Organisations need people who can generate and implement innovative ideas. This programme helps you to develop the competencies required to fulfil that need.

Learn how to effectively develop an innovation strategy, create an innovation culture, foster creative ideas, manage innovation projects and more. Explore scientific theories, case studies and business challenges. As you advance in your studies, you and your fellow cohort join your professors in applying what you’ve learned to real societal issues and business situations. 

  • 91 average number of students in cohort
  • 37% international students in programme
  • 93% of graduates employed within 3 months after graduation
  • Examples of industries where graduates work: consulting, information technology, telecommunication
  • Examples of graduates’ job titles: business developer, product manager, innovation strategist

Programme highlights

  • Research-based and experience-driven

    You not only learn theories, but you also apply them to real societal issues and business situations.

  • Interactive classroom

    Committed teachers and professors create a developmental atmosphere in the classroom for you to actively participate. You get to know your professors and fellow students well in a highly interactive classroom.

  • Top location

    RSM is a top business school located in Rotterdam, a vibrant city brimming with innovation and a major gateway to Europe.

  • Real and current innovation challenge

    For example, in the course that teaches you about implementing innovations, you will team up with fellow students to prepare a business model proposal for a company so it can cope with a real and current innovation challenge.

More about the programme

Curriculum

Do you want to know more about the MSc Management of Innovation?

The video below will answer the most frequently asked questions about the programme.

Q&A with students

Overview

The MSc in Management of Innovation programme is one academic year’s duration. Core courses are compulsory and will be offered during the autumn semester (22 EC). Master electives (18 EC) are offered during the spring semester, of which one elective can be chosen from another MSc programme. It is also possible to replace one elective with an internship or business project. During the year, students also work on a master thesis project (20 EC).

MSc programmes are often associated with a research group, guided by accomplished researchers making meaningful contributions in their respective fields. For a closer look at the exciting research initiatives by our academic faculty, we encourage you to explore the department of Technology and Operations Management under which the MSc in Management of Innovation falls.

Please note that core courses and electives are subject to change each academic year. While some electives are very popular and we can place most students in the elective(s) of their choice, there are no guaranteed places.

Our core courses provide you with the foundation of innovation management. The first two courses, Strategy of Innovation and Organisation of Innovation, offer a view of innovation management that focuses on understanding why organisations innovate and how they coordinate to create, deliver and capture value.

The following two courses, Design Thinking and Implementing Innovations, take you on a hands-on journey, in which you develop creative ideas and run projects to make your ideas a reality.  

 View all core courses below:

To complement you learning in the core courses, you can also choose from a wide range of electives*. Some of these elective courses enable you to develop skills in the areas of leadership and coaching. Others, focus on fascinating areas like web3 or transformation in healthcare.

Find a list of the elective courses below:

  • High Performance Leadership
  • Innovation and Standardisation Management
  • Open Innovation
  • Patent Law and Strategy for Managers
  • Circular Economy
  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Mastering Networks for Innovation
  • Innovation in Practice
  • Design Thinking for Innovation
  • Coaching for Innovation
  • New Business Development
  • MI Company-based research project
  • Managing innovation in the Web3 era

*Please note that certain electives may be very popular. Although we can place most students in the elective(s) of their choice, there are no guaranteed places.

For a detailed description of all of the courses including electives, please view the course catalogue (for reference only, catalogue continually updated throughout the year).

Can students from outside RSM take our electives?

Research is one of the most important components of our programme. During your MSc study, you not only learn about the latest research developments in innovation management, but you also conduct research and contribute to the development of our field. 

While most of the work is carried out independently, you work closely with RSM faculty. They coach you as you develop your research project. You also receive the support of our instructors, who guide you in developing the operational aspects of the project.

Finally, you interact constantly with your peers in reflection and feedback sessions. Together, you share professional and academic experiences and best practices that help you all to move forward. 

All the work you do leading up to and including the development of your project, is part of the research trajectory. Here are a few of the trajectory highlights: 

  • The research trajectory runs throughout the academic year, from October until June. 
  • Choose a research topic from a list of predefined options or follow your own research interest from a complementary discipline. 
  • Lectures for interactive feedback, gamification and in-class discussion deepen your knowledge of research methodologies. 
  • You’re guided by expert coaches with extensive experience in research and who have had papers published in top academic journals. 
  • Defence of the research work is open to the community and helps you to familiarise yourself and learn about other students’ contributions to science and the practice of innovation management.

