Faculty of Economics and Business
Master of Science
in Business Economics
Master of Science
in Advanced Business Studies
PhD programme
in Business Economics
class="bi x0 y0 w0 h4"
1
Discover KU Leuven
Situated in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for
nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium’s largest university. Founded in 1425, it is 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,
all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.
The university welcomes more than 40,000 students, of which 16% are international
students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuven’s doctoral schools organise inter -
nationally oriented PhD programmes for over 4,000 doctoral students.
The university is located in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Leuven is a
modern, bustling and safe student city with a long and rich history. Cultural and recreational
opportunities
abound. KU Leuven’s central location offers a truly international experience.
Major European
capitals such as Brussels, Paris, London and Amsterdam are only a
(very) short train journey away.
2
Faculty of Economics and Business
As one of KU Leuven’s 15 faculties, the Faculty of Economics and Business carries out
education and research in five departments:
• Economics

the University of Illinois and Rochester University 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 University and Fudan University in China, the University
of Sydney and the
University of Adelaide in Australia, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, Insper in Brazil,
and the Singapore Management University.
3
Why KU Leuven?
The Faculty’s graduate-level and doctoral programmes aim to develop participants’
critical, conceptual, problem-solving 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. Adopting a research
based approach, focus is placed on the disciplines underlying business operations and
economic decisions. This enables graduates to acquire the necessary skills and tools for
coping with current and future challenges.
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’s international
credentials and academic reputation guarantee the quality of the programme.
4
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

provided by the applicant (see required documents).
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;
• the comparability form with a course description of all relevant courses
(see www.econ.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/admissionrequirements);
• two recommendation forms (see www.econ.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. 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
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
• universities which are in the global top 200 in the most recent Times Higher
Education or QS rankings

• 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
Major 3: Financial Economics
•
Core Courses
- Macro Finance 6
- Econometric Methods & Models 6
- Security Pricing and Portfolio Selection 6
• Electives: students select 1 of both electives:
- The Economics of Financial Intermediation 6
- International Business Finance: Forex Markets 6
6
Career prospects
Graduates of the Master of Science in Business Economics mostly take up managerial
and/or research positions in business, national and international institution 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

and management studies used in leading academic institutions, international companies
and institutions.
The programme provides excellent preparation for undertaking a PhD in Business Economics,
but it is also ideal for students seeking research-oriented positions outside the university.
Extensive contact with students from different nationalities and cultures adds an extra
dimension to the programme.
8
9
Admission requirements
Degree requirements
Applicants must hold either of the following:
• a Master’s degree in business studies or applied economics
• 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. The applicant
should have a sound mathematical and statistical background.
Academic performance should be above average (e.g. applicants should have obtained
their degree with at least cum laude or with distinction). Admissibility is evaluated by
the Admissions Board on the basis of information provided by the applicant including
certified copies or diploma and transcript etc. (see required documents).
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,

and a desire to work in research positions at universities, in business or in national
and international institutions.
Programme
The programme focuses on the use of business research methodology and stresses a
combination of theory and applications drawn from real business problems in various
management disciplines.
10
MASTER OF ADVANCED BUSINESS STUDIES 60 ECTS
COURSE ECTS
Core Courses 6
Students take 3 courses from this group, for a total of 18 ECTS
• Combinatorial Optimisation and Local Search Techniques 6
• Advanced Econometrics 6
• Multivariate Statistics 6
• Advanced Time Series Analysis 6
• Applied Game Theory 3
• Economics of Information 3
• Optimisation: Special Topics 6
• Statistical Modelling 6
• Statistics for Finance and Insurance 6
• Actuarial and Financial Models 6
11
COURSE ECTS
Electives 18
Students take electives for a total of 24 ECTS from this group or: One or more
additional core courses - One or more courses at advanced Master’s level, from
other universities.
One or more courses at advanced Master’s level, from other programmes at
KU Leuven, particularly from the Master of Science in Advanced Studies in
Economics programme.

Before joining KU Leuven, I graduated in management at Bocconi
University, Italy. I had already realised that research was my passion
during my studies thanks to two internship experiences at the United
Nations and at the European Parliament. After graduating, I worked as
a researcher at Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, a leading Italian research
centre for two years. My main research interests are regulation,
privatisation and corporate governance. Given my previous studies in
management, I felt that I needed more specific training in quantitative
methods, and after very careful consideration, I decided to come to
KU Leuven. In fact, I found this Master’s programme to be a truly unique
combination of quantitative methods, applied economics and business
research. Moreover, you have a wonderful environment for learning,
PhD level classes and a very stimulating teaching method, with many
applications not only for research, but also for high-level professions
in banking or consulting. I was also positively surprised by the city of
Leuven, which is very beautiful and offers a very nice and lively
environment for students. In Leuven and at KU Leuven you always feel
welcome and you can enjoy a lot of different activities besides studying.
(Silvia Vitiello, graduate)
Career prospects
A large majority of the graduates of the Master of Science in Advanced Business Studies
programme begin careers in managerial and/or research positions in business, national
and international institutions and universities. Graduates can also obtain exemptions from
coursework in the PhD programme in Business Economics at KU Leuven.
12
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,

• finance
• informatics
• marketing
• operations research
• operations management
• human resources management
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.
Application procedure
For information on how to apply, please visit
www.econ.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/prospectivestudent
14
Programme
Please visit www.econ.kuleuven.be/ond/eng/edu/phd/appliedeconomicsplanning
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 international business.
15
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

3000 LEUVEN, België
tel. + 32 16 32 40 10 • fax + 32 16 32 40 14

www.kuleuven.be
v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13 bus 5005, 3000 Leuven