Faculty of Economics and Business
Campus Brussels & Leuven, Belgium
Master of Science in Business Engineering
A business engineer is trained for analyzing and solving business problems from a quantitative
and managerial point of view. The programme belongs to the domain of business economics
and is management oriented: students learn how companies function, how business processes
should be designed and how business activities can be optimally organized. The managerial
focus is combined with strong analytical skills and a profound understanding of how business
and (technological) innovation processes work. This integration of disciplines is of high relevance
to production environments as well as to service companies (e.g. consultancy or ICT).
A business engineer is an interdisciplinary manager with an extended problem solving
toolbox and a holistic view on modern companies in today’s economic, legal and social
context. With a capacity for analytical thought, management and communication skills and
an eye for sustainable opportunities, business engineers are able to shape the future of
companies and organisations.
DURATION
The Master of Science in Business Engineering is organised at two campuses: Brussels
and Leuven. The programmes share a common structure and have the same compulsory
courses. Each campus offers different courses in the majors, minors, and electives.
Students on one campus have the option to follow some of the courses at the other campus.
2 year (full-time), 120 ECTS
Do business in the heart of Europe
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The faculty aims to excel by offering research-based education in economics and business
science while staying in touch with the corporate world and government circles. The faculty
interfaces with business via a Corporate Council and a wide network of Fellows from the
corporate world. It regularly organises workshops and discussion platforms with leaders of
industry and government, including the European Commission, situated a stone’s throw away
from the Brussels campus, and only 30 minutes from the Leuven campus. It also cooperates
with other faculties at the university, and with partners and institutions all over the world.
Studying at a comprehensive university ranked 35th in the world (Times Higher Education
University Rankings 2015-2016) guarantees an interdisciplinary approach and a healthy
balance between rigor and relevance.
1 March 2016 (for non-EEA citizens)
1 June 2016 (for EEA citizens)
START OF THE PROGRAMME
26 September 2016
“Business Engineering offered me
the ideal mix of quantitative courses
and in-depth knowledge of financial
economics. The economic courses
provide you with the possibility to
see ‘the bigger picture’.
The programme taught me where
to look for explanations, how to
do a cost-benefit analysis and
encouraged entrepreneurship.
It has given me the best academic
foundation to start my career.”
(Kevin, Belgium, graduated in 2012)
Leuven is a very lively and pleasant small university city, located in the centre of Western
Europe, only 25 kilometres from Brussels. Its 43,000 students form more than half of the
population in the centre of the town. In Leuven, students do not disappear in the crowd:
they are the city’s prime citizens. Social and cultural activities are aimed at and geared to
the (international) student audience. Impressive and beautifully restored historic buildings
mixed with many attractive cafes, snack bars and restaurants, give the city a playful charm.
A sparkling multicultural life adds young and dynamic features to the old town.
Brussels is the economic heartbeat of Europe. As a business hub, it has a central position
in Europe. It hosts the European Commission and NATO, as well as a diverse range of
international trade and finance organisations. Hundreds of multinational corporations are
headquartered in Brussels. Many important political and economic decisions are made here.
Brussels is also a flourishing artistic and tourist draw, and a melting pot of cultures. In addition,
Brussels is one of the major student towns in Belgium. The Brussels campus of KU Leuven is
located right in the city centre. As a KU Leuven student, you will be living and studying in this
decision-making centre: a head start for your career.
KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.
2 • Master of Science in Business Engineering
Discover the world
Do you feel like expanding your horizons? We encourage you to study abroad at one of
the faculty’s exclusive partner universities in the first semester of the second year. Increasingly,
employers value young professionals who are familiar with doing business in a multicultural
and multilingual setting. Therefore, the faculty has a strong international focus with a
flourishing participation of students in summer schools and exchange programmes.
See www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/strategy/partnerlistfeb.pdf for an overview of all partner
universities. Make your experience truly international by studying in different parts of the world.
Programme
The programme consists of 120 ECTS spread over two years. The structure of the programme
on both campuses is the same. The common core is taught at both campuses. The choice
of majors and minors differ per campus but are compatible.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CORE COURSES (Campus Leuven and Campus Brussels)
COURSE
COMMON CORE COURSES
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Business Analysis
Applications of Operations Research and Statistics
Energy Technology and Energy Economy
Management Control and Cost Management
Quality Management
Strategic Management
ECTS
36
6
6
6
6
6
6
MASTER’S THESIS
24
MAJOR
24
Students choose one major and select courses for 24 ECTS within that major.
MINOR
24
Students choose one minor and select courses for 24 ECTS within that minor.
ELECTIVES
12
MAJORS CAMPUS BRUSSELS
QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYTICS
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Data Mining
Statistical Modelling and Business Forecasting
Decision Theory and Simulation*
Quantitative Policy Research*
24
6
6
6
6
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
24
Innovation Management
Recent Developments in Science and Technology
High-tech Start-ups*
Open Innovation*
6
6
6
6
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FINANCE AND RISK
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Investments
Financial Engineering
Financial Risk Management
Mathematical Finance*
International Finance*
24
6
3
3
6
6
* These courses can be replaced by courses from corresponding majors in Leuven.
MINORS CAMPUS BRUSSELS
Students choose one minor from the following list and select courses for 24 ECTS
within that minor:
• Corporate Sustainability
• European Affairs Management
• Quantitative Data Analytics
• Technology and Innovation Management
• Finance and Risk
24
Master of Science in Business Engineering
MAJORS CAMPUS LEUVEN
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
24
Students select two courses of each group of electives.
