ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
ERASMUS UNIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL FULL-TIME MBA
MAKE A
DEFINING
MOVE.
ROTTERDAM
Let our history
launch your
future.
Rotterdam was built for business. For centuries, our city has welcomed and
sustained professionals from around the world. Our rich history of global trade
has earned us a great nickname: the Gateway to Europe. People here are smart,
fun and driven by an unmistakable spirit of innovation, just like our community
at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). And together,
we share a set of Dutch values that creates a vibrant, friendly atmosphere unlike
that in any other European city.
Simply put, this is the ideal place for a world-class institution like ours.
In the MBA programme at RSM, you’ll define yourself as a leader.
A thinker. An innovator. You’ll discover where you want to go next in your career,
and carve the best path to get there—supported by professional opportunities,
personal mentoring and career coaching along the way. Most importantly, you’ll
prepare to succeed in business by learning from the very best minds in the field.
You must see Rotterdam
#5 best in travel
Lonely Planet
Must-see city
The New York Times
Top 10 city
Rough Guides
Largest port in Europe
7th largest exporter
in the world
Learn more about our great city at rsm.nl/rotterdam.
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THE RSM MBA
We develop talented leaders who can
think critically, communicate clearly and
bring together diverse interests towards
common goals. Our MBA curriculum
infuses analytical problem solving,
collaborative teamwork and a range
of perspectives into every class our
students take.
The skills we teach here are highly
sought after by employers for their
organisations. That’s how 12 months in
Rotterdam can prepare you for making a
defining move anywhere in the world.
Our MBA,
your career
passport,
anywhere
in the world.
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What to expect
from the
International
Full-time MBA:
12
months
Equip yourself with valuable
skills in four key areas.
Think globally.
Almost all of our MBA students are
international (96%). That means you’ll
learn about diverse cultures from
people you sit next to in class.
Advance your
career.
RSM offers one-to-one personal
coaching, mentoring and
networking throughout your
MBA experience. You focus
on mastering the principles of
business — we’ll focus on helping
you find your next move.
to complete the
curriculum plus
internship opportunities
Over
30,000
active alumni
worldwide
Personal
career
coaching
for every student
A top-ten
ranked
European
business
school*
Grow sustainably.
Prepare to lead.
The best leaders make decisions
that benefit business, society and
the environment — together and for
the long term. RSM integrates this
kind of sustainable thinking into
every aspect of our curriculum.
Our Personal Leadership
Development programme (PLD)
is an all-encompassing way of
reflecting on how you set your goals,
how to motivate people, and how to
lead individuals and teams. By the end
of your programme, you’ll know how to
lead confidently in any situation.
Study our programme in-depth at
rsm.nl/why-rsm.
*Source: Financial Times European Business School 2016 Ranking.
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STUDENT PROFILE
CLASS OF 2017
20%
5%
19%
7%
18%
6%
Most of us come from
the same place:
around the globe.
Total MBA students
Gender
63% male
37% female
Work experience
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6
106
6 years
Average age
Origin
(on average)
29
96% International
4% Dutch
Industries
18%
Academic background
Economics and business 37%
Engineering37%
Science and medicine 12%
Humanities and art
9%
Law3%
Other2%
Telecommunication and IT 19%
Financial services 15%
Consulting 11%
Automotive 10%
Electronics 8%
Manufacturing and
construction8%
FMCG 7%
Consumer goods 7%
Health, life sciences and
pharmaceuticals5%
Other10%
7%
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CURRICULUM
The Foundations
of Management
It all starts with core business skills: how to make
critical decisions using an analytical approach, how
to work effectively with colleagues from diverse
backgrounds, and how to overcome professional
obstacles in the office. Coursework includes:
•Quantitative platform for business
•Organisational behaviour
•Financial management
•Management science
•Business society management
Term 1: January – March
The Practice
of Management
Next we bring the concepts into clearer focus. Through case
studies and lively classroom discussions, you’ll explore the
most relevant management issues of the day in their proper
context. Coursework includes:
•Strategic management
•Managerial accounting
•Economic environment of business
•Operations management
•Marketing management
•Human resource management
Term 2: April – June
Advanced Career
Concentrations
It’s time to delve deeper into a subject and take a career
concentration course:
•Advanced corporate finance
•Advanced marketing
•Advanced strategy
•Advanced sustainability
•Advanced supply chain management
Living Management Consulting Project
The Living Management Consulting Project is an intense,
three-week-long project that requires you to work in teams to
devise a solution to a business problem within a company,
before presenting your recommendations to the company’s
executives and other panel members, including faculty.
