3.1 Structure of the Programme and Scheduling
The IBMS programme is a four-year, full-time study. Each academic year consists of four study periods (two study periods per semester). In the first and second year, semesters are offered concurrently and/or interchangeably, so that students may start with either semester. The language and project modules are semester-based.
Year
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4
First
Year Semester 1 Modules Semester 2 Modules
Second
Year Semester 3 Modules Semester 4 Modules
Third Year
Semesters 5 & 6 Year Abroad (Study Abroad and Placement) Fourth
Year Semester 7 Specialization Semester 8 Research semester incl.
Graduation Project
Lectures are given Monday through Friday. Detailed class schedules are provided to students during the introductory periods via intranet, Mijn Hanze (access www.mijnhanze.nl > organisatie > International Business School > Schedules IBMS and BW). Lectures are always to start on the exact time mentioned in the schedule below. IBS plans lectures of 60 minutes each, of which 50 minutes are used for classes and 10 minutes for a break. In case of a one-hour class, the 10-minute break is always at the end. In case of a two-hour class, teachers can decide where to put the two 10-minute breaks: either a 10-minute break during the lecture and one at the end, or a 20-minute break at the end of the second lecture hour.
First Year/Main Phase
Hour
1 08:30 - 09:30 2 09:30 – 10:30 3 10:30 – 11:30 4 11:30 – 12:30 5 12:30 – 13:30 6 13:30 – 14:30 7 14:30 – 15:30 8 15:30 – 16:30 9 16:30 – 17:30 10 17:30 – 18:30 Note
Students involved in the Honours Talent Programme will also have lectures in the evening.
3.2 The IBMS Undergraduate Programme Major and Minor Structure
The contents of all modules of the IBMS Programme are described in detail in the separate Course Outlines for Year 1, Year 2, Year 4 and the Year Abroad Information which can all be found on intranet, Mijn Hanze (access www.mijnhanze.nl > organisatie > International Business School> Course Outlines, Prospectus and Transition Schemes). Credits & assessment schedules can be found in later chapters. A general overview of the course content can be found below.
Major and Minor Structure
The fulltime study programmes within the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen have a major-minor structure. This means that a student can take a minor next to his/her major (main programme). The major comprises 210 ECTS, the minor 30 ECTS.
A minor is taken outside the major, is aimed at broadening your scope and consists of a coherent semester programme. The minor is mentioned on the diploma supplement.
Major and specialization
Upon graduation, all students of the International Business School obtain the major: International Business and Management Studies.
Specialization
A specialization is a coherent package of (at least) 30 ECTS, aimed at providing in depth knowledge of, and skills, in a specific area within your study programme.
IBS offers the following four specializations in the academic year 2012-2013:
• International Marketing
• International Finance & Accounting
• International Management
• Internationale Betriebswirtschaft (for detailed information regarding this specialization, please see the separate Prospectus for Betriebswistchaft: Studienführer)
International Travel & Tourism: Students who started at IBS before the academic year 2011-12, still have the possibility to choose the Travel & Tourism specialization, but the modules of the specialization will be offered by the School of Facility Management (SIFM) instead of IBS (spring semester depending on number of applicants).
Minors
Next to a major, students can get a minor. Please note: the rule described below is only applicable for students who started their studies in September 2005 or later.
Upon fulfilment of the Study Abroad requirements, IBS students can get a Minor " Business and Culture in……… (country where they studied)".
If the student did a thematically unified study programme, different from his/her specialization at IBS, while abroad (i.e. at least 20 EC were done in one knowledge area for instance International Marketing) the student may apply for the Minor "International Marketing” (which then comes in place of the Minor
"Business and Culture in…….."). The same applies to "International Finance", "International Travel and Tourism" and "International Management". Please note that a minor cannot be the same as your specialization at IBS!!
IBS can never guarantee beforehand that it is possible to actually study a certain minor at the institution abroad. There are too many variables that we have no control over: such as changes of study plans and curricula, schedule changes etc. What is possible beforehand, of course, is to have your study plan checked for the possibility of earning a certain minor (other than Business and Culture in……..). To obtain approval for this students should send the proposed study plan, Course Outlines and a note from the IBS Study Abroad Supervisor (responsible for the school you will be studying at), stating his/her opinion on the matter to the Study Abroad co-ordinator. Please be aware that once you arrive, you may find out that you have to make changes in your study plan. In that case you can do the same again: ask
the Study Abroad co-ordinator and always include the opinion of the IBS Study Abroad Supervisor. Please note that the credits have to be earned while abroad.
Students with a nationality that is not Dutch are allowed to do their Study Abroad semester in the Netherlands. They can either stay at IBS to earn a minor in European Business (5th semester) or take one of the minors offered by the other Hanze schools. In the DOP (Digitale Onderwijs Planner) all available minors are listed with a remark from IBS whether a minor is recommended or not. Students who take a minor at the Hanze but outside IBS should register for this minor in the DOP (Digitale Onderwijs Planner) in www.mijnhanze.nl. Students who take the IBS European Business minor should contact the Educational Support Staff member for year three.
3.3 Articulation Programme
The IBS Articulation programme is a cooperation programme with the Jianhang University, Wuhan in China. Students in this programme first study at Jianhang University up to the entry level of Year 3 of the IBS bachelor programme. These students then come to IBS in Year 3 where they enter the
Harmonisation Semester (see Table of Credits later in chapter 4.2.5 for more details).
3.4 Excellence
Hanze University Groningen offers additional challenges to outstanding students. Students, who possess potential to excel not only academically, but professionally and personally, can apply for admission to the IBS Honours Talent Programme. Applications for this programme will be assessed by the Honours admissions committee in January and June of each year.
More information about the IBS Honours Talent Programme, the admission criteria and the selection procedure can be found in chapter 4.3.
3.5 Compulsory Attendance
The IBS Course Outlines which are available on intranet, Mijn Hanze (access www.mijnhanze.nl > organisatie >
International Business School > Regulations IBMS and BW) contain information regarding compulsory attendance.
See chapter 8.3 for more information about class attendance rules.
3.6 Course Outlines
The contents of all modules of the IBMS Programme are described in detail in the separate Course Outlines for Year 1 – 4 including information about the year abroad information which can all be found on intranet, Mijn Hanze (access www.mijnhanze.nl > organisatie > International Business School > Course Outlines, Prospectus and Transition Schemes). Together with this Prospectus and the Student Charter, the Course Outlines are an official part of the Teaching and Exam Regulations, in Dutch: ‘Onderwijs- en Examenregeling: ‘OER’.