Master of Science
in Business Economics
PhD programme
in Business Economics
Faculty of Economics and Business
KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.
Discover KU Leuven. Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven
has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and
highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, 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 international master’s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative,
interdisciplinary research.
Since its founding, KU Leuven has been based in the city that shares its name.
Leuven is a pleasant, safe and bustling student town, where centuries-rich history
meets cutting-edge science. The university also offers degree programmes at
campuses in 11 Belgian cities, including Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp.
The Faculty of Economics and Business has established its
place amongst the top business schools in the world by
acquiring the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
accreditation for its four campuses. The EQUIS accreditation is
awarded by the EFMD, recognized globally as an accreditation
body of quality in management education with established
accreditation services for business schools and business school
programmes, corporate universities and technology-enhanced learning programmes.
8 feb.kuleuven.be/home/equis
Obtaining the EQUIS accreditation is achieved with a balance between academic
rigour and professional relevance which is provided by our close interaction with the
corporate world. EQUIS attaches particular importance to the creation of an effective
learning environment that favours the development of students’ managerial and
entrepreneurial skills, and fosters their sense of global responsibility. It also looks for
innovation in all respects, including programme design and pedagogy.
Our innovation comes from deep faculty involvement in their respective disciplines.
Faculty members and members of the administration are active in international
conferences and thus discuss programmes in their respective fields with colleagues
from around the world. In addition, a number of faculty members teach short-term
courses internationally or have joint appointments with international universities.
The accreditation affirms FEB's place amongst the select group of accredited
schools such as Amsterdam Business School, BI, Copenhagen Business School,
Edhec, HEC Paris, IESE, IMD, Insead, Judge, London Business School, Melbourne
Business School, RSM, Saïd, Stockholm School of Economics, Tsinghua, ...
1
Why the Faculty of Economics and Business,
Campus Leuven
As one of KU Leuven’s 16 faculties, the Faculty of Economics and Business offers bachelor’s
and master’s programmes at four campuses: Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp and Kortrijk.
Its activities in Leuven include high-level education, innovative research and service to
partners in government and the corporate world. These activities are organised by five
research departments:
•
•
•
•
•
Accountancy, Finance and Insurance
Decision Sciences and Information Management
Economics
Managerial Economics, Strategy and Innovation
Marketing and Organisation Studies
The faculty’s graduate-level and doctoral programmes aim
to develop participants’ critical, conceptual, problemsolving and decision-making skills. A graduate degree from
KU Leuven’s Faculty of Economics and Business equips
students with fundamental and conceptual knowledge and
analytical tools to cope effectively with the problems of the current and constantly changing
business and economic environment. A variety of teaching methods (lectures, case
discussions, exercises, computer-assisted problem-solving and individual research) is used
to enhance students’ educational experience. Students are expected to participate actively.
The faculty evaluates classroom work, written assignments and examinations on a regular
basis. The workload is demanding, as to be expected from a high-quality graduate school.
The faculty aims to excel by offering research-based education in economics and business
science while never losing 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 maintains an active partnership with Vlerick Business School and regularly
organises workshops and discussion platforms with leaders of industry and government, e. g.
the European Commission, situated only 30 minutes from the campus. It also cooperates
with other faculties at the university, and with partners and institutions all over the world.
One of the faculty’s most important assets is its vast national and international network.
Many alumni work at European institutions, and many staff members act as advisers to
various European bodies and international companies. The faculty’s worldwide alumni
network offers excellent communication channels and networking opportunities with leading
figures in industry and politics all over the world. External quality assessments confirm that
the Faculty of Economics and Business’ teaching and research meet the highest international
standards. As a result, the FEB earned the EQUIS accreditation awarded by the EFMD,
recognized gobally as an accreditation body of quality in management education.