Experience the challenges typical of a regular consultancy
project – inadequate information and resources, an
impossibly tight deadline and most difficult of all, extensive
differences between the various members of your team.
Term 3: Mid-June – August
MBA Electives
and International
Opportunities
In the final term, you’ll add a new dimension to your education.
Take an international study tour and see how business is
conducted in Washington DC, Hamburg or other unique cities, or
spend an exchange term at one of our partner business schools,
such as Wharton, HKUST or ESADE. Specialise further into
topics of your choice. Those include:
•Strategic value management
•Corporate social responsibility
•E-marketing
•Neuromarketing
•Private equity
•Consulting
•Strategic finance and value creation
•Supply chain management
•Entrepreneurship
•Negotiations and conflict management
•Leadership and communication
Term 4: August – December
Personal Leadership Development
A single year of your life.
A major impact on your life’s work.
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LEADERSHIP
Every MBA student considers this question
carefully. Our entire curriculum is designed
around leadership education — and we were
one of the first international institutions
with this focus.
We call it Personal Leadership Development
(PLD). Every class you take will have a
leadership component in which you’ll apply
abstract concepts to real-world situations.
You’ll also have the opportunity to advise
an actual global client during the three
weeks of the Living Management Project
(see page 21). PLD provides a demanding
experience of self-discovery that adds a
powerful dimension to your MBA skill set.
We’re competitive, not cut-throat.
At RSM, we don’t waste time working
against each other. We work together as
colleagues in a friendly atmosphere.
Every day you’ll meet inspiring
professionals from countries and cultures
all over the world. And in a supportive
community like ours, those new contacts
grow into meaningful relationships that last
long after you graduate.
Personal Leadership Development
A few of the ways we prepare you for
real-time, real-world decision-making:
• In-class exercises
•Simulations
• Group work
• Peer reviews
• Mentoring opportunities
• Career coaching
See how RSM takes leadership to the next
level at rsm.nl/PLD.
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Global experiences
It’s not truly an international MBA until
you’ve crossed an international boundary
(or two). Our MBA students can take
advantage of transformative experiences
from California to Catalunya.
Study tours
How do other cultures do business?
Find out first-hand during an RSM study tour.
Learn about complex economic issues in
emerging economies by attending lectures,
taking classes (taught by local faculty),
and immersing yourself in the culture
that surrounds you. Learn more at
rsm.nl/studytours
International exchange programmes
Want to see more of the world? Try spending
a term in a different time zone. We’re
partnered with more than 100 leading
business schools, opening you up to valuable
perspectives across six continents. For more
details on our exchange programme, go to
rsm.nl/mba-exchange
Leadership retreats
At RSM, we believe in experiential learning to
be part of your transformational experience.
That is why we constantly create new
electives that provide you with experiences
to hone your leadership skills. Our Catalunya
Leadership Journey is one example of this.
Another example is a Bergplaas leadership
retreat aiming to renew leadership through
mindfulness, storytelling and silence. Find
more at rsm.nl/LeadershipRetreats
Open up your
gateway to
the world.
Study trip themes
Supply chain management | Sustainability | International business |
Finance marketing | Doing business in China
Past destinations Beijing | Washington DC | Hamburg | London | Milan | San José | Hong Kong
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CULTURE AND VALUES
What drives a world-renowned
business school? At RSM, we believe
it’s developing students with a global
mindset, a critical eye, and a focus
on collaboration and sustainability.
These are a few of the time-honoured
Dutch values that have kept our faculty
members and our MBA graduates
ahead of trends, market shifts and the
business landscape for decades. And
these values continue to drive their
personal and professional success in
Europe and around the world.
A diverse culture
makes a better
business school.
The RSM network
contains over 30,000
professionals spanning
50 countries and
working in nearly every
industry imaginable
96% of our
MBA students
are international
Relationships with
100+ partner
schools
around the world
There’s an unmistakable
energy on our campus.
So take full advantage of it.
