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DurationMaster of Business Economics (Leuven) (60 ECTS) Master of Science
Students with a degree obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community
For applicants who completed their prior education at an institution of the Flemish Community the admission requirements for the Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen apply.
Direct
On the basis of the following degrees, or similar degrees, obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community:
- Bachelor handelsingenieur (Brussel, Leuven)
- Bachelor handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven)
- Bachelor in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen (Kortrijk, Leuven)
- Bachelor of Business Engineering (Brussel)
- Master handelsingenieur (Leuven)
- Master handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven)
- Master of Business Engineering (Leuven)
- Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering (Leuven)
Students who have obtained the degree of Master in het management with the track to the Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen/Master of Business Economics at KU Leuven in the past, can contact the study career counselor.
After a preparatory programme
Students who have obtained an academic Bachelor’s/Master's degree that does not grant direct access can gain access through the Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen/Master of Business Economics (Dutch programme).
For Bachelors in de handelswetenschappen and Bachelors of Business Administration graduated at KU Leuven, the preparatory programme counts 17 ECTS.
Students with a degree not obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community
Students who did not obtain their previous degree(s) at an institution of the Flemish Community should submit an application via the Admissions Office: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/application/.
You can find a list of core documents, which should be submitted with every application, here: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/application/requesteddocuments.
Diploma requirements
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. They should have a solid background in macroeconomics, microeconomics, mathematics, statistics and management. During their prior education, applicants should have acquired the basic conceptual frameworks of diverse areas in business economics and have a sufficient broad view on the general economic and social contexts in which business operates and on the human networks within these organisations. Comparability is evaluated by the faculty on the basis of the required documents provided by the applicant through the official online application procedure.Language requirements
Applicants must prove their English language proficiency by means of a IELTS Academic or TOEFL test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7, for the TOEFL internet based test it is 94. The minimum sub-scores are 20 out of 30 for the TOEFL results and 6.5 for the IELTS results. Applicants who obtained an IELTS of 6.5 (minimum sub-scores 6.0) or a TOEFL of 90 (minimum sub-scores 20 out of 30) and have afterwards completed at least 1 year of full-time study in higher education in the English language, may also be considered for admission.Candidates who obtained the CPE Certificate or the CAE Certificate with a minimum overall score of 180 meet the requirement of the English language proficiency as well. An exemption from the proof of English proficiency by means of the above-mentioned tests is possible for applicants with a secondary education degree or a higher education degree earned in Australia, English speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the USA: the degree and transcripts suffice, provided they confirm that the entire study was completed in English. Students who completed their studies in a satellite campus which is located in another country than the main campus of the university are not eligible for an exemption from the English language proficiency certificate.
Students with a Flemish secondary education diploma and/or a Flemish academic bachelor/master degree are also exempted from the English language requirement.
Additional requirements
A GMAT / GRE test result is to be included in the application. For the GMAT (old version) a minimum score of 49 on the quantitative part and an overall score of 620 is required. For the GMAT (new version) a minimum score of 82 on the quantitative part and an overall score of 585 is required. Alternatively a GRE can be submitted with a minimum score of 164 on quantitative reasoning and 154 on verbal reasoning.Students with an academic bachelor/master degree from a Belgian university are exempted from the GMAT / GRE requirement. Students who completed an exchange programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business and obtained good results can be potentially exempted as well; they need to contact the faculty and request a waiver based on their transcript of records.
All applicants must provide a course description of all relevant courses. (a document with regard to the course descriptions can be found in the prospective students website).
Additional information
All applications are evaluated by both KU Leuven admissions office and the relevant programme directors. Admission is ultimately at the discretion of the faculty. Please note that evaluation of applications is based on complete files only and that the criteria published are basic (eligibility) criteria only. Keep in mind that the evaluation process can only start after the applicant has submitted all necessary test results (language and/or GMAT/GRE test results, if applicable). Test results must be submitted by the application deadline at the latest.
