Joint Master’s programme in Entrepreneurship

2014 - 2015

Prepare for the Entrepreneurial age

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The Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, is renowned for its outward-looking economic perspective. Amsterdam invests heavily in international commerce and offers a positive business climate for new and existing businesses. To meet the increasing demand for academically trained entrepreneurial minds, the city’s two universities - VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam - have come together to develop a joint Master’s programme in entrepreneurship.The intensive cooperation between these two leading institutions enables you to benefit from the best of both worlds. You will take classes at both universities and be taught by lecturers from both universities. We offer you a challenging and creative learning environment in which you can realize your full potential, both academically and as a well-rounded individual. You will learn to conduct empirical research, analysing the development and application of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline. You are encouraged to think critically and expected to participate fully: research into the changing world of professional practice will come as a natural progression.

Scientific research is a top priority for both VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam. As renowned research universities, we are ideally placed to incorporate new findings directly into the education we provide. Our wide variety of research programmes are multidisciplinary in nature and focus on issues of great social relevance. The results of our research are directly translated into solutions and made available to society at large. This means that both universities are very much part of the fabric of their city and the wider world.

This bond is reinforced by the high profile that both institutions enjoy in the city of Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Business School and the Amsterdam School of Economics, both part of the University of Amsterdam, are located in the historic heart of the city centre. Meanwhile, VU University Amsterdam’s economics faculty is right next door to the Zuidas, the city’s ultramodern business district. It’s a prime location that facilitates close contact with the business community and generates a wealth of opportunities for interaction and exchange. This Master’s programme is all about building bridges between theory and practice.

We are joining forces to work with you on your future development as an entrepreneur. It’s a route that runs the gamut of what Amsterdam has to offer. From its celebrated canals to the thrusting towers of Zuidas. Along roads where New Venture Creation and Development intersect with Entrepreneurial Law and Finance. In this brochure, you will find out more about our joint Master’s programme. Read it carefully: this may just be the study programme that shapes your future. In that case, we look forward to welcoming you soon as a new student.

Word of Welcome

Prof. H.G. van DisselDean of the Faculty of Economics and BusinessUniversity of Amsterdam

Prof. W.F.C. VerschoorDean of the Faculty of Economics and Business AdministrationVU University Amsterdam

Both VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam have an excellent reputation in conducting research into problems of major societal and scientific importance. By working together, we complement each other’s specialisations and individual strengths, thus achieving the high level of quality we strive for. located in the metropolitan city of Amsterdam, both campuses offer a stimulating academic environment in which students, researchers and staff can flourish.

3 www.uva.nl/msc-entrepreneurshipUniversity of Amsterdam | VU University Amsterdam2

contents

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a cosy and vibrant cosmopolitan home to 735,000 people. As one of the most culturally and intellectually important cities in Western Europe, it attracts students from all over the world. They find that locals are easy-going and welcoming, and that English is the city’s unofficial second language. In fact, it is easy to find Anglophone bookstores, TV channels, library resources, and cultural activities. The city boasts beautiful architecture, gorgeous parks and over 150 canals, as well as museums, art galleries, theatres, and concert halls. The city also houses world-famous music, opera, theatre, and dance companies.

A centre of creativity and freethinkers

The Netherlands has a tradition of tolerance of dissidents and love of creativity. Amsterdam in particular has provided sanctuary to thought-provoking scholars, writers and artists from across Europe. These include world-famous icons like Rembrandt van Rijn, Benedictus Spinoza, P.C. Hooft, Constantijn Huygens and his son Christiaan Huygens. Today, the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, two leading study and research centres in the Netherlands, proudly continue this tradition. They are home to the next generation of scholarly and entrepreneurial innovators.

cradle of international business and entrepreneurship

Amsterdam has always been a city of international business. Marine trade gave it a prosperity that culminated in the famous Golden Age of the

17th century. Amsterdam housed the world’s first public stock exchange and the world’s first multinational, the Dutch East India Company. Today, the city is a prestigious, international hub for finance and trade. It houses the stock exchange, the central bank and the headquarters of numerous global firms. Amsterdam is also a breeding ground for entrepre-

neurs in IT, new media, creativity, life sciences and other exciting industries. They enjoy a favourable tax climate, credit facilities, rich pool of service providers, world-class digital and physical infrastructure and highly-skilled labour force. Our Master’s students will find this environment inspiring and of great practical value.

city of AmsterdAm

Word of welcome 3 city of Amsterdam 5 entrepreneurship: a maturing discipline 6 A thorough take on entrepreneurship 8 looking further 10 Application and Admission 12 General information 14 Practical matters 16

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entrepreneurship has become an independent and mature academic discipline with its own theories, models and tools. research shows that entrepreneurship encourages innovation, increases social mobility and enhances labour market flexibility, and is indispensable to economic prosperity. in addition, it can solve social problems and sustainability challenges.

