MSc International Business

Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics (SBE) places its MSc International Business 65th worldwide in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2025 — #1 in the Netherlands and #10 globally for value for money.¹ The one-year, English-taught master reports a 100% employment rate at three months and an FT weighted three-year salary of about US$81,000.

Overview

Founded in 1976, Maastricht is the Netherlands’ most international university, and SBE holds triple-crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA).¹ The MSc International Business is its flagship management master — a one-year, 60-ECTS degree offered as an umbrella with around a dozen specialisations (strategy and innovation, supply-chain management, corporate finance, marketing, entrepreneurship and more).¹ Its defining feature is Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Maastricht’s small-group, case-driven teaching model.

For a wider view of whether the credential fits your goals, see our guide on whether a MiM is worth it in 2026.

Curriculum & Structure

The programme runs over a single intensive year: a core in international business and the chosen specialisation, taught almost entirely through PBL tutorials rather than lectures, culminating in a master’s thesis.¹ Students pick a specialisation track on application, tailoring the degree toward finance, strategy, marketing, supply chain or entrepreneurship. The compact one-year structure and Maastricht’s border location — at the meeting point of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany — give the cohort a strongly European, applied character.

Application & Deadlines

There are September and February starts, with deadlines that differ by nationality: 1 May (non-EU/EEA) and 1 June (EU/EEA) for September, and 1 November / 1 December for February.¹ A GMAT or GRE is required unless exempt — and holders of an AACSB- or EQUIS-accredited bachelor’s are waived. See how to build a MiM profile for application guidance.

Tuition & Funding

Tuition splits sharply by nationality.² EU/EEA students pay the Dutch statutory fee of about €2,694 for 2026/27; non-EU/EEA students pay the institutional rate of roughly €21,500 a year. Because the master is one year long, that single year is the full cost — which is why the programme ranks #10 worldwide for value for money for its low-fee EU cohort. Non-EU applicants should budget for the institutional rate and review the university’s scholarship options.

Career Outcomes

The Financial Times 2025 weighted three-year salary is approximately US$81,000, measured three years after graduation, against a 100% employment rate at three months.¹ Maastricht does not publish its own salary or named-employer report for the programme, so the FT data are the cross-school benchmark — but the perfect three-month employment figure and the #10 value-for-money rank both point to strong, efficient graduate outcomes. For early-career context, see our career learnings from a MiM.

Campus & Reputation

Maastricht’s international orientation, English-language teaching and PBL model have made it a magnet for mobile European students, and its location offers access to employers across the Dutch, Belgian and German job markets. As the Netherlands’ top-ranked MiM and a triple-crown school, the MSc International Business pairs a globally respected brand with standout value. For how a MiM compares with an MBA, see our piece on MiM versus MBA.