Students with a degree obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community
For applicants who completed their prior education at an institution of the Flemish Community the admission requirements for the Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen apply.
Direct
On the basis of the following degrees, or similar degrees, obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community:
- Bachelor handelsingenieur (Brussel, Leuven)
- Bachelor handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven)
- Bachelor in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen (Kortrijk, Leuven)
- Bachelor of Business Engineering (Brussel)
- Master handelsingenieur (Leuven)
- Master handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven)
- Master of Business Engineering (Leuven)
- Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering (Leuven)
Students who have obtained the degree of Master in het management with the track to the Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen/Master of Business Economics at KU Leuven in the past, can contact the study career counselor.
After a preparatory programme
Students who have obtained an academic Bachelor’s/Master's degree that does not grant direct access can gain access through the Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen/Master of Business Economics (Dutch programme).
For Bachelors in de handelswetenschappen and Bachelors of Business Administration graduated at KU Leuven, the preparatory programme counts 17 ECTS.
Students with a degree not obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community
Students who did not obtain their previous degree(s) at an institution of the Flemish Community should submit an application via the Admissions Office: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/application/.
You can find a list of core documents, which should be submitted with every application, here: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/application/requesteddocuments.
Diploma requirements
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. They should have a solid background in macroeconomics, microeconomics, mathematics, statistics and management. During their prior education, applicants should have acquired the basic conceptual frameworks of diverse areas in business economics and have a sufficient broad view on the general economic and social contexts in which business operates and on the human networks within these organisations. Comparability is evaluated by the faculty on the basis of the required documents provided by the applicant through the official online application procedure.Language requirements
Applicants must prove their English language proficiency by means of a IELTS Academic or TOEFL test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7, for the TOEFL internet based test it is 94. The minimum sub-scores are 20 out of 30 for the TOEFL results and 6.5 for the IELTS results. Applicants who obtained an IELTS of 6.5 (minimum sub-scores 6.0) or a TOEFL of 90 (minimum sub-scores 20 out of 30) and have afterwards completed at least 1 year of full-time study in higher education in the English language, may also be considered for admission.Candidates who obtained the CPE Certificate or the CAE Certificate with a minimum overall score of 180 meet the requirement of the English language proficiency as well. An exemption from the proof of English proficiency by means of the above-mentioned tests is possible for applicants with a secondary education degree or a higher education degree earned in Australia, English speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the USA: the degree and transcripts suffice, provided they confirm that the entire study was completed in English. Students who completed their studies in a satellite campus which is located in another country than the main campus of the university are not eligible for an exemption from the English language proficiency certificate.
Students with a Flemish secondary education diploma and/or a Flemish academic bachelor/master degree are also exempted from the English language requirement.
Additional requirements
A GMAT / GRE test result is to be included in the application. For the GMAT a minimum score of 49 on the quantitative part and an overall score of 600 is required. For the GMAT Focus Edition a minimum score of 84 on the quantitative part and an overall score of 565 is required. Alternatively a GRE can be submitted with a minimum score of 160 on quantitative reasoning and 152 on verbal reasoning.Students with an academic bachelor/master degree from a Belgian university are exempted from the GMAT / GRE requirement. Students who completed an exchange programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business and obtained good results can be potentially exempted as well; they need to contact the faculty and request a waiver based on their transcript of records.
All applicants must provide a course description of all relevant courses. (a document with regard to the course descriptions can be found in the prospective students website).
Additional information
All applications are evaluated by both KU Leuven admissions office and the relevant programme directors. Admission is ultimately at the discretion of the faculty. Please note that evaluation of applications is based on complete files only and that the criteria published are basic (eligibility) criteria only. Keep in mind that the evaluation process can only start after the applicant has submitted all necessary test results (language and/or GMAT/GRE test results, if applicable).
