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Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) AISSR
Master
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International Business (Business Administration)

The study programme

The study programme of the International Business (IB) track focuses on the ways that organisations can engage in international business, highlighting how countries differ systematically in terms of resource endowments, market opportunities, and institutional, cultural and regulatory frameworks.

The programme

International Business is one of the tracks of the Master's Business Administration. During your Master's you will follow 5 general courses and 3 track-specific courses. You will finish with a thesis. If you have a fundamental drive to challenge the corporate environment, you can participate in one of our Honours programmes.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Ethics and the Future of Business
    4

    The purpose of this course is to explore the trends, core concepts, theories, and approaches of business ethics and corporate sustainability. The course is divided into a general part and a track-specific part.

  • Theories of International Business
    6

    The course explores the basic concepts of international business. Learn about the international business environment, foreign direct investment, global governance, and home and host countries' influence on stakeholders at home and abroad. Become familiar with the increasingly multifaceted and interdependent nature of international business.

  • Business Seminar 1
    1
  • Managerial Skills
    3
  • International Business Context
    6

    Expanding Theories of International Business’s macro-level analyses, this course further explores core topics in international business and corporate governance. In their strategic choices, firms must consider cultural, institutional and regulatory factors. Some of the questions you will research and discuss are: what are the main contextual factors that influence strategic choices? How do nations differ in terms of their (in)formal institutions and national business systems? What are the cross-country cultural models? How is corporate governance practiced in different countries.

  • International Strategy
    6

    Expanding Theories of International Business’s micro-level analyses, this course examines the challenges that managers face in identifying strategies and tools to help their companies be successful abroad. Although MNEs like Toyota, IBM and Nestlé are extremely successful in their international operations, foreign ventures often fail, like Wal-Mart in Germany, underscoring the complexity of international strategy. Examples of questions you will address include: why do firms become multinational? How do they select host countries? What strategies can they follow to manage foreign operations?

  • Thesis Proposal International Business
    4

    This course is meant to support you in writing you research proposal for you Master's thesis. During the course, you will learn how to change a general topic into a specific research proposal.

  • Business Seminar 2
    1

    To prepare you for your professional career, this course is a combination of a series of corporate guest lecturers in Royal Theatre Carré and an offering of professional skills training e.g. Presentation Skills, Programming with Python and more.

  • Restricted-choice electives: Professional Skills
    1

    You can select a minimum of 3 professional skills: Career Preparation, Data Analysis and Visualisation, Dutch Language, Personal Branding & Networking, Programming with Python, Public Speaking and Presenting.

  • Restricted-choice electives: Methods-Workshops
    2

    You can choose 1 course from: Data Collection from Social Media and Websites, Database Research, Qualitative Research / Case Studies, Survey Design, or Experiment Design.

  • Restricted-choice electives: Analysis-Workshop
    2

    You can choose 1 course from: Analysis of Data from Social Media and Websites, Analysis of Database Data, Analysis of Experimental Data, Analysis of Survey Data, or Qualitative Data Analysis.

  • Restricted-choice electives: Business Lab Electives
    12

    In The Business Lab, you can choose from a wide selection of electives we call business labs. Each one is connected to a corporate partner. You will be challenged to solve real-world business issues, working in international teams and presenting your solution to the company.

  • Master’s Thesis International Business
    12

    The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic that you are enthusiastic about. A professor in your field of choice (track) will supervise and support you in writing your thesis. Upon graduation, you will be awarded the title Master of Science (MSc).

Compulsory course
Elective
Specialisation
Send me the course schedule + programme summary

Do you want to know more about the courses?

The course catalogue provides detailed information for each course, including subjects, assessment methods and recommended literature.

Check the course catalogue for all details

Honours programmes

Highly motivated students can participate in the Master's Business Administration Honours programmes Sustainability or Data Driven Management. These challenging programmes are a great chance to stand out for future employers.

The International Business specialisation offers an in-depth knowledge on European businesses and climates. I feel well prepared to advance in business environments. Arda Elma - track International Business Read about Arda's experiences with this Master's
Experience the programme
'Through highly interactive lectures, my goal is to challenge and inspire students to achieve excellence and rigor, in a friendly and supporting environment’ Ilir Haxhi, Associate Professor of Strategy & International Business
Real-life case: International tensions in the global semiconductor industry

Over the last few decades, the semiconductor industry has become an essential part of the economy. For this case, you will assume that you are a team of consultants hired by a Dutch semiconductor company, tasked with developing a full recommendation for an international expansion strategy. 

Frequently asked questions
  • When do I need to select a specialisation track?

    A specialisation track must be chosen when applying for the Master’s programme. Given the high demand for the programme, it is possible that your preferred track may reach full capacity. Therefore, you are required to choose 2 tracks, when applying for the Master’s in Business Administration. Should your first option reach full capacity, we check if there is place in your second track choice. Please note that Digital Marketing and Consumer Marketing cannot be combined for the September intake.

  • How many students are in the programme?

    Our Master’s programme is selective and admits between 60-120 students per specialisation track.

  • What are the weekly contact hours?

    Most courses have one 2-3 hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week. Generally students take 3 courses at a time, so count on about 12-15 contact hours per week.

  • Will all lectures be held in person, or will there be options for online attendance?

    Our preference is for in-person lectures. Certain sessions may be pre-recorded or follow a hybrid format. This entails preparing for Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions through video clips and readings, with subsequent discussions during meetings.

  • Is attendance compulsory for lectures, tutorials, and other sessions?

    Attendance is usually not compulsory for lectures, but commonly for tutorials and other sessions. Students greatly benefit from being present and engaging in discussions with both the instructor and their classmates.

  • What is the typical method of assessment for most courses?

    The majority of courses have a final written on-site exam. Most courses have additional assessment methods, including oral presentations, developing research proposals, conducting experiments and writing up results. Finally, some courses grade active participation. This is reflected by attendance and activity in tutorials and online assignments.