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master s programmes in business and economics 2010 · msc international business · msc management of learning · msc international economic studies · msc infonomics · msc financial economics · msc fiscal economics · msc econometrics and operations research · msc global supply chain management and change · msc business research · msc economic and financial research language of instruction english

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maastricht university leading in learning historic yet forward-thinking and contemporary typically dutch yet multicultural and vibrant maastricht is a city of contrasts not only is maastricht the birthplace of the modern european union it also continues to establish itself internationally thanks to maastricht university s position as a leading academic centre in europe beyond boundaries contents message from the dean maastricht maastricht university school of business and economics msc international business · accountancy · business intelligence · controlling · entrepreneurship and sme management · finance · information management · marketing-finance · organisation management change and consultancy · strategic marketing · strategy and innovation · supply chain management msc management of learning msc international economic studies · behavioural economics · competition and regulation · european economic policy · public economics · social economics msc infonomics msc financial economics · asset pricing · banking · financial analysis 2 3 4 6 17 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 43 44 46 48 50 52 54 57 58 60 62 msc fiscal economics · fiscale economie · international tax management msc econometrics and operations research · actuarial sciences · econometrics · mathematical economics · operations research msc global supply chain management and change msc business research msc economic and financial research application and admission · msc international business · msc management of learning · msc international economic studies · msc infonomics · msc financial economics · msc fiscal economics · msc econometrics and operations research · msc global supply chain management and change · msc business research · msc economic and financial research preparation money matters 65 66 68 71 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 87 87 92 94 98 102 106 112 116 120 122 124 126 with over half of its master s students and a third of its academic staff coming from outside the netherlands maastricht university has a reputation for quality and for its international orientation and dynamic interdisciplinary environment most of our master s programmes are taught in english and international themes are deeply rooted in the curricula at maastricht university you will be encouraged to look across traditional boundaries for answers looking to other departments disciplines institutes universities and international scholars to provide better insight into your own education and research new perspectives as a master s student you are a contributing member of our academic community using the problem-based learning methodology you work in small groups alongside students from all over the world in close cooperation with the academic staff you and your fellow students seek solutions to real-world problems you exchange knowledge and experiences learn to see things from new perspectives and develop skills that will last a lifetime research research at maastricht university focuses on gaining insights into current issues in today s society and we recognise the value of bright young researchers in contributing to the development of fresh and innovative ideas that is why research plays an integral role in the majority of our master s programmes and why we offer a number of research master s focused solely on the training of future researchers career further specialising in your field by earning a master s degree at maastricht university will greatly enhance your career prospects the effectiveness of our approach to education and research is demonstrated by the performance of our graduates they are self-assured independent and assertive professionals who are able to make a smooth transition from university to the job market because they focus on more than just theory they also learn the skills they need to have a successful career maastricht university is signatory of the code of conduct with respect to international students in dutch higher education more information about this code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl all programmes in this brochure are accredited by the accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao for more information on nvao please visit www.nvao.net 2 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 1

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message from the dean you are ambitious your goal is to gain qualifications recognised as the best worldwide and you want to pursue your ambition at a top school in a vibrant environment where motivated students from all over the world benefit from top-of-class teaching and learning methods if these are your goals then maastricht university is definitely the right choice for you the school of business and economics offers you the chance to learn from the best leading authorities in research and education with a reputation for academic excellence there are many features that make maastricht university a unique place to live and study possibly the most important is its internationalism our students come from countries far and wide our teaching staff is diverse our programmes all have an international focus we have links to companies and institutions in other countries and almost all courses are taught in english maastricht university is famous for its pioneering learning methodology small tutorial groups and a personal academic relationship with your teachers ensure that you get the most out of your learning experience this applies whether you are a prospective bachelor s or master s student of course we also offer courses at postgraduate executive and doctorate level if you choose to apply to maastricht university we hope your time here will be challenging and motivating but also fun our reputation has also been hallmarked by the prestigious triple crown accreditation our school is proud to be one of a very select group of less than 1 of business schools worldwide to be accredited by the european foundation for management development equis the association to advance collegiate schools of business aacsb and the association of mbas amba last but not least the city of maastricht itself offers you a cosmopolitan place to live which is steeped in european history beautiful and charming there really is no better place to soak up student life and prepare for your professional career on behalf of all the school s staff i hope this brochure provides you with a good starting point for information about maastricht the university the school our programmes and the details of our academic offering we look forward to welcoming you here prof jos lemmink dean of the school of business and economics maastricht international and innovative maastricht and its university are truly international located on the river meuse we are at the meeting point of the netherlands belgium and germany maastricht is just a stone s throw from cities such as brussels liege aachen cologne and düsseldorf while amsterdam paris and london are all within a couple of hundred kilometres as you stroll through its cobbled streets you ll hear dozens of different languages unsurprisingly our city has become synonymous with europe and the european union especially following the signing of the maastricht treaty in 1992 maastricht university reflects that international orientation if you choose to study here you will come into contact with students and professors from all over the world you will also have the opportunity to intern and gain experience at european institutions and international businesses although maastricht s population of around 120,000 is relatively small the city has a rich history culture and social life as well as plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities in parallel its reputation for innovation in the fields of science technology and the arts have put it at the forefront of europe in the same way that maastricht is safe yet vibrant the school offers a secure yet challenging learning environment take the opportunity to live work and study in this stimulating unique and international city 2 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 3