Schedule-
Students follow the core course (6 ECTS), choose one major in which they select courses for 24 ECTS and the Master's thesis (15 ECTS), one minor in which they select courses for 12 ECTS and one free elective (minimum 3 ECTS).
Students can only select the Master's Thesis in their ISP if they select it simultaneously with the core course (6 ECTS) and the courses of their major (24 ECTS) or if they have already passed these courses.
Students are free to select the major and minor they want but are advised to make sure they have the necessary prior knowledge for their chosen major and minor.
Students who obtained their bachelor's degree (at another educational institution) must always take at least 60 credits within the master's programme. It is not possible to reduce the study duration by means of exemptions based on credits obtained in the preceding Bachelor's programme. If necessary, the ISP must be supplemented with elective courses.
Students can find additional details about their study programme (the course options, the transitional provisions, information on transferring and redirecting) on the specific information page.-
Core
Students are required to take the core course.
6 ECTS Strategic Management 
D0R04A staff
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Majors
Students choose one major. Students select the major specific Master Thesis OPO, the major’s compulsory courses and they complete their major by selecting electives (if applicable), for a total of 15 ECTS (thesis) + 24 ECTS (courses).
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Major 1: International Business, Strategy and Innovation
Students are required to take the Master's thesis and select four courses (24 ECTS) out of electives.
With a view to an efficient time schedule the following courses are, for students who follow a model route, best to be combined with the core course of the programme: ‘D0M19B International Business Strategy’, ‘D0R23A Political Business Strategy’, ‘D0R43A Competitive Analysis and Strategy’ and ‘D0H36A Innovation Management and Strategy’.15 ECTS Master's Thesis International Business, Strategy and Innovation 
D0O48A staff- N.
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Major 1: International Business, Strategy and Innovation: Electives
6 ECTS International Management 
D0M23B staff 6 ECTS Innovation Management and Strategy D0H36A staff 6 ECTS Political Business Strategy D0R23A staff 6 ECTS International Business Strategy D0M19B staff 6 ECTS Economics of Global Innovation D0R22A staff 6 ECTS Competitive Analysis and Strategy D0R43A staff
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Major 2: Entrepreneurship
Students are required to take the Master's thesis (15 ECTS) and the courses (24 ECTS).
15 ECTS Master's Thesis Entrepreneurship D0O49A staff- N.
6 ECTS The Foundations of Entrepreneurship D0O40A staff 3 ECTS Organising for Entrepreneurship D0O45A staff 3 ECTS Strategic IP Management D0O43A staff 3 ECTS Intrapreneurship D0O44A staff 3 ECTS Entrepreneurial Finance D0O46A staff 6 ECTS Entrepreneurship and New Business Development D0O37A staff
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Major 3: Financial Economics
Students are required to take the Master's thesis (15 ECTS) and the courses (24 ECTS).
Students who selected or already followed the course 'D0O46A Entrepreneurial Finance' cannot take the course 'D0O54A Business Finance', and vice versa.15 ECTS Master's Thesis Financial Economics D0O34A staff- N.
6 ECTS Macro-Finance D0C15A staff 6 ECTS Investments D0M32B staff 6 ECTS Behavioural Finance D0O82A staff- R.Goncharenko (coordinator)
- J.Thewissen
6 ECTS Business Finance D0O54A staff
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Major 4: Accounting and Financial Management
Students are required to take the master's thesis (15 ECTS) and select 12 ECTS from the group 'Electives Accounting' and 12 ECTS from the group 'Electives Financial Management'.
15 ECTS Master's Thesis Accounting and Financial Management (MBE) D0O69A staff- N.
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Major 4 Accounting and Financial Manangement: Electives Accounting
Students select 12 ECTS from the group 'Electives Accounting'. Students who have already completed both 'D0R50A International Accounting' and 'D0T28A Consolidatie en financiële bedrijfsdoorlichting' (credit or tolerance) may not take 'D0O86A International and Group Accounting'
6 ECTS International and Group Accounting D0O86A staff 6 ECTS Introduction to Auditing and International Auditing Standards D0N77A staff 6 ECTS Management Control and Cost Management D0O58A staff- N.
