Pre-master in Scaling Up
Ready to build your startup? Learn how to build your team, find investors, enter markets, and introduce sustainable products or services.
From zero ideas to start-up founder
Join our pre-Master program to turn your business idea into a scalable venture in just 12 months. Combining core courses from Unknown University of Applied Sciences’ Bachelor program with tailored curriculum, it prepares you and your business initiative for the MSc in Scaling up program. Fast-track your knowledge, skills, and attitude for success.
OUR MISSION
To get you ready for scaling your startup
Our program uses an approach that is designed to help entrepreneurs break through the ‘Founder’s Ceiling’ by developing the proper knowledge, skills and mindset to become a next-level founder.
Build your startup in 12 month
Build a global network for life
Join Europe's startup scene.
Degree with tangible results
OUR METHODOLOGY
Become entrepreneur by being one
Start working on your future from day one.
Our program puts your business development first and implores you to put the learnings from the modules directly into your business. Each block consists of one module, which focuses on a specific topic. The entire curriculum follows this structure and is designed in such a way that all modules follow the process of scaling your business.
OUR TEAM
Teachers, Professors
Founders, Specialists
We have created a program taught by the perfect mix of lecturers. You’ll be inspired by the growth and failure stories of entrepreneurs and learn from the best field experts and professors with academically validated knowledge on scaling. We bring you the best; you can ask them anything you want; they are there for you and your business.
250+ entrepreneurs, field experts at your fingertips
Toby Rush
Jan Saan
Program overview
Cutting-edge curriculum
With our modules, we aim to maximize the relevance of our classes by ensuring that the content we offer and the timing is aligned with your growth needs.
This program of 42 European Credits is complemented where necessary with a selection of other courses of the BSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation program, which fits to your current situation and business initiative. For example, if you’re involved in a business that is based on being a platform, the pre-Master program could also include the ‘Disrupting the Market’ (7 ECTS) module, during which students are introduced to the different business models that make use of a platform strategy.
Alternatively, this approach also allows Unknown University of Applied Sciences to support you as a pre-Master student with developing core skills, knowledge, and attitudes that were deemed to be underdeveloped for the MSc in Scaling Up program. For instance, in cases where you have no experience in developing and executing marketing strategies, the pre-Master program could include modules such as ‘Design Thinking’ into your tailored pre-Master program.
Essentially, the pre-Master program is a combination of mandatory courses that are complemented with context-specific courses that will allow you to further develop and ultimately meet the minimum required level of skills, knowledge, and attitude, as well as to further develop your business initiative so it is ready to scale before starting the MSc in Scaling Up program.
The standard modules contained in the pre-Master program are:
- Value Creation
- Business Modeling
- Future Proofing
- Lean Startup
- Alternative Finance
Startup Visa
Part-time master’s programs are normally not possible for international student entrepreneurs. However, in combination with our start-up visa program, it now is.
The Netherlands has a special “Start-up Visa” that offers international students the opportunity to scale their own businesses in the Netherlands while they get their master’s degree.
We can assist you with the application for this visa so that you are able to stay in the country for the duration of the program and make use of the time to run your business and build the network you’ll need to establish your company in the local market. We can also help you stay in the Netherlands after the program while you remain in our incubator, until you can apply for permanent residency if desired.
For whom is this program?
Our master Profile
Each module is created along four learning lines intertwined throughout the four-year program.
1. The Self-employed Professional
Are you aspiring to transform your freelance business into a start-up and grow it into a scaled business?
2. The Start-up Entrepreneur
Are you looking to scale your start-up to achieve greater impact in the future?
3. The Global Expansionist
Is it your goal to build a strong foothold in foreign countries by expanding your business internationally?
4. The Business Successor
Do you aim to take on the leadership role and grow new opportunities for the family business in the near future?
Why our students love our Master Program
- You will scale your business from day 1: with classes and personal guidance from our learning coaches and business coaches.
- We cover one topic per module, and that’s all you have to focus on during those 5 weeks.
We are in the heart of one of the biggest start-up scenes and give our students access to leading corporates across our network.
We asked experienced entrepreneurs and top academics to identify the most important growth challenges and used these insights to develop the Master’s program.
Application
Application info
In order to be eligible for the pre-Master or master’s program (full or part-time), you must have a bachelor’s (BSc) degree. You can apply with a bachelor’s degree in any field of study, as our programs are open to everyone who embraces entrepreneurship.
In addition, for the master’s program you must own a business that is ready to scale. The growth readiness of your business and the fit for our program will be determined by an application interview.
Tuition fee & deadlines
Pre-Master €14.200
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR EU/EEA
1st of September for a September start
1st of February 2025 for a February 2025 start
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR NON-EU/EEA
1st of December 2024 for a February 2025 start
Application process
To submit an application, click apply now, fill in the form, upload the appropriate documents, and schedule the admissions interview.
To support our students in their transition to a new country, Unknown University of Applied Sciences arranges visas for students who need one.
The program has two entry moments each year: February and September.
Program accreditation
All programs offered by Unknown University of Applied Sciences are formally accredited programs of ‘Stichting Global School for Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences (registered under BRIN: 30RK)’.
Stichting Global School for Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences is officially recognized by the Dutch Government and will offer this 1-year Pre-master program as part of the accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation (registered under ISAT: 35527). The accreditation is obtained from the NVAO (Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization), therefore Stichting Global School for Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences meets the national quality assurances as defined by the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science.
Still have questions?
Schedule a call! We will provide more information about our program, go over the application process, and share more about studying at the Unknown University.
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Looking forward to speaking with you!
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