Admission requirements
On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in International Business for academic year 2023-2024.
International Business is a numerus fixus programme with selection by the educational institution. This means that you go through a selection process after applying. Due to the limited number of places we cannot offer a place to every applicant who meets the admission requirements.
First, check whether you are eligible to apply based on your previous education and mathematics level. Second, learn more about the selection procedure. Finally, check which additional required documents you have to upload and when.
Important to know:
- You have to fill out an international classroom essay and upload a CV, certified statement of grades, supporting documents, and disclaimer in standard templates.
- Start your application on time. If you wait until the deadline to apply, you might be short in time to correct and/or complete your application. Our experience learns that it may take a few weeks to complete an application.
More information about the regulations on selection for bachelor's programmes with restricted intake.
Important deadlines for this study programme
When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is important that you inform yourself of the deadlines that you need to meet. The important deadlines when applying for this study programme are provided in the table below.
Note: if you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend that you use portrait mode.
| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2022 | Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2023-2024 |
| 15 January 2023, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing the entire application process for EU/EEA applicants and non-EU/EEA applicants. Note: non-EU/EEA applicants require a visa or residence permit. |
| 15 April 2023, 23:59 CET | Outcome selection procedure and publication ranking number |
Previous education
Applicants with a Dutch diploma
If you have one of the diplomas stated below then, in principle, you qualify for admission:
- VWO diploma ‘Natuur en Techniek’
- VWO diploma ‘Natuur en Gezondheid’
- VWO diploma ‘Economie en Maatschappij’
- VWO diploma ‘Cultuur en Maatschappij’ + wisA or wisB
- HBO propedeuse + mathematics level VWO wisA or wisB
- OU propedeuse + mathematics level VWO wisA or wisB
Questions?
If you have questions regarding your previous education, please contact:
study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 38 85388
Chat with us (Mon-Fri from 8.30 to 17.00)
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Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma
If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma you, in principle, qualify for admission to this programme. Check if this applies to your diploma.
List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch vwo diploma 2023/24
Mathematics requirement
For this bachelor’s programme, certain Dutch mathematics courses or a foreign equivalent are compulsory. The required mathematics courses are:
- Dutch diplomas: vwo mathematics level wiskunde A or wiskunde B
- German diplomas: “Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife”: Grundkurs Mathematics up to and including the final year
- Belgian diplomas: “Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs”: Mathematics at least 3 hours per week in the last 2 years.
- International Baccalaureate from Geneva:
- Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL or SL
- Mathematics Applications and Interpretations HL or SL
- European Baccalaureate: Mathematics at least 3 hours per week in the final 2 years
- British A/AS-levels, (I)GCE’s and/or AICE: Mathematics GCE A- or AS level
Additional subject requirement pertaining to non-Dutch entry qualifications 2023-2024
Mathematics deficiency
Students who do not meet the required mathematics level, have a so-called mathematics deficiency. The mathematics deficiency has to be cleared before the start of the bachelor’s first year. To help you meet the mathematic requirement, we offer an online preparatory math course and an online exam.
Read more about the mathematics deficiency
Questions?
If you have questions about the mathematics requirement, please check the FAQ or contact:
Student Services Centre
study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 38 85388
Chat with us (Mon-Fri from 8.30 to 17.00 CET)
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Refresh your mathematics skills
Do you meet the mathematics requirement, but still want to improve your mathematics skills? We offer an online preparatory math course. Mathematics and statistics are essential in this programme. Our experience learns that quite a lot of students are not sufficiently prepared for the introductory courses that start right away in September. To avoid problems during those first months, we designed this online preparatory math course. The course is aimed at:
- Students who took the non-science track mathematics in high school, such as Grundkurs Mathematics, wiskunde A, Math 4 hours or less, or IB Math SL.
- Students who took a gap year between high school and university.
If you belong to one of these two groups we highly recommend following the online preparatory math course.
Read more about the online preparatory math course
Required documents for the selection procedure
During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare and upload in the MyApplication portal before the deadline.
Required documents for all applicants to this study programme
- Copy of passport
- Copy of diploma (if already obtained)
- Grades transcript
Please upload an official grades transcript of your last two years of secondary education in the MyApplication portal under the task 'Upload diploma / grades transcript'.
- Curriculum vitae and supporting documents
Please use the standard templates 'curriculum vitae' and ‘supporting documents’ and upload them both in the MyApplication portal under the task ‘Upload CV’. In the document ‘supporting documents’ you will have to provide proof of the experiences you have indicated in your curriculum vitae. These proofs can for example be statements from your school, employers, voluntary organisations, certificates from language courses. Please note that experiences mentioned in your curriculum vitae, but not supported by formal proof, will not be considered in the evaluation.