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maastricht university diverse and dynamic founded in 1976 maastricht is the youngest university in the netherlands but it has already achieved a reputation for excellence in academic programmes and learning methods the international calibre of you its students gives the university its vitality diversity and dynamism training the best future graduates the benefits of this learning approach more commonly known as `problem-based learning are multiple · you are learning continuously ­ unlike the lecturebased approach at some universities learning takes place throughout the whole course not just before exam time · you get out what you put in ­ the courses are challenging and demanding but more effort equates with better results · you gain a better idea of the value of knowledge through taking responsibility for your own and others learning experiences · you gain an understanding of your own learning processes becoming more aware of what works for you · you learn valuable `real-life management skills managing yourself others resources and situations · group work affords the potential for conflict situations ­ you may need to handle the clash of diverse opinions and cultures · you learn to meet deadlines and produce deliverables such as powerpoint presentations reports and research projects · you learn to make decisions as well as to reflect on the way you made them · you benefit from the freedom to develop your own interests an outstanding choice maastricht university was one of the best academic choices i ve ever made it provides a unique and enriching academic environment that takes learning to the highest level through small studentto-professor ratios a learning approach which maximises student interaction and critical thinking and above all a population of students from across the globe who contribute their valuable and diverse professional and academic experience to the classroom a unique learning approach maastricht university has become famous for its approach to learning and teaching as a student here you will benefit from small classes of only 12 to 14 students close working relationships with your teachers and a highly interactive style of learning our approach to the learning process involves the use of real-life cases in the classroom this method has several unique features it brings you to academic resources actively rather than through passively listening to lectures or reading papers it provides you with practical concrete examples of the academic theory you study it allows you to interact with your peers and teachers giving you immediate feedback on your learning process and it means that you develop your own deeper more personal understanding of the concepts while your teachers are on hand to facilitate the responsibility for learning is yours rebecca galloway usa france alumna sales manager at decision news media it goes without saying that these advantages will carry you forward in your future career time management management of yourself and others the ability to give and receive constructive criticism dealing with conflict situations all are characteristics of desirable employees maastricht university graduates have been evaluated by companies for whom they work they stated that graduate competencies in personal and team management risktaking and decision-making skills are higher than those from other universities our graduates are generally thought to be more mature and entrepreneurial than others with the ambition to build their own careers and to take every opportunity to learn constant improvement although this learning method has become worldrenowned the teachers at maastricht university are continuously carrying out research into the methodology so that you benefit from the most up-to-date developments all teachers are trained in this learning method with follow-up specialised courses enabling your teachers to improve their skills continually maastricht university monitors its graduates progress in the job market after six months two years and five years we also develop new learning initiatives to meet the changing needs of the labour market and then implement these in the learning environment this means that you will benefit from continuously improving programmes courses and ways of learning academic education of course a university education means reading academic literature such as scientific papers and articles too as a student at a top university you re required to delve into your own research and to read academic texts that are over and above what you learn in the classroom this is not a textbook education this is about a proactive desire to learn through your own individual reading 4 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 5

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school of business and economics academic excellence the maastricht university school of business and economics is well known for the quality of its academic education and research both within the netherlands and internationally all except one of its tracks the fiscal economics track within the msc fiscal economics are taught in english allowing you to study not just at an internationally reputed university but also in an international language accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao maastricht university is the only university in the netherlands to be accredited by the nvao for its research in both economics and business science all master s programmes at the school are also accredited by this independent organisation for the quality of both their content and the teachers www.nvao.net european quality improvement system equis the european foundation for management development awarded our school the equis quality stamp a leading international system of quality assessment improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration www.efmd.org elsevier the leading dutch business magazine elsevier has awarded the school s economics and international business programmes the number one spot for several years running www.elsevier.nl financial times the financial times ranked the international business programme within the top 25 best business schools in europe to offer programmes in the category `master s in management at european institutions the ranking takes into account alumni s current jobs employers and salaries the school s career services and customer satisfaction the number of foreign students and employees the language of instruction international mobility and other relevant issues rankings.ft.com/masters-in-management internationally accredited and highly ranked the school of business and economics has been recognised by several external independent organisations for the quality of its teaching staff world-renowned learning methodology academic excellence research and facilities a master s degree from the school is a passport to your future reputed and recognised internationally our rankings and accreditations are proof that you re receiving the best possible quality of education the top reputation of your degree will enhance your career opportunities around the world association of mbas amba amba accreditation of the mba degrees at our school means that we have been internationally recognised for best practice in our mba programmes www.mbaworld.com association to advance collegiate schools of business aacsb we are one of approximately 40 european institutions to have been internationally accredited by this prestigious us association which is considered the hallmark of excellence in management education www.aacsb.edu choice guide for higher education keuzegids hoger onderwijs this authoritative national evaluation guide ranked the international business econometrics and operations research and fiscal economics programmes first in 2009 the bachelor s programme in economics and business economics claimed second place this ranking which now includes experts opinions contact hours and success rate as well as students own opinions has been awarded to programmes offered by the school for several years www.keuzegids.org centre for higher education development che our school s economics programme ranked top in 12 out of 13 criteria measuring student satisfaction using this german interactive ranking system the international business programme also ranked highly ranking.zeit.de beta gamma sigma honor society we are proud to have a chapter of the beta gamma sigma bgs honor society at our school this is a prestigious international business society to which only aacsbaccredited universities are invited to provide members membership is open to the very best in business which means those who graduate with a grade point average of 8.5 achieving this honour not only signifies recognition of outstanding academic achievement it also provides networking and career opportunities www.betagammasigma.org a top-ranked business school the triple crown accreditation from equis aacsb and amba confirms once more that the educational programmes and related services at the school of business and economics are truly world class william yonathan china international business student 6 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 7

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close connections to the corporate world a master s degree from the school of business and economics is already a great springboard for your future career however the university boasts many other links to the corporate world in which you can participate alumninet what better way to find out about career opportunities than to talk to past graduates alumninet is made up of some 8,500 graduates from the school who now work in companies worldwide the network allows not just alumni but also current students and other members of the school to keep in touch via `alumni circles in the netherlands belgium france germany the uk the us and china these alumni circles organise both social and professional events enabling members to network and share ideas www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/alumni sme portal are you looking to set up your own business or get involved with sme projects the sme portal brings together students looking for assignments and research projects within small and medium-sized companies and companies looking for extra help and expertise the smes are located in or around maastricht which could include companies in belgium france and germany their requirements are assessed before they are matched with an appropriate student e-matching an additional service on the portal enables instant matching between students and smes the portal is open to all students who are looking for paid work experience want to explore career opportunities within an sme or are considering setting up their own company most of the projects are short term which means they are easy to combine with studying www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/mkbportal career services the university s career centre is on hand to provide you with advice on your study choices and career opportunities through one-on-one meetings you can benefit from information about suitable companies and professions based on your individual abilities and competences to get ahead in the employment market the careers service offers you interview training and feedback on your cv and covering letters in addition to individual guidance group workshops training sessions and courses are on offer www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/careerservices · fs focus organises workshops congresses study trips company visits and recruitment events for students in the fields of accounting controlling or finance www.fsfocus.nl · vectum offers students of econometrics insights into real-world business situations you will benefit from direct links with companies through the annual vectum congress in-house days and presentation dinners www.vectum.nl · ies network offers students of infonomics and economics lectures on current economic events and excursions to economic institutions www.iesnetwork.nl · eloquent aims to motivate students from the entire school to maintain a critical perspective on both their studies and their extracurricular activities eloquent publishes a lively entertaining quarterly magazine www.eloquent.nl · aiesec the world s largest international student association offers tools to develop your potential and positively impact society to gain insights and knowledge of cultural differences foreign languages and customs you can apply for management or development traineeships `make a move career week is a four-day event that aims to bring students to the labour market www.aiesec.nl · integrand offers internships work assignments business courses and other activities that will help familiarise you with the world of work whilst studying www.integrand.nl · unipartners is an academic consulting firm working on business-oriented projects for various companies get involved in market research company and project evaluations logistical strategic law and regulation projects as well as writing business plans www.unipartners.nl/maastricht · research project maastricht is an annual project open to and run by up to 14 high-potential students working on a non-profit basis the team spends three months plus one month travelling time in emerging markets conducting research on behalf of dutch companies through intense contact with the business world you will gain valuable work experience and learn to come up with solutions to real-life problems www.researchproject.nl study associations the right choice as a student of the school there are several active associations that you can join initiated by students themselves they are linked to various programmes or disciplines and provide study support exposure to real-life business situations career advice and recruitment events · 3ma maastricht marketing management/organisation association bridges the gap between economic theory and business practice you can take part in events such as the maastricht business days 3ma congress consultancy day commercial day in-house days training programmes and recruitment dinners www.3ma.nl the main reason i decided to study in maastricht is because the university is the most international in the netherlands i already knew that i wanted to go abroad after my studies and maastricht fitted these plans furthermore the learning approach forces you to think about and use the information that you gather maastricht s relaxed atmosphere many bars and restaurants and the beautiful nature surrounding the city make it one of the best places to spend your life as a student marc van der chijs the netherlands alumnus co-founder and board member of todou.com ceo of spill group asia angel investor in chinese start-ups china 8 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 9

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excellent education at the school of business and economics teaching is as important as research and the two are inextricably linked leading researchers and scholars directly contribute to the content of the programmes you will be studying this means that your education will be innovative up-to-date and relevant to the issues at the cutting edge of today s hot research topics · queen s school of business canada ­ at this cuttingedge school in kingston you spend the last semester of your bachelor s programme as an exchange student if you are studying for a bachelor s degree in international business or economics and business economics at the school you continue with your master s programme at queen s school of business you then return to maastricht to complete your master s programme the double-degree programme with queen s takes a little over one year resulting in minimal study delay only students of the school s bachelor s programmes in international business or economics and business economics can apply you will receive two master s degrees on completion of the programme · master of management ­ global management degree from queen s school of business · master of science in international business ­ graduate option `free master from the maastricht university school of business and economics · université catholique de louvain belgium ­ in louvainla-neuve you take part of