BRUSSELS Bridge programme for Master of Science in Business Administration Faculty of Economics and Business KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.
Study Economics and Business in Brussels The Faculty of Economics and Business has a clear motto: Not Business as Usual. This encapsulates our unique educational profile well. At our campus in Brussels, we stimulate entrepreneurship in a programme with a clear business-oriented focus. Choosing the bridge programme for the MBA is choosing a programme with a strong reputation in the corporate world. TRULY INTERNATIONAL Studying at our campus in Brussels enables you to meet and work closely with students from other cultures and nationalities. The diversity of our programmes is impressive: approximately 80 nationalities are represented. BUSINESS-ORIENTED We invite international managers and government officials to come and share their experiences with the students through of guest lectures. Via company projects and the master s thesis you acquire the critical skills managers need: decision-making, teamwork, dealing with other cultures, time management and communication skills. INTERDISCIPLINARY The programme is interdisciplinary in focus, integrating skills and knowledge from various domains. You ll be trained to identify and solve problems, both individually and as a member of a culturally diverse team, in an environment that simulates the real business world. IN THE HEART OF EUROPE Study business where business is done! In Brussels, you will be studying in the economic heart of Europe. As a business hub, Brussels has a central position in Europe with excellent relations with other European countries. Brussels hosts the EU and NATO, as well as a diverse range of international trade and finance organisations. It is also the place where many important political and economic decisions are made. Your campus is in the middle of this decision-making centre: a head start for launching your career. ACADEMIC DEGREE FROM KU LEUVEN Our programme is part of the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven. After successful completion of the bridge programme and the MBA programme, you will receive a Master of Science diploma from KU Leuven. 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 inter national master s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.
Bridge programme in a nutshell Do you already have a professional bachelor s degree in a business management or economics related field, but want to further broaden and improve your career opportunities? By means of a bridge programme, you can obtain your Master s in Business Administration (MBA) in two years. With this combination of a professional bachelor s degree and an academic MBA, you are well positioned for a successful future in the business world, with the ideal credentials for an executive job or a management position. You will become familiar with both the organisational principles of enterprises and the realities of today s business world. You will acquire the skills to analyse business problems from an academic perspect and develop new, creative solutions to solve them. You will learn to become an independent and multicultural manager with many business competences, such as negotiation, time-management and decision-making. The bridge programme for the Master in Business Administration is an academic programme. Courses are taught in the daytime and are hosted on our Brussels campus. BUSINESS-ORIENTED TRAINING WITH AN ACADEMIC DIPLOMA Our programme has a clear business-oriented focus. Choosing the bridge programme as your path to an MBA is choosing a programme with a strong reputation in the corporate world. You will put your knowledge and understanding to the test in concrete practical situations, linking theory with practice. Your academic degree grounded in practical experience will give you the advantage you need to come out on top in today s job market. Not Business as Usual ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING Our graduates are business economists with a strong entrepreneurial twist. You will learn how to deal with practical problems and you will visit companies frequently. In Brussels, we call this approach Entrepreneurial Learning. Some students take this to heart and start their own companies after graduating.
BUSINESS SEMINARS Our campus organises regular business seminars to keep you abreast of the latest developments in the field. The seminars, held several times a year, are given by prominent business leaders. Guest lecturers from past years include Jos Delbeke (Director-General for Climate Action, European Commission), Norm Johnston (Global Digital Leader, Mindshare Worldwide) and Sophie Dutordoir (CEO, Energy Benelux & Germany, Electrabel/GDF Suez). START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR The academic year starts on Monday, 22 September 2014. Orientation activities for new students are held on campus on Friday, 19 September 2014. VIRTUAL TOUR Take a virtual tour and experience our Brussels campus and its urban surroundings: www.hubrussel.be/virtualtour Admission requirements Direct access: all professional bachelor's degrees from the field of study of Commercial Sciences and Management professional bachelor's degree in education: secondary education (with mathematics and economics as optional subjects) For students with a non Belgian degree the faculty will take a motivated decision on the equivalence of the foreign degree with one of the above-mentioned qualifications. Profile You are eager to launch a career in international business; You believe that a business-oriented, hands-on, critical, and problem-oriented approach to business education is something for you; You are convinced that studying and working in a multicultural team is an asset.
