (see "Ranking Applicant 1 April - 14 April"). All other eligible applicants will be put on a waiting list.
• Early deadlines. The ultimate deadline for registering for a numerus fixus programme in the Dutch national student registration system Studielink is 15 January. The Dutch government has determined this deadline and exceptions are not possible.
• Fixed number of spots in the programme is set at 750 for the academic year 2022-2023
   

On our website you can find an overview the requirements for of a large number of diplomas. Diplomas not listed on our website will be evaluated on an individual basis as they may need to be examined more closely. When submitting an application, you must include in your application package an academic transcript with a diploma supplement explaining your country's grading system. It is not possible to pre-screen your application by phone or e-mail. A proper admissions decision can only be made after you’ve submitted an application. Please note that all admissions related information for the September 2022 intake will be updated by end September. We therefore recommend that you consult our website again before applying.

Studielink is a national web-based registration database in the Netherlands used for the enrolment of students. Studielink can also be used for organising your registration, payment of tuition fees, signing out and changing your correspondence address. For questions regarding the Studielink application (e.g. logging in, password, how to use Studielink), please contact the Erasmus Student Service Centre.

The first step in the IBA application process is to register in Studielink. 

1. Access https://www.studielink.nl/ and register before 15^th January 2022. When you are a resident of the Netherlands, you can only submit an enrolment application if you use DigiD.  Apply on time for your DigiD as it takes approximately five days to receive your DigiD login details. 
2. Enter your previous education.
3. Select Erasmus Universiteit, enter ‘Bachelor International Business Administration (English) (numerus fixus)’, start as ‘first-year’, starting date: '1 September 2022'. DO NOT SELECT 'ADVANCED YEAR'! Even if you have completed your first year elsewhere, you must select 'first-year'. 
4. You can ignore the emails asking to send your diploma or a copy of your passport / ID to education institution. Instead you will upload these documents to the RSM Online Application Form (OLAF).

For Numerus Fixus studies such as IBA at RSM, Studielink opens on the 1 October and closes on 15 January at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). This is not the actual application! Only once you have completed the 2nd step of the process, the  RSM Online Application Form (OLAF), you will be considered an applicant. 

RSM does not use predicted grades for the evaluation. Due to the early application deadline, RSM normally uses the grades of the penultimate year (year before your final year) for the evaluation. This allows us to evaluate each applicant based on a full year of grades. 

As you may have fewer grades than you normally would due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the 2022 admission RSM will use the grades of your penultimate year and the grades obtained in the last year until 31 January.

If you are in your final year of secondary school, please wait to submit your application until you have obtained the last set of grades for 2021. Some schools provide these grades in December, others may wait until January. Grades cannot be submitted after 31 January. It is also not possible to send improved grades after the 31 January deadline. 

Important characteristics of the IBA programme are its international dimension and high performing students. Admission to the IBA programme is therefore based on:

1. your academic performance as indicated by your grade point average - 75%
2. your CV (resume) or motivation - 25%

Prior academic performance is the best predictor of future success in the IBA programme. Therefore, your grade point average (GPA) contributes to 75% of your final score, which is used to determine your rank. Applicants who meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) will be awarded 'selection points'. The higher your grade average, the more 'selection points'  you can earn. Applicants who do not meet the mathematics and/or English requirements, or who do not meet the GPA requirement for their specific diploma will be placed in the lower tiers of the ranking. 

Yes, you can apply if you have not yet obtained your HBO propaedeutics diploma. Applicants with a conditonal offer must meet the minimum GPA of 7.5 in order to receive an unconditional offer. 

Yes, you can submit an application first and send in the result of the mathematics exam later. The result of the mathematics exam must be received by the RSM Admissions Office no later than 1 April so plan your exam date accordingly. It is your own responsibility to schedule the exam on time.

A sufficient result of a Mathematics test does not guarantee a spot in the programme. It is simply a tool to make up for any deficiencies in your Mathematics level or grades. 

Do not wait for RSM to inform you that you need to take a mathematics exam. You can see if you meet our mathematics diploma for your diploma type by reading the requirements on the RSM website.

You can submit an application first and send in the result of your English language test and/or mathematics exam later. Both test results must be received by the RSM Admissions Office no later than 1 April. When scheduling a test date keep in mind that it can take several weeks to receive your test score. Plan ahead!  It is your own responsibility to schedule the exam(s) on time. 

A sufficient result of a Mathematics test and/or English test does not guarantee a spot in the programme. They are simply tools to make up for any deficiencies in your Mathematics/English level or grades. 

Note: Apart from the English language test result and the mathematics exam result, all other supporting documents must be included in your application and this must be submitted in OLAF no later than 31st January.

The admissions season for the BSc International Business Administration programme started on the 1st of October. You will be awarded points for:

• the grades from your penultimate year (the year before your final year)
• AND the grades you have obtained during the first half of your final year.

IMPORTANT: View here for further details. 

BE AWARE:

Based on the number of applications we received in recent years, we are expecting to receive over 2000 applications and most of them will be submitted close to the deadline. The final ranking must be published to our applicants on the 15th of April. This only gives the admissions office around 8 weeks to evaluate the applicants and finish the ranking!

You can ensure a successful application by following the instructions on our website and OLAF carefully. Really take some time to read all the information and consult your parents or your mentors at your school if needed.

Already graduated from High School?

We advise you to submit your application as soon as possible, because you already have all the grades needed for the evaluation.

You can register for IBA in Studielink between 1 October and 15 January. It is not possible to register after the deadline of 15 January. Late registration is not possible under any circumstances. The Dutch government has determined this deadline and exceptions are not possible. The second deadline for IBA is 31 January. This is the deadline to submit your application in RSM's online application form OLAF. We strongly advise you to apply on time to avoid issues.

After registration in Studielink you will receive an online study choice check questionnaire. You are not required to fill out the questionnaire if you are applying to a 'numerus fixus' programme such as International Business Administration (IBA) at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

Currently, RSM does not offer a Foundation Year or a prepatory year. RSM does not accept other foundation years if applicants are not eligible for admission with their secondary school diploma.

No, RSM does not have a special admissions process or criteria for students with refugee status because individual situations can vary widely. Applications from refugees will therefore be assessed on an individual basis. If you have questions regarding your diploma, please contact the RSM admissions office.

The Erasmus University does offer general support for refugees. Please visit the refugee pages for more information.

No. Your rank number is fixed and cannot be changed once the results have been published.

An admissions statement is an official document which summarizes which programme you've been admitted to, which diploma the admissions is based on and which conditions you need to fulfil before you can be enrolled as a student. As long as the conditions are not fulfilled, your offer remains conditional.

You can download your admissions statement via the Online Application Form (OLAF). In the top menu bar, go to the section called 'OFFER' and download the PDF file.

You will only be registered as a student after all of the conditions stated in your offer of admission have been met. This process is not started until June each year.

IBA is classified as Numerus Fixus programme. This means that the selection should be done according to the guidelines outlined by the Dutch government. All applicants who have submitted a complete application will receive their ranking number on 15 April. We are therefore unable to inform applicants of their ranking number before that date.

No, it is not possible to transfer your grades or credits obtained at another university to the IBA programme. All students must formally start in the first year of the programme. Requests for course exemptions are only handled after you're enrolled into the programme and can be submitted at the start of the academic year. We cannot guarantee that your request(s) will be granted as the decision will be made by the RSM Examination Board.