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Companies and People: how they work, what roles they play

Business Administration

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The MSc programme in Business Administration has a multidisciplinary focus. Thus, you will start by specializing in a particular business process and study this using knowledge from several disciplines. As the programme is an academic one, it provides you with rigorous academic training and acquaints you with state-of-the-art theoretical background.

This is a one-year full-time programme. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will have obtained specialist knowledge in the area of your specialization and you will receive an internationally recognized Master of Science degree (MSc) in Business Administration. You complete the programme by writing a Master’s thesis about your own research on a specific topic in the master’s specialization programme of Business Administration.

Each specialization pays ample attention to research skills. To this end, a Research in Business Administration workshop is organized, in which attention is paid to academic skills, research methodology, research types relevant to the specialization.

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

Please note: the specialization Financial Management and the Duisenberg Honours Programme in Corporate Finance transferred to the Master in Finance.

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Which specialization do you choose?

Find out what the different possibilities are within the master's programme

Summary

How can HRM help workers and organizations thrive? How do you ensure inclusivity and equality in recruitment and selection? What is the key to creating successful and sustainable careers for workers in and outside of organizations? What’s the best way to find – and keep – the best possible people in the right jobs? What is the influence of current developments such as the increased use of AI and remote working?

With your Master’s in Business Administration: Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), you won’t just learn the answers to these and other key SHRM concerns. You’ll also know how to put them into practice and develop a career of your own. The programme balances quantitative and qualitative research, hands-on experience and direct contact with major corporations to ensure you have the hard and soft skills you need to excel in the world of HRM. At VU Amsterdam, we focus on making sure you have all the tools and support you need to carve your own path to success. 

The SHRM programme teaches you how to speak both the language of strategic HRM and that of the business, and shows you how to apply cutting edge scientific research to make employees thrive and organizations more successful, better employers. More and more organizations are beginning to realise how crucial recruitment, selection, retention, development and mobility are to organizational success. We’ll give you the tools to become an invaluable part of any organizations long-term business strategy. In addition to SHRM courses, you’ll be able to take electives from other Business Administration specialization programmes. 

Courses

  • The Changing HRM Environment
  • Contemporary Careers & Organizations
  • Talent Development and Analytics
  • Recruitment and Selection
  • Portfolio
  • Thesis MSc Business Administration - Strategic Human Resource Management

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Summary

How can companies compete in a global environment? What is the best way to do business in an emerging market? What do international teams need in order to overcome challenges and work effectively? How do we prepare individuals and teams to excel in cross-border businesses?

The Business Administration: International Management Master’s programme will combine several teaching methodologies to answer these questions. The right blend of lectures that explore theoretical developments and hands-on experience with real-life cases ensures that you will not only learn the methods it takes to succeed, but also how to apply those methods in practical ways. You’ll be challenged to distinguish yourself among your like-minded colleagues, and will have the opportunity to address real-life, multinational business challenges. You’ll learn how the international context affects different aspects of business, and learn the practical skills necessary to address complex international business challenges. What’s more, you’ll learn what it takes to lead the international business world into the future. 

Your Master’s degree in International Management from VU Amsterdam combines a variety of teaching methodologies to ensure you emerge as a well-rounded manager with the skills and experience to lead. In addition to your course work, you will participate in workshops that give you hands-on experience with current international business challenges. Your selection from a wide range of electives will allow you to tailor your Master’s to your interest. 

Courses

  • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO
  • Thesis MSc Business Administration: International Management
  • Culture and International Organizations
  • International Management
  • Business Ethics in International Management
  • Research in Business Administration - International Management

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Summary

How can you effectively lead a group of people to a common goal when they each have differing interests? How can you create a compelling call to action when addressing multiple stakeholders?

The Leadership & Change Management Master’s programme offers a unique proposition: it teaches you to lead a team through organisational change, to manage the change project, and to get buy-in from all involved. Leadership and change are a natural combination – no change management can be effective without good leadership, and only an effective leader can create positive change. Having completed the programme, you’ll come away with the organisational, political and rhetorical skills you need to be a successful future leader. Whether you want to find a role in consultancy, work internally for a large firm, or become an entrepreneur or project manager – this is the first step. 

The Leadership & Change Management programme will set you up as an academic professional, with knowledge of the theories of organisational change and leadership, as well as skills in implementing change and being an effective leader. In addition to courses that are unique to the Leadership & Change Management programme, you’ll also be able to take electives from the other Business Administration specialization programmes.

