VU University Amsterdam

They say that variety is the spice of life. This mix of Dutch and international students is really inspiring! It's also really fascinating to consider many different perspectives when studying business models. The Amsterdam location, with many multinational companies so close by, really has been a fantastic motivation for me personally.

You work on empirical case studies with your fellow students in a team. This way you learn how to be a good team worker.

When I began the search for a bachelor programme to study, like most students, I was not really sure what I wanted. The more I looked at the Bachelor programmes on offer at various universities in different countries it became even harder to choose among the alternatives. In the end I decided to study International Business Administration (IBA) at VU University Amsterdam (VU). At the time my choice was motivated by the content and structure of the programme. First of all, the programme seemed really broad, covering a lot of topics relevant to any modern business. The fact that the programme has an international orientation was also an important issue for me. More and more companies are conducting business in many parts of the world because of globalisation, so having this knowledge or background also becomes equally important for ambitious young professionals. The location of the VU also had an influence on my choice. It is right next to a train station that is well connected; is located close to the World Trade Centre where all kinds of businesses are present and through the study association of the faculty of economics and business, Aureus, it is possible to mix and mingle with these professionals through workshops and conferences. Some of the professionals (and of course others from as far as neighbouring Germany) serve as part time teachers at the VU. This helps students to form an impression of the kinds of challenges faced by the professionals in different fields and measure the relevance of the IBA programme to practical real life problems. Even more important, it helps students to choose their career paths when they graduate. The VU is also close to the border of Amsterdam, walking in one direction takes you to the big city where all the action takes place and a 10 minute walk in the opposite direction takes you to a laid back quiet place far from all the activity of the big city. I tend to walk, or more precisely cycle, in the direction of all the peace and quiet. When I moved to the Netherlands and actually started studying I found more reasons to be happy that I chose the programme. My experience has been that the lecturers and even study advisors are very supportive. This makes a huge difference especially for people who are far away from home. The programme also attracts students from various countries so the cultural diversity that we have within IBA makes it a good place for learning to work with people from different cultures and understanding more about other parts of the world. We even have courses that address the issue of cross-cultural communication and management! Now that I am approaching the end of my second year I start to see how all the different courses I have taken are connected (including the ones I did not like) even though in the beginning they seemed to be worlds apart. By attending the Aureus workshops and talking to teachers, I have an even better idea of what I would like to choose to specialise in for my third and final year. If you feel you want a bigger challenge during your studies you can enrol into the Honours programme for talented and motivated students which begins in the second year of study. I am happy I made the choice to be part of the Honours programme as I have become more enlightened on other issues from fields outside business, for example sociology and psychology, but in the end one can also see the relevance of this knowledge to business owners. Being a part of the Honours programme has been one of the most fulfilling things about my study here. Apart from the study, I have enjoyed the vibrance of the city of Amsterdam as well as the huge variety of entertainment options. It is a place where there is always something going on and there are activities for every kind of person. I prefer days out to going out at night and have enjoyed festivals and sight seeing in Amsterdam and surrounding cities. I have even joined a community choir that gives concerts twice a year and have had a great time so far. I'm particularly fond of the water canals and parks and although I never dreamed I would own a bike let alone ride one, I have found that cycling is the best favour you can do for yourself here. It is convenient and faster, it is really refreshing especially because of all the lovely scenery at the height of spring and in the summer. I cannot imagine life without a bicycle here. If I graduate with a degree in IBA so many options have become available for me and it takes me back to the place I was 3 years ago when I was thinking about what to do - having to choose among alternatives. I know I would like to work in the Humanitarian sector someday soon. Maybe I will specialise in logistics and pursue humanitarian logistics as a profession; alternatively I could go into business consultancy for humanitarian organisations so that I do something different all the time. There is a lot I can do and the biggest limitation, apart from things I cannot control, would be my imagination!

Fay: When I decided to study abroad I think of The Netherlands a tolerant, free-spirit European country. And Amsterdam confirmed my thought. It is a multi-cultural, open-minded, and vibrant place. Besides the common impression people have on Amsterdam, I found it a truly pleasant and inspiring city to live in and study. I chose the International Business Administration programme of the VU University Amsterdam because of its international establishment. I would like to work with students from various countries to broaden my experience when communicating with people from different cultures. Every year we have an increasing amount of international students, I believe they enjoyed the cooperation as much as I did. The courses in this programme are tightly arranged, you need to fully commit yourself into this study. My fellow students are very well motivated, and that provides us a positive competitive study environment. Whenever we have problems in either studying or life, we can always ask for help from lecturers, student community and of course International office. I found the programme taught me a lot in both academic and general fields. In my first year, I tried balancing the intensive study with school activities. I was really glad to find out that the university provides so many facilities and opportunities to let us build a better college life. For example, I participated activities arranged by the International office, the Economics Faculty and thanks to the link among the university and profound business units in the World Trade Center, I also had the chance to experience real life international business environment. The sports facilities are easy accessible and inexpensive. There is so much to tell about the one and half years I spent in VU University Amsterdam, I am really pleased with the progress I have made in both my study and life. But the only way to truly experience the benefits that the university brings, is to come here, challenge yourself with this study, and trust me, you will not regret.