8 www.feb.kuleuven.be/home/equis
2
This academic reputation attracts students and scholars from across the globe, creating
a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere. This international focus is also clear in the faculty's
wide international student exchange network. The Faculty of Economics and Business
participates extensively in the (intra-EU) Erasmus programme (with 82 partners) and has
numerous agreements with leading universities outside the EU, including: the Wharton
School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), the University of Illinois, Rochester
University and FIU in the United States, the University of British Columbia and Queen’s
University in Canada, the Indian Institutes of Management Calcutta and Bangalore in
India, the Chinese University and the City University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua, Fudan
and Beijing University in China, the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide
in Australia, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, Insper and PUC Rio in Brazil,
the UAI in Chili, Singapore Management University and several other top business
schools around the world. A list of all partner universities can be found at:
8 www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/leuven/students/going-abroad/
3
Master of Science in
Business Economics
The Master of Science in Business Economics programme emphasises the acquisition
of fundamental knowledge and skills in an area of specialisation related to the corporate
world. By combining this programme with initial specialisations from the bachelor’s
programme, you will develop deeper insight into a broad range of fields and fine-tune
your personal graduation profile. On completing this programme, you will be able to
apply scientific frameworks independently and critically, allowing you to evolve
continuously in a dynamic society and workplace.
Profile
You have an entrepreneurial personality with broad socio-economic interests. You are
fascinated by the business world and would like to pursue a management career in
entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, strategy, international business or finance.
Admission requirements
•
•
For Belgian applicants who completed their prior education at a Flemish institution
of higher education, see the admission requirements for Master (of Science) in de
toegepaste economische wetenschappen (www.kuleuven.be/ma/mtew) or
www.feb.kuleuven.be/leuven/student/opleiding/studiekiezer
For all other applicants, the following requirements apply:
Degree requirements
•
4
Applicants should hold a university bachelor’s degree in Economics or Business
Economics comparable to a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Economics
or Business Engineering from the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven,
Campus Leuven. Applicants should have a solid background in macroeconomics,
microeconomics, mathematics and statistics. During their prior education, applicants
should have acquired the basic conceptual frameworks of “diverse areas of
management / business” and have a sufficiently broad view on the general economic
and social contexts in which business operates as well as on the human networks
within these organisations. Degree comparability is evaluated by the Faculty on
the basis of the documents provided by the applicant through the official online
application procedure (www.kuleuven.be/application).
Language requirements
Proof of proficiency in English
• All applicants must submit a satisfactory score on one of the following internationally
recognised tests of English language proficiency:
- TOEFL (minimum score 575 paper-based, 233 computer-based, 90 internet-based)
- IELTS (minimum score 7)
No other proficiency tests will be accepted.
• An exemption from the TOEFL or IELTS is only possible for applicants with a university
degree or high school degree earned in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand,
United Kingdom or the United States. The certified diploma and transcripts suffice,
provided they confirm that the entire study was completed in English.
Required documents
All
•
•
•
applicants must provide the following documents:
certified copies of degrees, transcripts and, if available, a ranking indication;
a course description of all relevant courses;
a letter of motivation written and signed by the applicant, explaining the choice for
KU Leuven and for the particular programme.
• two recommendation forms (see www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/admissionrequirements)
completed, signed and posted in a sealed envelope signed over the lid by the referee
to the Faculty of Economics and Business, Campus Leuven. Forms not provided in
a sealed envelope signed across the lid by the referee will be regarded as void.
The recommendation forms can also be mailed directly by the referee to
fbe@econ.kuleuven.be
These documents suffice for applicants with a non-Belgian degree from:
• universities which have an exchange agreement with the Faculty of Economics
and Business of KU Leuven, Campus Leuven
• universities which are in the global top 200 in the most recent Times Higher
Education or QS rankings
Additional information is required for applicants from other universities as it is otherwise
impossible to reliably assess degree comparability. In those cases, a GMAT or GRE result
above the 75th percentile on the quantitative part is required.
The Faculty evaluates all applications and has the final say on the admissibility of the student.
Incomplete application files will not be evaluated.
Application procedure
•
•
Non-EEA citizens must submit a complete application file by 1 March. EEA citizens
(or non-EEA citizens with a residence permit for Belgium) are strongly advised to
submit their application file before 1 June.