Courses

  • Leading Change and Projects
  • Perspectives on Organizational Change
  • Leadership Advanced Perspectives
  • Top Management and Political Skill
  • Business Ethics in Leadership and Change Management
  • Research in Business Administration - Leadership and Change Management
  • Portfolio Project
  • Thesis MSc Business Administration: Leadership and Change Management

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Summary

Do you want to find out if a career as a consultant is for you? In the Management Consulting specialization, you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful consultant. The specialization draws on insights from various different disciplines and you will learn in a project-based environment which will equip you with the research, communication, and presentation skills you need to excel in the consulting world.

Prepare to work hard – just like you would at a consultancy company. You will learn about various key aspects of the consulting process, such as the acquisition of clients, change management, the development of business models, communicating your recommendations, and the ethics involved in management consulting. You will also have the opportunity to carry out a consulting project for a real client from A to Z. You’ll be combining an academic mind-set (learning theories and thinking critically) with consulting in practice (gaining real-life experience with businesses in the field). In order to be a management consultant, you need to be able to excel various different tasks.

If you are up for the challenge, the Management Consulting specialization is your place to start! In addition to Management Consulting core courses, you’ll be able to take electives from other Business Administration specializations.

Courses

  • Management and Practice of Consulting
  • Strategy Evaluation and Advice
  • Organization Development and Change
  • New Business Models in Consulting
  • Consulting Project
  • Business Ethics in Management Consulting
  • Research in Business Administration - Management Consulting
  • Thesis MSc BA - MC
  • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Summary

How do you formulate and implement a business strategy that keeps you competitive in a dynamic market? What does it take to strategically engage with other organisations – including competitors, consumers and NGOs? What are the components of a strategy that not only ensures financial success, but also sustainable and socially responsible business practises?

If you're curious about the answers to these questions, then you’re the right fit for the Strategy & Organisation Master’s programme. You’ll learn to manage strategic and organisational challenges and develop profound skills in analytics, reflexivity and critical thinking. You’ll gain the skills to act responsibly and with foresight in complex and dynamic environments. In short, you’ll learn what it takes to not only develop the strategies that succeed, but also how to bring them to life within complex organisations looking to you to solve their real-life challenges.

The Strategy & Organisation Master’s from VU Amsterdam will teach you how to develop and design competitive strategies and how to put them into practice. After two core courses, you can choose one of two study tracks. One related to rethinking relationships with competitors, the other related to stakeholder demand for improved Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Courses

  • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO
  • Thesis MSc Business Administration: Strategy and Organization
  • Growth Strategies and Organizational Challenges
  • Strategic Entrepreneurship and Organizational Renewal
  • Business Ethics in Strategy and Organization
  • Research in Business Administration - Strategy and Organization

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • Strategic Human Resource Management

    Summary

    How can HRM help workers and organizations thrive? How do you ensure inclusivity and equality in recruitment and selection? What is the key to creating successful and sustainable careers for workers in and outside of organizations? What’s the best way to find – and keep – the best possible people in the right jobs? What is the influence of current developments such as the increased use of AI and remote working?

    With your Master’s in Business Administration: Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), you won’t just learn the answers to these and other key SHRM concerns. You’ll also know how to put them into practice and develop a career of your own. The programme balances quantitative and qualitative research, hands-on experience and direct contact with major corporations to ensure you have the hard and soft skills you need to excel in the world of HRM. At VU Amsterdam, we focus on making sure you have all the tools and support you need to carve your own path to success. 

    The SHRM programme teaches you how to speak both the language of strategic HRM and that of the business, and shows you how to apply cutting edge scientific research to make employees thrive and organizations more successful, better employers. More and more organizations are beginning to realise how crucial recruitment, selection, retention, development and mobility are to organizational success. We’ll give you the tools to become an invaluable part of any organizations long-term business strategy. In addition to SHRM courses, you’ll be able to take electives from other Business Administration specialization programmes. 

    Courses

    • The Changing HRM Environment
    • Contemporary Careers & Organizations
    • Talent Development and Analytics
    • Recruitment and Selection
    • Portfolio
    • Thesis MSc Business Administration - Strategic Human Resource Management

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • International Management

    Summary

    How can companies compete in a global environment? What is the best way to do business in an emerging market? What do international teams need in order to overcome challenges and work effectively? How do we prepare individuals and teams to excel in cross-border businesses?

    The Business Administration: International Management Master’s programme will combine several teaching methodologies to answer these questions. The right blend of lectures that explore theoretical developments and hands-on experience with real-life cases ensures that you will not only learn the methods it takes to succeed, but also how to apply those methods in practical ways. You’ll be challenged to distinguish yourself among your like-minded colleagues, and will have the opportunity to address real-life, multinational business challenges. You’ll learn how the international context affects different aspects of business, and learn the practical skills necessary to address complex international business challenges. What’s more, you’ll learn what it takes to lead the international business world into the future. 

