When it comes to post-graduation employability, the MBA continues to hold strong appeal. The 2025 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey revealed that employers are hiring MBA graduates at higher rates than those with business bachelor’s degrees. Much of this demand is driven by the tech sector, where 93% of companies planned to recruit MBA graduates and 29% expected to grow their hiring.
With MBAs now proliferating around the world, the challenge is how to choose the right programme. European business schools are a popular choice, fusing academic excellence with strong career prospects. And The Netherlands, in particular, stands out for an exciting business environment, with multinational companies and innovative start-ups.
Nyenrode Business University has been part of this ecosystem since 1946, when leading Dutch companies such as KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.), Unilever, Shell, Akzo, and Philips decided to create a university designed by business, for business. That mindset still shapes the school today, mixing academic depth with hands-on relevance and personal development. For example, it offers an Impact MBA (Full-time) where students enter ambitious, leave empowered.
Today, the university ranks among the top 1% of business schools worldwide and holds the prestigious trio of the world’s leading international accreditations for business schools — AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), AMBA (Association of MBAs), and EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System).
Still, Nyenrode evolves in line with its founding mindset, mixing academic depth with hands-on relevance and personal development. One example is the Impact MBA (Full-time) where students enter ambitious, leave empowered.
From modern lecture halls to relaxed outdoor spaces, the Nyenrode campus makes it easy to study, connect, and socialise all in one place. Source: Nyenrode Business University
An MBA built for accelerating careers
Designed for a rapidly evolving world, the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders)- and AMBA (Association of MBAs)-accredited IMBA provides the latest knowledge and tools to help you grow into an authentic and responsible leader. It combines the fundamentals of sustainable business, including organisational behaviour and managerial finance and accounting, with core management disciplines.
“In the MBA we take a systemic approach to sustainable business leadership,” shares Associate Professor Dr. Nicolas Chevrollier. “This means that rather than discussing the subject in isolation, we integrate it into every module, equipping students with the tools to tackle challenges and identify points for systemic change.”
Every course is built around Nyenrode’s Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Stewardship (LES) philosophy. You’ll learn how to lead, take responsibility for your choices, and inspire others. The entrepreneurship side encourages you to stay curious and see opportunity in uncertainty. Stewardship completes the picture by emphasising long-term responsibility for people and planet. Together, these values help you think more critically, act more ethically, and stay closely connected to real business practice.
“Stewardship was the university’s value I had never considered before starting my MBA,” shares Marika Beindorff, MBA alumna and valedictorian. “The classes about circular economy and sustainable development showed me a whole new aspect of business, which was the missing link in my ‘ikigai’ (reason of being).”
Thanks to its open culture, making friends in the Netherlands is easy — especially within Nyenrode’s welcoming community. Source: Nyenrode Business University
Supported at every step
Beindorff is one of many students who make up the programme’s diverse and international cohort. Another example is Enrique Chevalier, an alumnus from Panama. He started out studying law but was always involved in entrepreneurship. He opened a restaurant at 18, worked in real estate, and is now launching a detergent and essential oils company through the Nyenrode Incubator.
“I’m learning how to be a better leader for my businesses,” he says. “The IMBA’s case studies show me there’s always more to learn, even in fields I thought I knew well.”
Other than case studies, you’ll work on company projects and take part in introspective exercises that are closely aligned with how businesses operate. Company visits make the experience even more real. You’ll pitch your ideas directly to CEOs and see how decisions are made at the top.
A comprehensive range of career support then ensures you’re ready to translate your IMBA experiences for what comes next in your career. The Career and Personal Development team helps you refine your personal brand, develop leadership skills, and connect with companies that fit your goals. You’ll have access to career events, CV and cover letter feedback, mock interviews, and LinkedIn profile support. There’s help from a 30,000-strong global alumni network too.
Many Nyenrode graduates go on to work at companies like Philips, Deloitte, Uber, and Accenture. They often return to campus for events, mentor current students, and share real-world insights into both Dutch and international business landscapes.
If you want to experience the IMBA for yourself, take part in the Experience Weekend.
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