- International Classroom Essay
The International Classroom Essay is a webform available in the MyApplication portal, consisting of five questions you need to answer. The suggested answer length is 200 words, with a maximum of 250 words per question.
If you are taking part in the Foundation Programme, it is still required to fill out the International Classroom Essay in order to participate in the selection procedure. However, you cannot get rejected based on your answers on this essay. If you are following the Foundation Programme, the SBE Admissions Office will process the International Classroom requirement-exemption based on the information you have submitted. Click here to read more about the International Classroom requirement
- Certified Statement of Grades
The document ‘Certified Statement of Grades’ that needs to be filled in will be offered to you in the MyApplication portal under the task 'Upload certified statement of grades'. This form has to be filled in by a representative of your secondary school, such as a dean or a teacher. Every page must bear an official stamp of your secondary school. Please indicate the final grades for the penultimate year (the year before the final year) of secondary education.
- Disclaimer statement
The document 'disclaimer statement' that needs to be filled in will be offered to you in the MyApplication portal under the task 'Upload disclaimer statement'. This document is used to inform us that your file is complete. If you still need to gather documents, please do not submit this form yet. It will technically still be possible to upload new documents after submitting the disclaimer.
- Portrait picture
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements
Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background
- Proof of mathematics proficiency
If you do not meet the required mathematics level, you have to clear your mathematics deficiency by taking part in the online preparatory match course and passing the online exam.
- Proof of language proficiency in English
You only have to provide proof if you cannot show the required language proficiency without this proof. Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation.
Questions?
If you have questions about the admission requirements for the selection procedure, please contact:
SBE Admissions Office
ibadmissions-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl
How do we assess your application?
When you want to apply or are applying to this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this here.
International Business is a numerus fixus programme with selection by the educational institution. This means that you go through a selection process after applying. Due to the limited number of places, we cannot offer a place to every applicant who meets the admission requirements.
Assessment
Only complete application files will be presented to the Board of Admission. Their assessment is based on your:
- International Classroom Essay (33%)
- Curriculum vitae + supporting documents (33%)
- Grades of your penultimate year of secondary school (see certified statement of grades) (33%)
International Classroom requirement
When you apply for the bachelor's programme International Business, you will need to upload several required documents for the selection procedure. In addition, you will need to complete the International Classroom Essay (webform) in order to participate in the ranking procedure. This additional admission requirement is in place to see whether you have an internationally orientated profile. Your motivation, plans for the future and way of looking at the world around you are important in the assessment. The IC-committee decides based on your answers on the International Classroom Essay whether you meet the International Classroom Requirement.
What happens if you do not meet the International Classroom requirement?
If your profile is not sufficient to meet the International Classroom-criteria, you will not be included in the ranking procedure. This means that you will not be able to start this bachelor’s programme. We will inform you about this decision on 15 April. This decision will also be valid for the bachelor's programme in Economics and Business Economics, since the International Classroom-requirement is the same for both programmes.
International Classroom requirement for students from the Foundation Programme
If you are taking part in the Foundation Programme, you need to fill out the International Classroom Essay. However, you cannot get rejected for the International Classroom requirement based on your answers. This means that you will in any case be included in the ranking procedure on the condition that you submit a complete application file. Nonetheless is the quality of your answers very important. Your score on the International Classroom Essay will be incorporated in your overall score in the selection procedure and will impact your ranking score. If you are following the Foundation Programme the SBE Admissions Office will process the International Classroom requirement-exemption based on the information in our system.
Outcome
On 15 April we will send out the result of the selection: you will receive a ranking number via e-mail. Depending on the number, you can be eligible for a place in this bachelor’s programme. If you do have a place, you will need to confirm via Studielink that you want to attend this programme within two weeks after receiving your placement message.
If you do not get a place on 15 April, it is still possible (depending on your ranking number) to get a place at a later date if other applicants decide not to attend the programme.
Language requirements for English-language programmes
As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.
Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.
Additional information
Possibility of enrolment in the second year and exemptions for the entire first year
If you have successfully completed courses equivalent to the first year of a School of Business and Economics (SBE) study programme (at the same university level), you may qualify for exemptions. Students, who do not switch between SBE study programmes, but switch from another university to SBE, cannot be exempted from parts of the first-year programme (so for separate, individual courses of the first-year of the bachelor study programme concerned), but only from the entire first-year of the bachelor´s study programme. To use this possibility, you must submit a request for exemptions to the Board of Examiners. If your request has been approved, you can enrol in the second year.
Please note that the deadline is 1 July 2023: if we have not received correct and completely filled out forms before this date, your request will not be taken into account.
More information regarding exemptions and how to apply for them.
Handling fee
Prospective students applying for this study programme who received their prior education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee.
More information about the (payment for the) handling fee.
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