Academic insights and personal skillsSuccessful entrepreneurship depends on acquired knowledge and expertise rather than innate talent. That is why this programme teaches entrepre-neurship through rigorous academic study and the development of skills. You will acquire a broad set of analytical and practical competences. We give you a solid grounding in academic research, cutting-edge theory and research methodology. In parallel, we help you hone your entrepreneurial skills and become an effective and focused professional. This combination is beneficial to your career, as employers are increa-singly in need of profes sionals with profound grasp of entrepreneurship.

In fact, entrepre neurship is becoming an indispensable skill for individuals and organisations.

Enthousiastic and engaged students This programme is an ideal incubator for enthousiastic, ambitious and committed students from a diversity of backgrounds. You must be eager to tackle entrepreneurial issues from an academic foundation. This way you can generate social, economic and personal value and truly sustainable solutions. By sharing your own passions and ideas, an inspiring environment will be created.

entrePreneUrshiP: A mAtUrinG disciPline

dr. Karen VerduijnProgramme Director MSc. Entrepreneurship

i am a senior lecturer in entrepre­neurship at VU University. i abide by the view of those who see entrepre­neurship as something deviant from small business ownership. rather than being about running a (small) business, entrepreneurship is about value creation, and renewal. this philosophy is also being incorporated in the master’s programme. entrepreneurs thrive on situations that are instable, or ‘unfixed’, and can make a huge difference with their initiatives. they can literally ­ on a small(er) or larger scale ­ create ‘new worlds’. this is why we have built a programme in entrepreneurship that combines world­class academic quality with hands­on entrepreneurial competences, so that our students can acquire the real and profound knowledge that will prepare them for entrepreneurial practice.

The University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam have combined their expertise and experience in entrepreneurial academics to create a broad and internationally relevant Master’s programme. Together we will educate a new generation of professionals who can tackle the challenges that lay ahead. Our unique curriculum will give you profound academic insight and an entrepreneurial mindset and

skillset. Armed with these powerful tools, you are able to use entrepre-neurship as a means of generating social and economic value in academia, govern ment and business.

entrepreneurship can be mastered

Best of both worlds Both our universities enjoy a reputa-tion for teaching and research excel-

lence and have invested in a growing group of researchers dedicated to entrepreneurship. United in the Amsterdam Center for Entrepre-neurship (ace-amsterdam.org), we work closely with the private sector, NGOs, and the Municipality of Amsterdam, ensuring that our work focuses on the most pressing issues of business and society. This cooperation also ensures that we can offer a coherent programme. At the same time, joint delivery on two campuses exposes you to two distinct academic cultures, which challenges you to look further. This strengthens your mental agility and prepares you for the complex demands of entrepreneurial practice. 

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Period 1 This period provides an overview of the (research) domain and its inherent multidisciplinary outlook. At the end of this period, you should know about the various approaches, topics, and the central concepts associated with entrepreneurship, and be able to apply these to a practical dilemma.

Period 2 This period focuses on how entrepreneurship is a collaborative social achievement, influenced by societal and cultural factors. Through specialisation courses you also focus on the three forms of entrepreneurship central to our programme: new (commercial) ventures, activities within organizations, and initiatives that solve social problems.

Period 3 This period prepares you for the thesis project in Periods 5 and 6.

Period 4 This period zooms in on the legal issues entrepreneurs face setting up and running a new business or other entrepreneurial initiative, e.g. with regards to financing. In addition, specialisation courses allow you to gain a profound knowledge of entrepreneurship in a particular industry (the services industry, science-based and high-tech entrepreneurship and the creative and cultural industries).

A thoroUGh tAKe on entrePreneUrshiP

course highlight

Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice

this course will introduce you to the background, nature, and central concepts within the research domain of entrepre­neurship. Upon completing this course, you will not only know about the history of our thinking about entrepreneurship, and contemporary debates in the field of entrepreneurship studies, but you will also have been introduced into the societal developments that influence entrepreneurship as well as the societal and ethical implications of the entrepreneurship pheno­menon. this will enable you to recognize, utilize, and combine multiple theoretical perspectives towards entrepreneurship, in combination with the knowledge of and insight in some of the mechanisms underlying entre­preneurial processes (i.e. what is an entrepreneurial opportunity? how does this differ from a great idea? What are the issues entre­preneurs face when acting on opportunities), so as to be able to understand particular entrepre­neurial dilemmas. furthermore, you will, as a team, design and conduct research of a scientific nature, at the same time as being challenged with regards to your own entrepreneurial skills.

