Prepare to get convinced. Take 90 seconds to find out why you should study MSc Business Administration at the University of Amsterdam. View the highlights of this study programme and elevate your career in 1 year.
Your mission: solving complex business issues
How should businesses respond to the opportunities of new technology, digital marketing and globalisation? Why are some start-ups successful in developing new products and markets while others are not?
To solve such complex business issues, you need specialist knowledge and the ability to collaborate with other disciplines. We train you to study current research literature and subsequently apply that know-how to problems that companies face today.
This Master’s offers you the possibility to:
- focus on the international aspects of business and management;
- specialise in your field of interest: choose 1 out of 9 tracks;
- customise your programme: choose 2 out of a wide selection of electives;
- prepare for your career: solve real-world case studies presented by our corporate partners.
Strong international focus
Doing business internationally is reflected in all parts of our course design. Be prepared to team up with fellow students from all over the world, which offers you the opportunity to widen your perspective and have an extraordinary learning experience.
The programme
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Choose from 9 tracks
Amsterdam Business School is one of the few Dutch universities to offer a selection of no fewer than 9 tracks.
- Strategy
Unravel the theoretical origins of strategic corporate decisions. - Management of International Business and Trade
Look at international trade and global business from both a business and economics perspective. - Leadership and Management
Learn how managers can make more effective decisions. - International Business
Learn about the challenges multinational enterprises (MNEs) face when doing business abroad. - Entrepreneurship and Management in the Creative Industries
Gain a better understanding of dynamic strategic processes in the highly competitive industries of the arts and entertainment. - Entrepreneurship and innovation
Explore the most advanced theories devised and practiced by the current hub of innovators and entrepreneurs. - Digital Marketing
Explore the impact of the digitised business environment on marketing processes and customer value creation. - Digital Business
Dive into the opportunities and challenges of IT innovations and their impact on organisations and businesses. - Consumer Marketing
Gain an in-depth understanding of consumer characteristics, behaviours and motivations as inputs for effective marketing strategies.
Option: start mid-term, in February
We offer you the option to start the programme in February, instead of September. The curriculum is similar, but you choose from 3 tracks: International Business, Digital Marketing and Consumer Marketing.
- Strategy
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Business Seminar and Professional Skills
To prepare you for your professional career, this course is a combination of a series of corporate guest lecturers in Royal Theatre Carré and an offering of professional skills training e.g. Presentation Skills, Programming with Python and more.
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The Business Lab: choose your electives
In The Business Lab, you can choose from a wide selection of electives we call business labs. Each one is connected to a corporate partner. You will be challenged to solve real-world business issues, working in international teams and presenting your solution to the company.
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Ethics and the Future of Business
The purpose of this course is to 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.
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Thesis
The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic that you are enthusiastic about. A professor in your field of choice (track) will supervise and support you in writing your thesis.
Upon graduation, you will be awarded the title Master of Science (MSc).
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Honours programme Sustainability
Highly motivated students can participate in the MSc Business Administration Honours programme Sustainability. This challenging programme is a great chance to stand out for future employers.
You will kick off your studies with 'UvA in Carré', a series of inspirational seminars featuring prominent speakers from leading companies such as ING, L’Oréal, Vodafone, Ahold Delhaize, VandeBron and Google. They will present their visions on current business issues and share their insights and experiences.

The highlight of the programme was the business seminar series in Royal Theatre Carré. Hearing business leaders sharing their stories in a beautiful theatre in Amsterdam was inspiringMiu Fong Lam, track Digital Marketing Read Miu's review
Add extra value to your studies
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Internship and exchange
If you have completed your curriculum, you can do an internship or go on an exchange abroad. For international students it is an excellent opportunity to experience the Dutch labour market.
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Dutch language course
Are you interested in learning Dutch? There are different options to give you the opportunity to maximise your Dutch experience and prepare for your future job in the Netherlands.
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Study associations
Many of our students are members of a study association. It is fun and useful for your future career at the same time. Faculty student associations are a great way to meet fellow students and future employers. They organise study trips (abroad), career events, weekly debates, parties and receptions with drinks. Sometimes you can also purchase your textbooks and course syllabi at reduced rates.
Overview Study Associations
- Faculty student association Sefa
- International Student Committee (ISC,part of Sefa)
- International Student Network Amsterdam (ISN, part of Sefa)
- Study Association Actuarial Sciences, Econometrics and Operational Research (VSAE)
- Financial Study Association Amsterdam (FSA)
- Marketing Association Amsterdam (MAA)
- International study association (AIESEC)
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Student associations
Amsterdam has a thriving student community with many activities organised outside of the university’s grounds. You will find student associations focusing on networking, specific interests and sports. It is only at sororities and fraternities that you can expect an initiation ritual (hazing).
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Student participation
At university, you are entitled to make your voice heard and assess the quality of your own education. Students can participate in the discussion on the university's education policy in various ways, such as by joining the Programme Committee, the Faculty Student Council or the first-year focus group. You can also stand for election and dedicate your efforts to the programme and your fellow students.
Online meets offline in our Hybrid Learning Theatre. The future-proof setting is the stage for dynamic interaction and inspirational education. Students watching the lecture online are projected on a large Zoom wall of 5x3 metres. Together with students who are physically present in the theatre and the lecturer there can be energetic interaction in the class room. In class the material is studied actively, for example by having debates, discussions and case assignments.
Interactive Online Learning at UvA Economics and Business
During your Master’s, you will experience an inspiring combination of both offline and online education. Learning through case studies, interactive online debates with your fellow students, and lecturers sharing videos on their YouTube-channels are just a few examples. We work with a blended learning teaching method. By applying this method, you will be able to combine different types of learning into 1 approach. You can enjoy mastering knowledge at your own pace.
Types of education
In this programme, you will find that in your education there’s a balance between innovative teaching methods (e.g. online challenges, game-based learning), and traditional forms such as writing an academic paper or a (web)-lecture supported by PowerPoint slides. You can expect peer-feedback assignments, or video recordings with explanation.
Our Centre for Educational Innovation and our Teaching and Learning Centre are continuously working on improving our teaching methods. We take the interactions between students, teachers, and learning resources into account. In doing so, we hope to offer you the right combination of challenging, effective, and efficient education.
Alumna Paloma Bunck: 'The Amsterdam Business School has a good reputation, which made it easy for me to choose. The programme has definitely met my expectations. Besides learning a lot at UvA, it's a huge advantage to study in the heart of the city.'