Tuition fee: 890 EUR (EEA-citizens), 1,750 EUR (Non-EEA-citizens)
For more information on how to apply, please visit
8 www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/prospectivestudent
Programme
The programme starts at the end of September. The academic year is divided into
two semesters, each consisting of 13 teaching weeks, followed by exam revision and
exams. The programme consists of one core course, a major (including a master’s
thesis), a minor and one elective course.
MASTER OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS
COURSE
CORE COURSES
• Strategic Management
MASTER’S THESIS
60 ECTS
ECTS
6
6
15
MAJOR
24
Students choose one major and select courses for 24 credits within this major.
Major 1: International Business, Strategy and Innovation
6
• International Business Strategy
• International Management
6
• Competitive Analysis and Strategy
6
• Political Business Strategy
6
• Economics of Global Innovation
6
• Innovation Management and Strategy
6
Major 2: Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship and New Business Development
6
• The Foundations of Entrepreneurship
6
• Organising for Entrepreneurship
3
• Entrepreneurial Finance
3
• Strategic IP Management
3
• Intrapreneurship
3
6
COURSE
Major 3: Financial Economics
• Credit and Banking
• Business Finance
• Macro Finance
• Security Pricing and Portfolio Selection
Major 4: Marketing
• International Marketing
• Marketing Strategy Modelling
• Consumer Behaviour*
• Brand Management
• Social Marketing
ECTS
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
MINOR
12
Students choose one minor and select courses within this minor for 12 ECTS:
• Strategy and Innovation, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Financial Economics,
Marketing, Accounting and Auditing, Business Research, Production and Logistics,
Economics, Informatics for Business Economics, Personnel and Organisation.
FREE ELECTIVES: students choose one free elective course
3 or 6
For detailed descriptions of this programme’s courses and for the course timetable,
please consult www.kuleuven.be/ma/mbel
Career prospects
Graduates of the Master of Science in Business Economics mostly take up managerial
and/or research positions in business, national and international institutions and in
managerial functions at universities. Given the variety of skills acquired, you will be
highly sought after by a wide range of companies (from small firms to multinational
corporations) in a variety of positions and sectors in Belgium or abroad. You can for
instance pursue a career as an auditor, entrepreneur, consultant, financial analyst,
financial manager, project manager, sales manager, marketing manager or stock
broker. This is only a small selection of the many options available to you.
* Students who did not take this course as part of prior coursework are required to take this course.
7
EXTENDED MASTER
Study an extra semester abroad at one of the faculty's exclusive partner
universities.
The Faculty of Economics and Business has close links with top business schools
around the world, such as Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, University
of Cardiff in the UK, Hanken in Finland, SKEMA Business School in France,
the University of Illinois in the United States, the University of Sydney and the
University of Adelaide in Australia, Queen’s University in Canada, Tsinghua and
Fudan University in China, PUC in Brazil, City University of Hong Kong and many
more institutions both in Europe and overseas. For students in the MSc in
Economics and MSc in Business Economics, the faculty offers an additional
semester at one of these destinations after completing 2 semesters in Leuven.
Make your experience truly international by studying in different parts of the world.
8
PhD in Business
Economics
The doctoral programme in Business Economics is an advanced, four-year programme
designed to train future researchers in one of the key fields of management: marketing,
organisation studies, operations management, operations research and business statistics,
management informatics, finance, accountancy, actuarial science or managerial economics
and strategy and innovation. The programme is designed to develop and nurture young
talent and prepare PhD graduates for careers in both academia and international business.
Currently about 150 students with diverse backgrounds and nationalities are enrolled in
the doctoral programme, creating an energetic and stimulating work environment.
The purpose of the programme is to familiarise students with current research practices
in business and management studies used in leading academic institutions, international
business companies and institutions. The programme is designed to prepare PhD graduates
for careers in both academia and international business. PhD students obtain the degree of
Doctor in Business Economics after successfully defending a doctoral dissertation.
