This programme covers 12 months and is divided into four blocks.
In this pdf you can find more information about the module structure.

Phase 1 - Pre-master’s courses

In block one, the programme focuses on the content of strategic management and marketing within the module units. The module units are set up in a holistic and integrated way, structured around business issues. This enables you to identify an adequate business-applied problem, which is the foundation of your future research proposal.
 
Block two of the programme is designed to search for secondary data to support your topic and different sub-problems with facts or evidence. These data can be found in the literature, expert interviews or other documentation in order to analyse and appraise the situational business environment in terms of cause-and-effect relationships to define the business problem more specifically. The term units will also support you with useful inputs on current theories within various disciplines.
 
In block three you mainly focus on Applied Statistics and on your final research proposal (SBM5c) to be submitted at the end of this term. By analysing your selected problem, you will be able to formulate adequate and relevant research questions for the purposes of your research project and to develop a conceptual framework. Not only does this research provide a foundation in learning and further developing your academical skills, such as literature review and qualitative interviewing, but it also deepens your knowledge in the fields of research methodology, applied research philosophies and approaches. Also, the logical research framework matrix (LRFM), investigative research questions, sampling methods, data-collecting design strategies, data requirements and other information needs are formulated here. 

Phase 2 - Final Research Project

In block 4, the real research work begins: you will collect data for your thesis through fieldwork. During this phase of the programme, you will conduct interviews, focus groups and/or surveys, and start analysing the collected data. In your methodological report, you will critically reflect on your methods and findings, and substantiate conclusions and recommendations to address the identified business problem.

Examples of theses are: 

• Identifying key factors for successful adoption of a new planning system - Exploring stakeholders’ perspectives
• Understanding Supplier Selection Criteria of Tour Operators and Expected Service Quality on Railway Services: The Case of Eurail
• The Price of Sustainability; an investigation into the impact of True Pricing on consumer behavior in company restaurants.
• Unraveling the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility and Compensation on The Appeal of Operational Positions in the Hospitality Industry
• Social Inclusion in the Event industry – an exploratory study towards a better understanding of how events contribute to the social inclusion of communities.

The programme combines lectures and workshops to give you all the knowledge you need on the one hand, and to apply this knowledge in case studies and your own graduation research on the other hand.

The academic pre-master 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 = approximately 28 hours of study a week. This one-year pre-master's replaces the last year of study at Breda University of Applied Sciences.

We offer you a small-scale study environment as the number of students involved in this pre-master's track are limited. For questions on the content of the programme, lecturers can be easily reached. In addition, the pre-master's coordinator is available to help with day-to-day issues. If you wish to discuss personal problems that may be affecting your life as a student, you can turn to 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 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.