Master - full-time

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Study Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Groningen to kickstart your entrepreneurial career, by starting your firm or contributing to the success of another company.

How can small firms and family businesses positively impact society today? What knowledge and competencies do entrepreneurs need to gain to start up?

If you want to learn about the dynamic world of start-ups and small businesses, this is the programme for you! The MSc Business Administration - Small Business and Entrepreneurship will equip you with the knowledge and skills to thrive in today's fast-paced business environment.

Focus on real-world challenges : unlike many management programmes that concentrate solely on large corporations, our programme is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Practice what you study : through guest lectures, real-life case studies, and interactive events, such as our start-up and small business safari, you will gain invaluable insights and hands-on experience.
Connect with businesses : there will be numerous opportunities to engage with industry experts and develop your business ideas in collaboration with Innokite .
Freedom to develop yourself: you can choose from a wide range of electives and focus areas (e.g. sustainability, digital transformation, business consulting, energy transition) and build your curriculum depending on your interests.
Career-ready : our graduates are well-prepared to excel as entrepreneurs, small business consultants, or in entrepreneurial departments of large businesses.

Facts & Figures

Degree: MSc in Business Administration
Course type: Master
Duration: 12 months (60 EC)
Croho code: 60644
Language of instruction: English
Start: February, September
Faculty: Economics and Business

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Why study this programme in Groningen?

Put theory into practice to help find solutions to current challenges. You get to go out in the field, interview small business owners and come up with solutions on relevant themes such as sustainable growth, innovation, and change.
You have plenty of opportunities to engage with guest speakers from start-ups, SMEs, and larger firms, and secure internships with collaborating start-ups.
We challenge you to develop and use your skills in a practical and relevant way by applying insights on entrepreneurship in real business contexts. Our small business and start-up safari is unique and won the best teaching award (2023). You visit start-ups and meet with entrepreneurs in Groningen and the North of the Netherlands.
You join a tight-knit community of like-minded students and enthusiastic international lecturers.
We work together with entrepreneurs who put emphasis on developing sustainable products and solutions.
The programme has been internationally accredited by the AACSB and EQUIS, ensuring a high-quality education, which only 1% of universities reach worldwide.

Programme

What drives the success of new ventures? How can firms maintain an entrepreneurial spirit? What strategies help navigate complex environments? How to manage the transition of a family business? These are some of the questions we address in our courses. You also get to collaborate with business owners for months to solve real challenges.

Relevant themes in our society, like sustainability and digitalization are present in our discussions. Throughout the year, you can tailor your learning with elective courses . Interested in digital transformation? Opt for the Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence specialization. Or explore sustainable business models through the Future Prosperity and Sustainability route.

	Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >	1a	1b	2a	2b
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Strategy (5 EC)
Small Business Management (5 EC)
Elective(s) MSc BA SB&E (15 EC) A few examples are: Business Ethics; Sustainability: Strategies, Innovation & Change; Data-driven Business Processes; Digital Transformation Strategy; Energy Transition & Innovation; Financial and Economic Organization of Healthcare Markets; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Regulating Energy Markets. The full list of electives can be found on Ocasys.
Applied SB&E Projects (5 EC)
Research & Skills (5 EC)
New Ventures & Entrepreneurship (5 EC)
Master's Thesis BA SB&E (20 EC)

Programme options
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (specialization) Focus on the digital transformation within our society and understand how to successfully implement digital transformation in business. A successful digital transition allows businesses to conquer markets, witness industries converging, and step into the realm of winner-takes-all dynamics, like dominating tech-giants like Google and Facebook. More information about this option
Future Prosperity and Sustainability (specialization) Focus on the sustainable developments in our current society by the increasing influence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The upcoming impact of the SDGs force companies to redefine their purpose and seek a path for meaningful contribution. But, what are companies responsible for, and who bears the burden of the consequences? Your skills and knowledge will prepare you to actively contribute to the strategic developments in this dynamic field. More information about this option
Energy Transition and Climate Change (specialization) Focus on the serious changes within the energy sector by dealing with issues such as how firms adapt to renewable energy, how the higher taxes are managed during this transition and how to deal with the weather dependent production of energy systems. Gain the knowledge and skills to shape a sustainable future in this evolving energy sector. More information about this option
Leadership and Governance (specialization) The Leadership and Governance focus area provides you with a deep understanding of both macro-level governance frameworks and micro-level leadership processes. This dual approach enables you to understand the broader implications of governance and leadership, while also recognizing the conditions that shape behavior, decision-making and organizational dynamics. More information about this option
Master Internship (specialization) Opportunity to gain work experience by doing an internship in the second semester of your study. You will be rewarded 15 ECTS on top of your programme. Your thesis will be postponed to the third semester. More information about this option

