This programme lasts 12 months and consists of two phases divided into four blocks. Read more about the set-up of of the modules.

Phase 1 - Pre-master’s courses

In the first block, the curriculum focuses on the content of strategic management and marketing within the various modules. The modules are designed in a holistic and integrated manner, structured around business issues. This enables you to identify an appropriate business problem that will form the basis for your future research proposal.

Block two of the curriculum is specifically designed to search for secondary data to support your topic and various sub-problems with facts or evidence from the literature, interviews with experts or other documentation to analyse and assess the situational business environment in cause-and-effect relationships in order to define the business problem more specifically. The modules in this block therefore provide you with useful input on current theories within disciplines.

In the third block, you will focus primarily on Applied Statistics and on your final research proposal, which you will submit at the end of this block. By analysing your chosen problem statement, you will be able to formulate adequate and relevant research questions for your research project and develop a conceptual framework. Not only does this research provide a basis for learning and further developing academic skills such as literature research and qualitative interviewing, but it also deepens your knowledge of research methodology, applied research philosophies and approaches. The logical research framework matrix (LRFM), research questions, sampling methods, data collection design strategies, data requirements, and other information needs are also formulated here.

Phase 2 - Final Research Project

In block 4, the actual research work begins: you collect data for your thesis through fieldwork. During this phase of the track, you collect primary data for each of the defined research questions (LRFM). The results of the fieldwork will either supplement or contradict your secondary findings for each of the problems defined in the research proposal. In your methodological report, you critically reflect on the methods you used and your findings, and substantiate your conclusions and recommendations for solving the identified business problem.

Examples of this are:

• Identifying the key factors for the successful introduction of a new planning system; investigating the perspectives of stakeholders
• Gaining insight into the criteria for supplier selection by tour operators and the expected service quality of rail services; the case of Eurail
• The price of sustainability; a study of the influence of True Pricing on consumer behaviour in company restaurants
• Identifying the influence of corporate social responsibility and remuneration on the attractiveness of operational positions in the hospitality industry
• Social inclusion in the events industry; an exploratory study to better understand the contribution of events to the social inclusion of communities

We use a combination of lectures and workshops to provide you with all the knowledge you need and to help you apply this knowledge in case studies and your own graduation research.

You will spend the entire year working on your graduation assignment at a company of your choice, with one-on-one guidance throughout. 

The academic pre-master's track in Strategic Business Management and Marketing is a one-year, full-time programme. The total study load is 75 ECTS credits. To give you an idea: 1 ECTS credit is equivalent to approximately 28 study hours per week. This one-year pre-master's track replaces the final year of your programme at Breda University of Applied Sciences and can also be chosen as a one-year minor.

We offer you a small-scale academic environment, as the number of students in the pre-master's programme is limited (max. 30). The lecturers are easily accessible for questions about the content of the programme.

The programme coordinator is always available to help you with day-to-day matters. If you would like to discuss personal issues that may be negatively affecting your life as a student, you can contact the student counsellor.

A typical week

A typical week looks as follows. Please note that this is just an example. 

Monday (lecture day)

• 11.00-13.00 Business Administration lecture
• 13.00-13.30 Lunch break
• 13.30-15.30 Qualitative Research lecture
• 15.30-17.00 Strategic Global Marketing lecture

Tuesday 
Independent study, working on assignments at home

Wednesday

• 10.00-11.00 CRM (Customer Relationship Management) lecture
• 11.:00-12.30 CRM workshop
• 12.30-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Academic Writing workshop
• 14.30-15.30 Qualitative Research Methods workshop

Thursday 

• 9.00-11.00 Sociology lecture
• 11.00-12.30 Strategic Globel Marketing Marketing workshop
• 12.30-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Research Practicals workshop
• 14.30-15.00 Break
• 15.00-16.30 Business Administration workshop

Friday 
Independent study at home, working on assignments and watching extra narrated lectures.

Student well-being
BUas encourages and helps you to get the best out of yourself, whatever the circumstances. Perhaps you have a chronic illness, are caring for family members, are involved in top-level sport, or are combining your studies with running your own business? Our study coaches, student counsellors, and student psychologists are happy to help you with any struggles you may encounter. Do you need extra support or guidance? Or additional facilities? Click here here to see the options.