Bachelor's programmes in Business and Economics | 2009

Bachelor’s programmes in Business and Economics | 2009 

• BSc International Business 

• BSc Economics and Business Economics / International Business Economics 

• BSc Economics and Business Economics / International Economic Studies 

• BSc Economics and Business Economics / Infonomics 

• BSc Fiscal Economics 

• BSc Econometrics and Operations Research 

Language of 

instruction: 

English

2 Bachelor’s programmes in Business and Economics | 2009 1 

Contents 

Message from the dean 2 

Maastricht 3 

Maastricht University 4 

The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 6 

BSc International Business 17 

BSc Economics and Business Economics 21 

BSc Economics and Business Economics / International Business Economics 22 

BSc Economics and Business Economics / International Economic Studies 24 

BSc Economics and Business Economics / Infonomics 26 

BSc Fiscal Economics 29 

BSc Econometrics and Operations Research 33 

Application procedure and deadlines 36 

Preparation 38 

Financial matters 39 

Maastricht University is signatory of the “Code of conduct with respect to 

international students in Dutch higher education”. More information about 

this code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl. 

All programmes in this brochure are accredited by the Accreditation 

Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). For more information 

on NVAO, please visit www.nvao.nl.

Message from the dean Maastricht 

You are ambitious. Your goal is to gain qualifications 

recognised as the best worldwide. And you want to pursue 

your ambition at a top school in a vibrant environment 

where motivated students from all over the world benefit 

from top-of-class teaching and learning methods. If these 

are your goals, then Maastricht University is definitely the 

right choice for you. The Faculty of Economics and Business 

Administration offers you the chance to learn from the 

best: leading authorities in research and education with a 

reputation for academic excellence. 

There are many features that make Maastricht University a 

unique place to live and study. Possibly the most important 

is its internationalism: our students come from countries 

far and wide; our teaching staff is diverse; our programmes 

all have an international focus; we have links to companies 

and institutions in other countries; and almost all courses 

are taught in English. 

Maastricht University is famous for its pioneering learning 

methodology. Small tutorial groups and a personal 

academic relationship with your teachers ensure that you 

get the most out of your learning experience. This applies 

whether you are a prospective bachelor’s or master’s 

student; of course, we also offer courses at postgraduate, 

executive and doctorate level. If you choose to apply to 

Maastricht University, we hope your time here will be 

challenging and motivating, but also fun. 

Our reputation has also been hallmarked by the prestigious 

Triple Crown accreditation. The faculty is proud to be one 

of a very select group of around 1% of business schools 

worldwide to be accredited by the European Foundation 

for Management Development (EQUIS), the Association to 

Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the 

Association of MBAs (AMBA). 

Last but not least, the city of Maastricht itself offers 

you a cosmopolitan place to live, which is steeped in 

European history. Beautiful and charming, there really is 

no better place to soak up student life and prepare for your 

professional career. 

On behalf of all the faculty staff, I hope this brochure 

provides you with a good starting point for information 

about Maastricht, the university, the faculty, our 

programmes and the details of our academic offering. 

We look forward to welcoming you here. 

Prof. Jos Lemmink 

Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business 

Administration 

International and innovative 

Maastricht and its university are truly international. 

Located on the River Meuse, we are at the meeting point of 

the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Maastricht is just 

a stone’s throw from cities such as Brussels, Liege, Aachen, 

Cologne, and Düsseldorf, while Amsterdam, Paris and 

London are all within a couple of hundred kilometres. As 

you stroll through its cobbled streets, you’ll hear dozens of 

different languages. 

Unsurprisingly, our city has become synonymous with 

Europe and the European Union, especially following 

the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. Maastricht 

University reflects that international orientation. If you 

choose to study here, you will come into contact with 

students and professors from all over the world. You will 

also have the opportunity to intern and gain experience at 

European institutions and international businesses. 

Although Maastricht’s population of around 120,000 is 

relatively small, the city has a rich history, culture and social 

life, as well as plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. In 

parallel, its reputation for innovation in the fields of science, 

technology and the arts have put it at the forefront of Europe. 

In the same way that Maastricht is safe yet vibrant, the faculty 

offers a secure yet challenging learning environment. Take the 

opportunity to live, work and study in this stimulating, unique 

and international city. 

2 Bachelor’s programmes in Business and Economics | 2009 3

Maastricht University 

Diverse and dynamic 

Founded in 1976, Maastricht is the youngest university in 

the Netherlands, but it has already achieved a reputation 

for excellence in academic programmes and learning 

methods. The international calibre of you, its students, 

gives the university its vitality, diversity and dynamism. 

A unique learning approach 

Maastricht University has become famous for its approach 

to learning and teaching. As a student here, you will benefit 

from small classes of only 12 to 14 students, close working 

relationships with your teachers and a highly interactive 

style of learning. 

Our approach to the learning process involves the use of 

real-life cases in the classroom. This method has several 

unique features: it brings you to academic resources 

actively, rather than through passively listening to lectures 

or reading papers. It provides you with practical, concrete 

examples of the academic theory you study. It allows 

you to interact with your peers and teachers, giving you 

immediate feedback on your learning process. And it 

means that you develop your own deeper, more personal 

understanding of the concepts. While your teachers are on 

hand to facilitate, the responsibility for learning is yours. 

Training the best future graduates 

The benefits of this learning approach, more commonly 

known as ‘problem-based learning’, are multiple. 

• You are learning continuously – unlike the lecture- 

based approach at some universities, learning takes 

place throughout the whole course, not just before 

exam time. 

• You get out what you put in – the courses are challenging 

and demanding, but more effort equates with better 

results. 

• You gain a better idea of the value of knowledge, 

through taking responsibility for your own, and others’, 

learning experiences. 

• You gain an understanding of your own learning 

processes, becoming more aware of what works for you. 

• You learn valuable ‘real-life’ management skills: 

managing yourself, others, resources and situations. 

• Group work affords the potential for conflict situations 

you may need to handle the clash of diverse opinions 

and cultures. 

• You learn to meet deadlines and produce deliverables, 

such as PowerPoint presentations, reports and research 

projects. 

• You learn to make decisions as well as to reflect on the 

way you made them. 

• You benefit from the freedom to develop your own 

interests. 

It goes without saying that these advantages will carry 

you forward in your future career. Time management, 

management of yourself and others, the ability to give 

and receive constructive criticism, dealing with conflict 

situations: all are characteristics of desirable employees. 

Maastricht University graduates have been evaluated by 

companies for whom they work. They stated that graduate 

competencies in personal and team management, risktaking 

and decision-making skills are higher than those 

from other universities. Our graduates are generally 

thought to be more mature and entrepreneurial than 

others, with the ambition to build their own careers and to 

take every opportunity to learn. 

Constant improvement 

An outstanding choice 

“Maastricht University was one of the best academic 

choices I’ve ever made. It provides a unique and 

enriching academic environment that takes 

learning to the highest level through small studentto-professor 

ratios, a learning approach which 

maximises student interaction and critical thinking 

and, above all, a population of students from 

across the globe who contribute their valuable and 

diverse professional and academic experience to the 

classroom.” 

Rebecca Galloway, United States 

International Business student 

Although this learning method has become world-renowned, 

the teachers at Maastricht University are continuously 

carrying out research into the methodology so that you 

benefit from the most up-to-date developments. All teachers 

are trained in this learning method, with follow-up specialised 

courses enabling your teachers to improve their skills 

continually. 

Maastricht University monitors its graduates’ progress in the 

job market after six months, two years and five years. We 

also develop new learning initiatives to meet the changing 

needs of the labour market, and then implement these in the 

learning environment. This means that you will benefit from 

continuously improving programmes, courses and ways of 

learning. 

4 Bachelor’s programmes in Business and Economics | 2009 

5

The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 

Academic excellence 

Maastricht University’s Faculty of Economics and Business 

Administration is well known for the quality of its academic 

education and research, both within the Netherlands and 

internationally. All except one bachelor’s programme, Fiscal 

Economics, are taught in English, allowing you to study not 

just at an internationally reputed university, but also in an 

international language. 

Internationally accredited and 

highly ranked 

The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 

has been recognised by several external, independent 

organisations for the quality of its teaching staff, worldrenowned 

learning methodology, academic excellence, 

research and facilities. A bachelor’s degree from the faculty 

is a passport to your future: reputed and recognised 

internationally, our rankings and accreditations are proof 

that you’re receiving the best possible quality of education. 