Programme The programme consists of the bridge programme and the master s programme, both of which consist of 60 ECTS, totaling 120 ECTS spread out over 2 years. BRIDGE PROGRAMME (YEAR 1) 60 ECTS COURSE ECTS ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 16 Principles of Managerial Economics 3 Macro-economics and Economic Policy 7 International Economics 3 European Policy 3 RESEARCH AND METHODS 26 Research Methods for Business Economists 6 Research Project Economics and Management 4 Statistics for Business Economists 8 Mathematics for Business Economists 8 STRATEGY AND BUSINESS SCIENCE 18 General Management and Corporate Strategy 4 Marketing 3 Introduction to Financial Reporting 6 Corporate Finance 5 After completing the bridge programme, you can enrol in the Master of Business Administration. For more information about this degree programme, see the MBA brochure or visit www.kuleuven.be/ma/mbabx For detailed descriptions of this programme s courses and for the course timetable, please consult www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes Mathematics Today s business economists often use mathematical models to describe reality in a logical way. The language of mathematics provides powerful tools (formulas, graphs, concepts like functions) to describe and explore such models. Moreover, by learning this language you develop skills in recognising structure, systematic problem-solving, and checking the plausibility of an obtained result. You will also use mathematical concepts and methods in courses like statistics, economics, financial algebra and econometrics.
We offer a range of tools to help you develop your mathematics skills. Before the beginning of the academic year, we organise a brushing-up course to assess your skill levels. Although you will receive mathematics training at our campus, a sound basis in mathematics is necessary before starting the programme. Your application We welcome applications from holders of a recognised professional bachelor s degree in economics or management. Additionally, all applicants must submit proof of English proficiency. TUITION FEE The annual tuition fee is +/-610 EUR. Tuition covers the cost of scheduled learning activities and exams and does not include costs related to study materials, travel and living expenses, personal insurance, etc. Please consult the website for the most recent information concerning the application procedure. www.kuleuven.be/application Studying abroad Studying abroad opens your eyes to new people, languages, cultures and ways of doing business. That's why we encourage our students to do a portion of their master studies abroad. We have exchange agreements with 90 universities worldwide, including universities in Norway, Italy, France, Poland, Turkey and Great Britain. For students looking to go further afield, we also offer opportunities in Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
MBA career prospects The International Business Management major prepares graduates for management positions in finance, administration and commerce. Employment opportunities are numerous and diverse. Many graduates choose to pursue career in the financial sector or in management consultancy firms. The Business Information Management major prepares graduates for management positions in finance, administration and commerce. Employment opportunities are numerous and diverse. Many graduates choose to pursue career in the financial sector or in management consultancy firms. The International Relations major prepares graduates for management positions in international organisations, NGOs, government, multinational enterprises and local organisations with a global perspective. Graduates have keen insight into international economic and political realities and are thus also well-positioned for careers in banking and international business.
KU LEUVEN Oude Markt 13 box 5005 3000 LEUVEN, Belgium onderwijscommunicatie@kuleuven.be www.kuleuven.be Learn more www.kuleuven.be/athubrussel/eng General information www.kuleuven.be/english www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes Publications www.masterskuleuven.be/publications Campuses www.kuleuven.be/campuses Faculty of Economics and Business Campus Brussels (@HUBrussel) Warmoesberg 26 1000 BRUSSELS tel. + 32 2 210 16 34 feb.hubrussel@kuleuven.be Mrs Inge Verhoeven Programme coordinator bridge programme MBA inge.verhoeven@kuleuven.be This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available concerning Master s programmes offered at KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time. KU Leuven is 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: January 2014 v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven