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In the Management of International Business and Trade track, you will tackle the key challenges shaping the global economy. You will gain the analytical and managerial skills to understand international trade, assess strategic business decisions, and respond to geopolitical and economic change. By working with contemporary cases and real-world developments, you will be prepared for an impactful career in business, international organizations, or public policy.

The programme

The Management of International Business and Trade track combines broad managerial training with specialized expertise in international business and trade. The program consists of five core courses, three track-specific courses, and a master's thesis. High-achieving students can further enrich their experience through one of our Honours programs. 

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Theories of International Business
    Period 1
    6

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

  • Theory and Practice of International Trade
    Period 1
    6

    Get a thorough analysis of the most recent theory concerning international trade and movements towards regional trade integration. You will receive a quick refresher summary of the major classical and neoclassical trade theories, insights into trade policy, and a survey of the present state of the world economy.

  • Business Seminar and Managerial Skills
    Period 1
    Period 2
    Period 3
    4

    Choose among business labs focusing on specific skills you seek to develop and business seminars on a variety of topics.

  • International Business Context
    Period 2
    6

    Explore how institutional, cultural, and regulatory environments shape internationalization strategies. Firms operating across borders must navigate diverse cultural norms, institutional frameworks, and regulatory systems. Key topics include political risk assessment, corporate governance, and the strategic implications of institutional and cultural differences in both advanced and emerging economies.

  • International Business and Finance
    Period 2
    6

    Study advanced topics in international financial and monetary relations, such as modern exchange rate theories including target zone models and speculative attack models; recent currency crises and ways to prevent them; exchange rate policies; international capital mobility, capital flight, management of and capital controls; the international spill-overs of unconventional monetary policy and the induced portfolio rebalancing.

  • Thesis Proposal Management of International Business and Trade
    Period 3
    4

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

  • Taxation of Multinational Firms
    Period 4
    6

    Explore tax issues in multinational firms and their impact on managerial decisions. During the course you will discuss several core topics such as transfer pricing, international treaties, and Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

  • Ethics and the Future of Business
    Period 4
    4

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

  • International Strategy
    Period 5
    6

    Examine the challenges that managers face in identifying strategies and tools to help their companies be successful abroad. This course will help you understand why, although MNEs like Toyota, IBM and Nestlé are extremely successful in their international operations, foreign ventures often flop, like Wal-Mart in Germany. Examples of questions you will address include: why do firms become multinational? How do they select host countries? What strategies can they follow to manage foreign operations?

  • Master's Thesis Management of International Business and Trade
    Period 4
    Period 5
    Period 6
    12

    Building on insights gathered during your Thesis Proposal course, you will be able to select from a variety of research topics presented by faculty from both International Business and Economics and develop your own research under the supervision of scholars that are experts in their respective fields.

Compulsory course
Specialisation

Do you want to know more about the courses?

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

Honours programmes

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

Hi, I'm Yuliia! I'm a Master's student in Business Administration from Ukraine. Got questions about studying at the UvA? Get in touch! Chat with Yuliia
Real-life case: Trade Wars and International Business

Discuss how current trade conflicts such as the those between the US, China, and Europe are impacting international trade. Understand how business leaders are coping and strategizing in the face of this uncertainty. For example, one of the most popular cars imported to China is a BMW. This German car, built in the USA, now faces significant tariffs in a key market. How can we understand the impact of the US-China trade war on European companies and their strategies? 

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

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

  • How many students are in the programme?

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

  • What are the weekly contact hours?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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