- S.Khajehnejad (substitute)
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Major 4 Accounting and Financial Management: Electives Financial Management
Students select 12 ECTS from the group 'Electives Financial Management'.
6 ECTS Strategic Financial Management D0R05A staff 6 ECTS Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation D0R87A staff 6 ECTS International Business Finance D0O53A staff
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Major 5: Marketing Management
Students are required to take the Master’s thesis (15 ECTS) and the courses (24 ECTS).
15 ECTS Master's Thesis Marketing Management D0O50A staff- N.
6 ECTS Global, B2B and Service Marketing D0R36A staff 6 ECTS Digital Marketing D0Q05A staff- B.Larivière
- B.Henkens (substitute)
6 ECTS Brand Management D0R42A staff 6 ECTS Socially Responsible Marketing D0O51A staff
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Major 6: Personnel and Organization
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Major 6 Personnel and Organization: Core
Students are required to take the Master’s Thesis.
15 ECTS Master's Thesis Personnel and Organization D0O85A staff- N.
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Major 6 Personnel and Organization: Electives
Students choose elective courses for 24 ECTS. ‘Arbeidsrecht en onderneming’ (C08I7A) is taught in Dutch and aims at students with an interest in Belgian labour law.
Students can choose either Arbeidsrecht en onderneming (C08I7A) or Labour Policy and Law, including Discussion Sessions (C01M7A), but cannot take up both courses in their study programme.
Students who have already successfully completed Labour Economics (D0E35A) during their bachelor at KU Leuven (attained a credit for this course), cannot take up this course again in the Master of Business Economics or get an exemption for this course in the Master of Business Economics. They are required to pick a different elective within the major.6 ECTS Talent Management D0R26A staff- N.Dries
- A.van Zelderen (substitute)
6 ECTS Responsible organizations: Critical perspectives D0R27A staff- M.Janssens
- L.Terlinden (substitute)
6 ECTS Arbeidsrecht en onderneming C08I7A staff 6 ECTS Labour Economics D0E35A staff 6 ECTS Organizing in an International Context D0M24B staff- M.Janssens
- M.De Coster (substitute)
6 ECTS Labour Policy and Law C01M7A staff
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Minors
Students choose one minor and select courses for 12 ECTS within this minor.
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Minor 1: Strategy and Innovation
6 ECTS Innovation Management and Strategy D0H36A staff 6 ECTS Political Business Strategy D0R23A staff 6 ECTS Applied Game Theory and Economics of Information D0M59B staff- C.Crombez (coordinator)
- J.Seldeslachts
6 ECTS Economics of Global Innovation D0R22A staff 6 ECTS Competitive Analysis and Strategy D0R43A staff 3 ECTS Strategic IP Management D0O43A staff 3 ECTS Intrapreneurship D0O44A staff
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Minor 2: International Business
6 ECTS Global, B2B and Service Marketing D0R36A staff 6 ECTS International Management D0M23B staff 6 ECTS International Business Strategy D0M19B staff 6 ECTS Organizing in an International Context D0M24B staff- M.Janssens
- M.De Coster (substitute)
6 ECTS Managerial Aspects of European Integration D0M57B staff
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Minor 3: Entrepreneurship
Only accessible for students who have not chosen the major Entrepreneurship. cannot choose the minor Entrepreneurship.
Students who selected or already followed the course 'D0O54A Business Finance' can not take the course 'D0O46A Entrepreneurial Finance' and vice versa.6 ECTS The Foundations of Entrepreneurship D0O40A staff 3 ECTS Organising for Entrepreneurship D0O45A staff 3 ECTS Strategic IP Management D0O43A staff 3 ECTS Intrapreneurship D0O44A staff 3 ECTS Entrepreneurial Finance D0O46A staff 6 ECTS Entrepreneurship and New Business Development D0O37A staff
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Minor 4: Accounting and Financial Management
Students who have already completed both D0R50A International Accounting and D0T28A Consolidatie en financiële bedrijfsdoorlichting (credit or tolerance) may not take D0O86A International and Group Accounting.
