• General Terms & Conditions
• Terms & Conditions Degree Programmes
• Terms & Conditions DBA
• Terms & Conditions In-company Projects (ICP)
• Terms & Conditions Events

General terms & conditions  

1. DEFINITIONS

In these General Terms and Conditions, the following is understood for the terms listed below:

2. SCOPE

2.1. These General Terms & Conditions (the ‘General T&C’) apply to all contracts concluded between Vlerick and consumers or companies in the sense of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (the ‘Contracting Party’).

2.2. Besides these General T&C, specific terms and conditions may be applicable to certain contracts concluded with Vlerick. This means that the following specific terms & conditions take precedence over the General T&C (including but not limited to):

• Terms & Conditions Degree Programmes (cf. below),
• Terms & Conditions Doctorate In Business Administration (DBA) (cf. below),
• Terms & Conditions In-Company Projects (cf. below),
• Terms and Conditions Events (cf. below),
• Terms & Conditions Donations (cf. separate document).

2.3. Vlerick’s general and specific terms and conditions take absolute precedence over the Contracting Party’s general or special conditions, even if the latter stipulate the opposite. A deviation from one or more of the provisions in the General T&C is only possible if an express and written agreement has been made.

2.4. If one or more provisions in these General T&C are at any time wholly or partially void or annulled, the other provisions in these General T&C shall remain in force and the provision in question shall be replaced without delay by mutual agreement with a provision that approximates the purport of the original as much as possible.

2.5. Situations not regulated in these General T&C or uncertainties about the interpretation or content of one or more provisions of these General T&C should be assessed in accordance with 'the spirit' of these General T&C.

2.6. Vlerick maintains the right to modify and/or supplement the General T&C at any time for future registrations and orders.

3. PROGRAMME VARIATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

3.1. Vlerick strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the Website about its Programmes and Products. However, Vlerick reserves the right to make reasonable variations and modifications to the Programme content, schedule, instructors, or any other aspect of the Programme, without prior notice to the Contracting Party.

3.2. Vlerick shall make commercially reasonable efforts to inform the Contracting Party of any significant changes to the Programme in a timely manner.

3.3. The Contracting Party acknowledges and agrees that, while Vlerick aims to deliver the Programme or Product as described on the website or in promotional materials, certain circumstances may require adaptations or substitutions of Programme elements.

3.4. In the event that the fulfilment of a Programme or actual Product substantially differs from the description on the website or in promotional materials, Vlerick shall make reasonable efforts to mitigate any negative impact on the Contracting Party's (learning) experience.

3.5. Vlerick shall not be held liable for any claims, demands, or damages arising from any variations or modifications to the Programme, provided that such changes do not significantly impact the overall quality and objectives of the Programme or Product.

3.6. The Contracting Party acknowledges and agrees that Vlerick's liability, if any, for Programme or Product variations or modifications shall be limited to a refund of the proportionate fees paid for the affected portion of the Programme, at the sole discretion of Vlerick.

4. PROGRAMMES

4.1. Online registration and enrolment

4.1.1. If applicable, the Contracting Party shall register for a Programme by completing Vlerick's registration form and providing accurate and complete information. Vlerick reserves the right to accept or reject any registration at its sole discretion.

4.1.2. A contract is concluded when the Contracting Party receives a written confirmation of the enrolment.

4.1.3. If the Contracting Party requires authorization from a third party, such as their employer or supervisor, to register for a Programme, the Contracting Party acknowledges and agrees that it is their responsibility to obtain such authorization prior to registration. The Contracting Party further acknowledges and agrees that they are personally responsible for the payment of the Programme fees if their employer or supervisor refuses to provide payment or reimbursement.

4.2. Customized offers

4.2.1. A customized offer is valid for 14 days, unless a different period is documented in the offer.

4.2.2. Acceptance of the customized offer shall be confirmed by the Contracting Party in writing, either by (electronically) signing the proposal or by sending written acceptance via e-mail or other agreed-upon communication method.

4.3. Fees and payment

4.3.1. The Contracting Party shall pay the fees for the Programme as specified by Vlerick on the Website or in the customized offer. All fees are stated and shall be paid in Euro. Vlerick specifies whether taxes are applicable and if the indicated fees include or exclude taxes.