your master s programme at the université catholique de louvain your first year takes place in maastricht your second in louvain-laneuve we currently have two double-degree programmes on offer with this institution each of which are accessible to bachelor s graduates from both our school and other universities both double-degree programmes enable you to earn two master s degrees in 21 months · master of science in economics from université catholique de louvain · master of science in international economic studies from the maastricht university school of business and economics or · master of science in econometrics from université catholique de louvain · master of science in econometrics and operations research from the maastricht university school of business and economics all of our partner institutions have at least two international accreditations see pages 6-7 are leading in the economics and business fields in their country and offer great academic opportunities that represent an additional benefit for students in today s international labour market graduates with degrees from two countries will be one step ahead of the competition your international exposure ­ not just in terms of business but also life skills ­ will be highly valued by potential employers moreover you will benefit from · two master of science degrees without or with minimal extra time required · experiencing the `best of both worlds ­ each university adds its specialty to the programme complementing the partner university · experiencing a different culture business environment and learning approach · gaining greater perspective in addressing international issues · the opportunity to develop business-level fluency in two languages · a diverse learning experience through a more international classroom · internships which are an integral feature of most double-degree programmes · exemption from the gmat · not paying application fees · only paying our school s tuition fees if you are a maastricht university student i.e not those of the partner institution nb students from our school who receive a grant studiefinanciering for one year during their master s programme are also able to receive that grant while studying abroad a double-degree programme is demanding as well as rewarding with partner institutions with which we have a contract the same number of students from the partner institution as from our school may be selected to come to maastricht to study only the students with the strongest academic records and the highest levels of ambition and motivation from both institutions will be selected www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe two excellent doubledegree degrees the double-degree programme provided me with the opportunity to work on certain areas of knowledge that i had not yet studied in depth at edhec business school i am greatly impressed by the high academic standard and the outstanding international reputation of the maastricht university school of business and economics as a result of my doubledegree qualification i was offered a job at merrill lynch and i have edhec and the school of business and economics to thank double-degree programmes do you want to further your career by obtaining a master s degree from not one but two top institutions at maastricht university you have the opportunity to do a so-called `double-degree programme in conjunction with one of our top partner institutions these include · edhec business school france ­ at this top business school with campuses in lille and nice you spend the last semester of your bachelor s programme as an exchange student if you are studying for a bachelor s degree in international business or economics and business economics at the school during the summer you take part in an internship arranged through edhec next you continue with your master s programme at edhec you then return to maastricht to complete your master s programme the double-degree programme with edhec takes just one year only students of the school s bachelor s programmes in international business or economics and business economics can apply you will receive two master s degrees on completion of the programme · master of science degree from edhec business school · master of science in international business from the maastricht university school of business and economics julien potier france alumnus mergers and acquisitions analyst at merrill lynch london united kingdom exchange programmes as one of several extracurricular options you have during your master s programme you may have the opportunity to take part in an exchange programme abroad if you are an exceptional student with the best grades good language skills and a strong motivation for studying abroad you can apply to spend one semester at one of the school s top partner universities the exchange is additional to your regular study programme meaning that you will take either your second or third semester at the partner institution although credits are not generally awarded the opportunity to gain experience abroad is a huge plus in today s job market and will broaden both your career and your personal horizons top partner institutions for master s exchange programmes include · università commerciale luigi bocconi milan italy · university of copenhagen copenhagen denmark · escp europe paris france · indian institute of management ahmedabad india · the george washington university elliot school of international affairs washington dc usa · the australian national university canberra australia www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/exchange 10 master 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reputation for research extended degree programmes including internship you have the opportunity to extend your master s programme to 1.5 years allowing you to do a six-month internship in addition to your regular studies employers will recognise your work experience as an extremely valuable part of your cv the school fully supports the optional internship offering you help and supervision and giving you extracurricular credits in addition to your master s degree the school already has arrangements with numerous companies that are willing to offer internships to motivated students however if you have specific requests or contacts you can potentially arrange an internship with any company of your choice participating companies include · ahold · apg · bosch · cap gemini · daimler chrysler · deloitte touche tohmatsu · l oreal · philips · pricewaterhousecoopers · rabobank · shell · ubs · vodafone part-time programmes in addition to our regular full-time programmes some international business tracks can now be followed part time spread over two years many of these tracks are taught as evening classes which are ideal for people working and studying simultaneously currently part-time options are offered in the following tracks · accountancy fridays only in dutch · finance · information management · strategic marketing · strategy and innovation · supply chain management www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/parttime good quality research builds the reputation of the university which means that your degree is worth more almost all of your teachers also carry out research so you benefit from the most up-to-date innovative highest quality learning experience in short you re getting more than just a textbook education there are three unique features that define the research being carried out at the school firstly the integration between business and economics defines both the research and the way the programmes are structured secondly both research and programmes look at their subject matter from both an external and an internal perspective for instance the programme covering human resources looks at external labour markets as well as the internal structure of teams and lastly characteristic of the school is the blend of applied work and fundamental theory for our researchers and our students this combination is vital key disciplines in which research is currently being carried out include · economic theory · finance and econometrics · hr and labour markets · technology and innovation · marketing and supply chain management · accounting and corporate governance the school s research is regularly assessed by