Learn more

You can get a taste of working life – from large multinationals to fast-growing start-ups – by applying your new wealth of knowledge to a real company problem during your internship, which is optional in your programme. The RSM Career Centre will support you in finding a suitable position. Many students acquire their first job after graduation from the contacts they make during their internship. 

Explore the world and broaden your study experiences by going on international study trips and exchanges at other top schools. RSM has an extensive partner school network of more than 100 business schools and universities worldwide, including top business schools such as ESADE in Barcelona and The Wharton School in the USA. An international exchange is an optional element after you’ve studied for your master for at least one year.

Career opportunities

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An alumnus' story

More and more firms are becoming aware that they need to innovate in order to survive. But innovation doesn’t come from automated systems. The creative process of generating ideas for new products, services and new business models is a human skill and the future for innovation leaders looks bright. 

Our graduates find jobs in new business development, innovation project management and innovation consultancy. They work in product and service contexts across a broad range of industries. Their daily jobs involve supporting development teams when new products are being developed, and they devise and initiate new products and services themselves, becoming new business developers. They also act as consultants to small and medium-sized enterprises, advising on organising businesses for innovation. 

According to the latest RSM Graduate Placement Survey, the majority of our recent graduates found a job within two months of starting their job search. All of them had a job within six months. Many found jobs in companies such as Unilever, Shell, Philips, ABN AMRO, DSM, Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, Cap Gemini, Rabobank, KPN, ING, and Randstad. Others work in small or medium-sized enterprises. Some of them have founded their own companies. 

Curious to see what our alumni are doing?

Explore their LinkedIn profiles. You can filter per programme and graduation year.

Good to know

Non-EEA nationals who have earned a diploma from a higher education institute in the Netherlands can apply for a special residence permit called the orientation year after completing their studies. The 'Orientation Year for Graduates Seeking Employment' is a residence permit aimed at retaining foreign talent for the Dutch labour market. During this orientation year you are free to work without a work permit. Participants who find a job during this period can change their orientation year into a residence permit for Highly Skilled Migrants under more favourable terms.

For the most up-to-date information please visit the following website.

What's next after your studies? The RSM Career Centre is your guide for an impactful career. Its expertise in the labour market, personal branding and connections with employers will prepare you for your business career. Get ready for some exciting job fairs, workshops, speed interviews and coaching. You may land your first internship or job before you even graduate!

You’re a member of the RSM community from Day 1. After you graduate, you’ll also be a member of the RSM alumni network. The countless benefits include networking events worldwide with local chapters, lifelong learning and professional development, mentoring opportunities and access to the latest business knowledge and research. Your study at RSM is the first step towards being part of this inspiring community that you’ll be part of forever.

Studying at RSM

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A student on the RSM MSc in Management of Innovation programme

Talk to our current students!

Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.

Fees & scholarships

The 2024-2025 tuition fee for the MSc programmes is approximately €22,500 for non-EEA students. The Dutch government contributes towards this cost for students who hold a nationality from a country belonging to the European Economic Area(EEA). These students therefore only pay the statutory fee €2,530 in 2024-2025.

For EEA nationals who have already completed a master in the Netherlands (and obtained the diploma) the tuition fee for a 2nd master is approximately €13,200.

Please note that all these tuition fee tariffs are subject to change.

There are other costs associated with the Master programmes, for more information please review the “Other expenses” section below thoroughly. 

Scholarships

The number of scholarships is limited and mainly merit based. If a scholarship covers only the tuition fees, be aware that you need to finance your own living expenses (rent, food and insurances) for the duration of your studies. RSM does not offer scholarships for the pre-master programme. We do however offer a maximum of 2 scholarships per academic year to RSM pre-master students enrolling in an MSc programme.

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) offers multiple scholarships to prospective students from non-EEA countries who are not entitled to pay the EEA tuition fee, provided their grades are considered ‘excellent’. RSM also offers one scholarship, the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship, to students from EEA countries. 

Besides scholarships awarded by RSM, there are also scholarships awarded by the Dutch government or other organisations that are available if you meet certain criteria such as nationality, age, etc We have listed some of them below but we encourage you to use resources such as Grantfinder or the Scholarship Portal to find additional scholarships.

Scholarship tips

  • Contact the Ministry for Higher Education in your home country to see whether there are scholarship options.
  • We have virtual information session covering all you need to know about scholarships and financial aid. Watch it here.

