Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

Age: 42

History: A small business faculty was initiated in Rotterdam in 1966, when Royal Dutch Shell and Philips set up the Foundation for Business Administration, an institute for postgraduate management education. The first cohort graduated in 1970. The faculty later joined forces with Erasmus University's business administration programmes and research faculty to become Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) in 2005.

Address: Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Ambience: RSM is located in the commercial heart of Europe, a vibrant school with 100 nationalities on campus and 20,000 alumni active in more than 20 chapters around the world. It maintains close connections to business, and runs a regular calendar of events to bring the business world into contact with its leading academics and students. An advisory board of individuals from top-level management in corporate industry, NGOs and the political arena provide a source of advice, guidance and support. Education is action-oriented and academically rigorous, but there's a strong sense of community with a high level of individual attention and support. A construction programme currently underway will add a new plaza building with student accommodation, an underground car park and pavilion for a sustainable campus with an international feel by 2013.

Vital statistics: With over 7,200 students and 350 active researchers, RSM is one of the largest business schools in Europe and one of the few with triple international accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. It has a complete portfolio ranging from BSc and MSc programmes to several different MBAs and Executive Education programmes. Most programmes are taught in English.

Added value: The school promotes its underlying strengths of critical thinking, innovation, sustainability and spirit, and fosters relationships with leaders in business, in society and in academia. It encourages a future-orientated mindset with its school-wide ‘I WILL’ network. Studentswork on real consultancy cases with companies, experience different business models and teaching methods and take part in international exchanges.

Easy to get into? Entry requirements vary by programme. In general, the school looks for an international outlook and academic excellence, with a good level of spoken and written English.

Overall Ranking: RSM consistently achieves a competitive position in national and international rankings. In its 2011 meta-ranking, the Financial Times placed RSM inseventh place amongst the top 10 schools in Europe. RSM’s MBA programme appears in the European top 15.

Glittering alumni: Meiny Prins, CEO of Priva BV and Dutch businesswoman of the year 2009; Sukhbir Jasuja, CEO of ITpreneurs and a sustainable grower in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50; Diederik Laman Trip (now retired) former Chairman of Postbank, RVS insurance, and Chairman of the ING Netherlands Board; Johan H. Andresen Jr formerly of Tiedemanns tobacco empire, now owner and CEO of investment conglomerate Ferd Norway.

Gurus: Prof. Dr Michael Braungart, professor of Cradle to Cradle for Innovation and Quality; Prof. Dr Cees van Riel, MD of RSM’s Corporate Communication Centre and co-founder and MD of New York's Reputation Institute; Prof. Dr Stijn van Osselaer, Professor of Marketing and chairman of RSM’s Marketing department; Prof. Dr Gail Whiteman holds the Ecorys Chair in Sustainability and Climate Change at RSM.

International connections: 100 different nationalities on campus, and 20,000 alumni active in more than 20 chapters around the world. RSM has 100 partner schools worldwide.

Cost: Tuition fees differ per programme and range between £1,500 for the pre-experience BSc and MSc programmes to £33,650 (€39,000) for the International MBA.

Any Accommodation?

Students from outside the Netherlands can reserve a room in advance online via an independent housing agency. More information can be found here or through the programme admission offices.

Cheap to live there?

For a reasonable standard of living in the Netherlands, you should expect to pay between €500 - €600 per month for furnished accommodation, including gas and electricity, €80-90 for mandatory medical insurance, €25 for telephone and internet costs, €200 on food, and around €250 on books, recreation, clothing, public transport etc.

Nightlife? Rotterdam has a lively urban outlook, from art, music and architecture (for which it is world famous), to cinema, dance and theatre. The nightlife in Rotterdam rivals that of Amsterdam’s, with a hip and creative young scene filling restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs. Concerts and sporting events include the Fortis Marathon, the International Film Festival, the Fast Forward Dance Parade, North Sea Jazz festival, and the exuberant Caribbean Summer Carnival.

Transport Links?

RSM’s Woudestein campus has its own tram and bus stops and is a few minutes’ walk from the metro, linking to Rotterdam city centre and major transport hubs.www.rsm.nl/route

Are there scholarship opportunities? Yes, and UK students could be eligible for Dutch study finance or a Dutch government grant.

Who's the boss? Professor Steef van de Velde isDean of RSM; he has an MSc in Econometrics from Erasmus School of Economics and a PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Prospectus: +31 10 408 22 22; www.rsm.nl