the association of universities in the netherlands vsnu programmes have consistently been rated four or five out of five research centre for education and the labour market roa roa focuses on human resources and the correlation between education and the labour market roa s research efforts aim to contribute to both academic and societal discussions on the effects of knowledge and skills acquired in education and in other learning situations on occupational careers performance within organisations and the development of the economy www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/roa post-graduate programmes the school also offers post-graduate education and training through mba programmes executive master s in-company and open executive programmes as a young professional or senior executive you can further your career through deeper business knowledge and expertise www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/postgraduate united nations university ­ maastricht economic and social research and training centre on innovation and technology unu-merit a joint initiative between the united nations university and maastricht university unu-merit provides insights into the social political and economic factors that drive technological change and innovation the centre s research and training programmes address a broad range of policy questions relating to the national and international governance of science technology and innovation with a particular focus on the creation and diffusion of and access to knowledge www.merit.unu.edu roa and unu-merit are funded by assignments from companies the government and other mostly european organisations other small research institutes are linked to specific programmes the research connections of our school and its research institutes can offer excellent internship opportunities for students maastricht research school of economics of technology and organisations meteor meteor is our graduate research school organising the phd programme as well as two research master s programmes see pages 82-85 building the university s reputation meteor s aim is to ensure that the school s research is published in the best journals established in 1994 meteor is recognised by the royal netherlands academy of arts and sciences knaw as an official research school www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/meteor 12 master s programmes in 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state-of-the-art facilities university library right in the centre of maastricht just a five-minute walk from the school you will find the state-of-the-art university library its excellent facilities include · an extensive book and magazine collection · study areas with or without computers · 320 computers · 80 laptop connections · an ict service desk · group spaces · large tables to spread out your materials · different noise levels from low to absolute silence · ergonomically designed equipment · electronic databases · a wide range of electronic documents and journals ­ where licences permit these can also be accessed from home as well as other campus locations www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/library student advice for general study support look no further than the academic advisers you can go to them for advice on the structure and organisation of the programmes rules and regulations planning or choosing your studies if for personal reasons you either can t complete your studies or need more time to do so the academic advisers are also here to help you language centre your education comprises more than just the academic discipline you choose to study the language centre offers a broad range of affordably priced language courses from beginner to advanced level in 13 languages including english dutch russian arabic and chinese www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/languages restaurant at mensa the school s restaurant you can buy a wide range of affordable meals and snacks every day you can choose between two hot meals a vegetarian dish salads sandwiches drinks and many other delicious options student services centre for student support services not related to your programme the student services centre is here to help you can approach any of the advisers about matters relating to registration studies professions career planning financial assistance and sports if you are a prospective student from outside the eu you can visit the international service desk for help in applying for a visa opening a dutch bank account finding accommodation applying for insurance and so on the international service desk also coordinates several scholarship and grant programmes www.maastrichtuniversity.nl 14 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 15

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msc international business business without borders in today s globalised business environment are you inspired by international organisations and how they operate and change over time are you looking to develop the knowledge and skills that will put you ahead in today s dynamic business world international business will help you succeed why should you choose international business international business covers all aspects of commerce across borders it is a very broad subject which is why this programme has been divided into several tracks this means that you can choose to focus on a particular area depending on your own interests and future ambitions whichever track you choose there are some common elements to all of them these include a strong focus on business in an international environment through extensive use of case studies real-life business problems skills training and a master s thesis you will finish the year with the broad analytical and theoretical skills required for an international business career as well as a deep understanding of your chosen specialisation within this programme you can choose from the following tracks · accountancy · business intelligence · controlling · entrepreneurship and sme management · finance · information management · marketing-finance · organisation management change and consultancy · strategic marketing · strategy and innovation · supply chain management you may also wish to study part time over two years if so you can choose from accountancy finance information management strategic marketing strategy and innovation and supply chain management these part-time tracks can be tailored to fit around other obligations you may have is international business right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · have an interest in business across borders · be able to think analytically · be prepared to work hard on your chosen track · have international career ambitions what are your career prospects many of our students have job offers before they graduate your understanding of international business issues combined with the interpersonal and leadership skills you will learn during the year will make you an asset to any organisation to which you apply graduates have found positions in · consultancy firms · large multinationals · smes · governmental and non-governmental organisations giving you the knowledge and skills required for an international business career 16 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 17

