After year 1, the main phase begins. Below you can read more about the course content of each year. 

Year 2

In year 2, you will delve even deeper into practical work. You will work on projects, sometimes independently and sometimes as part of a team. You will learn how to develop a creative idea into a professional end result and how to market it effectively.

As Creative Business is a management programme, you will not only look at the content, but also at how to organise a project effectively. How do you ensure that you stay within the deadline and budget? How do you manage a team? And how do you work with people who all have different creative perspectives?

What kinds of projects will you do?

In the second year, you will work on a variety of projects, each with its own approach

• Innovation project. In this project, you will use new media technologies to develop a creative and innovative concept that responds to a current, realistic challenge.
• Entertainment project. During this project, you will develop and test two entertainment formats that address a predetermined challenge. You will learn to think critically, collect and analyse data, and translate those insights into creative media solutions.
• Social Impact Project. You will work with others on two media prototypes around a current societal theme. The aim is to use media not only to inform or entertain, but also to inspire reflection and create impact.
• International and Intercultural Project. In this project, you will work with an international partner on a media idea, service or strategy that addresses the needs of people from different cultural backgrounds.

Your role keeps changing. 

You will take on a different role in each project, allowing you to discover what suits you best:

• Project Manager – You maintain an overview, lead the team, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
• Content Coordinator – You develop and oversee content for various media platforms: what do we want to communicate, and how?
• Product Coordinator – You ensure that everything in the area of media production is properly arranged.  
• Marketing & Communication Coordinator – You make sure that the project is seen by the right target group.  

After each block, you switch roles. This allows you to get to know all aspects of the field and discover what gives you the most energy.

Years 3 & 4

In year 3, you choose your own study pathway. You can do a placement, exchange or minor, or spend six months on campus working on your own project. A placement is mandatory, but you decide when you do it.

In the first two blocks of year 4, you attend a programme on campus. After that, you start your graduation phase (Graduation).

On campus, you will work on your own project under the supervision of lecturers. This project will prepare you for your graduation. You will determine the content and direction together with your group. In addition to your project, you will be prepared for graduation so that you can complete your studies with your own media production. Your Graduation project brings everything together. You will work individually on an assignment for a company of your choice, such as a corporate film, digital production or marketing strategy.

Placement

In year 3, you will do a placement. You are free to decide whether you want to do this in the first or second half of the year. Examples of placements are:

• Social media/content marketer atj Hunkemöller
• Audio/video producer at Banijay Benelux
• Marketer at Omroep Brabant
• Producer at Radio 538

Exchange

Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to push your boundaries. You build up an international network, learn a new language, and gain insight into intercultural differences. BUas works with universities all over the world, so as an exchange student you have plenty of options. Some examples are: 

• Bournemouth University (UK)
• Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, USA)
• Hanyang University (Seoul, South Korea)
• Ehrvervaskademiet Lillebaelt (Denmark)
• University of Vic (Spain)

Minor

With a minor, you choose for yourself: do you want to specialise in your field or broaden your knowledge? You can take a minor at BUas, but you can also choose to do a minor at another Dutch university of applied sciences, or even abroad. 

Pre-master

In your final year of study, you may choose to attend the academic pre-master's track in Strategic Business Management and Marketing (SBM). This pre-master will give you direct access to Master of Science programmes at top universities such as Maastricht, Rotterdam, Tilburg, Antwerp (B), and Warwick (UK). You can also move on to our university master's degree in Leisure and Tourism Studies. This way, you can earn a university master's degree in just five years – or even in four years, through the accelerated (three-year) track.

In Creative Business, you will dive into the world of media, innovation, and creative management. You will learn how the international media industry works – from television to social media and from podcasts to events – taught by lecturers who have years of industry experience. They know exactly what is going on in the field.

You will work in blocks of 9 to 10 weeks. Each block combines theory and practice: you learn something in class and immediately apply it in a project. You will often work on assignments from companies or organisations in the field. This allows you to build your network and your portfolio right away.

Which topics are covered?

• Creative Business & Media Management – How do you manage creative processes? What does it take to manage a media production?
• Media Trends & Innovation – You keep track of what’s happening in the media world and help anticipate what will be needed tomorrow.  
• Combining different theories – You will learn theory from marketing, communication, technology and business, and how to combine it in a smart way.
• Practical, hands-on learning – No dry theory, but action, creation and collaboration.
• Working with the industry – You will learn from and with industry professionals.
• International and dynamic – You will work in groups with students from different countries and backgrounds.  
• Skills for the future – You will develop creatively, socially and professionally. 