4.3.2. All Vlerick’s invoices are payable by the due date stated on the invoice, unless otherwise agreed or upon registration if they are to be paid immediately (e.g., online payment).

If outstanding amount is not paid by the due date, the following rules apply:

• For Companies: legal interests will be charged automatically without notice of default. In addition, the Contracting Party shall also pay a fixed administrative fee covering the costs caused by the late payment. The Contracting Party acknowledges and agrees that this fee amounts to 10% of the total outstanding amount (exclusive of the interest) with a minimum fee of 65 EUR. Any other collecting charges are not included in the fixed fee and will be charged separately.
• For Consumers: any interests or costs will only be charged 14 days after the first reminder / notice of default. After this additional 14-day period, legal interest and the following additional fees will be charged:
  • For amounts due < 150 EUR: 20 EUR
  • For amounts due between 150.01 EUR and 500 EUR: 30 EUR + 10% of the amount due
  • For amounts due > 500 EUR: 65 EUR + 5% of the amount due (and max. 5,000 EUR).

Any dispute over an invoice must be submitted in writing (by registered mail or e-mail with acknowledgement) to the secretariat of the Programme in question or, if not applicable, to Vlerick’s accounting department within 15 days after the receipt of the invoice. The submission of a complaint in no way leads to a suspension of payments.

4.3.3. If the Contracting Party fails to pay by the due date of the invoice and a price increase occurs after the due date of the invoice, Vlerick reserves the right to charge the price increase to this Contracting Party.

4.3.4. Payment shall always be made in full before the commencement of the Programme, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by Vlerick. Failing that, Vlerick reserves the right to cancel the registration and claim a cancellation fee pursuant to Article 4.4 below. 

4.3.5. Apparent errors in the price offer can be corrected by Vlerick after the contract has been concluded.

4.3.6. When applicable, if the Contracting Party has opted to pay by credit card, then the conditions of the corresponding credit card issuer are applicable to such payments. Vlerick is not a party in the relationship between the Contracting Party and the issuer of the credit card.

4.4. Cancellation and refunds

a) General

4.4.1. If the Contracting Party wishes to cancel their enrolment in the Programme, they must notify Vlerick in writing (letter or e-mail). To the secretariat of the Programme or, if not possible, to info@vlerick.com. Cancellation is only deemed valid after Vlerick has duly notified the Contracting Party and stated its acceptance of the cancellation.

4.4.2. In the case of ‘no show’(= non-attendance to the Programme without withdrawal as described below) all fees are fully due.

4.4.3. Vlerick reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a Programme due to unforeseen circumstances, including insufficient enrolment or speaker’s unavailability until 7 days before the start of the Programme. In the event of a cancellation by Vlerick, the Contracting Party will be offered the choice of a full refund of any fees paid or enrolment in a future Programme of equivalent value.

4.4.4. Vlerick offers the Contracting Party the opportunity to arrange for an acceptable replacement of a person, insofar as this person meets the criteria (if any) for participation in the Programme and only if the Programme has not started yet. No cancellation fee is then due. Non-attendance or early departure during the Programme will not be compensated.

4.4.5. Exceptionally, Vlerick may allow the Contracting Party, who cannot participate in the Programme, to participate in the next edition of this Programme, i.e., provided an edition with the same content will be organised and subject to the payment of a fixed administrative fee of 250 EUR (excl. 21% VAT). A rescheduling is only possible if all amounts due are paid before the start date of the Programme for which the Contracting Party was initially registered. Failing that, Vlerick reserves the right to cancel the registration and claim a cancellation fee pursuant to Art 4.4.8 to 4.4.10. If the Contracting Party nevertheless cancels after the rescheduling of the Programme, the full registration fee remains due and thus no refund is possible.

4.4.6. For memberships (e.g., Vlerick Alumni), no cancellation is possible and all paid fees are non-refundable.

4.4.7. Depending on whether the Contracting Party is a consumer or a company and unless agreed otherwise, the Contracting Party can cancel a Programme under the following conditions:

b) For consumers

4.4.8. For contracts concluded ‘at distance’ (e.g., via the Website), consumers have, pursuant to Art. VI.67 of the Belgian Code of Economics (‘WER’), 14 days to withdraw from the contract without giving a reason and without having to bear any costs other than those provided for in Art. VI.50, § 2 WER, and VI.51 WER. This can be done via an unambiguous written statement or via the following form.