The top reputation of your degree will enhance your career 

opportunities around the world. 

A top-ranked school of economics and business 

“The Triple Crown accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB 

and AMBA confirms once more that the educational 

programmes and related services at the Faculty of 

Economics and Business Administration are truly 

world class.” 

Zijun Jiang, China 

Alumnus, Lecturer in General Economics at Maastricht 

University, the Netherlands 

Accreditation Organisation 

of the Netherlands and 

Flanders (NVAO) 

All bachelor’s and master’s programmes at the faculty 

have been accredited by the NVAO, the Flemish-Dutch 

accreditation agency for academic education. Maastricht 

University has also been accredited by the NVAO for 

its research master’s programmes in both economics 

and business science. This independent organisation 

acknowledges the content of the programmes and the 

research quality of the teachers. 

www.nvao.net 

Association to Advance 

Collegiate Schools of 

Business (AASCB) 

We are one of approximately 40 European institutions to 

have been internationally accredited by this prestigious US 

association, which is considered the hallmark of excellence 

in management education. 

www.aacsb.edu 

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society 

We are proud to have a chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma 

(BGS) Honor Society at the faculty. This is a prestigious 

international business society to which only AACSBaccredited 

universities are invited to provide members. 

Membership is open to the very best in business, which 

means those who graduate with a grade point average of 

8.5. Achieving this honour not only signifies recognition 

of outstanding academic achievement; it also provides 

networking and career opportunities. 

www.betagammasigma.org 

European Quality 

Improvement System (EQUIS) 

The European Foundation for Management Development 

awarded the faculty the EQUIS quality stamp, a leading 

international system of quality assessment, improvement 

and accreditation of higher education institutions in 

management and business administration. 

www.efmd.org 

Association of MBAs (AMBA) 

AMBA accreditation of the MBA degrees at the faculty 

means that we have been internationally recognised for 

best practice in our MBA programmes. 

www.mbaworld.com 

Choice Guide for Higher Education 

(Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs) 

This authoritative national evaluation guide ranked 

the International Business programme first in 2008, a 

top spot that the programme has held for several years 

now. The Economics, Econometrics and Fiscal Economics 

programmes have also been ranked first based on last 

year’s assessment. 

www.keuzegids.org 


Elsevier 

The leading Dutch business magazine Elsevier has awarded 

the faculty’s Economics and International Business 

programmes the number one spot for several years 

running. 

www.elsevier.com 

Financial Times 

The Financial Times ranked the International Business 

programme 28th in the top 40 such programmes offered 

at European institutions. The faculty climbed as high as the 

third place in the category ‘value for money’. 

rankings.ft.com/masters-in-management 

Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) 

The faculty’s Economics programme ranked top in 12 out 

of 13 criteria measuring student satisfaction using this 

German interactive ranking system. The International 

Business programme also ranked highly. 

ranking.zeit.de

The right choice 

Close connections to the 

corporate world 

A bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Economics and 

Business Administration is already a great springboard 

for your future career. However, the university boasts 

many other links to the corporate world in which you 

can participate. 

SME Portal 

The SME Portal brings together students looking for 

assignments and research projects within small and 

medium-sized companies and companies looking for 

extra help and expertise in or around the Maastricht 

area, including Belgium, France and Germany. Most of 

the projects are short term, which means they are easy to 

combine with studying. 

www.unimaas.nl/mkbportal 

Alumni Network 

The Alumni Network is made up of some 7,500 graduates 

from the faculty who now work in companies worldwide. 

The network allows not just alumni but also current 

students and other members of the faculty to keep in 

touch via ‘alumni circles’ in the Netherlands, Belgium, 

Germany, the UK, the US and China. 

www.alumni.unimaas.nl 

“The main reason I decided to study in Maastricht is 

because the university is the most international in 

the Netherlands. I already knew that I wanted to go 

abroad after my studies, and Maastricht fitted these 

plans. Furthermore, the learning approach forces you to 

think about and use the information that you gather. 

Maastricht’s relaxed atmosphere, many bars and 

restaurants, and the beautiful nature surrounding the 

city make it one of the best places to spend your life as a 

student!” 

Marc van der Chijs, the Netherlands 

Alumnus, Co-founder and board member of Todou.com, 

CEO of Spill Group Asia, Angel investor in Chinese 

start-ups, China 

Career Services 

The university’s career centre is on hand to provide you 

with advice on your study choices and career opportunities. 

To get ahead in the employment market, you can benefit 

from interview training and feedback on your CV and 

covering letters. 

www.loopbaancentrum.unimaas.nl 

Study associations 

As a student of the faculty, there are several active 

associations that you can join. Initiated by students 

themselves, they are linked to various programmes or 

disciplines, and provide study support, exposure to real-life 

business situations, career advice and recruitment events. 

• 3MA (Maastricht Management/Organisation 

Association) bridges the gap between economic theory 

and business practice. You can take part in events such as 

the Maastricht Business Days, 3MA Congress, 

Consultancy Day, Commercial Day, in-house days, 

training programmes and recruitment dinners. 

www.3ma.nl 

• FS Focus organises workshops, congresses, study trips, 

company visits and recruitment events for students in the 

fields of accounting, control or finance. 

www.fsfocus.nl 

• Vectum offers students of econometrics insights into 

real-world business situations; you will benefit from 

direct links with companies through the annual Vectum 

Congress, in-house days and presentation dinners. 

www.vectum.nl 

• IES Network offers students of infonomics and 

economics lectures on current economic events and 

excursions to economic institutions. 

www.iesnetwork.nl 

• First, the Fiscal Economics study association, organises 

company trips – often abroad – and work experience 

opportunities. 

www.efm-online.nl 

• Eloquent aims to motivate students from the entire 

faculty to maintain a critical perspective on both their 

studies and their extracurricular activities. Eloquent 

publishes a lively, entertaining quarterly magazine. 

www.eloquent.nl 

• AIESEC, the world’s largest international student 

association, offers tools to develop your potential and 

positively impact society. To gain insights and knowledge 

of cultural differences, foreign languages and 

customs, you can apply for management or development 

traineeships. ‘Make a Move’ career week is a four-day 

event that aims to bring students to the labour market. 


www.aiesec.nl 

• Integrand offers internships, work assignments, business 

courses and other activities that will help familiarise you 

with the world of work whilst studying. 

www.integrand.nl 

• Unipartners is an academic consulting firm working 

on business-oriented projects for various companies. 

Get involved in market research, company and project 

evaluations, logistical, strategic, law and regulation 

projects as well as writing business plans. 

www.unipartners.nl/maastricht 

• Research Project Maastricht is an annual project open to, 

and run by, up to 14 high-potential students. Working on 

a non-profit basis, the team spends three months 

(plus one month travelling time) in emerging markets 

conducting research on behalf of Dutch companies. 

Through intense contact with the business world, you 

will gain valuable work experience and learn to come up 

with solutions to real-life problems. 

www.researchproject.nl 

Research Project in Indonesia 

“Instead of studying abroad, I’m going to do a 

research project in Indonesia. I’m one of several 

students from other disciplines who have been 

contracted to analyse whether it’s profitable for 

Western companies to trade with Indonesia. We’re 

spending four months there and we’ll get the same 

credits we would if we studied abroad, but it’s 

a great opportunity and a practical way to gain 

experience.” 

Marjolein Buss, the Netherlands 

International Business student

Excellent education 

At the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, 

teaching is as important as research. And the two are 

inextricably linked. Leading researchers and scholars 

directly contribute to the content of the programmes you 

will be studying. This means that your education will be 

innovative, up-to-date and relevant to the issues at the 

cutting edge of today’s hot research topics. 

Study abroad 

All bachelor’s programmes (except the BSc Fiscal 

Economics) require you to study abroad for one semester in 

your third year at one of our 130 partner institutions. These 

include the Stern School of Business at New York University 

(USA), Universidad del Pacífico, Lima (Peru), Università 

Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan (Italy), University 

of Stellenbosch (South Africa), National University of 

Singapore (Singapore) and University of Sydney (Australia). 

For a complete list of partner universities visit: 

www.unimaas.nl/feba 

The experience not only allows you to learn from different 

sources via different methods of teaching; it also gives 

you the opportunity to learn about a different culture and 

potentially to pick up a new language. In some cases, it’s 

even possible to do an internship abroad instead. All of 

these opportunities will give you an advantage over other 

graduates in your future international career. Whatever you 

choose, you can obtain 26 European Credit Transfer System 

(ECTS) credits or more towards your degree. 

