International Business Bachelor

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

HZ University of Applied Sciences

Program Overview

The International Business programme at HZ University of Applied Sciences equips you with practical skills to thrive in global business, covering essentials like marketing, financial management, supply chain, human resources, business ethics, and international trade while letting you launch your own company and gain real-world experience through projects and excursions. It's perfect for ambitious students who want an international career, offering 2-3 semesters abroad for internships or minors, building a strong network, and preparing you for management roles in dynamic companies—plus, it's rated the best International Business programme in the Netherlands by Keuzegids 2026.

Curriculum structure
Year 1 lays a solid foundation in core business principles, immersing you in hands-on learning from day one. You'll dive into Marketing, Financial Management, and Supply Chain to understand how businesses operate globally, while exploring Business Ethics and starting entrepreneurial projects that apply theory to real scenarios, setting you up for success in international trade. This year builds your versatility through practical excursions and company collaborations, helping you think like a true business pro.

Year 2 ramps up your expertise with a focus on deeper operations and people management, choosing between business or hybrid profiles. Courses like Human Resources and International Trade sharpen your skills in managing teams and global flows, alongside personal development activities that boost your professional growth—preparing you for specialization paths. You'll apply these in projects, honing commercial thinking and financial savvy for the challenges ahead.

Year 3 lets you specialize via minors in areas like Marketing & Sales, Finance & Accounting, Operations & Supply Chain Management, or Organisation & People, paired with international work placements. Expect advanced topics such as Geopolitics and Corporate Strategy & Governance (like in CU34572V23), where you'll tackle case studies on innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic decisions in a global context. This phase includes exchange opportunities abroad, building your network and expertise for high-level roles.

Year 4 culminates in graduation projects and advanced practice, refining your profile with options for extra languages up to C1 level in the hybrid track. You'll integrate specializations through targeted placements and capstone work, focusing on real-world application of geopolitics, strategy, and market innovation techniques to solve business problems. By the end, you'll emerge as a confident global manager ready to lead.

Focus areas: Tailor your path with specializations in Marketing & Sales, Finance & Accounting, Operations & Supply Chain Management, or Organisation & People, plus profiles in business (projects-focused) or hybrid (with extra languages).

Learning outcomes: Gain hands-on skills in entrepreneurship, management, sales, marketing, financial management, streamlining processes, commercial thinking, and working within global frameworks—plus international experience and a professional network.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Follows the national International Business framework (CROHO 30029), awarding a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) after 240 ECTS, with propaedeutic phase (60 ECTS) and clear progression to graduation.

Reputation (employability rankings): Named the best International Business programme in the Netherlands by Keuzegids 2026, with HZ ranked top 3 among medium-sized universities of applied sciences overall—strong proof of our graduates' high employability in global roles.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now: https://hz.nl/en/study-programmes/international-business

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Why International Business at HZ Will Transform Your Career

The International Business programme at HZ University of Applied Sciences is built on learning by doing, not just lectures. From day one, you'll work on real projects with internationally operating companies, set up your own business venture, and gain hands-on experience in marketing, supply chain management, and financial decision-making. This isn't theoretical—you'll spend 2 to 3 semesters abroad completing internships or specialized coursework, giving you genuine global experience before you graduate.

What makes this programme stand out is how it bridges classroom and workplace:

- Real-world projects and excursions to international companies where you immediately apply marketing, supply chain, and management concepts
- Entrepreneurship experience by launching and running your own company as part of the curriculum
- Internship abroad programme allowing you to spend one to three semesters gaining practical experience in international business environments
- Diverse course foundation covering Marketing, Financial Management, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Business Ethics, and International Trade
- Access to HZ's facilities at the Edisonweg campus in Vlissingen, including meeting spaces for group projects, the media library, and collaborative work zones designed for hands-on learning
- Strong industry network built through partnerships with companies and collaborative projects, helping you establish professional connections during your studies
- Accessible learning environment with lifts, accessible workspaces, and support services across all campus buildings to ensure you can focus on your studies

The Edisonweg campus in Vlissingen is your home base, and it's easily accessible by car or public transport. You'll study alongside peers from across the globe in an English-taught programme ranked as the best International Business programme in the Netherlands according to Keuzegids 2026.

For more details about campus facilities and resources: [https://hz.nl/en/locations/vlissingen]

Progression & Future Opportunities

Why International Business at HZ Is Your Gateway to a Global Career

The International Business programme at HZ University of Applied Sciences isn't just about learning theory—it's about getting your hands dirty in the real world from day one. You'll build a solid foundation in core business areas like marketing, financial management, supply chain, human resources, and international trade, but here's what sets HZ apart: you apply everything immediately. Through excursions to and projects with internationally operating companies, you're not sitting in a lecture hall imagining what business looks like—you're actually doing it. Plus, you'll spend 2 to 3 semesters abroad for your internship or minor, giving you genuine international experience and helping you build a network that will follow you throughout your career.

And if becoming an entrepreneur appeals to you, the programme includes the opportunity to set up your own company as part of your studies. That's real experience, not a simulation.

What Makes This Programme Stand Out

To give you a clearer picture of the practical resources and learning opportunities you'll access, here's what HZ provides:

- Hands-on projects with real companies: You'll work directly with businesses to apply your knowledge in practice, not just case studies
- Entrepreneurship component: You get to establish and run your own company as part of the curriculum
- Extended international placements: 2-3 semesters abroad for internships or minors to build genuine global experience
- Supply Chain Innovation focus: Access to research into logistics innovations and zero emission logistics through HZ's Supply Chain Innovation professorship, relevant to your coursework
- Modern campus facilities in Vlissingen: The Edisonweg location includes the HZ Tower and main building with lifts, accessible study spaces, and the Open Learning Centre for collaborative work
- Student support services: Chat with current students, talk to advisors, and attend online information sessions to guide your decisions

According to the Keuzegids 2026, this is the best International Business programme in the Netherlands—so you're not just getting practical experience; you're getting it from a top-rated programme.

If you want to explore the campus facilities and accessibility information in detail, you can find everything at the [Vlissingen location page](https://hz.nl/en/locations/vlissingen).