However, if the withdrawal occurs only after the start of the Programme and if the Contracting Party has requested Vlerick to begin the performance of the services during the withdrawal period of 14 days, the Contracting Party will owe Vlerick a reasonable compensation. This reasonable compensation will be determined by Vlerick and takes into account what Vlerick has already provided when the consumer communicates the withdrawal to Vlerick, in comparison with the full coverage of the contract and taking into account the concrete circumstances (e.g. costs incurred, loss of profit, etc.).

The consumer will no longer be entitled to withdraw from a contract:

• After the consumer has been granted access to the digital content (or the digital content has been released) or
• After a fee-based Programme has been fully completed.

If the Programme has no fixed starting date and can therefore be accessed on a rolling basis (e.g. online Programmes) the Contracting Party may cancel their participation free of charge within a term of 14 days after receipt of the written confirmation of the registration, unless the Contracting Party has received access to the platform or the (first part of the) content bites. In the latter case, the full registration fee will be due.

4.4.9. Once the withdrawal period of 14 days provided in Art. 4.4.8 has expired, the standard general terms and conditions on cancellations (i.e. those applicable for companies, cf. infra under c)) are applicable.

c) For companies

4.4.10. If the Contracting Party is a company in the meaning of the Belgian Code of Economics and unless specified otherwise:

• For cancellations more than 90 days before the start of the Programme, no fee is due.
• For cancellations between 90 and 30 days before the start of the Programme, a fee amounting to 25% of the registration will be charged.
• For cancellations between 29 and 14 days before the start of the Programme, a fee amounting to 50% of the registration will be charged.
• For cancellations less than 14 days before the start of the Programme, the full registration fee is due.

4.4.11. If the Programme has no fixed starting date and can therefore be accessed on a rolling basis (e.g. online Programmes), the full registration fee will be due in the case of cancellation.

5. PROGRAMME CERTIFICATIONS

5.1. The issuance of a programme certificate for Management Programmes (Vlerick management programmes | Vlerick Business School) is subject to:

• For short term Management Programmes: a minimum attendance rate of 80%;
• For long term Management Programmes: (i) a minimum attendance rate of 80%, (ii) completion of ‘the electives’ and (iii) the successful completion of the in-company project.

6. PRODUCTS

6.1. Ordering and Payment

6.1.1. The Contracting Party may place an order for Products offered by Vlerick through the Website or other designated sales channels.

6.1.2. The Contracting Party shall pay the purchase price and any applicable delivery fees for the Products as specified by Vlerick. All prices are stated in Euro and are inclusive of any applicable taxes.

6.1.3. Costs of delivery are excluded from the stated prices and will be clearly communicated to the Contracting Party.

6.1.4. Apparent errors in the price offer can be corrected by Vlerick after the contract has been concluded.

6.2. Delivery and Returns for Consumers

6.2.1. Vlerick shall make reasonable efforts to deliver the products to the Contracting Party within a reasonable timeframe. For consumers, the maximum delivery time is 30 days. Vlerick takes no responsibility for late deliveries from third parties, for Products that are lost by third parties, or for any unforeseen circumstances or force majeure.

6.2.2. The Contracting Party is obliged to closely examine the properties and details of the Products immediately after receipt. The Contracting Party must report their written complaint to Vlerick within 7 days of receipt. 

6.2.3. For contracts concluded ‘at distance’ (e.g. via the Website), consumers have, pursuant to Art. VI.67 of the Belgian Code of Economics (‘WER’), 14 days to withdraw from the contract without giving a reason and without having to bear any costs other than those provided for in Articles VI.50, § 2 WER and VI.51 WER. This can be done via an unambiguous written statement or via the following form.