Once you are studying at the faculty, the International 

Relations Office will be able to assist you with planning 

your trip abroad. 

Honours programme 

Designed for excellent students who want to broaden 

and deepen their knowledge and understanding, the 

honours programme is a supplementary programme that 

prepares students to fulfil key roles in social and scientific 

developments. The top 10% of first-year students can apply 

at the start of their second year. The honours programme 

runs parallel to the regular programme in the second 

and third years. Students in the honours programme are 

assigned an academic advisor to support them in their 

academic development. 

www.unimaas.nl/feba/honoursprogramme 

Double-degree programmes 

Having completed your bachelor’s, do you want to further 

your career by obtaining a master’s degree from not one 

but two top institutions? At Maastricht University, you 

have the opportunity to do a so-called ‘double-degree 

programme’ in conjunction with one of our top partner 

institutions. These include: 

• EDHEC Business School, France – at this top business 

school, with campuses in Lille and Nice, you can spend 

the last semester of your bachelor’s programme as an 

exchange student if you are studying for any bachelor’s 

degree at the faculty. You will continue with your 

master’s programme at EDHEC studying for any of the 

programmes offered at the institution. You will 

then return to Maastricht to complete your master’s 

programme; all programmes offered at the faculty are 

eligible. The double-degree master’s programme with 

EDHEC takes just one year. 

• Queen’s School of Business, Canada – at this cutting- 

edge school in Kingston, you can spend the last semester 

of your bachelor’s programme as an exchange student 

if you are studying for the bachelor’s programme 

International Business or the bachelor’s programme 

Economics and Business Economics at the faculty. 

You will continue with your master’s programme at 

Queen’s studying for the master’s programme in Global 

Management offered at the institution. You will then 

return to Maastricht to complete your master’s 

programme; only the master’s programme International 

Business – graduate option ‘free master’ is eligible. 

The double-degree master’s programme with Queen’s 

takes a little over one year, resulting in minimal study 

delay. 

• Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium – in Louvain- 

la-Neuve you can take part of your master’s programme 

at the Université catholique de Louvain studying the 

Master en sciences économiques orientation générale 

à la finalité spécialisée. You will then return to Maastricht 

to take the other part of your master’s programme at the 

faculty studying the master’s programme International 

Economic Studies or the master’s programme 

Econometrics an Operations Research. A double-degree 

master’s programme with this institution takes two 

years and is accessible to bachelor’s graduates from both 

the faculty and other universities. 

All of our partner institutions have at least two 

international accreditations (see page 6), are leading in the 

economics and business fields in their country and offer 

great academic opportunities that represent an additional 

benefit for students. 

A double-degree programme is demanding as well as 

rewarding. With partner institutions with which we have 

a contract, the same number of students from the partner 

institution as FEBA may be selected to come to Maastricht 

to study. Only the students with the strongest academic 

records and the highest levels of ambition and motivation 

from both institutions will be selected! 

www.unimaas.nl/doubledegrees 

Two excellent degrees 

“The double-degree programme provided me 

with the opportunity to work on certain areas of 

knowledge that I had not yet studied in depth at 

EDHEC Business School. I am greatly impressed by 

the high academic standard and the outstanding 

international reputation of the Faculty of Economics 

and Business Administration. As a result of my 

double-degree qualification, I was offered a job at 

Merrill Lynch – and I have EDHEC and FEBA to thank!” 

Julien Potier, France 

Alumnus, Investment Banking Analyst at Merrill 

Lynch London, United Kingdom 


11

Reputation for research 

Good quality research builds the reputation of the 

university, which means that your degree is worth more. 

Almost all of your teachers also carry out research so you 

benefit from the most up-to-date, innovative, highest 

quality learning experience. In short, you’re getting more 

than just a textbook education. 

There are three unique features that define the research 

being carried out in the faculty. Firstly, the integration 

between business and economics defines both the research 

and the way the programmes are structured. Secondly, 

both research and programmes look at their subject matter 

from both an external and an internal perspective. For 

instance, the programme covering human resources looks 

at external labour markets as well as the internal structure 

of teams. And lastly, characteristic of the faculty is the 

blend of applied work and fundamental theory. For our 

researchers and our students, this combination is vital. 

Key disciplines in which research is currently being carried 

out include: 

• Economic theory; 

• Finance and econometrics; 

• Human resource and labour markets; 

• Technology and innovation; 

• Marketing; 

• Accounting and corporate governance; 

• Information and operations management. 

The faculty’s research is regularly assessed by the 

Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU); 

programmes have consistently been rated four or five out 

of five. 

State-of-the-art facilities 

University library 

Right in the centre of Maastricht, just a five-minute 

walk from the faculty, you will find the state-of-the-art 

university library. Its excellent facilities include: 

• an extensive book and magazine collection; 

• study areas, with or without computers; 

• 320 computers; 

• 80 laptop connections; 

• an ICT service desk; 

• group spaces; 

• large tables to spread out your materials; 

• different noise levels, from low to absolute silence; 

• ergonomically-designed equipment; 

• electronic databases; 

• a wide range of electronic documents and journals – 

where licences permit, these can also be accessed from 

home as well as other campus locations. 

www.ub.unimaas.nl 

Student advice 

For general study support, look no further than the study 

advisors. You can go to them for advice on the structure 

and organisation of the programmes, rules and regulations, 

planning or choosing your studies. If, for personal reasons, 

you either can’t complete your studies or need more time 

to do so, the study advisors are also here to help you. 

Language Centre 

Your education comprises more than just the academic 

discipline you choose to study. The Language Centre offers 

a broad range of affordably-priced language courses from 

beginner to advanced level in 13 languages, including 

English, Dutch, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. 

www.languages.unimaas.nl 


08.30 - 09.30 

09.30 - 10.30 

10.30 - 11.30 

11.30 - 12.30 

12.30 - 13.30 

13.30 - 14.30 

14.30 - 15.30 

15.30 - 16.30 

16.30 - 17.30 

Average week of a first-year student 

Monday 

Self-study 

Self-study 

Lecture Quantitative 

Methods 


Methods 

Lunch 

Preparing tutorial 

group 


group 


group 


group 

Tuesday 

Tutorial Marketing & 

Organizations 


Organizations 

Group work in 

library 


library 


library 


library 

Self-study 

Self-study 

Self-study 

Wednesday 

Lecture Marketing & 

Organizations 

Lecture Marketing & 

Organizations 


group 


group 

Break 

Tutorial Quantitative 

Methods 


Methods 

Self-study 

Self-study 

Thursday 


Organizations 


Organizations 


library 


library 


library 


library 

Break 

Extra tutorial 

Quantitative 

Methods 

Extra tutorial 

Quantitative 

Methods 

Friday 


Methods 


Methods 

Self-study 

Self-study 

Break 


Methods 


Methods 

There are several different types of courses that you 

will follow during the course of your degree, whichever 

programme you choose. Having completed each element, 

you will receive a certain number of European Credit Transfer 

System (ECTS) credits, which contribute towards a total of 180 

for your entire bachelor’s degree (see table below). One credit 

represents a study load of 28 hours. 

• Skills training (4 ECTS) – this comprises a short, practical 

course usually at the end of each semester. 

• Compulsory courses (6.5 ECTS) – all students must follow 

certain compulsory courses in their first and second years. 

See course outlines of individual programmes for details of 

the compulsory courses that apply to each programme. 

• Electives (6.5 ECTS) – in your third year, you will be able to 

choose from various elective courses that relate to your 

specialisation. See course outlines of individual programmes 

for details of the elective courses that apply to each 

specialisation. 

• Quantitative methods (4 or 6.5 ECTS) – these courses 

provide an introduction to methodological topics that are 

quantitative in nature: mathematics, statistics and 

computer science. 

• Study Abroad (26 ECTS) – with the exception of Fiscal 

Economics students, all students spend one semester 

studying abroad at a partner institution in the third year. 

Alternatively, you can do an internship abroad, worth 26 

ECTS. 

• Internship (4 ECTS) – you have the opportunity to replace a 

skills training course worth four ECTS credits with an 

internship. As part of the Infonomics programme, you can 

even organise an extended international internship instead 

of your study abroad. 