• Accounting Electives: International Accounting / Risk Management and Control /
Introduction to Auditing and International Auditing Standards
• Financial Management Electives: Strategic Financial Management / Financial
Statement Analysis and Security Valuation / International Business Finance
12
RISK AND FINANCE
24
Students select four courses within this major.
• Economics of Financial Intermediation / Loss Models / Trading and Exchanges /
Financial Products / Risk Management in Financial Institutions / Asset Prices:
Basic Models and Tests
24
MARKETING
24
• Behavioral Economics
• Marketing Strategy Modelling
• Market Response Models
Students select one course from the following list:
• Global, B2B & Service Marketing / Brand Management / Social Marketing
PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS
• Seminar Operations Management
12
6
6
6
6
24
6
Students select three courses from the following list:
• Supply Chain Management / Project and Production Scheduling / Simulation
Theory and Applications / Operations Strategy in Manufacturing and Services /
Environmental and Transportation Economics
18
DATA SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS
24
Students choose 24 ECTS within this major. They can select courses from one track,
or divide the 24 ECTS over the courses in the three tracks.
• Track Statistics and Econometrics: Advanced Econometrics / Advanced Time Series
Analysis / Multivariate Statistics / Advanced Applied Econometrics / Statistical Modelling
• Track Operations Research: Project and Production Scheduling / Combinatorial
Optimization and Local Search Techniques / Applied Optimization / Optimization:
Special Topics
• Track Data Science: Principles of Database Management / Machine Learning
and Inductive Inference / Multivariate Statistics / Advanced Analytics in a
Big Data World / Statistical Modelling / Data Mining / Knowledge Management
and Business Intelligence
24
INDUSTRY, GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
24
Students select four courses within this major.
• Global Value Chains / Incentives and Behaviour / Network Industries and
the Digital Economy / Advanced Industrial Economics / Advanced International
Trade Theory / Economics of New Technologies
24
TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
24
• Strategic Management of Technology
• Technology Trends and Opportunities
• Technological Entrepreneurship and New Business Development
6
6
6
Students select one course from the following list:
• Network Industries and the Digital Economy / Economics of New Technologies
6
MINORS CAMPUS LEUVEN
Students choose one minor from the following list and select courses for 24 ECTS
within that minor:
• Accounting & Financial Management / Finance / Actuarial & Financial Engineering /
Marketing / Production & Logistics / Data Science & Business Analytics / Industry,
Global Value Chains & New Technologies / Economics / Technology & Entrepreneurship /
International Business, Strategy & Innovation / Corporate Sustainability* / European
Affairs Management* / Predoctoral track
* These minors are offered at the campus in Brussels.
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KU LEUVEN
FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
Campus Brussels, Warmoesberg 26, 1000 BRUSSELS, Belgium
Campus Leuven, Naamsestraat 69 box 3500, 3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
http://feb.kuleuven.be/eng
To be eligible for direct admission to the Master of Business Engineering programme,
you must have:
• an academic bachelor’s degree with a strong quantitative and/or technological focus
and with sufficient knowledge of economics and management science; or
• an academic bachelor’s degree in (business) economics with a substantial quantitative
and/or technological component.
The screening of the application file will be based on evidence of the applicant’s acquired
competences in primarily the following fields: economics; management; quantitative
methods, technology and sciences, and ICT (including programming).
A GMAT/GRE-test result with a minimum score of above the 80th percentile on the quantitative
part is required. You also need to have a good command of English. Unless you are of
Anglo-Saxon origin, you will be asked to submit a TOEFL or IELTS certificate. If you have
already completed an English-language academic programme at an Anglo-Saxon university,
your degree will be considered sufficient proof of your English proficiency.
Programme admission: www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/prospectivestudents/mben#admission
General admission:
www.kuleuven.be/admissions
Tuition fees
Discover KU Leuven
Founded in 1425, the University
of Leuven (KU Leuven) has been
a centre of learning for almost
six centuries. Today, it is Belgium’s
largest and highest-ranked university
as well as one of the oldest and most
renowned universities in Europe.
As a leading European research
university and co-founder of the
League of European Research
Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers
a wide variety of programmes in
English supported by high-quality
interdisciplinary research. Boasting an
outstanding central location in the heart
of Europe, KU Leuven offers a truly
international experience, high-quality
education, world-class research and
cutting-edge innovation.
The tuition fee is € 890 for EEA students and € 1,750 for non-EEA students.
The fees for are indexed yearly. Please consult the website for the most recent information:
www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees.
Application procedure
KU Leuven uses an online application system. You can download and submit your
application form via www.kuleuven.be/application. Students with a Flemish degree can
consult www.kuleuven.be/inschrijvingen.
Career perspectives
Graduates of the MSc in Business Engineering mostly take up managerial and/or research
positions in business, national and international institutions, and at universities. Business
engineers usually start their careers in technical expert positions within interdisciplinary
management teams. They are typically hired to optimise production processes, to develop
quantitative models in financial institutions, or to market technological innovations. They are
also able to take up more traditional management tasks, armed with the ability to support
key decisions using quantitative analyses. Business engineers quickly move up to executive
functions in various management domains in companies and organisations. Given the variety
of skills acquired, they are highly sought after by a wide range of companies – from start-ups
and small firms to multinational corporations – for various positions in Belgium and abroad.
Contact and detailed course information
www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/prospectivestudents/mben
KU Leuven is a founding member of
the League of European Research Universities
admissions.feb@kuleuven.be
v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Minderbroedersstraat 8, 3000 Leuven
Admission requirements
Last update: February 2016. Changes may have been made since the printing of this fact sheet. Please see www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes for any updates.
4 • Master of Science in Business Engineering