Admission requirements
The admission requirements for the doctoral programme depend on the applicant’s
previous studies. The admission to the doctoral programme is granted by the Faculty
Board based on the individual file of the applicant and after consulting with professors
of the department in question. The minimum admission requirements are:
•
•
a master's degree in business (or a degree equivalent to four or five years of
management studies);
a master's degree in another field, provided that the basics of business have been
covered and the other elements in the application file are outstanding; and should
have a sound background in mathematics and statistics.
Academic performance should be above average (applicants should have obtained
distinction (honors) at least twice for the university diplomas.
Students applying for the PhD programme should have a promotor at the Faculty of
Economics and Business, KU Leuven, Campus Leuven, before applying.
9
Language requirements
Proof of proficiency in English
• Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must submit a satisfactory score
on one of the following internationally recognised test of English language proficiency:
- TOEFL (minimum score 575 paper-based, 233 computer-based, 90 internet-based)
- IELTS (minimum score 7)
No other proficiency tests will be accepted.
• An exemption from the TOEFL or IELTS is only possible for applicants with a university
degree or high school degree earned in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United
Kingdom or the United States. The certified diploma and transcripts suffice, provided
they confirm that the entire study was completed in English.
Other required documents
All applicants should provide the following documents:
• certified copies of transcripts, degrees and, if available, a ranking indication;
• a GMAT or GRE score. The test results should not be older than 5 years. A GRE or
a GMAT test result above the 75th percentile on the quantitative part is required to
enter the program, provided all other requirements are met as well.
• The requirement for a GRE/GMAT or TOEFL/IELTS score can only be waived
in exceptional circumstances. For more information, contact your supervisor.
The supervisor needs to confirm in writing (e.g. email) that he/she is in favor of
waiving the GRE/GMAT or TOEFL/IELTS score.
• a letter of motivation written and signed by the applicant, explaining the choice
for KU Leuven and for this particular programme.
The Faculty evaluates all applications and has the final say on the admissibility of the
applicant, taking into account the relevant information. Application files will not be
processed as long as they are incomplete.
Profile
Students should have a keen interest in recent analytical developments in business
economics and a desire to work in research positions at universities, in business or
in national and international institutions.
10
Soon I’ll be halfway through the doctoral programme at the Faculty of
Business and Economics at KU Leuven. When I look back at what I’ve
experienced and learned over the past two years, I can only hope that
the coming years will be just as fascinating and captivating. The doctoral
programme provides me with the opportunity to contribute to the research
community, and the stimulating environment in which I am being trained
as a researcher helps me achieve my ambitions and objectives.
The combination of the intellectual freedom that I am granted as a doctoral
student and the support offered by the faculty encourages me to achieve
my aspirations and to conduct innovative and ground-breaking research.
I feel that a PhD from KU Leuven is a solid basis for a successful academic
career and I can hardly imagine a better choice than the doctoral
programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven.
(Bram Van den Bergh, PhD student)
Application procedure
For information on how to apply, please visit
8 www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/prospectivestudent
Programme
Please visit
8 feb.kuleuven.be/eng/leuven/edu/phd
for a year-by-year overview of the programme.
Career prospects
A large majority of graduates with a PhD in Business Economics pursue careers in
both academia and business.
11
Learn more
www.kuleuven.be/ma/mbel
www.kuleuven.be/ma/mnmabsl
www.feb.kuleuven.be/phd
www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/prospectivestudent
General information
www.kuleuven.be/english
www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes
www.kuleuven.be/admissions
www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
Publications
www.kuleuven.be/internationalbrochures
Faculty of Economics and Business
Naamsestraat 69 box 3500
3000 LEUVEN
tel. + 32 16 32 66 12
fax + 32 16 32 66 20
www.feb.kuleuven.be/onderwijshelpdesk
www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng
12
This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available
concerning these graduate programmes offered at KU Leuven. However,
amendments to the composition of these programmes may be approved at any
time. Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information
provided in this brochure. The most recent information on all our academic
programmes can be consulted at www.kuleuven.be/coursecatalogue
Last updated: February 2015
v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven
KU LEUVEN
Oude Markt 13 bus 5005
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
onderwijscommunicatie@kuleuven.be
www.kuleuven.be