• Capstone assignment/bachelor’s thesis (4 ECTS) – the 

bachelor’s programmes end with an independently written 

essay of approx. 4,500-5,000 words, called a capstone 

assignment. The topic you choose should be consistent with 

your specialisation and/or elective. Econometrics and 

Operations Research students must write a bachelor’s thesis 

instead. 

For more information, see the study guide at: 

www.unimaas.nl/feba/studyguide 


Restaurant 

At Mensa, the faculty’s restaurant, you can buy a wide 

range of affordable meals and snacks. Every day, you can 

choose between two hot meals, a vegetarian dish, salads, 

sandwiches, drinks and many other delicious options. 

Student Services 

For student support services not related to your 

programme, Student Services is here to help. You can 

approach any of the advisors about matters relating to 

registration, studies, professions, career planning, financial 

assistance and sports. 

www.ssc.unimaas.nl 

If you are a prospective student from outside the EU, 

you can visit the International Service Desk for help 

in applying for a visa, opening a Dutch bank account, 

finding accommodation, applying for insurance and so on. 

The International Service Desk also coordinates several 

scholarship and grant programmes. 

The academic year 

The academic year is divided into two semesters. Each 

semester comprises two periods of eight weeks and two 

periods of two weeks. During the eight-week periods, 

you will follow two courses at the same time. The twoweek 

periods are intended for ‘additional’ courses, such 

as research methods and techniques, training courses or 

skills training. The content of the first and second year is 

the same for all students. This period is designed to give 

you the academic basis you will need for the rest of the 

programme. You will begin to specialise in your third year.

“Giving you the knowledge and skills required 

for an international business career.” 

Bachelor of Science in International Business 

Business without borders 

Are you curious about what’s going on in the business world? Do you watch the news and want to play 

a part in creating it? Do you question how people’s behaviour affects individual companies, whole 

industries, and national and international economies? Then International Business is made for you. 

Why should you choose International Business? 

Who you are as a person is as important as what you 

know about a topic. That’s why a bachelor’s programme in 

International Business does not just focus on the strategy, 

resources, organisation, marketing, management, finance 

and accounting required to make a business run. It also 

teaches you the skills you need to put those things into 

practice – like conflict management, leadership, teamwork, 

presentation skills and more. 

In your first two years, you will follow compulsory courses 

in a broad range of international business areas, such 

as logistics, human resources, marketing and finance. 

All these are essential to making a business successful. 

For example, Apple’s successful iPod could not have 

been produced without a budget to set up a new branch 

within the corporation (Finance) and the procurement 

of raw materials (Supply Chain Management). It needs 

people to manage internal processes (Organisation/ 

Human Resources) and transportation (Supply Chain 

Management). Furthermore, the company needs 

marketing and sales employees to sell the iPod (Marketing) 

and people to manage the money from those sales 

(Accounting). An information system is needed to 

provide valuable data to every department (Information 

Management). Based on sales and profitability figures, the 

product is evaluated and recommendations for the future 

are developed (Strategy). 

As part of your third year, you will spend one semester 

studying abroad. You’ll also have opportunities to contact 

real companies at ‘business days’ organised by study 

associations, do research projects and follow an internship, 

usually at the end of your bachelor’s programme. If you’re 

interested in the world of international business, this 

kind of international experience will set you ahead of the 

competition. 

What will you learn? 

Having completed this programme, you will be able to: 

• understand the ‘value chain’ from input to output (see 

iPod example); 

• demonstrate an awareness of, and confidence in, 

yourself – your working style, your reaction to situations 

and your degree of self-discipline; 

• deal with others, in terms of managing conflict situations, 

demonstrating leadership and teamwork skills; 

• observe and analyse the society in which you live, being 

aware of the outside world in which companies operate. 

Is International Business right for you? 

As well as the standard admission requirements 

(see page 36), you should: 

• be confident about making up your own mind and 

expressing your own opinions; 

• be willing to contribute to the class, not just passively to 

receive information; 

• be inquisitive about current affairs and what’s going on 

in the world in general; 

• have an interest in developing self-awareness, while 

being able to listen to others; 

• be flexible about working in teams with people from 

different cultures; 

• be curious about people, be it consumers, investors or 

employees; 

• have an affinity for numbers. 


17

Case International Business: McDonalds’ business philosophy 

Over the past few years, McDonalds has been exposed to strong 

external and internal pressures. External pressures included increased 

competition and healthier lifestyles. An internal issue was the corporate 

culture designed around making money from renting store locations 

to franchisees rather than focusing on selling fast food. The company 

wanted to switch its business philosophy to focus on Customer 

Relationship Management (CRM): this analyses customers’ needs, wants 

and demands in order to create, deliver and communicate value. 

What are your career prospects? 

Around 90% of bachelor’s graduates go on to do a master’s 

in their chosen area of specialisation. Moreover, the 

international nature of your bachelor’s programme means 

that you could study for your master’s at any number of 

international universities. The broad subject areas and 

skills that you will learn at Maastricht University will allow 

you to work in a wide variety of industries and positions. 

What you choose will largely depend on your area of 

specialisation and of course your own interests. 

Graduates have found positions in: 

• multinationals, such as Shell and Daimler AG; 

• consultancy firms, such as Cap Gemini and Accenture; 

• human resource departments; 

• marketing departments; 

• accountancy firms, such as Ernst & Young, 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte Touche 

Tohmatsu; 

• financial institutions, such as Fortis, Deutsche Bank and 

JP Morgan; 

• their own businesses. 

Course outline 

There are certain compulsory courses within this 

programme, as well as skills training and electives. 


19 

Year 1 

Term 1 

2 

Economics 

and Business 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 3 

Term 4 

Year 3 

Term 5 

Term 6 

1 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

International Business 

Management of 

Organisations and 

Marketing 

Accounting 

Skills Training: Philosophy of Science 

Strategy 

Finance 

Quantitative 

Methods I 

Quantitative 

Methods II 

Fundamentals of 

Supply Chain 

Management 

Skills Training: Management Game 

Finance and 


Global Business 

International 


Management 

Skills Training: Quantitative Methods III 

Corporate 

Governance 

Management of 

Operations and Product 

Development 

Business 

Specialisation 

Course 



Course 

Skills Training: Elective 


Study Abroad 

Capstone Assignment 

Management of 

Organisations 

Management 

Information Systems 

Human Resource 

Management 

1 Business Elective 

1 Economics, 

Quantitative, Law or 

Ethics Elective 

Fast facts 

Fitting the international bill 

“I was lucky enough to study abroad for a year at 

school, and I knew I wanted to continue studying in 

another language with people from other cultures. 

I also had a lot of interests and didn’t yet know 

which area I wanted to specialise in. International 

Business at Maastricht fitted the bill perfectly – 

internationally oriented in culture, content and 

language.” 

Julie Schreinemacher, the Netherlands 

International Business student 

• Programme title: BSc International Business 

• Language of instruction: English 

• Duration: 3 years full time 

• Start date: 1 September 2009 

• Available places: 500 

• Application deadlines: selection procedure 1 April 2009 (250 

places); lottery 15 May 2009 (250 places) 

• Study abroad: compulsory in the third year, in the first or 

second semester 

• Study load per week: 8 hrs classes; 12 hrs group work; 20 hrs 

individual study. Total 40 hrs. 

• Learning method: problem-based learning; guest lectures; 

presentations; assignments; papers 

• Assessment method: written exams; final papers; group 

participation 

• You can obtain 180 ECTS credits in three years 

• Continuing master’s programmes at FEBA without 

additional admissions requirements: 

MSc International Business and MSc Management of 

Learning. You can also continue your studies with other 

master’s programmes, but additional requirements may 

apply. 

Further information: 

• www.unimaas.nl/feba/bachelors 

• www.unimaas.nl/feba/masters 

• www.unimaas.nl/feba/studyguide for course information 

• www.unimaas.nl/feba/numerusfixus for selection 

procedure 

• Student Recruitment and Communications Office: 

+31 43 388 2055 or bachelorinfo@efb.unimaas.nl 

NB. The details of this programme could change; 

before applying, please check www.unimaas.nl/feba/bachelors 

for the latest information.

“International economists are the decision makers 

of the future.” 

Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Economics 

A dynamic combination of economics and business 

Why do consumers buy the products or brands that they do? What effect do government policies have on 

consumer behaviour? How can individual businesses influence consumer choices and policy decisions? These 

are some of the business questions that occupy economists. If they occupy you too, this programme is for you. 

Why should you choose Economics and Business 

Economics? 