6 ECTS Strategic Financial Management D0R05A staff 6 ECTS Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation D0R87A staff 6 ECTS Sustainable Business, Reporting and Governance D0O83A staff 6 ECTS International and Group Accounting D0O86A staff 6 ECTS Internal Control and Risk Management D0R51A staff
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Minor 5: Financial Economics
Students who selected or already followed the course ‘D0O46A Entrepreneurial Finance’ cannot take the course ‘D0O54A Business Finance', and vice versa.
6 ECTS Trading and Exchanges D0C14A staff 6 ECTS Investments D0M32B staff 6 ECTS Credit and Banking D0O52A staff 6 ECTS Behavioural Finance D0O82A staff- R.Goncharenko (coordinator)
- J.Thewissen
6 ECTS Business Finance D0O54A staff
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Minor 6: Production and Logistics
Students are recommended to thoroughly check the prerequisites of the courses of this minor.
'D0R20A Seminar Operations Management’ can only be taken by students who took the courses of the “Major 2: Productie en logistiek” during their bachelor in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen.6 ECTS Project Management and Scheduling D0R18A staff 6 ECTS Operations Strategy in Manufacturing and Services D0S92A staff 6 ECTS Seminar Operations Management D0R20A staff
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Minor 7: Quantitative Marketing
6 ECTS Market Response Models D0R14A staff 6 ECTS Marketing Strategy Modelling D0R16A staff 6 ECTS Behavioral Economics D0R80A staff
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Minor 8: Marketing Management
Only accessible for students not majoring in Marketing Management.
6 ECTS Global, B2B and Service Marketing D0R36A staff 6 ECTS Digital Marketing D0Q05A staff- B.Larivière
- B.Henkens (substitute)
6 ECTS Brand Management D0R42A staff 6 ECTS Socially Responsible Marketing D0O51A staff
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Minor 9: Economics and Policy
6 ECTS Environmental Economics D0M36B staff 6 ECTS Health Economics 
D0C23A staff- N.
6 ECTS Inequality and the Labour Market D0M46B staff 6 ECTS Development Economics D0M43B staff 6 ECTS Welfare Economics D0M44B staff
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Minor 10: Informatics for Business Economics
6 ECTS Business Analysis D0I68A staff 6 ECTS Data Science for Business D0I74A staff
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Minor 11: Personnel and Organization
Students who have already successfully completed Labour Economics (D0E35A) during their bachelor at KU Leuven (attained a credit for this course), cannot take up this course again in the Master of Business Economics or get an exemption for this course in the Master of Business Economics. They are required to pick a different elective within the minor.
6 ECTS Talent Management D0R26A staff- N.Dries
- A.van Zelderen (substitute)
6 ECTS Responsible organizations: Critical perspectives D0R27A staff- M.Janssens
- L.Terlinden (substitute)
6 ECTS Organizing in an International Context D0M24B staff- M.Janssens
- M.De Coster (substitute)
6 ECTS Labour Economics D0E35A staff
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Electives
Students choose one course (min. 3 ECTS) out of the groups of free electives
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Electives: Internships, projects and summer schools
The maximum number of ECTS to be included from this group is limited to 10% of the Master's programme (6 ECTS). Students who want to valorize an experience in their programme, can select the following courses, with a maximum of one course per group:
- A summer school: Short mobility Economics and Business (Core Masters)
- A substantial contribution to a business relevant or social- project: Integrated Business Project / Social Profit Project
- A business - or research experience: Internship project / Research project @ FEB
Note: only after approval, the elective courses can be included in the ISP. The application procedure can be consulted in the course description.3 ECTS Short Mobility Economics and Business (Core Masters) D0N49A staff 6 ECTS Short Mobility Economics and Business (Core Masters) D0N50A staff 6 ECTS Internship Project D0N45A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
6 ECTS Research Project @FEB D0N47A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
3 ECTS Internship Project (master) D0E61A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
6 ECTS Short Mobility Economics and Business (Core Masters) D0N65A staff 3 ECTS Short Mobility Economics and Business (Core Masters) D0N67A staff 6 ECTS Integrated Business Project/ Social Profit Project D0N75A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