6.2.4. This withdrawal period will expire 14 days as of the day on which the consumer acquires physical possession of (the last item of the series of) the Products. Upon legitimate use of the right of withdrawal, Vlerick shall reimburse all payments received, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from the consumer’s choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by Vlerick), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days as from the day on which Vlerick is informed about the decision to withdraw from the contract. Vlerick will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as the consumer used for the initial transaction, unless the consumer expressly agrees otherwise. The consumer shall send back the goods or hand them over to Vlerick without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days as from the day on which the withdrawal is communicated to Vlerick. The consumer will have to bear the direct costs of returning the goods. The consumer shall be liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from handling, with the exception of handling that is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

6.2.5. This right to withdraw does not apply to companies in the meaning of the Belgian Code of Economics.

7. FORCE MAJEUR

7.1. Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under their agreement, if such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: strikes, labour unrest, actions or inactions by public authorities, serious transport disruptions including breakdowns, driving bans or fuel shortages, natural disasters, health epidemics, quarantines, civil unrest, acts of terrorism or other acts of violence or war (a ‘Force Majeure Event’).

7.2. The party affected by the Force Majeure Event shall promptly notify the other party in writing of the nature and extent of the Force Majeure Event and its anticipated duration. The affected party shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate the effects of the Force Majeure Event and resume the performance of its obligations under the agreement.

7.3. During the Force Majeure Event, the parties' obligations shall be suspended to the extent affected by the Force Majeure Event. The parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine appropriate adjustments to the terms and conditions of the agreement to accommodate the impact of the Force Majeure Event. If the Force Majeure Event continues for a period exceeding 30 days, either party may terminate the agreement upon written notice to the other party, without any liability or obligation, except for payment of amounts due and owing up to the date of termination.

7.4. The party claiming Force Majeure shall bear the burden of proving that the Force Majeure Event was the sole cause of the failure or delay in performance.

8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

8.1. All intellectual property rights, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, and proprietary materials, related to the Programme content and product designs provided by Vlerick, shall remain the exclusive property of Vlerick.

9. CONFIDENTIALITY

9.1. For the purposes of these terms and conditions, ‘Confidential Information’ shall include, but is not limited to, all non-public, proprietary, sensitive, or confidential information shared or disclosed by Vlerick, or accessed by the Contracting Party, whether orally, in writing, or in electronic format, during the course of a Programme.

9.2. The Contracting Party agrees to treat all Confidential Information with utmost care and to maintain its confidentiality during and after the Programme.

9.3. The Contracting Party agrees not to disclose, reproduce, distribute, transmit, share, or otherwise make available any Confidential Information to any third party, including but not limited to individuals, companies, or organizations, without the prior written consent of Vlerick.

9.4. The Contracting Party may only use Confidential Information for the purpose of the Programme and related activities within Vlerick. Any other use, including but not limited to commercial, personal, or unauthorized distribution, is strictly prohibited.

9.5. The Contracting Party shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or use of Confidential Information. This includes safeguarding physical documents, electronic files, login credentials, and any other means by which Confidential Information is accessed.

9.6. The obligations of confidentiality shall not apply to information that: (i) was already publicly known at the time of disclosure; (ii) becomes publicly known through no wrongful act of the Contracting Party; (iii) is rightfully received from a third party without confidentiality obligations; (iv) is independently developed by the Contracting Party without use of the Confidential Information; or (v) is required to be disclosed by law, regulation, or court order, provided that the Contracting Party gives Vlerick reasonable notice to contest such disclosure.

9.7. The obligations set forth in this confidentiality clause shall continue indefinitely beyond the termination or completion of the Programme, unless specified otherwise.

10. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

10.1. The personal data provided by the Contracting Party is necessary for processing and completing contact forms, registrations, applications and contracts, as well as registrations on MyVlerick and the preparation of invoices. A lack of this information will inevitably lead to problems in the consultation of relevant webpages, or in the further progress of the Programme. The entry of incorrect or false personal information is viewed as a violation of the current terms and conditions.

