Business Management in Agriculture & Food | HAS University

The main focus in the first year is on the theory and practice of the agriculture and food sector. What is healthy and tasty food? How do plants and animal grow? What is it really like to work at a company?

The year is divided into 4 terms, during which you will follow different modules. For example: Marketing & Sales, Business Administration and Growth & Development. You will also go on an international excursion to discover more about the agricultural and food chains. Another important aspect is the internship. Each week you will work at one of our partner companies. This enables you to learn the theory at HAS University and acquire the skills you need in practice. You can choose from companies in the food, flower, plant, vegetable or animal industry.

During the second year, you will gain more in-depth knowledge. This will be done with the companies you like the most. You will learn how to organize things for yourself and your company, and what is going on in your chosen sector.  You will work on projects in groups, where you link the theory and practice in the Netherlands and abroad. Important modules include Entrepreneurship, Living Quality, International Business and Export Management.

In years 3 and 4, you will have considerable space to put together your own study programme. Your 2-year plan forms the basis on which you will graduate with your personal profile. This is entirely tailor-made to suit you. You will choose your own internships and minor in the order you want to take them, and with companies and at universities of your choice.

The internships are an important part of your study programme. You will be on internships for a period of 30 weeks in the Netherlands and abroad. They enable you to gain considerable practical experience, learn to work independently and develop your personal qualities. You will also follow minors at the HAS, or at another university in the Netherlands or abroad. 

In the fourth year, you will work in a group of 2 or 3 students on a professional assignment. This is a real-life assignment from the professional field (company, government or another organization). During this professional assignment, you will be coached by a lecturer.

This approach over the 4 years enables you to build up a network of people and companies. And you will also learn a lot at the HAS and at the companies you work with. When you graduate, you will have built up a great CV and you will be more than ready to enter global business life.

4 years

All entry students follow the 4-year program. There are no standardized shortened program, or general exemption option.

However, individual prospective students may be granted exemptions. This applies to students from other universities (research, or of applied sciences), students who did not complete a previous university course, or individuals with a combination of work experience and courses at applied university level, who already have obtained the relevant qualifications. If desired, modification of the study track will be discussed with the student concerned. Prospective students wishing to make use of this option may submit an authorized certificate/diploma from a previous study program, or undergo an intake assessment. The intake assessment will take place based on a portfolio provided by the prospective student. The portfolio must provide adequate proof from previous jobs, or courses studied.

All courses and examinations will be in English, so you need a good command of spoken and written English.

The level required for admission should be an equivalent of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0, such as:

IELTS Academic programme: 6.0 (overall band score)

TOEFL Internet-based test: 70/ Computer-based test: 213/ Paper-based test: 550

Cambridge ESOL Certificate: B2

Greek high school diploma (Apolytirio Genikou Lykeio), with a general grade of at least 10 and a grade of at least 14 for mathematics.

Applying for the academic year of 2018-2019 will be possible from 1 October 2017 until the application deadline of 1 May 2018. We advise you to apply before May 1. HAS University of Applied Sciences has the right to refuse applications by students which meet the admission requirements, but which are sent after May 1.  

In case you have not obtained your secondary school diploma yet, you can already apply by submitting your current grade list.

Ultimate closing date for applications: August 15, 2018

We encourage European students to find their own accommodation.

However, in case you would like to have everything arranged in time, we offer the possibility to reserve a room. In all two cities we have contracts with the local student housing associations and housing cooperations. They provide HAS with accommodation with rooms, which may vary in size.

You can apply for a room as soon as you have been admitted or conditionally admitted. The deadline for applying for HAS accommodation is 1 May 2018. After this date, it is no longer possible to reserve a room and you will be put on a waiting list, in which case it is advisable to look also yourself for accommodation.

Holland is known worldwide for its knowledge and expertise in the field of agriculture and food. This study programme will set you up in the best position to do business all over the world, especially since you will be learning the profession on the job, from the best entrepreneurs in the country. Career prospects for Business Management in Agriculture & Food graduates are many and very diverse. There is plenty of work within the agricultural and food sector, in the Netherlands and all over the world. As an independent entrepreneur, manager or consultant, you can contribute to the global food supply.

With a Bachelors diploma from HAS University of Applied Sciences, you can continue doing a Master’s programme. If you want to do this abroad (outside Holland), you can usually start straightaway. If you want to do your Master at a University of Applied Sciences in the Holland in a related field, you can also usually get direct access. For doing a Master at a Research University in Holland, you may be asked to do a pre Master.