3 ECTS Integrated Business Project/ Social Profit Project D0N78A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
6 ECTS Internship Project D0N46A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
6 ECTS Research Project @FEB D0N48A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
3 ECTS Internship Project (master) D0E62A staff- N.
- S.Hoofdt (cooperator)
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Electives: Corporate Social Responsibility
3 ECTS Governance D0N73A staff 3 ECTS Sustainable Business and Reporting D0O84A staff 3 ECTS Responsible Organizations: Critical Perspectives, Part I D0O87A staff- M.Janssens
- L.Terlinden (substitute)
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Electives: University-wide electives
3 ECTS The Science of Human Movement L00G8A staff
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Electives: Languages
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Electives languages: Business English III
Students who have obtained their FEB Bachelor's degree at KU Leuven may select 'D0T37A/D0T78A Business English III': if they meet the prerequisites and have therefore successfully completed Economisch Engels I and II or have used a tolerance for this.
Students who already followed “Businesss English III” in their Bachelor’s, cannot take ‘D0T37A’ or ‘D0T78A’ again in their ISP or exempt it.
Students who have not obtained a Bachelor's degree from FEB KU Leuven may select 'D0T37A/D0T78A Business English III': if they have an advanced level of English as demonstrated through an internationally recognised test (IELTS band 7, TOEFL ibt 100, a CPE or CAE). The student must contact the teacher at the latest by the end of the first week of the first (or second) semester to establish an appointment to determine the level.
Students select maximum one course, depending on the scheduling in the first or second semester.3 ECTS Business English III D0T37A staff 3 ECTS Business English III D0T78A staff
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Electives: from majors and minors
Students who want to keep their ISP to 60-61 ECTS, can choose an elective from the group 'Electives from majors en minors for 3-4 ECTS'.
Students who want to take up more than 60-61 ECTS in their ISP, can choose an elective from the group 'Electives from majors en minors for 6 ECTS'.-
Electives from majors and minors for 3-4 ECTS
Students who selected or already followed the course ‘D0O46A Entrepreneurial Finance’ can not take the course ‘D0O54A Business Finance’ and vice versa.
3 ECTS Organising for Entrepreneurship D0O45A staff 3 ECTS Strategic IP Management D0O43A staff 3 ECTS Intrapreneurship D0O44A staff 3 ECTS Entrepreneurial Finance D0O46A staff
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Electives from majors and minors for 6 ECTS
'D0R20A Seminar Operations Management’ can only be taken by students who took the major 2: Productie en logistiek" during their bachelor in de toegepaste economische wetenschappen.
Students who selected or already followed the course 'D0O46A Entrepreneurial Finance' cannot take the course 'D0O54A Business Finance, and vice versa.
Students can choose either Arbeidsrecht en onderneming (C08I7A) or Labour Policy and Law, including Discussion Sessions (C01M7A), but cannot take up both courses in their study programme.
Students who have already successfully completed Labour Economics (D0E35A) during their bachelor at KU Leuven (attained a credit for this course), cannot take up this course again in the Master of Business Economics or get an exemption for this course in the Master of Business Economics. They are required to pick a different elective.
Students who have already completed both D0R50A International Accounting and D0T28A Consolidatie en financiële bedrijfsdoorlichting (credit or tolerance) may not take D0O86A International and Group Accounting.
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