Economics and Business Economics focuses on two 

main areas: Business Economics covers problems within 

companies and how to solve them. Economics looks at 

broader problems that relate to individuals, governments, 

national and even international economies. 

Within this programme, you can choose from the following 

specialisations: 

• International Business Economics 

• International Economic Studies 

• Infonomics 

You can find details of these specialisations on the 

following pages. Whichever you choose, you will follow 

the same courses in your first year. These cover a broad 

range of business and economics topics such as finance, 

accounting, international economic relations, micro 

and macroeconomics, organisation and marketing as 

well as skills such as presentation, communication and 

quantitative skills. This will allow you to make a wellinformed 

decision about which specialisation you are 

interested in pursuing in your second and third years. 

Is Economics and Business Economics 

right for you? 



• be internationally orientated; 

• have an affinity for maths; 

• have an interest in politics and its impact on individuals 

and businesses; 

• be proactive and a self-starter; 

• enjoy learning through teamwork and practical 

examples. 



• governmental and non-profit organisations; 

• private companies; 

• the financial sector; 

• consultancy roles; 

• international institutions. 


21


International Business Economics 

Using an economics toolkit to solve business problems 

Do you watch the news and question why prices of resources change? Do you ask yourself what the effect 

of this will be on companies? Do you question how governments and private businesses can influence 

these things? International Business Economics does just that – find out more! 

Why should you choose International Business 

Economics? 

International Business Economics has two clear elements: 

1. Economics – this looks at how we allocate resources 

within a particular market. It’s about understanding 

why an economy works in the way that it does by seeing 

the links between events. For instance, how has the 

Dutch economy reacted to the US credit crisis? 

2. Business – looks at how individual businesses react 

to events. How should they react? Are they successful? 

To explain what happens and why, we use an economic 

model, compare it with business reality and adjust the 

model accordingly. 

In the International Business Economics programme, 

you will look at how businesses interact with their 

environments. You will use business tools, such as strategy, 

finance and accounting alongside economic tools, such as 

quantitative skills and economic modelling in order to solve 

real-life business problems. 

In your first year, you will follow a wide range of courses 

that all Economics and Business Economics students will 

take. In your second year, you will study certain compulsory 

International Business Economics courses, while in your 

third year you will be able to choose between electives. All 

students study abroad for one semester of their third year. 

Case International Business Economics: The effects of off-shoring 

Globalisation has encouraged cost-based competition among production 

locations around the world. In early 2008, Finnish company Nokia 

announced its intention to move production facilities from Bochum, 

Germany to Cluj, Romania. Following the plant closure, there were 

protests, threats of boycott and political pressure directed at the 

company. It eventually agreed to a substantial pay-off to compensate 

employees. What are the lessons Nokia should take away from this? How 

should a multinational company evaluate the total costs of production 

in a particular location? Should a relatively disadvantaged location like 

Bochum use financial incentives to attract foreign investment? These are 

the kinds of questions you will discuss during the programme. 



• use the tools you have acquired to identify and solve 

business problems; 

• successfully communicate your proposed solutions to 

others; 

• analyse business problems within a wider economic 

context. 

Is International Business Economics right for you? 



• be open-minded; 

• be willing to help others and work as a team; 

• be internationally-orientated; 

• be energetic, proactive and self-motivated; 

• have basic maths skills. 

An economics profile or economics courses at school are a 

plus but not required. 


As an International Business Economics graduate, your 

career opportunities are broad. You will have a good idea 

of how organisations work, and you’ll have the tools to 

analyse and solve their problems. Finding creative solutions 

not only involves understanding the business; it also 

involves presenting and communicating your proposed 

solution in order to persuade decision-makers that it’s the 

right one. 

Further to the skills you’ll learn during your degree courses, 

there are several extracurricular opportunities for you to 

get involved with real companies: workshops, career days 

and internships are all on offer. 


• multinationals, such as Shell and Daimler AG; 

• consultancy firms, such as Cap Gemini and Accenture; 

• accountancy firms, such as Ernst & Young, 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte Touche 

Tohmatsu; 

• financial institutions, such as Fortis, Deutsche Bank, JP 

Morgan; 

• pension funds, such as ABP; 

• insurance companies, such as Allianz; 

• government or non-profit organisations, such as 

Ministeries, European Commission, European Central 

Bank, United Nations. 





Year 1 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 3 

Term 4 

Year 3 

Term 5 

Term 6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

International Business Economics 

Management of 



Microeconomics 

Industrial 

Organisation 



Macroeconomics 


Banking 

Financial Markets 

Skillls Training: Quantitative Methods III 

Marketing and 

Supply Chain 

Management 

International 

Business Strategy 

Quantitative 

Methods II 

International 

Economic Relations 

Skills Training: Economy Game 


Specialisation Course 


Specialisation Course 



Study Abroad 

Quantitative 

Methods I 


Managerial 


Quantitative 


1 Information 

Management Elective 

1 Economics, 

Quantitative 

or Accounting 

and Information 

Management Elective 


Fast facts 

Communication through learning 

“I chose Maastricht University having attended an 

open day. Everyone was open and communicative 

about what they were studying. I now know that it’s 

the unique learning approach that gives students 

those skills. It was only later that I decided I wanted 

to combine economics with business and follow this 

specialisation.” 

Gijs Hesen, the Netherlands 

International Business Economics student 

• Programme title: BSc Economics and Business Economics 

• Specialisation: International Business Economics 




• Study abroad: compulsory study abroad in the third year, in 

the first or second semester 






participation 


• Continuing master’s programmes at FEBA without 

additional admissions requirements: 

MSc International Business, MSc Infonomics, 

MSc International Economic Studies, MSc Financial Economics 

and MSc Management of Learning. You can also continue your 

studies with other master’s programmes, but additional 

requirements may apply. 











International Economic Studies 

Public and private policy making through strategic decisions 

Do you think issues such as the aging population, education, taxation and house prices are important? 

Do you question why financial crises happen and how they impact individuals, businesses and national 

and global economies? International Economic Studies gives you the tools to discuss and analyse all of 

these issues. 

Why should you choose International Economic 

Studies? 

International Economic Studies looks at economic problems 

from two perspectives: on the one hand, you will look at 

how the behaviour of individual consumers and investors 

impacts the economy. On the other hand, you’ll look at 

broader economic forces like government policies, national 

monetary policies and economic development, and how 

these affect the individual. To get this balance, sociology 

and psychology courses are part of the core curriculum – 

a unique element to this specialisation. 

Moreover, the study association ‘IES network’ organises 

additional guest lectures and international study trips, 

which are integrated into the programme and for which 

you receive ECTS credits. All International Economic Studies 

and Infonomics students are automatically members of the 

association, but you can also actively participate in helping 

to organise events – great experience for your CV! 




International Economic Studies courses, while in your 

third year you will be able to choose between electives. All 

students study abroad for one semester of their third year. 

Great preparation for competition and 

regulation consultancy 

“Following my bachelor’s and master’s qualifications 

in International Economic Studies, I’m now working 

for a competition and regulation consultancy in 

London. In job interviews with economic consultancies, ` 

I was questioned on basic economic concepts and had 

to apply them to hypothetical cases. The problem-based 

learning method was brilliant training for this – 

I couldn’t recommend it more.” 

Carina Lange, Germany 

Alumnus, Economist, Competition and Regulation 

Consultancy, London 



• demonstrate knowledge of exchange rates and national 

monetary policies; 

• understand the mechanisms behind global markets; 

• understand the growth of economies – how and why 

they grow, their historical context, how you can use this 

to forecast the future, how education affects the growth 

of an economy and so on; 

• understand the effect of the behaviour of individuals on 

society from a socio-economic perspective. 

Is International Economic Studies right for you? 



• have a theoretical mindset; 

• enjoy in-depth analysis; 

• have an affinity for maths and an analytical approach; 

• have an interest in politics and welfare. 


As well as real-world case studies that you will cover in your 

courses, the guest lectures organised via the IES network 

are designed for a broader audience, including students 

from other programmes. They cover topics and careers that 

you might be interested in pursuing in the future. 


• international institutions, such as the OECD; 

• the EU and other governmental institutions, such as 

central banks and cartel authorities; 

• the World Bank; 

• private-sector companies, such as those in the telecoms 

sector; 

• the financial sector; 

• strategic, advisory or consultancy roles – advising a bank 

about a merger or takeover, for instance. 