Dive into events and networking
opportunities hosted by the RSM
Student Association.
“The RSM MBA is special because of its
emphasis on diversity and teamwork.
I learn so much from other cultures
and people’s different perspectives.
Because the programme is so
intense, you’re in constant contact
with interesting and talented people.”
Rients Hempenius
Students from more
than 35 countries
and cultures
Dutch
International Full-time MBA Class of 2017
A top-ranked
management
research institute
Some activities of the RSM Student Association are:
• MBA Tournament in Paris
• MBA Sailing Regatta
• International Food Festival
•TedxErasmusUniversity
“I got my dream job in fashion after my
college but wanted a new challenge in
a new environment and new location.
The RSM MBA is an opportunity to
prepare for a new setting. In addition to
my core skills, I was able to add more
strategy and finance knowledge to my
strengths through this MBA.”
Yoko Fujimoto
Japanese
International Full-time MBA Class of 2017
• Private Equity case competition
• Social events
“After working for several years, being a
student again isn’t easy. But you develop
personally and professionally here. You
learn skills for day-to-day living which
you need to reach professional objectives and develop a global personally. At
RSM you really become a citizen of the
world. Also, I now have a broader look on
different industries. I knew a lot about
the pharmaceutical industry but I’ve now
learned about so much more. RSM has
made me consider opportunities I never
thought about before.”
Islam Badr
Egyptian
International Full-time MBA Class of 2017
Meet more of your future classmates at rsm.nl/definingmoves.
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BIG IDEAS
At RSM, we build your analytical skills.
Classes are designed to facilitate
discussions and constructive debates
around issues that matter in the
business world. You’ll be expected to
contribute ideas, challenge others to
strengthen theirs, and build intellectual
relationships with people from widely
different backgrounds.
After just a year, you’ll leave with the
critical thinking skills you need to set
yourself apart from all the rest.
Great leaders
out-think the
competition.
The latest insights from the leading minds in business.
We’re proudly home to the Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), a global think-tank with more
than 350 management researchers producing innovative work for a range of industries. Consistently ranked
one of the top three management research centres in Europe, ERIM advances the knowledge that helps
organisations assess and improve their processes in order to perform more profitably and responsibly.
As an MBA student, you benefit directly from this dynamic marketplace of ideas. Our MBA curriculum is
solidly built on the leading research happening right here.
Learn more at rsm.nl/ERIM.
A quick glance at some of our defining work.
One of the most important decisions in research and development is defining the scope of the project. Research by
RSM’s Associate Professor Daan Stam shows that in an economic crisis, leaders gain more support when they use
words like progress, change and ideal. Followers are then more likely to co-operate with their plans. Using words
such as safety, danger and responsibility is an ineffective strategy to win support in hard times.
Read more about this research at rsm.nl/discovery.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Where innovative
minds get to work.
Maybe you’ll start a new business. Or maybe you’ll launch
a new product at an existing company. Whatever path you
take today, you’ll need a lot of entrepreneurial thinking to
stay ahead of the competition.
The Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE)
The ECE helps start-ups, SMEs and larger corporate cultures
instill entrepreneurial thinking into their daily processes.
With our leading academics and experienced entrepreneurs,
we’re a community of fully involved and experienced
educators that provide support and cutting-edge tools to
business innovators.
For many people, starting their own business is a lifelong
dream. Whether you want to take that plunge now or plan
for later in your career, the RSM MBA programme provides
the knowledge you’ll need to turn a great idea into a
viable business.
Build a business. Start up here.
The ECE campus, in the centre of Rotterdam, is home to
more than 50 innovative companies, and it’s the stage for
many entrepreneurship events. It’s also a relaxed place to
work alongside other talented people. The ECE campus
offers office space, meeting and event rooms, and a range
of services and packages that make life easier and a lot more
enjoyable for entrepreneurs.
Other ways to launch ideas at RSM
• Participate in our annual boot camp at ECE’s campus.
• Select one of the electives focused on entrepreneurship.
• Pitch your start-up at the European Business Plan of
the Year Competition.
Learn more about your entrepreneurial learning opportunities at ece.nl.
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CAREER MANAGEMENT
The moment you come to RSM, you
become part of our powerful global
community. You’ll connect with
multinational companies right on our
doorstep. You’ll speak fluently in English,
the language of business. You can even
apply for a year-long job-seeker’s visa
so you can stay in the Netherlands and
search for a job after graduation.
