Bringing together business students from all over the world, from Chile to China and from Sweden to South-Africa, with different backgrounds of knowledge and skills, International Business and Career (IBaC) offers students the chance to work together on real business cases in multidisciplinary and multicultural consultancy teams, in order to advise companies or non-profit organisations on how to approach international business challenges.

In the IBaC programme, you will learn how to use market research and innovation techniques and will dive into the latest marketing models to make companies flexible and resilient in a fast-changing business world, challenged by digital and circular transitions and more than ever driven by its impact on society. Current global challenges require new leadership, gamechangers who will make transitions happen. Therefore, the IBaC programme has chosen to focus strongly on further develop your personal and professional (new) leadership skills.

IBaC offers you an international community of around 25-50 young professionals from all over the world, who will build their long-lasting friendships through studying, playing and growing, within a five months’ pressure cooker.

Do you want to challenge your business skills in a multicultural setting? Are you creative, innovative and a real problem solver? Are you driven by a curiosity about how to conduct business in a fast-changing globalised world? Are you interested in working across borders and making impact on the international business world by developing new leadership skills? Then IBaC is definitely your choice!

If you have successfully completed this exchange programme then you are able to:

• research and analyse a real-life international business challenge in a new-economy context;
• demonstrate an understanding of research design and data collection methods including motivated choices for an approach;
• apply the principles of design thinking to find solutions for user based challenges,
• apply marketing/business concepts in an international, complex and challenging environment;
• respond in a creative, flexible and innovative way to current international business challenges;
• translate these problems into sustainable, future-proof, profitable and impactful solutions;
• implement them, test them and improve them;
• communicate with stakeholders in a professional manner;
• satisfy the needs and wants of a client;
• work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team in an international context and know how to reflect on it.

And furthermore:

• formulate a vision and show insight on how to develop futureproof responsible leadership;
• show responsibility for your own futureproof career;
• ask and process feedback regarding your own personal goals;
• focus on and differentiate within the needs of others within a multi-cultural context;
• handle uncertainty, unclarity and risks and act upon them.

And will have:

• a thorough understanding of the European and global context in which international businesses operate;
• thorough practical knowledge of the supply chain and e-commerce.

Propedeuse (60 ects) and 90 ects Main Phase fulfilled.

In case you wish to apply, please send the following materials to the coordinator of the IBaC programme:

• Motivation letter in English (without use of AI tools)
• Osiris grades list Propedeuse and Main Phase

Resume in English.

Course materials will be provided.

The full study load is 30 ECTS, divided over 3 blocks:

PROJECT (18 ects)
Real-life business project, including desk and field research and innovation. The project consists of 3 consecutive courses:

• RBSIBAC01 Project 1 - Defining the Challenge (6 ects)
• RBSIBAC02 Project 2 - Formulating the Strategy (6 ects)
• RBSIBAC03 Project 3 - Implementation and Advice (6 ects)

SUPPORT UNIT (6 ects: 1 course of 2 ects per block)

This unit consists of three courses that will support the project:

• RBSIBAC04 European Business (2 ects)
• RBSIBAC05 Geopolitics (2 ects)
• RBSIBAC06 Supply Chain and E-business (2 ects)

 

LEADERSHIP (6 ects in total)

• RBSIBAC07 Leadership

This course will run over the complete semester and alongside the other courses.

PROJECT

• RBSIBAC01 - Project 1 - Defining the Challenge (6 ects) :
• RBSIBAC02 - Project 2 - Formulating the Strategy (6 ects)
• RBSIBAC03 - Project 3 – Implementation and Advice (6 ects)

For each project, a fully completed research report and presentation to the client. N.B. The final grade for each project course will be determined by a presentation; a sufficient report is a prerequisite to be graded.

SUPPORT UNIT

• RBSIBAC05 - Support Unit 1 - Geopolitics (2 ects): Exam
• RBSIBAC04 - Support Unit 2 - European Business (2 ects): Assignments, Performance during the Field Trip and Final Presentation.
• RBSIBAC06 - Support Unit 3– Supply Chain and E-commerce (2 ects): Report and presentation.

LEADERSHIP

• RBSIBAC07 - Leadership (6 ects)

This course will be assessed at the end of the programme during a final oral assessment, based on a portfolio that you will build up during the semester.

Costs

An international field trip is part of the programme. In case you wish to join, please be aware that the costs of the field trip will be around €150,00 for 3 days (transport, accommodation, breakfast, programme).

 

Literature

Course materials will be provided.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS (KOM)

Are you a student from another educational institution and would you like to follow a minor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences? If so, you must apply in two steps:

 

Step 1
Register for the minor of your choice via the blue Apply button. You can find this button at the top right of the minor’s page.
Download the learning agreement and complete it.
Submit this learning agreement to the examination board of your study programme.
Once the examination board has granted approval, register for the minor in Step 2 no later than 01-07-2026 at 9:00 a.m.

 

Step 2
After approval, register via OSIRIS Application of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences using the link below (first create an account).
new link

https://osiris.hr.nl/osiris_aanmeld_hrprd/Welkom.do?proces=KOM2609&opleiding=MINOR-RBS-VT 00

 

Part of the application process is uploading the following documents:

• The learning agreement, signed by you and by your institution;
• A scan or photo of your passport or ID card.
   

You will be informed by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences whether your application has been approved.

In OSIRIS Application, you must also upload the Proof of Paid Tuition Fee (BBC) for the academic year in which you wish to follow the minor. This can be done from 01 May 2026 onwards. You can request the BBC from your institution after you have signed or issued an authorization for the payment of the tuition fee for the relevant academic year. You may also choose the option for your institution to send the BBC directly to collegegeld@hr.nl.

You will receive a notification from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences once your application has been approved.

 

Minor Choice Week | 2–5 March 2026

Online minor information sessions
Attend an online information session for this minor! View the programme and register here.

Minor fair
This minor will be present at the minor fair. Will you join us? View the programme and register here.
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Time: 4:00–7:30 p.m.
Location: Kralingse Zoom