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track accountancy interpreting information for better business decisions do you want to get right to the core of business ­ working within the central nerve system of any company are you interested in interpreting numbers as well as gathering them do you aspire to become an auditor or financial consultant accountancy puts you on the fast track to success why should you choose accountancy financial information is the basis for all company decisions ­ so accountants play a central role in decision making whether about people or products there are two distinct roles that graduates in accountancy can play · financial consultants interpret information enabling resource allocation decisions essential to achieving corporate goals · auditors check the reliability of that information during this track you will learn about international accounting principles meaning that you can take your profession with you anywhere in the world moreover the department of accounting and information management has an excellent reputation due to its high-quality research including research projects for the eu and top dutch and european auditing firms more than numbers this track isn t just about number-crunching for me it s about interpreting those numbers in terms of the strategic internal and external environment in which a company operates accountancy is the backbone of any organisation more than specific accounting skills though the track gives you strong interpersonal skills as a result of regular teamwork and presentations giving you the competitive edge in your future career is accounting right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · be an enthusiastic team player · have a common-sense understanding of the way organisations work · have some quantitative ability · be a critical thinker a bachelor s degree in any discipline is required though a high level of achievement is more important than the subject itself frank kneepkens the netherlands accountancy student course outline there are certain compulsory courses within the track as well as an elective accountancy 1 financial statement analysis and valuation assurance services fast facts · · · · · · programme msc international business track accountancy language of instruction english duration 1 year full time start dates twice yearly in february and september 2010 study load per week 8 hrs classes 12 hrs group work 20 hrs individual study total 40 hours · learning method problem-based learning guest lectures presentations assignments papers · assessment method written exams final papers group participation · options · 2-year part-time accountancy programme fridays only in dutch see page 12 · double-degree programme with edhec and queen s university see page 10 · exchange programme see page 11 · extended degree programme 1.5 years including internship see page 12 what are your career prospects interaction with companies is an integral part of this track you will have the opportunity to visit companies network with future potential employers join student associations and attend guest lectures and workshops given by audit firms such as kpmg ernst young deloitte touche tohmatsu and pricewaterhousecoopers these opportunities will bring you into contact with the professional world and open up employment possibilities before you ve even graduated graduates have found positions in · auditing firms or departments · their own businesses · financial consultancy after graduating in accountancy you can take either a dutch post-graduate programme or an international post-graduate programme that both focus on qualifying you to become a registered auditor see www.umra.nl you can obtain this qualification by attending a part-time programme whilst working in the field at this post-graduate stage links with the corporate world are even stronger the programmes are an integral part of firms management and executive development and executives of corporations sit on the programmes supervisory boards what will you learn having completed this track you will be able to · design internal accounting systems that help managers make good business decisions · prepare read and interpret financial statements · provide assurance on the reliability of reporting mechanisms such as annual reports term 1 2 internal control elective 3 skills training writing a master s thesis writing the master s thesis 4 term 2 5 financial accounting management control writing the master s thesis 6 completing the master s thesis nb the course outline applies to the september 2010 start date at the time of publishing details of the track could change or may differ for the february 2010 start date before applying please check www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master for the latest information further information · www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master · marketing and student recruitment office · phone +31 43 388 2055 · skype um-sbe · email master-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl 18 master s 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track business intelligence making better business decisions how do the best businesses succeed by knowing how to make the right decisions are you ambitious to apply your knowledge to staying on top of your industry by knowing your competitors and customers do you want to learn how to apply it tools and technologies to business problems choose business intelligence to stay ahead in business why should you choose business intelligence business intelligence does what it says on the tin it provides you with the tools to make intelligent strategic decisions about your future business more specifically it is already being used by hedge fund managers and in merger and acquisition situations which are becoming increasingly common in today s economic climate to do this the track uniquely combines three distinct areas of study strategy financial accounting and information management it also employs a multi-disciplinary learning approach consisting of the strategic use of it quantitative models and real-life application you will actively use business intelligence and statistics software in a true `learning by doing approach examples of well-known real-life cases where you ll have the opportunity to apply business models include · decisions about a 3g network auction for mobile phone operators · strategic buying decisions for a european office rental company · profit analysis for leveraged takeover of a bank by hedge funds · revenue management for an airline company modelling customers and competitors vodafone uses business intelligence to model their customers feedback and to monitor their competitors through business intelligence you can use these models to make decisions on marketing strategy you will be able to analyse which customers to target based on whether they are profitable whether they offer cross-selling opportunities whether they fit vodafone s strengths and so on you can learn about cases like these and apply the methodologies in other fields through the business intelligence track is business intelligence right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · have an interest in what generates value in a business such as it strategic decision-making and business modelling · be familiar with business models · be able to think analytically a bachelor s degree in international business or equivalent is required for career prospects in this area of business although other disciplines may be considered for the track fast facts course outline business intelligence 1 supply chain operations business intelligence case study business analysis · · · · · · programme msc international business track business intelligence language of instruction english duration 1 year full time start dates twice yearly in february and september 2010 study load per week 10 hrs classes 15 hrs group work 15 hrs individual study total 40 hours · learning method problem-based learning guest lectures presentations assignments · assessment method written exams final papers group participation · options · double-degree programme with edhec and queen s university see page 10 · exchange programme see page 11 · extended degree programme 1.5 years including internship see page 12 what are your career prospects the current economic climate means there is a huge demand for graduates in business intelligence the track will equip you with skills in quantitative modelling it corporate strategy decision making and management science ­ all of which will make you a valuable asset to any company especially large multinationals furthermore the track has direct links with dsm vodafone airfrance klm sabic europe and others who provide case studies internships research contracts and informal seminars all of which give you access to excellent job opportunities graduates have found positions in · strategy consulting · strategy departments of multinationals · large companies requiring strong analytical skills term 1 2 data management 3 skills training writing a master s thesis writing the master s thesis 4 term 2 5 financial accounting what will you learn having completed this track you will be able to · reach sound strategic decisions · understand fundamental models and value drivers of your company specifically and of the industry in general · use the power of it tools and technologies in a strategic business context operational strategy writing the master s thesis 6 completing the master s thesis nb the course outline applies to the september 2010 start date at the time of publishing details of the track could change or may differ for the february 2010 start date before applying please check www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master for the latest information further information · www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master · marketing and student recruitment office · phone +31 43 388 2055 · skype um-sbe · email master-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl 20 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 21

