IBCoM students are not just a number, they are what makes this programme run: strongly motivated individuals who know what they want. We highly value the personal aspect in education, and therefore organise work groups in engaged groups and have our students work in small teams.
The Netherlands has a so-called binary higher education system. Universities of Applied Sciences, commonly known in Dutch as HBO offer professional oriented training, whereas universities offer research oriented education. The Erasmus University is a research university and within IBCoM research skills and orientation therefore form the underpinning of the programme. IBCoM, however, strikes the right balance, focusing on theory and research, but also on professional practice, and thus providing you with the comprehensive knowledge and full gamut of skills you need in order to be successful in the demanding and fast-changing environments you will be working in.
Teaching language
IBCoM is taught exclusively in English and offers an international perspective on communications and media. In 2014, the IBCoM programme was granted the NVAO Distinctive Quality Feature Internationalization. The NVAO is only granted to a programme when it distinguishes itself in terms of internationalisation, when the level of ambition is high and when there is an explicit vision on internationalisation.
Community
Another central aspect of the IBCoM programme, and especially the first year, is our student community. Interaction between students is highly valued and integral to IBCoM’s success. Therefore, students will be placed in a different work group each semester, so they get the chance to get to know as many fellow students as possible.
In addition, all first year students participate in the IBCoMpanion programme. This programme matches a group of freshmen to a couple of second year students (one Dutch and one international) who will be their buddy in the first half year of the programme, and often remain close friends throughout the programme. IBCoMpanions are always there for the first year students, to help them get used to University life, the programme, Rotterdam and more.