BSc International Business Administration

Program 

International Business Administration focuses on all aspects of running a large, global organization, as well as its relationship to the outside world. After the foundational phase, you can specialize in the topics of your choice during your exchange period and in your thesis.

• During the first year you will lay a broad foundation in the core subjects of international management, marketing, finance and accounting. You will also take supporting courses in mathematics and statistics, and apply your knowledge in the course 'Projectmanagement IBA'.
• In the second year you will deepen your knowledge in the core subjects. In addition, you will broaden your knowledge by studying a wider range of business subjects, such as innovation and technology management, cross-cultural management and business law.
• In the third year you can specialize in one of the four core pillars of IBA by choosing electives, and possibly do an internship. You can also choose to follow a semester abroad and follow electives there. You complete the course by writing your Bachelor's thesis in one of the four core Business topics: Accounting, Finance, Marketing or Management.

Typical courses are:

• Decision Making in Marketing
  Learn both the rational and irrational aspects of human decision making.
• Projectmanagement IBA
  Get your feet on the ground in your first year by helping a company solve a real-life problem.
• Financial Accounting
  Learn to analyze companies’ financial performance based on the information reported in financial statements.

More on the program and courses

Study International Business Administration in Tilburg

• Follow a high-quality program listed as number one in the field of business administration in the Netherlands (Elsevier Best Studies 2017, based on student surveys).
•  Combine the broad foundation of the first two years of International Business Administration with a flexible approach in year three to prepare yourself perfectly for a specialized Master’s program in the Netherlands or abroad.
• Become part of an international classroom in which many of your classmates come from abroad.

International Business Administration in a nutshell (video - 2:48 min)

What to expect when coming to Tilburg

• Why Tilburg University?
• International student support
• Study in Holland

Beyond your Bachelor's: Extracurricular Activities

• Join one of our student organizations. A great way to meet like-minded students and make friends.
• Challenge yourself by participating in one of the programs of excellence.
• Broaden your horizon by studying a semester abroad - an experience of a lifetime.

More on extracurricular activities

Pursue a Master's degree

Most of our students continue towards a Master's degree after completing their Bachelor's degree. For example:

Check out all applicable Master's programs

Career prospects

Because the International Business Administration program is so broad, you have a range of different fields in which you can pursue a career, ranging from general management jobs, to the (management of) marketing, corporate finance, accounting, or even HR. The value of your Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration is widely recognized by companies in the Netherlands and abroad. Firms hire graduates of Tilburg University regularly because of their strong analytical skills and the reputation of the program.

More on the career prospects

Admission requirements

• You are eligible for International Business Administration, if you hold a secondary school diploma which is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma. Most European Secondary school diplomas which give access to university in your own country are equivalent, such as the IB, EB, Abitur or Swiss Maturité, but there are many others. You can find out whether your non-Dutch diploma meets our admission requirements on our page about foreign diplomas. 
• You must have sufficient knowledge of mathematics, equal to the Dutch VWO mathematics A or B level, or IB Standard Level maths.  More detailed information about the required level of mathematics is mentioned on our mathematics requirements page. 
• Finally, you need to prove your English language proficiency. Tilburg University accepts Academic IELTS (6.0 overall, minimum of 5.5 on individual parts), TOEFL (minimum score of 80 internet based), and Cambridge English test results: C1 advanced (formerly CAE) or C2 proficiency (formerly CPE). For both C1 and C2, we accept a score of A, B or C.

Are you applying with a Dutch educational background? Check your eligibility in the application procedure for Dutch students.

Go to application and admission

Tuition fees for international students

Information about tuition fees

Monthly cost of living

Living in Tilburg is relatively inexpensive compared to other student cities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht. An indication for your monthly cost of living (including rent, food and drink, books, and insurance), of course depending on your lifestyle:

Related Bachelor's programs

• Global Management of Social Issues could be a good fit for you if you are interested in how organizations work and in project management, applied more in the non-profit sector.
• If you are interested in the big picture, and studying it through mathematical models, have a look at Economics as well. 
• If mathematics and how to apply it to real life challenges is an exciting puzzle for you, Econometrics and Operations Research could be the right Bachelor's program for you.