Study abroad

Study abroad is optional

A study exchange semester is not included in the one-year programme. If you wish to spend a semester abroad, you will need to extend the study period by a semester. Please discuss this with the programme coordinator as study exchanges are not facilitated by the MSc BA - SBE programme.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Below you will see a table with 'transfer options'. Please check the entry requirements for your Bachelor's degree (from a research university of a university of applied sciences). If your degree is not mentioned in the table below, you can still apply via a Pre-Master's programme. For information on application and entry requirements, please check https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster. The information about entry requirements is an indication of your admissibility. Every application will be reviewed individually by the Admissions board so the admission decision may differ from the indication in this table.

Specific requirements

More information

previous education

Below you will see a table with 'transfer options'. Please check the entry requirements for your Bachelor's degree (from a research university of a university of applied sciences). If your degree is not mentioned in the table below, you can still apply via a Pre-Master's programme. For information on application and entry requirements, please check https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster.

The information about entry requirements is an indication of your admissibility. Every application will be reviewed individually by the Admissions board so the admission decision may differ from the indication in this table.

Transfer options

Transferring from...

All Universities of applied sciences

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Maastricht University

University of Groningen

Wageningen University

VU University Amsterdam

Nyenrode New Business School

Utrecht University

University of Twente

Tilburg University

University of Amsterdam

Leiden University

Radboud University Nijmegen

Study programme	Organization	Transition
	All Universities of applied sciences	Via a pre-master with a maximum of 45 EC More information: The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) has introduced the 30 EC and 45 EC Pre-Master's programmes. Depending on the HBO degree you will obtain, you will be able to follow the 30 EC or 45 EC variant. Read more: https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Business Administration	Erasmus University Rotterdam	No additional requirements
Economics and Business Economics	Erasmus University Rotterdam	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations Research	Erasmus University Rotterdam	No additional requirements
International Business Administration	Erasmus University Rotterdam	No additional requirements
Fiscale Economie	Erasmus University Rotterdam	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Global Studies	Maastricht University	Via a pre-master with a maximum of 45 EC More information: You need to first complete the 45 EC (or less) Pre-Master's programme. For information about the Pre-MSc application and entry requirements, please check https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster.
International Business	Maastricht University	No additional requirements
Business Engineering	Maastricht University	No additional requirements
Economics and Business Economics	Maastricht University	No additional requirements
Fiscale Economie	Maastricht University	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations Research	Maastricht University	No additional requirements
Business Analytics	Maastricht University	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Sociology	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: In addition to your BSc programme, you will need to complete a set of (extra) courses. For information, please contact the study advisors: https://www.rug.nl/feb/studyadvisors.
International Business	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations Research	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
Industrial Engineering and Management	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
Psychology (NL)	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: In addition to your BSc programme, you will need to complete a set of (extra) courses. For information, please contact the study advisors: https://www.rug.nl/feb/studyadvisors.
Business Administration	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
Economics and Business Economics	University of Groningen	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Economics and Governance	Wageningen University	No additional requirements
Management and Consumer Studies	Wageningen University	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Business Administration	VU University Amsterdam	No additional requirements
International Business Administration	VU University Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations Research	VU University Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Business Analytics	VU University Amsterdam	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Business Administration	Nyenrode New Business School	No additional requirements
Accountancy	Nyenrode New Business School	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Economics and Business Economics	Utrecht University	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
International Business Administration	University of Twente	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
International Business Administration	Tilburg University	No additional requirements
Economics	Tilburg University	No additional requirements
Fiscale Economie	Tilburg University	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations Research	Tilburg University	No additional requirements
Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation	Tilburg University	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Fiscale Economie	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Business Analytics	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Business Administration	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Actuarial Science	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Economics and Business Economics	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements
Econometrics and Data Science	University of Amsterdam	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Public Administration Science	Leiden University	No additional requirements More information: For profile Economics, Public Administration and Management.
Computer Science	Leiden University	No additional requirements More information: For profile Informatica & Economie.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Business Administration	Radboud University Nijmegen	No additional requirements
Economics and Business Economics	Radboud University Nijmegen	No additional requirements

Registration procedure

Students with a Dutch diploma can apply directly to Studielink. More information on the steps to apply .