What does a week in year 1 look like?

You will attend masterclasses and workshops. You will work on your project with other students in the Media Lab. And there is dedicated time for independent study on campus, with lecturers available to help you. Depending on how you manage your time, you can usually complete your work during the day.

A typical week

Monday: 

• Morning: Masterclasses and workshops on campus
• Afternoon: Working in the Media Lab on campus

Tuesday: 

• Independent study on campus or at home 

Wednesday: 

• Morning: Masterclasses and workshops on campus
• Afternoon: Working in the Media Lab on campus

Thursday: 

• Morning: Working in the Media Lab on campus
• Afternoon: Masterclasses and workshops on campus

Friday: 

• Morning: Working in the Media Lab on campus
• Afternoon: Independent study on campus or at home 

Study coaching
You take control of your own development during your studies. The program is designed for this. You can follow your own path and train your leadership skills. A study coach will guide you, and for projects, you will always receive a briefing and have an expert supervisor to help you.

Student well-being
BUas encourages and helps you to make the most of yourself, whatever your circumstances. Maybe you have a chronic illness, are a family carer, a competitive athlete, or juggle your studies with running your own business? Our study coaches, student counsellors and student psychologists are here to help. Do you need extra support or advice? Or extra facilities? Then take a look at the options here.

During your studies you can go abroad for an excursion or a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). BIP is a short, innovative programme in which you collaborate with students from other universities in different countries. For example, we have projects with universities in Antwerp, Vienna and Turkey.

You can also do a placement abroad or take a minor somewhere else (in the fourth year).

vwo

As a vwo graduate, you can get your professional bachelor’s degree in Creative Business in three years. That will save you a year of time and tuition fees! Check here if you are eligible for the three-year track for vwo graduates.

What does the three-year track for vwo graduates look like? 
In three years, you will obtain a full bachelor's degree. Accelerated, in other words. And to make that possible, we have created a special programme that covers all professional skills. In the three years of your studies, you will complete a professional development programme in which you will learn to develop your personal and professional leadership skills. 

Year 1 and year 2
In the first two years, you will be fully immersed in the world of Creative Business. You will learn all about the international media landscape. All study components are about creating, producing and marketing media products.

In the Media Lab, you will work in teams on practical assignments. In the first year, these assignments are provided by lecturers, but as you progress, you will start working on them alongside industry professionals and partners. Later in your studies, you will have the opportunity to bring your own projects to life!

Examples of projects in years 1 and 2:

• Marketing & Communication (the basics)
• Production (including pre-production and post-production of audiovisual content)
• Content orientation (you learn to recognise good content using Story Analysis and Digital Concept Development)

Year 3 
The third (and final!) year of your studies consists of two intensive blocks. In the first half of the year, you will work on your own project in a group on campus. You will be supervised by lecturers and it is the preparation for your graduation project (Capstone). You will complete your graduation project in the second half of the year in the form of a placement or project at a company. 

Want to know more about the three-year track for vwo graduates? 
Just send an e-mail to [email protected]. 

hbo or wo

If you have already completed a propaedeutic year at another Dutch Creative Business course (with the same CROHO number 35516), you may submit a higher-year request via Studielink. There is a good chance that you can start in the second year of the course.

Mhbo track for havo pupils 

Have you almost finished your havo education but are you in doubt about a direct transfer to higher professional education? Then we have a solution for you: an mhbo track. Together with De Rooi Pannen, BUas offers a programme that allows you to obtain an mbo diploma (level 4) and an hbo diploma in your field of interest in five years!

If you are thinking of continuing your education in the tourism, media or events sector, take a look at this option: Mhbo Tourism | Leisure | Creative Business.

You attend this level 4 programme at an accelerated pace at De Rooi Pannen in Tilburg or Breda. After two years, you will obtain your mbo diploma and have a choice of three professional (hbo) bachelor’s programmes at BUas. Here you will enter in the second year: 

• hbo (professional) bachelor’s programme Creative Business
• hbo (professional) bachelor’s programme Leisure & Events Management   
• hbo (professional) bachelor’s programme Tourism Management

This means that you have a little more time to discover your talents: you do not have to choose your hbo programme until after two years.  

More information (only available in Dutch). 

At BUas, you develop your entrepreneurial skills in all programmes. You can also join BUas Startup Support (BUSS), where you attend networking meetings and receive guidance from a startup coach. 

Would you like to graduate with your own company? You can do that at any academy, although a selection procedure may apply. Whether you are already generating revenue or just have an initial idea, BUas Startup Support will help you.  

Read more about starting your own business.