Period Courses (# ects) VU/UvA

Period 1 (Sep - Oct) Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice (ETP - 12 ects) Joint

Period 2 (Nov - Dec) Social Dynamics in Entrepreneurship (SDiE - 6 ects) VU

Choice between three specialization courses:

■ Enterprising for a Better World (EBW - 6 ects)

■ Entrepreneurship, Institutions & Corporations (EIC - 6 ects)

■ New Venture Creation & Development (NVCD - 6 ects)

VU

VU

VU

Period 3 (Jan) Entrepreneurship Research Skills (ERS - 6 ects) Joint

Period 4 (Feb - March) Entrepreneurial Law and Finance (ELF - 6 ects) UvA

Choice between three specialization courses:

■ Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology (EST - 6 ects)

■ Entrepreneurship in the Services Industry (ESI - 6 ects)

■ Cultural Entrepreneurship (CE - 6 ects)

UvA

UvA

UvA

Period 5 - 6 (Apr - June) Elective (6 ects) & Thesis (12 ects) VU/UvA

Entrepreneurship Curriculum

For detailed information about the study programme, please refer to www.uva.nl/msc-entrepreneurship

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han dieperinkManaging director, Dutch Institute for Medium Sized and Small Enterprises

entrepreneurship is not just about pursuing opportunities. it is also about cruising in mine fields, also known as business risks in a highly dynamic marketplace. that applies to large corporations as well as to small businesses, like the coffee shop around the corner. too many entrepreneurs fail unnecessarily because of a lack of knowledge. it is a proven fact that understanding the elements of entrepreneurship is an effective contributor to business success. Basic business knowledge is vital against business failures. so the best investment strategy for entrepreneurs is investing in relevant knowledge and that is what the msc in entrepreneur­ship is all about.

Upon completion of the master’s programme, you will be awarded the title of master of science in entrepreneurship from both the VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam. this joint degree is recognized internationally.

Alumni

Our alumni are able to assess and bring to life innovative, viable, high-quality ideas in a number of contexts (a new firm, an existing organisation, profit-oriented/social/mix, diversity of industries). The programme gives you an academic work and thought level, as well as the high level of knowledge and skills needed to accomplish such efforts.

start­Ups

The majority of our students do not start up their own ventures straight after graduating. Most of them initially wish to acquire more working experience. Luckily for them, more and more companies are looking for ‘entrepreneurial professionals’, giving our graduates a distinct advantage on the labour market. This programme can also put you on a pathway to obtaining a PhD degree, becoming an entrepreneurship researcher or other-wise pursuing an academic career.

looKinG fUrther

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Application to the msc. in entrepreneurship is done by submitting an online application. information about this procedure can be found on the programme website. the application deadline for all international students is 1 April 2014. for applicants with a dutch academic degree 1 may 2014.

tuition fee

For students from the EU/EEA, the tuition fee for Master’s programmes is the same as for Dutch students. The tuition fees for the year 2013-2014 are as follows:■ EU/EEA students: €1,835■ Non-EU/EEA students €12,000■ The tuition fees for 2014-2015

have not been established yet.

scholarships

Students with a Dutch nationality who haven’t yet studied for more than six years are eligible for a student grant from the Dutch government. Certain EU/EEA students may also be eligible for a student grant or for limited funding by the Dutch govern -ment by means of tuition fee loans. Both UvA and VU University Amsterdam aim to attract the best

and the brightest students to their international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for several scholarships: the Amsterdam Merit and Amsterdam Excellence Scholar-ship (both offered by UvA) and the VU Fellowship Programme.www.uva.nl/scholarships

www.vu.nl/scholarships

www.duo.nl

International students should also contact their local authorities, who may have other funding possibilities and information on scholarships for students planning to study abroad.www.grantfinder.nl

www.studyin.nl

www.nuffic.nl

english language proficiency

In an international environment, a sufficient mastery of the English language is critical for academic success. Non-native English speakers must pass one of the following tests: ■ Test of English as a Foreign

Language (TOEFL)■ International English Language

Testing System (IELTS)■ Cambridge International

Examinations

Detailed information about the proficiency tests can be found on www.uva.nl/msc-entrepreneurship under ‘Application and admission’, then ‘Entry requirements’.

English-speaking students who have earned their academic degree in the following countries are exempted from the English testing requirements:■ Australia■ Canada■ Ireland■ New Zealand■ United Kingdom■ United States

APPlicAtion And Admission

english proficiency test Programme minimum score

TOEFL (Internet-based) 92 (at least 20 for each test component)

IELTS (academic module)6.5 (at least 6.0 for each test component)

Cambridge International ExaminationsA (FCE), B (CAE), B (CPE)

Detailed information about Application and Admission can be found on www.uva.nl/

msc-entrepreneurship

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As part of its approach to education, dutch universities, including the UvA and VU, entrust students with a high degree of individual responsibility, encouraging them to develop an independent and critical way of thinking.

teaching

We offer learning opportunities that combine the latest technology with solid educational practice. Students are exposed to diverse teaching methods such as:■ lectures■ working groups■ tutorials■ practical training■ fieldwork

Assessments are conducted in the form of examinations, research papers, presentations or a combi nation of all three. In addition, many study programmes incorporate computer-mediated learning tools in their courses. The programme is completed with a formal research thesis.

the academic year

The academic year is divided into two semesters, each lasting 21 weeks. The academic year is scheduled as follows:■ First semester (September to

January)■ Second semester (February to July)

Each semester has three blocks, two blocks of eight weeks and one block of four weeks.

credit system

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a standardised credit system that allows for the efficient transfer of a student’s academic progress across different institutions within Europe, thus promoting greater mobility and flexibility for students. A full-time study for one academic year repre-sents 60 credits, corresponding to 1,680 hours of study.