For students from the Netherlands or the EU/EEA, it may be possible to apply for limited funding towards payment of your tuition fees. Find out whether you meet the nationality and age requirements and read more information about the application process here.

IM/CEMS is a program that - if you are still eligible - entitles you to a maximum of 1 year's use of your DUO entitlements. Students who have received a basic grant and possibly a supplementary grant from DUO in the first year of IM/CEMS and meet the following additional conditions may be eligible for an additional half year (6 months) of financial support, which is equal to the grant received in the last month during the program. Please contact the student counselors for more information.

Conditions Financial Support Fund
Students eligible for financial support due to extended master programmes are those who: 
a) are enrolled full-time in a public funded Erasmus University Rotterdam degree programme, which is extended on the base of article 7.4, paragraph 8 of the Dutch Higher Education and Research Act; 
b) are enrolled as first enrollment (hoofdinschrijving) in the study programme as referred to under a, for which the student pays statutory tuition fee; 
c) for this program, is or was entitled to study finance (prestatiebeurs hoger onderwijs) as referred to in the Wet Studiefinanciering 2000, and during the period corresponding to the study load that exceeds 60 ECs, and is no longer eligible for student finance in the form of an additional grant.

Other expenses

After having filled in all of the necessary application information on the Online Application Form (OLAF) and uploaded the required documents, applicants with a degree obtained outside the Netherlands will be asked to pay a non-refundable €100 handling fee. This fee can be paid online via the Erasmus Payment System which uses either iDEAL (for those with a Dutch bank account) or PayPal (which can be linked to any bank account or credit card worldwide). It is important that applicants complete the payment process as indicated, otherwise the system cannot register the payment.

The additional expenses in addition to tuition and general living costs (see below) vary per programme and may include:

  • Study materials such as books, readers and business cases
  • Costs involved in kick-off meetings
  • Costs related to travel, international excursions and compulsory exchange semesters or internships abroad

Approximately € 300 - 500 (per year), these costs differ per programme.

For a reasonable standard of living in the Netherlands, you should have an income of between €1,235-€1,735 per month depending on your lifestyle. Further information about the costs of living in the Netherlands and related subjects can be found on this website. Below is an example of monthly expenditures:

Furnished accommodation, including gas and electricity €   500-1,000
Medical insurance €   50
Telephone/internet€   15-40
Food€   300
Books, recreation, clothing€   300
Public Transportation€   50
Total€  average 1235 - 1735
Other potential expenses: 
Buying or renting a bike€  100 - 250 (per year)
In private residence (not student housing) yearly municipal and water taxes€  100 - 300 (per year)
Study trip or other study related travel€  300 - 500 (per year)

Please ensure, prior to your arrival at RSM, that you have or will have sufficient funding available to finance your stay at RSM. Finding a part-time job, may be an option, but can not be guaranteed. You should therefore not rely on finding other ways to supplement your income during your studies. For additional information on obtaining a part-time job, visit the website of the Nuffic.

For EEA students there are no formal restrictions in finding work in the Netherlands, but students with a lack of Dutch language skills will find it difficult to secure employment. Non-EEA students are subject to labour regulations, which makes the likelihood of obtaining a work permit very small. We therefore ask students not to rely on this possibility. We do not encourage students to combine studies with the heavy workload from a part-time job.

Admission & application

Application for the September 2024 intake opened 1 October. There is currently no maximum capacity in place for this master. Deadline to apply is 15 May.

Immigration & housing

Immigration & visas

Find out everything you need to know about entry visas & residence permits for non-EU or EEA students at RSM.

Housing

Finding housing in Rotterdam can be tricky. To help you in your search for housing, we have compiled some helpful resources

Hear from our current students

Being a student of the MSc Management of Innovation has taught me a lot of practical skills, and pushed my hands-on mentality. I especially liked the balance between academic knowledge and practical applications in the courses. It gave me space to combine creativity and business knowledge, which now I am eager to share in my future career because I know I will stand out with my skills. Every instructor encourages you to share not just your opinion but also your knowledge. This feeling of sharing and collaborating to generate the most innovative ideas, concepts, strategies, or cultures was a unique part of my study. I think that this master program suits anyone that is a bit more open-minded and eager to change business environments into a better one. With every student joining from a different field, the knowledge generated in class will rise tremendously. This is a study which is not seeking homogeneity, but which profits from heterogeneity. Everyone is welcome, every opinion is appreciated as long as you respect and help one another.

Sarah Ripke (MSc Management of Innovation 2020)

Sarah Ripke

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