    Your Master’s degree in International Management from VU Amsterdam combines a variety of teaching methodologies to ensure you emerge as a well-rounded manager with the skills and experience to lead. In addition to your course work, you will participate in workshops that give you hands-on experience with current international business challenges. Your selection from a wide range of electives will allow you to tailor your Master’s to your interest. 

    Courses

    • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO
    • Thesis MSc Business Administration: International Management
    • Culture and International Organizations
    • International Management
    • Business Ethics in International Management
    • Research in Business Administration - International Management

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • Leadership and Change Management

    Summary

    How can you effectively lead a group of people to a common goal when they each have differing interests? How can you create a compelling call to action when addressing multiple stakeholders?

    The Leadership & Change Management Master’s programme offers a unique proposition: it teaches you to lead a team through organisational change, to manage the change project, and to get buy-in from all involved. Leadership and change are a natural combination – no change management can be effective without good leadership, and only an effective leader can create positive change. Having completed the programme, you’ll come away with the organisational, political and rhetorical skills you need to be a successful future leader. Whether you want to find a role in consultancy, work internally for a large firm, or become an entrepreneur or project manager – this is the first step. 

    The Leadership & Change Management programme will set you up as an academic professional, with knowledge of the theories of organisational change and leadership, as well as skills in implementing change and being an effective leader. In addition to courses that are unique to the Leadership & Change Management programme, you’ll also be able to take electives from the other Business Administration specialization programmes.

    Courses

    • Leading Change and Projects
    • Perspectives on Organizational Change
    • Leadership Advanced Perspectives
    • Top Management and Political Skill
    • Business Ethics in Leadership and Change Management
    • Research in Business Administration - Leadership and Change Management
    • Portfolio Project
    • Thesis MSc Business Administration: Leadership and Change Management

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • Management Consulting

    Summary

    Do you want to find out if a career as a consultant is for you? In the Management Consulting specialization, you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful consultant. The specialization draws on insights from various different disciplines and you will learn in a project-based environment which will equip you with the research, communication, and presentation skills you need to excel in the consulting world.

    Prepare to work hard – just like you would at a consultancy company. You will learn about various key aspects of the consulting process, such as the acquisition of clients, change management, the development of business models, communicating your recommendations, and the ethics involved in management consulting. You will also have the opportunity to carry out a consulting project for a real client from A to Z. You’ll be combining an academic mind-set (learning theories and thinking critically) with consulting in practice (gaining real-life experience with businesses in the field). In order to be a management consultant, you need to be able to excel various different tasks.

    If you are up for the challenge, the Management Consulting specialization is your place to start! In addition to Management Consulting core courses, you’ll be able to take electives from other Business Administration specializations.

    Courses

    • Management and Practice of Consulting
    • Strategy Evaluation and Advice
    • Organization Development and Change
    • New Business Models in Consulting
    • Consulting Project
    • Business Ethics in Management Consulting
    • Research in Business Administration - Management Consulting
    • Thesis MSc BA - MC
    • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • Strategy and Organization

    Summary

    How do you formulate and implement a business strategy that keeps you competitive in a dynamic market? What does it take to strategically engage with other organisations – including competitors, consumers and NGOs? What are the components of a strategy that not only ensures financial success, but also sustainable and socially responsible business practises?

    If you're curious about the answers to these questions, then you’re the right fit for the Strategy & Organisation Master’s programme. You’ll learn to manage strategic and organisational challenges and develop profound skills in analytics, reflexivity and critical thinking. You’ll gain the skills to act responsibly and with foresight in complex and dynamic environments. In short, you’ll learn what it takes to not only develop the strategies that succeed, but also how to bring them to life within complex organisations looking to you to solve their real-life challenges.

    The Strategy & Organisation Master’s from VU Amsterdam will teach you how to develop and design competitive strategies and how to put them into practice. After two core courses, you can choose one of two study tracks. One related to rethinking relationships with competitors, the other related to stakeholder demand for improved Corporate Social Responsibility. 

    Courses

    • Portfolio BA: HRM/IM/LCM/MC/SO
    • Thesis MSc Business Administration: Strategy and Organization
    • Growth Strategies and Organizational Challenges
    • Strategic Entrepreneurship and Organizational Renewal
    • Business Ethics in Strategy and Organization
    • Research in Business Administration - Strategy and Organization

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Change your future with the Business Administration programme

Change your future with the Business Administration programme

Upon completion of this Master’s programme, you are able to start in a wide range of different sectors. As a graduate from any specialization in the MSc Business Administration, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to excel in various areas of the business world. You can start working at larger corporate companies or smaller organizations, NGOs, or public organizations as you have a broad understanding of how business processes work. From roles in government policy making, consulting firms to joining the ever-changing world of start-ups: you have a variety of options to make your way in the business world.

Explore your future opportunities
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