Management of 



Microeconomics Accounting 




Year 1 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 4 


Term 3 

2 

Macroeconomics and 

Economic Policy 

Year 3 

Term 5 

Term 6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

International Economic Studies 

Quantitative 

Methods I 

Quantitative 

Methods II 

International 



Microeconomics: 

Choices, Markets and 

Welfare 

Productivity 

Theories of 

Social Order 

Public Economics 



Study Abroad 

Quantitative 

Methods III 

International 


Institutions, Behaviour 

and Welfare 


IBE Elective IES Elective 

QE Elective IES Elective 

6 Capstone Assignment 

Fast facts 

International opportunities 

“When I started my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t 

know I wanted to specialise in International 

Economic Studies. But I discovered that I preferred 

the economics side to the business side after the 

first year. Moreover, there are lots of international 

opportunities: I’ve just returned from a study trip 

to Vietnam and I’m about to study abroad for a 

semester in Canada!” 

Anne Hilger, Germany 

International Economic Studies student 

• Programme title: BSc Economics and Business Economics 

• Specialisation: International Economic Studies 




• Study abroad: compulsory study abroad in the third year, in the 

first or second semester 



• Learning method: problem-based learning; (guest) lectures; 

presentations; assignments; essays 

• Assessment method: written exams; final essays; hand-in 

exercises; group participation; presentation 


• Continuing master’s programmes at FEBA without additional 

admissions requirements: 

MSc International Business, MSc Infonomics, 














Infonomics 

Infonomics 

Specialisation Course outline 

The economics of the digital age 

Do you question how Google can make money when it provides a free service and uses very little 

advertising? Are you interested in the effect of MP3 downloads on the music industry? Do you wonder 

how Microsoft’s Windows products succeed in dominating the global market despite fierce competition in 

today’s global economy? If you think about these issues, then Infonomics is the right choice for you. 

Why should you choose Infonomics? 

Infonomics uniquely combines economics with business 

from an Information Technology (IT) perspective. This 

means that, on the one hand, it looks at how businesses 

use IT to stay ahead of the competition. On the other hand, 

it looks at how government policies stimulate innovation, 

and the effect of this on people’s lives. 

Infonomics is a broad programme in the sense that it 

covers individual companies as well as national and 

international economies. It’s also specialised in the sense 

that it focuses on the role of IT. 




Infonomics courses. While in your third year, you will be 

able to choose between some electives, and between 

studying or following an internship abroad. 

Case Infonomics: 

Examining the economic implications of illegal music downloads 

Lots of music fans use the Internet to find and download music. As a 

result, global takings from CD sales have fallen. Music companies are 

now trying to enforce intellectual property rights more strongly. From an 

economic perspective, a solution to the problem of illegal downloading 

could simply be to publish new music files for free. Could a strategy like 

this actually be profitable? As an Infonomics student, you will examine 

this sort of current issue and its wider economic implications. 



• evaluate information systems in an economics context; 

• assess the quality and value of information and 

information systems, and plan how to improve the 

economic value of both; 

• understand the economic and social environment in 

which IT functions, and its impact on this environment; 

• apply theories in economics, business and management; 

• understand how to organise information so it can be 

turned into a valuable resource for organisations. 

Is Infonomics right for you? 



• be fascinated by the latest technologies, such as mobile 

phones, iPods, MP3s and so on; 

• be interested in how newly developed Internet 

applications change the way business in general, as well 

as specific businesses, are organised; 

• be an analytical person who also likes learning about 

tangible examples; 

• be curious about how new technologies affect our lives, 

as individuals, companies and society at large. 

Studying an economics profile or IT course at school is a 

plus but not a requirement. 


All of today’s biggest businesses are in IT – look at 

Microsoft and Google, for instance. But there’s still a high 

demand for IT people in general, and especially those who 

can translate the technologies that are available into action 

plans for businesses in order to keep them competitive in 

today’s global market. In doing so, Infonomics graduates 

actively combine their acquired knowledge from both 

Economics and Business. 


• planning and policy making in the field of IT; 

• IT consultancy; 

• large multinationals, such as Cap Gemini, Accenture, SAP, 

Business Objects, Shell and Vodafone; 

• the EU and other governmental institutions; 

• IT project management, eventually leading to positions 

as an IT Manager or Chief Information Officer. 



Management of 



Microeconomics Accounting 




Year 1 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 5 

Term 6 


Term 3 

2 

ICT, Organisation 

and Income 

Term 4 

Year 3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Infonomics 

Quantitative 

Methods I 

Quantitative 

Methods II 

International 



Introduction into the 

Information Society 


Free Elective Free Elective 

Information, Justice 

and the Political 

Process 

Study Abroad 

or Internship Abroad 


Knowledge 

Management 


Productivity 

Network 


Management 

Infomation Systems 

Information 

Management 

QE Elective 


ERP and Business 

Intelligence Systems 

Fast facts 

Meeting business and technical goals 

“I chose to do an internship at a business intelligence 

company in Ireland. I was involved in a project to 

create a particular piece of software, responsible 

for communicating between the programmers (in 

Vancouver) and the business users (in Ireland and 

Paris). I had to document the business requirements 

and translate these into the programming 

requirements – keeping both the business 

stakeholders and the programmers happy was not 

an easy task, but the project was a success!” 

Billy van der Ende 

Infonomics student 

• Programme title : BSc Economics and Business Economics 

• Specialisation: Infonomics 




• Study abroad: choice between studying abroad and doing an 

internship abroad in the third year, in the first or second semester 






participation 




MSc Infonomics, MSc International Business, 














“There is growing demand for skilled fiscal 

economists who can interact on a senior level 

with accountants, tax lawyers and management.” 

Bachelor of Science in Fiscal Economics 

Taxation with a strong economics foundation 

Do you wonder how the government can regulate house or oil prices through taxation? Are you interested in 

law as well as economics? Do you want to get involved in politics? Fiscal economics covers all these things, 

so read on! 

Why should you choose Fiscal Economics? 

The effect of taxation is all around us. It makes the price of 

products and services more expensive and, depending on 

the rate of taxation, more or less affordable. It affects the 

labour market (how much people are paid), the housing 

market (where they can afford to live), the oil market 

(whether they can afford to drive a car, for instance), the 

corporate market (how the money that companies make 

affects the national – or international – economy) to name 

just a few key markets. In short, people, taxation, politics, 

law and economics go hand in hand. 

Studying Fiscal Economics will give you a background in 

economics and tax law. Your first year will be broad in 

scope and made up of various compulsory courses. Your 

second and third years will focus more specifically on fiscal 

economics, and you will have the opportunity to choose 

some elective courses. You are not obliged to study abroad 

or to take an internship, but you can organise these things 

if you wish. Fiscal economics gives you the freedom to steer 

your academic career in the direction you choose. 

Whatever your areas of interest are, Fiscal Economics will 

give you a good background for any master’s programme in 

an economics or legal field, or a combination of the two. 



• understand the influence of tax on people’s decisions; 

• explain the interaction between economics and taxation. 

Is Fiscal Economics right for you? 



• have an interest in politics, such as labour markets, 

house prices, and so on; 

• want to interact with what’s going on in the news and 

apply your studies in the real world; 

• be curious and enjoy working out puzzles. 


29

Case Fiscal Economics: The impact of tax on the oil market 

Oil prices are currently volatile. When they rise, transport companies go 

on strike, demanding they be reduced. When they fall, demand for oil 

increases. Fiscal Economists look at what the government can do to revive 

the market – should they lower taxes on oil to re-create demand, or 

increase taxes to force innovation in new energy sources? 


There’s currently a shortage of fiscal economists, so 

demand is high and prospects are excellent. As a fiscal 

economist, you can work on two sides of the same coin: as 

a tax inspector you can maximise the collection of taxes for 

the government; as a tax advisor, you can minimise taxes 

paid by companies. Both positions use the same toolkit, but 

for different purposes. 

As part of your bachelor’s programme, there are many 

other ways in which you can gain work experience and 

find out about companies. Firms visit the faculty to give 

presentations, and the Fiscal Economics study association 

‘First’ organises company trips – often abroad – and work 

experience opportunities. Moreover, if you choose to do 

your master’s in Fiscal Economics at Maastricht University, 

you can write your thesis on a particular company. 


• tax inspection; 

• tax advisory or management roles; 

• tax consultancy (own business); 

• notary firms; 

• the big 4 audit firms: KPMG, Ernst & Young, 

PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu; 

• multinationals such as DSM, Unilever and Shell; 

• tax departments for national governments or the 

European Commission. 



programme, as well as skills and electives. 

