Frequently Asked Questions

The degrees conferred by Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc) and PhD are part of the framework of the so-called Bologna declaration and should therefore be fully recognised by all countries who have signed the declaration. The combination of a recognised degree, triple accreditation, and the strong brand image of the school (which is known all over the globe) has turned out to be a great asset for our graduates, enabling them to acquire good positions in the corporate world and giving them access to graduate programmes of the top tier of business schools all over the world.

No, the IBA programme at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is a full-time Bachelor programme. 

No, the IBA programme at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University starts once a year in September.

Although both study programmes are completely taught in English, consist both of international and Dutch students, and various disciplines are treated in both programmes, there are also major differences:

• IBA focuses on how a company works (what kind of influences economy/politics etc. have on a company), while IBEB takes the more analytical approach and from the perspective of the economics discipline (what kind of influences have companies on the economy).
• IBEB is more quantitative than IBA therefore has more mathematical based subjects
• IBA admits approximately 550 students whereas IBEB 250.

If you look at the content of the each programme there will be certain overlaps but as stated the focus of the subject will be different. To better understand your decision it might help to think about what you would like to do after IBA/IBEB. If you would like to continue with more economical subjects IBEB would give you a good foundation. However, if you are more interested in management or businesses directions (e.g. Marketing, Human Resource, Strategy, Finance and Accounting), IBA would give you a more suitable foundation.

To learn about the difference between studying business and economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam in a visual way, please check out our animation-video.

View this webpage for details about the Bachelor Open Day. 

There is little difference between the two programmes in terms of content, quality or delivery.

• IBA is taught in English, BA is taught in Dutch
• IBA is international, pproximately 60% of IBA students come from outside of the Netherlands
• IBA has selective admission, BA is open for all qualified applicants

Once you graduate from the IBA programme you can continue with your studies by enrolling in a Master’s programme at RSM or another business school, or you can take the first steps in your international career.

You can view information about the IBA curriculum on this webpage. 

After the bachelor programme, students are well equipped to start their first job, but many students prefer to continue first with a specialized master programmes to gain qualifications that might help them in a more focused area within business. Still, a small number of students start their careers right after the bachelor. 

The larger multinational firms prefer to hire graduates with a Master degree, sometimes hiring students before they graduate, based on the relationships they have developed during internships and other networking experiences. Once you graduate from the IBA programme you can continue with your studies by enrolling in a Master’s programme at RSM or another business school, or you can take the first steps in your international career.

RSM has its own dedicated Career Centre which serves current students, and continues to support graduates as they begin their careers.

The number of spots for the Bachelor programme in International Business Administration (IBA) for the entry year 2022 is set at 750.

The IBA programme is offered as a truly international programme. The international dimension of IBA can be seen in multiple fields. The main learning outcome of the programme is the competence of or graduates to successfully function as a manager in internationally operating firms:

This goal is achieved in many ways:

• we teach in English;
• a considerable number of courses focuses on the international dimension of the area studied;
• a stay abroad is highly recommended for all of our students, either through an international exchange, an international internship or an international study trip;
• in many courses, students will need to work in internationally composed teams, enhancing their skills in this field;
• the IBA programme has a selective admission, to guarantee that sufficient diversity within the student population is created. The programme is proud that each year students from 40 different nationalities start with us;
• teaching staff is international
• we value language competence, by facilitating students taking language electives during studies.

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.

View here for the academic calendar 2021-2022.

Students who finished their bachelor programme International Business Administration at RSM will receive the degree Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration (BScIBA).

The academic year officially starts on 1 September. Student receive more information on the exact date and time of the IBA Kick off in July/August.