#7 Rotterdam (RSM) MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. Bart Scheenaard

“The Netherlands has been a country with an external outlook for many decades. We are a small country and we need to have a forward-looking, outgoing attitude to get business done. 95% of people here speak English and we have a very entrepreneurial outlook here.”

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I recently spoke with Mr. Bart Scheenaard, MBA Marketing & Admissions Manager for the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. The Rotterdam MBA is one of the few MBA programs that is triple accredited by EFMD, AMBA and AACSB. Only 1% of business schools have all 3 accreditations.

Bart emphasized the international nature of the program (40 different nationalities in a 140 student class) and the Netherlands, a progressive and business-friendly country where most business is conducted in English. Rotterdam MBA graduates also benefit from a great visa arrangement where they can stay in the Netherlands for one year to find a job.

The school takes a “counseling approach” to admissions – Rotterdam encourages candidates to get in touch with the admissions team before submitting their applications so the team can evaluate their fit with the one-year program. Rotterdam has a rolling admissions process so candidates should apply early to improve their chances of admission and winning scholarships.

The Rotterdam (RSM) MBA in 3 words: cooperative, international, connected.

Listen on for much, much more!

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Touch MBA’s Rotterdam Crib Sheet

Program Highlights

1 intake/year in January
Length: 1-year
Class size: 120-140 students,
30-40 nationalities / intake, class is more than 95% international
Campus in Rotterdam, Netherlands – the world’s 3rd busiest port
Top 1% of business schools that is triple accredited by EFMD, AMBA and AACSB
Focus on sustainability, doing business right
Alumni ranked CSR highest
Many employers in Netherlands don’t require employees to speak Dutch
Graduates are allowed to stay in Netherlands for one year post graduation
Expats only have to pay 30% taxes (vs. 50% for Dutch people)
Netherlands is one of the most globally connected countries in the world
Rankings: #42 Financial Times 2016, #76 Economist 2015
Accredited by AACSB, AAMBA, EFMD

Admissions

4 deadlines from Apr – Nov; Rotterdam extends interview invites 1-5 days after receiving a complete application, and returns decisions within 4-6 weeks.
Number of applicants / place: not available
Rotterdam already knows 60-70% of applicants through its “counseling approach” to admissions; candidates should contact the admissions office for a profile evaluation
Avg GMAT: 640, GRE accepted
RSM also conducts an in-house business case assessment in lieu of the GMAT/GRE.
Avg age: 29, Avg work experience: 6 years, 3 years minimum work experience requirement
TOEFL not required
Apply early if you’re from a competitive application pool (i.e. Indian nationality)
Interviews are conducted by an RSM alumnus or alumna, staff member or faculty member

Financing

Tuition for class starting in January 2017: 46,500 Euro
1 in 4 students receive financial aid (loan or scholarship)
Scholarship amounts range from 2,500 – 10,000 Euros
Scholarships are open to all nationalities and are merit-based
Rotterdam does not include scholarships w/ offers (you apply for them after accepting offer)
Rotterdam offers loans directly to students
Improve your chances for scholarships by applying in earlier rounds.

Career

~130 students each year are hired by 100 different employers
~50% find jobs in Netherlands, ~25% in Europe, ~10% North America, ~10% Asia
Flexible visa arrangement: graduates can stay in Netherlands for one year
Majority of business in Netherlands is done in English
10-15% move into management consulting (Dutch usually required)
30% do internship after finishing electives, 3 months before graduation

Get in Touch

Show Notes:

Rotterdam MBA Scholarships

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