Management of 




31 

Year 1 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 3 

Term 4 

Year 3 

Term 5 

Term 6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Fiscal Economics 


Kostprijsverhogende 

Belastingen 





Hoofdzaken Formeel 

Belastingrecht 

Vennootschapsbelasting 

Nederlands 

Internationaal 

Belastingrecht 


Quantitative 

Methods I 

Quantitative 

Methods II 

International 



Privaatrecht 

Financial Markets 

Openbare Financiën 

en Public Choice 


Design of 

Tax Systems 

International 

Financial Accounting 

Structuur Loon- en Inkomstenbelasting 


Accounting II 

Inleiding 

Ondernemings- en 

Faillissementsrecht 

Winst uit 

Onderneming 

Internal Control and 

Accounting Information 

Systems 

Elective 

Skills Training: Presentation Skills 

Fast facts 

A winning combination 

“I was interested in a lot of things when I was applying 

to university – politics, law, economics and more – so 

Fiscal Economics really stood out for me as the right 

choice. Taxation isn’t just about money – it’s about 

government laws, policies and regulations, and 

people’s behaviour in the markets – and about the 

way that all those things impact the economy.” 

Rein Hoefnagels, the Netherlands 

Fiscal Economics student 

• Programme title: BSc Fiscal Economics 

• Language of instruction: English and Dutch 



• Study abroad: optional 





• Assessment method: written exams; final papers; 

group participation 




MSc Fiscal Economics and MSc Management of Learning. 

You can also continue your studies with other master’s 

programmes, but additional requirements may apply. 










“Econometrics can be applied to everything 

from business to finance, and from macro to 

microeconomics.” 

Bachelor of Science in Econometrics and Operations Research 

Applying mathematical methods to economic problems 

Ever wanted to know the secret of solving a Sudoku puzzle? Or if there’s a way you can predict which 

companies’ shares are going to go up in value? They may sound like totally different problems, but 

econometrics can help you solve both! 

Why should you choose Econometrics and 

Operations Research? 

Econometrics allows you to estimate and predict trends 

accurately. That could mean predicting anything from next 

year’s inflation rate to the best investments for a pension 

portfolio. Operations research, on the other hand, allows 

you to allocate time, money or people to a process in order 

to meet demand. This could include making sure that 

parcels and packages are delivered as quickly and cheaply 

as possible across the world. Or it could include scheduling 

a lesson timetable in a school so that students get the best 

education given a limited number of teachers. 

In order to do all of these things, especially on a large scale, 

you need models, theories and computer programs to help 

you. You also need to understand how people’s behaviour 

– employees, consumers or producers, for instance – 

affect the market, meaning that these same theories and 

programs don’t always work. Studying Econometrics and 

Operations Research will give you the tools to modify these 

theories and programs yourself, so that you can identify 

problems and find real, practical solutions to them. 

In your first two years, you are required to study certain 

core courses; in your third year, you can choose from 

various electives. As part of your third year, you will spend 

one semester studying abroad. 



• analyse problems and solve them logically using the 

tools that you will acquire; 

• translate and apply acquired techniques to different 

problems. 

Is Econometrics and Operations Research 

right for you? 



• be confident in mathematics; 

• enjoy logic puzzles; 

• be willing to work hard; 

• have a strong academic record in a technical profile. 


33

Case Econometrics and Operations Research: 

Everyday econometrics 

If you’ve ever bought an airline ticket, you may have noticed that prices 

can differ from day to day, going both up and down. Computerised, 

flexible ticket pricing has become a major source of revenue for 

international airline companies. The idea is simple: lower prices for a 

particular flight will increase demand and prevent empty seats. But how 

can you predict these effects and how can these predictions be translated 

into profit in a competitive environment? These are the kinds of puzzles 

that econometricians solve. 


A bachelor’s qualification in Econometrics and Operations 

Research is a good background for most master’s 

programmes in economics-related subjects. Having 

completed your master’s, there will be many opportunities 

in front of you: lots of students are attracted by the travel 

opportunities that a career in a multinational company 

gives you. Moreover, the university’s practical, hands-on, 

discussion-based approach produces great managers. 


• large multinationals, such as Philips and DSM; 

• technical positions, going on to fill top managerial 

functions; 

• large finance and pension firms, such as ABP; 

• government functions; 

• research, especially for PhD programmes. 



programme, as well as skills and electives. 

Management of 

Organizations and 



35 

Year 1 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Year 2 

Term 3 

Term 4 

Year 3 

Term 5 

Term 6 

Econometrics and Operations Research 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 





Elective 

Elective Advanced Methods II 


Analysis I & Linear 

Algebra & Orientation 

Analysis II & Probability 

Theory & Orientation 

Probability Theory 

& Orientation 

Skills Training: Orientation 

Optimization 

Programming 

Game Theory 

and Economics 

Skills Training: Second-year Project I 

Mathematical 

Statistics 

Econometric 

Methods 


and Finance 

Operations Research 

Skills Training: Second-year Project II 

Study Abroad 

Bachelor’s Thesis 

Information, Markets 

and Organization 

Advanced Methods I 

Fast facts 

A challenging choice 

“Econometrics is one of the most fascinating subjects 

I’ve ever studied. Firstly, it connects economic 

principles with mathematic theories, which gives 

them a solid grounding in the real world; secondly, 

it allows you to discover not only how to reach the 

solution but also why; and last but not least, it is 

certainly challenging! If you like to push yourself, then 

econometrics is definitely the best choice for you.” 

Zhen Wang, China 

Econometrics and Operations Research student 

• Programme title: BSc Econometrics and Operations Research 




• Study abroad: compulsory in the third year, in the first or second 

semester 






participation; case studies 




MSc Econometrics and Operations Research, 

MSc Financial Economics and MSc Management of Learning. 

You can also continue your studies with other master’s 

programmes, but additional requirements may apply. 










Application procedure and deadlines 

Admission requirements 

Dutch diploma 

You may be admitted to one of the faculty’s bachelor’s 

programmes below if you have a VWO diploma in one of 

the profiles listed beneath each programme: 

Economics and Business Economics, Fiscal Economics 

bachelor’s programmes: 

• ‘Natuur en Techniek’ 

• ‘Natuur en Gezondheid’ 

• ‘Economie en Maatschappij’ 

• ‘Cultuur en Maatschappij’ 

International Business bachelor’s programme: 



• ‘Economie en Maatschappij’ 

• ‘Cultuur en Maatschappij’ (incl. WiA1,2/ WiB1) 

Econometrics and Operations Research bachelor’s 

programme: 



• ‘Economie en Maatschappij’ (incl. WiB1) 

• ‘Cultuur en Maatschappij’ (incl. WiB1) 

Non-Dutch diploma 

Students who finished their secondary education outside 

the Netherlands must have a diploma that is equivalent 

to the Dutch VWO diploma. For a comparative overview, 

please visit: 

www.unimaas.nl > Prospective Bachelor’s students 

Application procedure 

All bachelor’s applicants should apply via Studielink 

www.studielink.nl 

In addition, students with a non-Dutch diploma should also 

apply directly to Maastricht University. An application form 

is available from: 

www.unimaas.nl > Prospective bachelor’s students > 

Admissions 

Exemptions 

If you have undertaken previous studies at another 

institution, you may be considered for exemption from part 

of your chosen bachelor’s programme. If you think you may 

be eligible, you can submit a request for entry to a higher 

year or credit transfer on the basis of previous education to 

Student Services. They will then forward your application 

to the Examination Committee, who will decide whether to 

accredit your previous studies officially. 

Special application procedure for International 


The number of places available for the International 

Business programme is limited to 500 (‘numerus fixus’). If 

the number of applicants exceeds this capacity, there will 

be a central lottery selection for 250 places via the national 

application office ‘Informatie Beheer Groep’ (IBG). The 

remaining 250 places will be allocated to students who 

have a high ranking in the selection procedure, as assigned 

by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, 

or to students with a Dutch diploma who have an average 

grade of 8 or higher. 

For more details on the selection procedure, please visit: 

www.unimaas.nl/feba/numerusfixus 

For details of the central lottery, please visit: 

www.ib-groep.nl 

For all applicants 

Only complete files will be evaluated and considered for 

admission. An application will be considered incomplete if 

any of the following items are missing: 

• the paper version of the application form; 

• a copy of your passport; 

• a secondary school degree with a certified transcript of 

exam subjects and grades*; 

• proof of English language proficiency, a test of English as 

a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, an International 

English Language Testing System (IELTS) score, or proof 

of being native English speaker is mandatory if you are 

a national from a country that is not a member of the 

European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA). 