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027
EU/EEA students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027
non-EU/EEA students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following - or closely related - fields: Business Economics, Business Administration, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business, Technology Management. To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. For more information, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc. If you have any questions concerning admission to this programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions.
language test	IELTS Academic overall score 6.5 (Speaking 6, Writing 6.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 24); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 176, Speaking 169, Writing 176).
other admission requirements	Not meeting the pre-education requirements for direct entry? Please read more about our pre-Master programmes.

Registration procedure

Students have to apply via Studielink and the Progress Portal (replacing the previous system, Online Application System OAS) of the University of Groningen. After you apply for the programme of your choice, the Admissions Office will evaluate your educational background and assess your eligibility. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis. More information on how to apply.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027
EU/EEA students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027
non-EU/EEA students	15 October 2025	01 February 2026
	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
	15 October 2026	01 February 2027

Tuition fees

Nationality	Year	Fee	Programme form
EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 2601	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 21400	full-time

Practical information for:

Dutch students International students

After your studies

Job prospects

We prepare you to drive action and see opportunities in SMEs and develop your entrepreneurial skills. Thus, you may find work in several positions, such as an entrepreneur, SME manager, corporate entrepreneur, or SME consultant, or you might start your own company.

What do entrepreneurs think about our graduates?
" We had a great experience working with students from the MSc Small Business and Entrepreneurship programme at UG. Their insights and recommendations helped us working on a critical business challenge exploring potential future markets, and their dedication and fresh perspectives were invaluable ." - Richard Rushby (Co-Founder SG Papertronics)

" I am very happy about working with the MSc Small Business and Entrepreneurship students who prepared a great report for my early-stage venture. Their analysis of our start-up challenge provided important insights contributing to our future strategy. " - Mariska van der Hoek (CEO - modAlgae)

Job examples

Entrepreneur: start your own business
Entrepreneur in large companies (corporate entrepreneurship)
'All-round' manager in an SME
Manager in large companies (corporate entrepreneurship)
Owner of a family business
Consultant for SMEs and entrepreneurial firms
Manager in large organizations that deal with SMEs and entrepreneurs

such as banks, consulting firms, venture capitalists/financial investors, governmental organizations at different levels, franchising firms, platform organizations, or accounting firms.

Research

In Groningen, research is deeply connected to business practice, economics, and society . Some key areas of research you might explore as a student are:

entrepreneurial skills,
SME strategy and management,
corporate entrepreneurship,
start-ups, family firms, venture capital,
entrepreneurial finance,
collaborative networks of entrepreneurs/SMEs, institutions, and entrepreneurship and small business policies.

Apply now Brochure Events Contact

Contact

Are you a current student? Contact the Student Support Desk (FEB)
Are you a prospective student? Fill in this contact form (FEB) (We will answer your question within 72 hours.)
Dr. Michael Wyrwich (Programme coordinator)
Email: m.wyrwich rug.nl

This programme has far exceeded my expectations in every aspect (Tessa van Oort)

The MSc Business Administration - Small Business and Entrepreneurship's unique focus on dynamics, innovation, and hands-on learning aligns with my aspirations. The course content delves deep into small business dynamics, innovation, and effective entrepreneurship strategies. The professors take a keen interest in each student's growth which fosters a strong sense of community and collaboration among peers. Also, I like that there is a balance between theory and practical application, this prepares me for my future career. We work on real-life cases and help companies develop effective strategies. At the faculty, real-world issues are tackled through a business lens, such as sustainability topics and digital innovations.

The programme provides multiple opportunities to engage directly with business professionals (Leon Koster)

I chose the MSc Business Administration - Small Business and Entrepreneurship for its hands-on experiences and case studies, enhancing my business acumen as a small company founder. This programme stands out due to its intimate, personalized teaching approach with small class sizes and real-life entrepreneurs providing us with case studies. Additionally, I joined the Learning Community focusing on Business Value of AI, a practical complement to the programme. Furthermore, the 'Start-up Safari' exposed me to different start-ups and entrepreneurs, enriching my understanding and application of concepts taught in the programme.

Study associations

EBF

The Economics and Business Faculty association (EBF) is the faculty association for all students studying at the faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen.

The EBF is your partner during your time in Groningen by organising events that support you with your studies and help you prepare for your future career.

https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/

Master Community - SBE

Make the most of your master by getting to know your fellow students and prepare for your future career.

https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/committees

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Why study this programme in Groningen?

Programme

Study abroad

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Transfer options

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Admission requirements

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Tuition fees

After your studies

Job prospects

Job examples

Research

Contact

This programme has far exceeded my expectations in every aspect (Tessa van Oort)

The programme provides multiple opportunities to engage directly with business professionals (Leon Koster)

Study associations

EBF

Master Community - SBE

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