Grading system

The criteria and grading system is common to all Dutch academic institutions, but may be different from those used in Europe and other parts of the world. The grading system is on a scale of 1-10 where a 6 is regarded as sufficient.

GenerAl informAtion

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coming to Amsterdam

We can assist you in coming to Amsterdam in various ways, such as arranging visas, permits and housing. Please consider the practical matters described below when preparing for your stay.

Visas and permits

If you want to study in the Netherlands, you need to apply for residency. Depending on the country of which you are a citizen, you may need to apply for:■ an MVV (a long-term entry visa),

before coming to the Netherlands and/or

■ a residence permit (permission to live and study in the Netherlands) Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland are exempt from these requirements. For all admitted students there will be assistance in the visa application. Once admitted to the programme, the students will be informed about the precise procedure.

housing

As in many major European cities, the demand for reasonably priced housing in Amsterdam is high. The UvA and VU do not have separate campusses. To assist first-year international students in finding appropriate accommodation, We have a number of agreements with housing corporations throughout the city. However, space is limited. Once admitted to the programme, there will be assistance in finding suitable accommodation.

insurance

Every resident of the Netherlands is required to have health insurance, including international students. If your current health insurance will not cover your stay abroad, several options are available to you:■ apply for private student insurance■ apply for ‘basic’ Dutch health

insurance (basisverzekering)■ European Health Insurance Card

(EHIC) for EU citizenswww.uva.nl/insurance

living expenses

During your stay in Amsterdam, you can expect to spend between €950 and €1,400 per month on living expenses. This includes rent, but not tuition fees. Costs are roughly as follows:■ Visa/Residence permit (if not EU

national): €320, one-time fee■ accommodation: €375 - €600 per

month■ general living expenses: €400 -

€500 per month■ insurance: €40 - €100 per month■ books: €50 - €100 per month■ public transport: €70 - €100 per

Month

Working in the netherlands

Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a work permit to work in the Netherlands during your study. There are two types of work permit:■ full-time (seasonal) work permit

for the months of June, July and August

■ part-time work permit for throughout the year, but no more than 10 hours per week

Please be aware that you cannot have both types of permit. Also, keep in mind that suitable part-time or temporary jobs can be hard to find, especially if you don’t speak Dutch. It is therefore strongly advised that you do not rely on such employment to cover your expenses. After graduating from a Dutch university, non-EU students may choose to extend their stay for one year in order to ook for work. For more information about working in the Netherlands, see:www.uva.nl/work.

For more information about practical matters please refer to www.uva.nl/msc-entrepeneurship

PrActicAl mAtters

tsvi Vinig, Ph.d.Associate Professor for MSc. Entrepreneurship

in recent years the academic discipline of entrepreneurship gained increasing attention from researchers, leading to the development of entrepreneurship as a mature academic discipline withtheoretical and empirical studies that are published in leading academic journals.At the same time the practice of entre­preneurship gains increasing popularity among students as an additional (to the traditional), career option.the UvA ­ VU joint master in entre­preneurship offers students a comprehensive program covering entrepreneurship as an academic discipline, and entrepreneurship as a practice that offers students an addition career option. the program covers entrepreneurship as an opportunity exploration and exploitation process leading to creation of products and services that contribute sustainable social and economic value.

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colophon

University of AmsterdamVU University AmsterdamJanuary 2014

EditorsIlja van Roon, Marketing and Communications VU and UvA

PhotosIneke Oostveen, Dirk Gillissen, Fred van Diem, Henny Boogert, Hans Catshoek, Jeroen Oerlemans, Yvonne Compier, Erasmus Universiteit, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Marc Romanelli, Getty Images, Istock Photo, Masterfile

DesignCrasborn Grafisch Ontwerpers bnoValkenburg aan de Geul | 13434Cover: Lava

DisclaimerPlease note no rights can be derived from the content of this brochure (programme information and other content). Programme curriculum may be subject to change. Wherever commercial organisations are mentioned by name in this brochure, this is not because the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam favours or benefits for mentioning them in any way. No rights can be derived from the contents of this brochure.

© University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam

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www.uva.nl/msc-entrepreneurship

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