A satisfactory TOEFL score implies a score of at least 550 

on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test 

or 79 on the Internet-based test. A satisfactory IELTS 

score implies a score of at least 6.0. You are required to 

indicate the Maastricht University code number on the 

test form while taking the TOEFL test. The code number 

is 7102 for the TOEFL test. No code number is required for 

the IELTS test. Please be aware that the TOEFL and IELTS 

test scores are only valid for two years. 

* However, if you have not yet completed your secondary 

school programme when applying for one of our 

bachelor’s programmes, you may send your most recent 

transcript of exam subjects and grades. Applicants who 

have not received their secondary school degree at the 

time of evaluation can be admitted conditionally and 

have to submit their degree with a certified transcript 

of exam subjects and grades before the start of the 

programme in order to obtain unconditional admission. 

Application deadlines 

If you’re applying for a bachelor’s programme starting in 

September 2009, it’s important to meet the following 

application deadlines: 

• 1 April 2009 for students from countries who need a visa or 

residence permit; 

• 1 September 2009 for students from EU/EEA countries and 

Switzerland. 

Please note that there are special application deadlines for the 

‘numerus fixus’ International Business programme: 

• 1 April 2009 if you wish to take part in the selection 

procedure; 

• 1 May 2009 for the central lottery. 


For more information about admission requirements for your 

chosen programme, please contact: 


Student Services 

P.O. Box 616 

6200 MD Maastricht 

The Netherlands 

Phone: +31 43 388 5388 

Email: study@unimaas.nl 

Internet: www.unimaas.nl 


Preparation Financial matters 

Standard tests 

Depending on the nationality on your passport, there 

are some standard tests we ask you to take to check your 

eligibility. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 

The TOEFL test measures your ability to communicate in 

English in colleges and universities. As a non-native speaker 

of English, it will test your ability to use and understand 

written and verbal English. It is the internationally accepted 

standard of academic English proficiency. 

www.toefl.org 

International English Language Testing System 

(IELTS) 

IELTS measures your ability to communicate in English 

across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing 

and speaking. It is designed for people who intend to study 

or work in situations where English is the language of 

communication. 

www.ielts.org 

Nederlands als Tweede Taal (NT2) 

NT2 exams are designed for non-Dutch speakers to test 

their level of Dutch grammar and fluency. This requirement 

applies only to applicants to the bachelor’s programme in 

Fiscal Economics. 

www.nt2examen.nl 

Online prior knowledge tests 

No matter what secondary school degree you have, you 

may want to ensure your level of subject knowledge is 

sufficiently high to start your bachelor’s degree. For this 

reason, we offer online knowledge tests in certain subject 

areas; these will identify if and where you have knowledge 

‘gaps’ and suggest online courses that you can follow to fill 

them. 

Online knowledge tests currently available for all bachelor’s 

programmes at the faculty are: 

• Economics 

• Mathematics 

These prior knowledge tests are completely online and 

can therefore be taken in your own time. They are free of 

charge and accessible to all students who have submitted 

their application for one of the bachelor’s programmes. See 

admission requirements below. 

www.unimaas.nl/onlinepreparatorycourse 

Online preparatory courses 

Having taken one or more online knowledge test, you may 

be advised to take online preparatory courses to improve 

your level of knowledge on particular topics. These courses 

are tailor made to fill your particular needs, as identified by 

the prior tests. 

These courses are currently free of charge and are 

completely online, allowing you to be flexible about when 

you choose to study. You should, however, allow three to 

four weeks to complete the courses. They also allow you 

to contact your teacher and fellow students via online 

communities and video conferencing. Surveys have shown 

that the average grades of students who have followed 

preparatory courses are higher than those who haven’t. 

Admission requirements for online knowledge 

tests and preparatory courses 

The courses are only accessible to prospective students 

who have submitted their application for one of the 

relevant bachelor’s programmes, irrespective of whether 

they have already been admitted. 

The time schedule for the online knowledge tests and 

preparatory courses is as follows: 

For September 2009 intake: 

• 1 June 2009 – 31 June 2009: Online knowledge tests 

• 15 July 2009 – 31 August 2009: Online preparatory 

courses 

www.unimaas.nl/onlinepreparatorycourse 

Tuition fees 

The tuition fees for programmes starting in 2009 are: 

• € 1,597 per year for students under the age of 30 who are 

EU, EEA or Swiss nationals; 

• € 2,058 per year for students over the age of 30 who are 

EU, EEA or Swiss nationals; 

• € 8,000 per year for students who are not nationals of 

the EU/EEA or Switzerland. 

These fees are an indication of those that apply for 

the 2009-10 academic year; for the most up-to-date 

information, please visit: 

www.unimaas.nl 

Grants and scholarships 

We want the best, most-talented students, who are 

seeking excellent education and research in a challenging, 

international study environment. For this reason, you can 

apply for a number of scholarships to study at Maastricht 

University. Applications should be sent by 1 April 2009 to 

the Board of Admissions. 

www.unimaas.nl/feba/scholarships 

Grants for international students 

The Dutch government and Maastricht University make 

grants available for international students wishing to study 

in the Netherlands. You will find more information about 

the conditions and the application procedures at: 

www.nuffic.nl 

www.grantfinder.nl 


The European Union offers several scholarship programmes 

for both EU and non-EU students. In addition, you should 

enquire about any grants, scholarships or funding that may 

be available in your country of origin. 

You can also contact the UM Scholarship Office to enquire 

about your options: scholarships@ssc.unimaas.nl 

Top 3% of students study ‘for free’ 

The top 3% of students are eligible for a scholarship to cover 

their tuition fees. 

Living expenses 

As a student, you will have expenses that are directly related 

to your studies, like tuition fees, textbooks and other learning 

materials. But your lifestyle will cost money too: you should 

take housing, utilities, groceries, insurance and leisure 

activities into account. 

Maastricht is a small city, so most students spend little money 

on transport, preferring instead to walk or cycle. Housing 

will be your biggest expense. Dutch universities do not have 

on-campus accommodation, so you will need to find housing 

privately. Your personal expenses – food, clothing, etc. – will 

vary depending on your lifestyle. The table below provides you 

with a rough guide: 

Living and study expenses 


Accommodation 

Groceries 

Learning materials 

Insurance 

Telephone bill 

Total 

Monthly estimated costs 

€300 - €350 

€200 - €300 

€35 - €50 

€35 - €50 

€30 - €50 

€600 - €700

Notes 



Contact information 


Faculty of Economics and 

Business Administration 

Tongersestraat 53 

PO Box 616 

6200 MD Maastricht 

The Netherlands 

Phone: +31 43 388 2055 

Email: bachelorinfo@efb.unimaas.nl 

Personal appointment: 

www.unimaas.nl/feba/contact 

Based in Europe, focused on the world. Maastricht University is a stimulating 

environment. Where research and teaching are complementary. Where innovation 

is our focus. Where talent can flourish. A truly student oriented research university. 

Bachelor’s information activities 

To get an idea of what being a student at Maastricht University is like, why not 

come along to one of our open days or become a ‘student-for-a-day’? 

Open days 

• Saturday, 8 November 2008 

• Saturday, 28 March 2009 

• Wednesday, 10 June 2009 

‘Student-for-a-day’ opportunities 

• Wednesday, 3 December 2008 

• Wednesday, 14 January 2009 

• Wednesday, 18 February 2009 

• Wednesday, 29 April 2009 

• Wednesday, 27 May 2009 

© 2008 Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. 

Text: The Write Company, Amsterdam | Photography: Pascal Hermans, Hasselt; Arjen Schmitz, Maastricht; Lorraine Bodewes, Maastricht; 

Gregor Ramaekers, Maastricht; Bart Groen, Maastricht; Carin Willemsen / Coproductions, Sittard; Joey Roberts, Maastricht; StudioPress/VVVMaastricht | 

Concept and design templat: Vormgeversassociatie BV, Hoog-Keppel | Layout and production: Diamedia Minds, Maastricht | Final editing: Anke Wijnen 

Although this brochure was made with the utmost care, no rights can be derived from it. 

BSR0057

Bachelor's programmes in Business and Economics | 2009

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