Choosing your study abroad path: Direct admission vs. the SPJIMR Global Management Programme (GMP)

Three Nyenrode alumni, two routes to the same university

Nayan and Shanu reached Nyenrode through SPJIMR GMP. Aayush applied directly.

The destination was the same, but the experience before and after reaching the Netherlands was different.

That distinction matters because choosing a study abroad pathway is not simply a question of which route is better. It is about understanding what each route involves and deciding which approach fits your academic background, career plans, preferred university, finances and readiness for an international move.

Direct admission

With direct admission, students shortlist universities, prepare their applications, submit the required entrance test scores, complete the admissions process and relocate to begin their programme overseas.

This route can work well for students who already have a specific university or programme in mind and are comfortable managing the application process independently. Their academic experience begins directly at the overseas institution.

SPJIMR Global Management Programme (GMP)

SPJIMR’s Global Management Programme follows a different structure. Participants spend six months at SPJIMR before progressing to an international partner university.

The initial phase combines foundation courses, management subjects and language training. It gives participants an opportunity to begin their management education in India before moving to a different academic and cultural environment overseas.

Eligible credits earned during the SPJIMR phase are transferred to partner universities, where participants complete their MS or MBA, depending on the partner institution and programme.

GMP accepts scores from recognised entrance examinations, including CAT, GMAT, GRE, NMAT and XAT. For Nayan, his existing GRE score meant he could use a score he already had rather than prepare for another entrance examination.

Direct admission vs. SPJIMR GMP: a practical comparison

Nayan and Shanu experienced the GMP pathway, while Aayush experienced direct admission. Their journeys provide a real-world context for understanding the differences.

For Nayan and Shanu, the six months at SPJIMR were not simply an additional stage before moving abroad. Their experience showed how the initial phase could help them prepare academically and build a peer network before entering a new country and university.

Why did Nayan and Shanu choose GMP?

For both alumni, the decision involved more than gaining admission to an overseas university. The six-month SPJIMR phase offered a structured start to their international education journey.

For Nayan, the decision was also influenced by circumstance. He already had a valid GRE score and could use it for his GMP application.

But GMP also introduced him to a university he had not previously considered.

As Nayan recalled on the podcast:

“We had never heard of Nyenrode as a university. We only got to know about Nyenrode once we got to know about the GMP programme.”

That became an important part of his journey. Instead of beginning with a university shortlist, he discovered Nyenrode through the pathway itself.

For Shanu, who had joined GMP earlier, the experience also became a point of reference for Nayan as he considered his options.

What did Nayan and Shanu value about the GMP experience?

Getting to the Netherlands was only one part of the journey. The six months at SPJIMR shaped how Nayan and Shanu approached the transition.

A structured transition

Both alumni described the SPJIMR phase as an opportunity to prepare before moving into a different academic and cultural environment.

Instead of moving directly from India to an overseas university, they had time to begin their management education, understand the expectations of a business school environment and prepare for the next stage.

An existing peer network

Moving to a new country can mean starting from scratch socially and academically. For Nayan and Shanu, continuing their international journey with classmates from their SPJIMR cohort meant they already had a peer network when they moved overseas.

Academic preparation

The SPJIMR phase provided a foundation before the move to Nyenrode. The alumni’s experience suggests that this can be particularly useful for students who want an initial period of preparation before entering a new academic system.

At the same time, they recognised that the longer-term value of an international education depends on what students do with the opportunities available to them.

Building a career after graduation

Getting a degree abroad is one step. Building a career in a new country is another.

The alumni described a job market in the Netherlands that operates differently from the campus placement model commonly associated with Indian management institutions. Finding a job therefore becomes an active part of the student’s journey.

This can involve:

Universities can support this process through career services. These services can include CV guidance, mock interviews and networking events, helping students prepare for the job market, although employment outcomes ultimately depend on the individual, the role and the prevailing market conditions.

The three alumni eventually built careers in the Netherlands:

Their outcomes also underline an important distinction: the pathway through which a student reaches a university does not, by itself, determine their eventual career. Professional experience, networking, internships, skills, adaptability and individual effort all play a role.

What does Aayush Kedia’s journey tell us about direct admission?

Aayush Kedia’s experience followed a different path from the beginning.

He applied directly to Nyenrode for his MBA, without the six-month SPJIMR phase. After completing his studies, he returned briefly to India before moving back to the Netherlands on an Orientation Year Visa to look for employment.

He eventually secured a role with a Spanish bank and continued building his career in the Netherlands.

His experience demonstrates one of the defining characteristics of the direct admission route: students can apply directly to a university they have already identified and begin their international education there.

It also highlights a broader point about studying abroad. Admission to a university is only the beginning. Students need to think about how they will navigate the job market, build professional relationships and establish themselves in a new environment after graduation.

Which route should you choose?

There is no single route that works for every student. The choice depends on the kind of university experience you want and how you want to structure your transition overseas.

Direct admission may suit students who

SPJIMR GMP may suit students who

The decision should also take into account factors such as tuition fees, living costs, visa requirements, programme structure, university preferences and long-term career plans.

Beyond the degree: building a career abroad

The alumni’s discussion also highlighted that an international education is only one part of building a career overseas.

They pointed to the importance of:

Language can also play a role. While English may be sufficient for many roles in the Netherlands, the alumni noted that proficiency in Dutch can become increasingly valuable for professional integration and progression into leadership and senior management roles.

Financial planning is another consideration. Students evaluating an international career need to look beyond tuition fees and consider living costs, taxes and other expenses associated with establishing themselves in another country.

The real decision: How do you want to begin your international journey?

Nayan’s story began with a GRE score he had almost forgotten. That score reopened the possibility of studying abroad and eventually led him to SPJIMR GMP.

Through GMP, he discovered Nyenrode, a university he had not previously considered. Shanu had taken the same route a year earlier and became an important reference point in Nayan’s decision. Aayush, meanwhile, chose to apply directly to Nyenrode.

Their experiences show that there can be more than one route to an international education.

For some students, direct admission offers a straightforward path to a university they already have in mind. For others, a structured programme such as SPJIMR GMP provides an initial academic experience in India, a peer network and time to prepare for the move overseas.

The degree is one part of the journey. The first decision is how you want to get there.