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track controlling assessing information for informed decisions do you want to know where business information comes from and how to interpret it are you interested in management control do you aspire to analyse information so that your business can make the best-informed decisions then controlling is the track for you why should you choose controlling controllers are often compared to the navigators on ships they know where the ship has been where it is currently and where it needs to go they have a broad view of the situation of the business controllers bridge the gap between management and accounting this means that they gather prepare interpret and assess information which then allows them to advise managers of the best decisions to make examples of the types of assessments you might make as a controller include information relating to profitability the success of product a vs product b people s performance within an organisation the viability of mergers acquisitions and so on controllers use costing techniques and performance assessment techniques in order to make the best business decisions in these types of situations this track is particularly suitable for you if you are interested in management control but do not want to go into audit assurance or accountancy performance assessment in the brazilian market beiersdorf is the umbrella company that houses brands like nivea and sells products like washing powder soap hair-care products and more within the brazilian market beiersdorf has several brands on sale as a student in the controlling track you would develop measurement systems to assess the performance of different brands in the portfolio you may also compare data from the brazilian market with that from other markets to see how they differ is controlling right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · have a general interest in the workings of businesses · be able to think critically · demonstrate quantitative skills · be a team player and interested in people and people management a bachelor s degree in any discipline is required though a high level of achievement is more important than the subject itself fast facts · · · · · · · 1 strategic performance and analysis elective · · programme msc international business track controlling language of instruction english duration 1 year full time start dates twice yearly in february and september 2010 study load per week 8 hrs classes 12 hrs group work 20 hrs individual study total 40 hours learning method problem-based learning guest lectures presentations assignments papers assessment method written and oral exams final papers group participation options · double-degree programme with edhec and queen s university see page 10 · exchange programme see page 11 · extended degree programme 1.5 years including internship see page 12 what are your career prospects the controlling track allows you to work with real businesses such as beiersdorf and medtronic representatives from companies such as these often spend the day at the school doing case studies with you and encouraging you to make presentations on your projects for example although these are not recruitment events you will have the opportunity to talk to people working in the field ­ some students even find internships through these connections graduates have found positions in · controlling departments as controllers finance managers and eventually finance directors cfos in multinationals such as beiersdorf philips unilever and shell · general management in any major firm ­ decisions makers such as ceos and cfos often have a background in controlling · consulting firms · in-house consulting departments within companies after graduating in controlling you can take either a dutch post-graduate programme see www.emfc.nl or an international post-graduate programme see www.iemfc.nl that both focus on qualifying you to become a chartered controller you can obtain this qualification by attending a part-time programme whilst working in the field course outline there are certain compulsory courses within the track as well as some electives controlling what will you learn having completed this track you will be able to · design management control instruments ­ such as scorecards managerial incentives budgets and so on ­ to implement strategies assess their effectiveness and report on this · design and improve internal reporting systems · help management to improve their decisions ­ relating to pricing mergers acquisitions and make or buy for example term 1 2 internal control elective 3 skills training writing a master s thesis writing the master s thesis 4 term 2 5 financial accounting management control writing the master s thesis 6 completing the master s thesis further information · www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master · marketing and student recruitment office · phone +31 43 388 2055 · skype um-sbe · email master-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl nb the course outline applies to the september 2010 start date at the time of publishing details of the track could change or may differ for the february 2010 start date before applying please check www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master for the latest information 22 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 23

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track entrepreneurship and sme management gaining entrepreneurial experience while studying do you want to set up your own business or take over the family firm do you want to gain real-life experience in creating your own student company or assisting the management team of a small business before you ve even left university become an entrepreneur by taking this track why should you choose entrepreneurship and sme management while small and medium-sized enterprises smes may have key features that are different to those of big businesses the underlying components are the same that s why this track offers courses in strategy organisation marketing finance and accounting but then tailors them for a real sme focus as well as theory courses you will take an empirical skills training course meaning you have the chance to put academic theory into practice during this course you will have the opportunity to put your skills to work in a real company either by setting up a student company or by assisting the management team of an existing sme if you choose to set up a company the skills and expertise of a business coach who has set up several companies and an accountant are on hand to help you if you choose to work with an existing sme maastricht s location means that you could work with a company in germany or belgium as well as the netherlands of course giving the track a true international flavour fast facts · · · · · · · · · programme msc international business track entrepreneurship and sme management language of instruction english duration 1 year full time start dates twice yearly in february and september 2010 study load per week 8 hrs classes 16 hrs group work 16 hrs individual study total 40 hours learning method problem-based learning guest lectures presentations assignments papers assessment method written and oral exams final papers group participation options · double-degree programme with edhec and queen s university see page 10 · exchange programme see page 11 · extended degree programme 1.5 years including internship see page 12 professional insight setting up