All of this translates into career-defining
opportunities for you. We work tirelessly
to help you secure that new job and
move on to great things. Because
we’re investing in your success over
the long term.
Expand your horizons.
Meet your career coach.
Every year, companies come to Rotterdam looking for
help with specific business challenges. And every year,
they leave with innovative new solutions developed
by MBA students at RSM. It’s a core element of our
curriculum, called the Living Management Project.
For a few weeks, you’ll become a consultant and
apply what you’re learning in class. You’ll work with
imperfect information, tight deadlines and diverse team
members to solve a serious business problem for a real
client. What’s more, our partner companies are known
to actually implement these ideas to improve their
businesses — and a recent case even made its way to the
Dutch parliament.
In your first term on campus, you’ll meet a personal
career coach who will help evaluate your strengths and
prepare you to pursue your dream job after graduation.
The Career Development Centre is your first step and
primary destination for this and more at RSM. All you
have to do is get in touch, and our staff will connect
you with alumni and corporate contacts worldwide.
Get started at rsm.nl/careers.
Land an internship.
At RSM, we give you the chance to find an internship opportunity that aligns with your
strengths and advances your career interests. Our MBA students have worked with major
global employers, such as Google, Amazon, Philips, ABN AMRO, FrieslandCampina,
McKinsey & Company, Microsoft and Deloitte.
Learn more at rsm.nl/MBAinternships.
Find yourself in
good company.
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MAKE YOUR MOVE
Email us.
We’re glad to help you through the
application process. Just email
Carrie Fok, marketing and admissions
manager, at [email protected].
Submit your CV.
One of our admissions managers will
take a look and then we’ll talk by phone
or Skype to discuss your RSM MBA
aspirations. To get started, just upload
your CV (in any format) online at
rsm.nl/cvassessment.
Meet us on the road.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to
Rotterdam. We travel all over the world
to meet future MBA students. Come and
join us at one of our RSM events. Find
out when we’ll be in your area online at
rsm.nl/mbaevents.
Tour the campus.
Meet our faculty members, staff
and students. Plan a visit via
rsm.nl/visit.
Ready to
make your
defining move?
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Come to RSM.
Apply online.
Know the costs.
Finance your degree.
You can apply to the programme at any
time of year. However, our admissions
interviews and final evaluations take
place in four rounds during the course of
the year. Learn more about deadlines and
documentation, and start the process
online at rsm.nl/mbaapplication.
Tuition for the International Full-time
MBA programme starting in January
2018 is ¤47,000. That includes a ¤5,000
deposit when you register for classes,
and two instalments of ¤21,000 in
December and April.
We offer multiple financial aid options to
full-time MBA candidates. Start with our
online list of RSM scholarships at
rsm.nl/financialaid. Once you’ve applied
to one or more of those, we recommend
you also research any funding program­mes
offered in your home country.
Living in
Rotterdam.
It costs about ¤1,500 a month
for an MBA student to live
comfortably in Rotterdam.
That includes housing, living
expenses and health insurance
(which the Dutch government
requires for all full-time students).
Are you up to the task?
To be eligible for the MBA programme, you must have the following.
• A minimum of three years of post-graduate
• English proficiency: it’s our primary
work experience and clear professional targets. language at the school, so a strong
• A university degree (bachelor, master,
knowledge is required. A TOEFL, IELTS
doctorate) or equivalent, and a valid
or PTE score is not required.
GMAT/GRE report.
• Demonstrate potential for leadership,
• The ability to work and socialise with
strong communication skills, drive,
people from many different cultures and
maturity, creativity, adaptability,
backgrounds.
independence and confidence.
We’ll help you
get here.
Need an entry visa or student resident
permit?
We’ll take care of the whole process for
you. Just connect with our Registrar’s
Office, and we can get started.
Find out more online at rsm.nl/registrar.
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Rotterdam School of Management
Erasmus University
WWW.RSM.NL/MBA
Bayle Building / MBA Admissions Office
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 10 408 9628
Email [email protected]
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© 2016 Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. The information in this publication is correct as
of December 2016, but RSM reserves the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curricula, or any other
matter announced in this publication without further notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without written permission from RSM.