Rotterdam School MBA Program is offered by the business school of Erasmus University located in the Netherlands. The school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, executive education, & Ph.D. programs. Established in 1970, Rotterdam School MBA Program is one of the most sought out business programs in the world. The school is ranked among the best business schools in Europe. The school was ranked #9 in the Financial Times European Business School Ranking 2018. Furthermore, Rotterdam School MBA Program has been ranked #55 by the Financial Times in its Global MBA Ranking 2019.
The school has also produced several renowned alumni. Some of the distinguished alumni of the school include Alexander Ribbink (Partner, Prime Technology Ventures), Sukhbir Jasuja (CEO, ITpreneurs), Johan H. Andresen (CEO, Ferd Norway), Hans Van Ierland (Co-founder & CEO, Holland Private Equity), Asthildur Margret Otharedottir (Chairman of the board, Marel), etc.
For the class of 2021, 151 students from 40 countries enrolled for the Rotterdam School MBA Program. The average age of the class is 31 years, and the male to female ratio is 3:2.
If you are planning to apply for the Rotterdam School MBA Program, this article is for you. Go ahead.
Curriculum:
The curriculum for the Rotterdam School MBA Program is one of a kind. Students start their MBA program with core business modules. The core subjects include Organizational Behavior, Financial Management, Management Science, Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, etc.
In the third term, students participate in an intense, four-week management project that requires them to work in teams to devise a solution to a real business problem within a company. It helps the students to gain experience of the typical challenges of a consultancy project.
In the third term, you will be required to choose a career concentration course according to your career goals & interests. The school offers a concentration in Finance, Marketing, Strategy, & Supply Chain Management.
The school also offers more than 30 electives every year that allow the students to specialize in topics of their choice. Some of the areas of elective subjects include Consulting, Digital Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Supply Chain Management, & Strategic Finance.
Along with the above coursework, the school also provides an opportunity for a term-long international exchange program in some of the leading business schools in the world. Some of the school’s partner institutions include HEC Paris, SDA Bocconi, ESADE Spain, London School of Economics, University of Warwick, Manchester University, IIM – ABC, MDI Gurgaon, etc.
Eligibility:
Academic Requirement:
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline. There is no minimum graduate GPA required to apply for the Rotterdam School MBA Program.
Professional Requirement:
All the candidates applying for the Rotterdam School MBA Program must have at least three years of postgraduate professional experience. The class, in general, has 7 years of average work experience.
Standardized Tests:
All the applicants applying for the Rotterdam School MBA Program must have a valid GMAT or GRE score. The school has not mentioned any minimum score requirements for the same.
Additionally, international students must prove their command over the English language by submitting a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Course Fee:
The tuition fee for the international full-time Rotterdam School MBA Program is €54,000. By the registration deadline, the student must pay a non-refundable deposit of €5,000. The rest of the amount can be made in two equal installments of €24,500.
In addition to the tuition fees, the estimated living expenses for one student per month are €1,500. It includes a housing (€700), health insurance (€100), & other living costs (€700).
Scholarships:
An MBA is a serious commitment of time and money that needs to be carefully considered. The school offers several merit-based scholarships to students to help them in their MBA journey. Some of the popular awards and scholarships provided by the school are as follows:
RSM MBA Scholarship:
All the admitted applicants are considered for this award. The scholarship values differ but are available up to 50 percent of the MBA tuition fees. The committee takes into consideration several things, including your essay, profile, GMAT score, interviews, etc. before finalizing the scholarship result.
Dean’s Assistance Award:
This award is open to high-potential candidates who require financial aid to enable them to pursue their MBA degree at RSM. Financial need is one of the most important requirements to be eligible for this award. You may be required to provide a financial plan which will be requested by your regional admissions manager.
Dean’s Merit Award:
This is an elite award offered to high achievers who have demonstrated academic and professional excellence as well as an outstanding MBA application and GMAT score. There is no separate application required to apply for this award. All the students are automatically considered.
Other than these scholarships, the school also suggests the students to look for the best available private loan options. The school recommends Prodigy Finance, a fintech platform that enables financing for international postgraduate students.
Employment Report:
For the class of 2019, 88% of the students found a job within 3 months after graduation. Reportedly, 76% of the students changed location, 73% changed the industry, & 68% changed function. 88% of the class chose to work in Europe, including 82% in the Netherlands. The rest of the students accepted job offers in Asia, North America, & the Middle East. The average base salary received by the class was $76,594.
The top three functions for the placement session 2018-19 were
Finance & Accounting 23%
Marketing & Sales 22%
Consulting 21%
Some of the top hiring companies for the year 2019 were
Accenture
CapGemini
Credit Suisse
Deloitte
EY
HSBC
KPMG
Phillips
Salesforce
Unilever
Check here for complete details.
Application Process:
Online Application checklist:
Academic Transcripts
GMAT or GRE score
English Language Test Score
Two referees
CV or LinkedIn profile
One essay
Application fee of €100
Interview:
After an initial evaluation of your application form, you may be invited for an interview. The interview at Rotterdam is by invitation only. The personal interview is taken by the admissions committee members or the alumni of the Rotterdam School of Management. The interviews are stress-free & super friendly. The school interviews on campus, off-campus at major cities around the world, & via Skype.
The interviewer has generally read your entire application beforehand. The interview lasts for 30-45 minutes and consists of questions related to your application. The pattern of questions asked in the Rotterdam interviews is very different from other business schools. So prepare accordingly.
Essay Details & Tips:
To successfully complete your application for the Rotterdam School MBA Program, you will be required to submit one essay. The school asks different essay questions every year. For the admission session 2020-21, the school asked the following essays from the interested applicants:
Essay 1
At Rotterdam School of Management our mission statement says that, as an institution, we will be a force for positive change in the world. This mission, which is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the United Nations General Assembly, drives our thinking and approach to education, business, and the world around us. The mission also guides our admissions process, as we look for academically excellent candidates who also share our belief that we can all make a difference in the world. Keeping this thought in mind, please answer ONE of the following questions:
1. Share how you’ve already been a force for positive change in your world. Your example can be large or small, global or local, but must highlight the positive impact you’ve had through your efforts. Tell us your story. (500 words)
OR
2. Discuss how the RSM MBA will prepare you to become a force for positive change, either in your personal or professional life. (500 words)
Optional Essay
Please feel free to supply any additional information that you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in making the final decision on your application. (50 words maximum)
Through these essays, the school looks forward to knowing more about you, your career goals, your strengths, weakness, & the value you will bring to the Rotterdam community. So make sure that your essay reflects all these.
Check here for essay tips – Application essays, Structured Thinking, Visualization, Story Telling
Rotterdam School MBA Program is one of the most prestigious business schools in Europe. Having received the triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, & EQUIS since 1998, the school truly stands out from the rest. If you are looking for a global career in business, and you have the ambition and drive to succeed, this is the program for you.
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