a student company provided me with a real insight into professional life we learnt how to develop business relationships use our analytical skills to solve real business issues and develop essential management skills i expect this experience to be highly valuable later in my professional life either in a company or in setting up my own business is entrepreneurship and sme management right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · be excited by learning-by-doing rather than a purely academic or research approach · often students in this track have entrepreneurial experience or have grown up as part of a family business although this is not required to take the track · not have a nine-to-five mentality · enjoy taking risks · be open to evaluation and communicative of your own opinions of others · be ambitious to achieve results · enjoy a lot of interaction with others students with a bachelor s degree in any discipline or work experience are welcome ­ the more disciplines and backgrounds the better the learning experience and the more skills brought to the student company benoît nicolay belgium entrepreneurship and sme management student course outline there are certain compulsory courses within the track as well as an elective entrepreneurship and sme management 1 entrepreneurial theory and research corporate and venture finance international business research what are your career prospects complementary to the track the department has connections with several organisations that can help you not only with your career but also with your thesis and student company these include · the centre for entrepreneurship which organises business plan competitions and round-table discussions with entrepreneurs as well as inviting well-known entrepreneurs to speak · the sme portal which coordinates issues from small businesses that are often used as case studies and company projects within this track · the european and international council of small businesses · the um holding and other faculties that can offer help on your thesis or student company examples include buying shares advice on patenting issues and so on graduates have found positions in · their own businesses that they set up themselves · family businesses that they have later taken over · management functions in smes · consulting · public research institutes · venture capital firms and banks · universities to do a phd in entrepreneurship term 1 2 what will you learn having completed this track you will be able to · develop opportunity-recognition skills which will help you find the right opportunities · demonstrate managerial skills · find relevant information in academic literature on entrepreneurship and sme management · demonstrate practical experience of smes elective entrepreneurial or sme management 3 skills training writing a master s thesis value-based marketing control and accountability in smes 4 term 2 5 writing the master s thesis writing the master s thesis 6 completing the master s thesis nb the course outline applies to the september 2010 start date at the time of publishing details of the track could change or may differ for the february 2010 start date before applying please check www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master for the latest information further information · www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master · marketing and student recruitment office · phone +31 43 388 2055 · skype um-sbe · email master-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl 24 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 25

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track finance training the finance professionals of the future are you interested in the link between finance and modern business do you want to know how companies can adhere to financial regulations while still focusing on growth are you curious about the specific financial issues facing organisations operating across borders if you would like to find answers to these kinds of questions finance is the right choice for you why should you choose finance in a global economy business and finance are inextricably linked as a result business professionals today need to be able to understand analyse and manage financial problems issues ranging from formulating attractive salary structures for employees to raising capital and identifying new investment opportunities all require both business and financial knowledge in the finance track you will explore core financial issues from a business perspective many of the courses within the track are taught by lecturers who also work in the industry this guarantees that the course material is always current and relevant in addition you will receive training in financial research methods and gain skills that will be of great benefit in your future career to assist you in your research you will be given access to and be able to familiarise yourself with a collection of financial databases many of these databases are essential in the daily operation of large organisations academic theory with real-world application after i finished my undergraduate degree i was looking for further academic education that would prepare me for a job the finance track always links the theory back to current events such as the global economic crisis i ve learned skills i can really apply what will you learn having completed this track you will be able to · analyse and solve a wide range of financial problems · use analytical and quantitative tools to support decisionmaking processes · discuss financial issues at a strategic and managerial level hilde sijbring the netherlands finance student is finance right for you as well as the standard admission requirements see page 87 you should · have an interest in finance in a business environment · be an analytical logical thinker · have international ambitions · be a strong team player enabling you to master valuable cases · be a self-starter as the track requires individual input course outline there are certain compulsory courses within the track as well as an elective finance 1 term 1 corporate governance and restructuring corporate and venture finance financial research methods fast facts programme msc international business track finance language of instruction english duration 1 year full time start dates twice yearly in february and september 2010 study load per week 8 hrs classes 14 hrs group work 18 hrs individual study total 40 hours · learning method problem-based learning guest lectures presentations assignments papers · assessment method written and oral exams final papers group participation 100 attendance · options · 2 year part-time programme see page 12 · double-degree programme with edhec and queen s university see page 10 · exchange programme see page 11 · extended degree programme 1.5 years including internship see page 12 · online preparatory course in finance see page 123 · · · · · · 2 elective what are your career prospects as a result of tighter financial regulations combined with calls for more transparency graduates with the skills to tackle a wide range of financial problems from a business perspective are in high demand your ability to understand financial details while maintaining a strategic overview will make you an asset to almost any organisation graduates have found positions in · international financial institutions · large multinationals · consultancy firms · regulatory bodies term 2 3 skills training writing a master s thesis writing the master s thesis 4 behavioural finance 5 risk management writing the master s thesis 6 skills training excel for financial professionals completing the master s thesis nb the course outline applies to the september 2010 start date at the time of publishing details of the track could change or may differ for the february 2010 start date before applying please check www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master for the latest information further information · www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sbe/master · marketing and student recruitment office · phone +31 43 388 2055 · skype um-sbe · email master-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl 26 master s programmes in business and economics 2010 27

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