10.2. By registering for a Program, the Contracting Party acknowledges that Vlerick will share the following personal data with (i) guest speakers, (ii) jury members, experts, and/or coaches, and (iii) fellow participants via e-mail, a participant list, and/or an online program app, based on Vlerick's legitimate interests:

• (i) Guest speakers will receive the Contracting Party’s name, function and employer for the purpose of facilitating and preparing the guest speaker’s teaching sessions;
• (ii) Jury members, experts and/or coaches will receive the Contracting Party’s name, company and e-mail for evaluating and coaching purposes;
• (iii) Fellow participants will receive the contracting party’s name, function, employer and e-mail (and in the case of a long-term programme also the Contracting Party’s phone number) for the purpose of networking and group work.

This data sharing is conducted on the basis of Vlerick's legitimate interest in ensuring the effectiveness and quality of the Programme. In order to receive a participant list, guest speakers, jury members, experts, and coaches are required to commit to protecting the personal data of participants received from Vlerick in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules governing personal data processing.

10.3. By participating in a Programme, the Contracting Party acknowledges that Vlerick can make images and recordings, as well as all reproductions or adaptations thereof, to be used for marketing and publicity purposes in support of Vlerick's objective to promote education, research and services in the field of management sciences. Such use may include (but is not limited to) the right to use these images and/or recordings in printed materials (such as brochures and posters) and online communication (such as websites, online banners, social media, etc.), publicity, image and video hosting websites and press releases. In the event that 'focused' images and recordings are taken in which you appear clearly and identifiably, Vlerick will ask your permission for further use of the images and recordings. For the capture and publication of 'non-focused' images and recordings (such as atmospheric images), no permission is required because these are general, spontaneous and unposed images in which no specific persons are highlighted. The images and recordings will be kept for a maximum of 5 years and used for marketing and publicity purposes.

10.4. The personal information of the Contracting Party will be exclusively processed in conformity with our Privacy Statement which can be consulted via our Website: Privacy Statement | Vlerick Business School. For any query regarding data processing by Vlerick, the Contracting Party may send an e-mail to database@vlerick.com.

11. COMPLAINTS, APPLICABLE LAW AND COMPETENT COURT

11.1. Any complaints about a Programme are treated confidentially and need to be submitted in writing to Vlerick at the latest within 40 days after the end of the Programme. Vlerick sends the contracting party within 14 days after receipt of the complaint a written confirmation of receipt and ensures that the complaint is dealt with within 4 weeks after the date of the confirmation of receipt. A one-time extension of this period with maximum 4 weeks is possible. In the latter case, the Contracting Party shall be informed hereof in writing.

11.2. The aim is to settle complaints amicably. This also includes the possibility to bring the complaint to an independent expert for advice or mediation. If a complaint cannot be settled amicably, there is a dispute that will be submitted to the competent court.

11.3. All offers and contracts are exclusively subject to Belgian law. The applicability of the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded. All disputes that are connected to or are a consequence of offers by Vlerick or of any contracts that have been concluded with Vlerick, will be submitted to the courts of Gent (Belgium).

TERMS & CONDITIONS DEGREE PROGRAMMES

1. SCOPE

1.1. The Terms and Conditions mentioned below apply to the following degree programmes organised by Vlerick, except for deviations expressly stated in writing in an individual contract:

• Full-time MBA
• Executive MBA
• Online MBA
• Masters in Financial Management
• Masters in General Management
• Masters in General Management: Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence
• Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Masters in International Management and Strategy
• Masters in Marketing and Digital Transformation

1.2. These terms and conditions are a specific addition to our General Terms & Conditions (cf. above). In the case of contradictions, these take precedence.

2. PAYMENT

2.1. General

2.1.1. Payment of tuition fees in instalments is possible, subject to a signed individual contract together with the payment of an administrative cost of 250 EUR.

2.1.2. Diplomas and/or certificates of a programme will only be delivered after the full payment of the tuition fee by the participant and/or company.

2.2. Payment Full-time MBA programmes

2.2.1. For Full-time MBA programmes, a non-refundable commitment fee of 4,000 EUR must be paid upon registration.

2.2.2. The remaining tuition fee should be paid before the start of the programme or, in case of payment in instalments, the remaining tuition fee should be paid in 4 separate instalments before the following due dates: 1 September, 1 November, 1 February and 1 April.

2.3. Payment Masters programmes

2.3.1. For Masters programmes, a non-refundable commitment fee of 4,000 EUR must be paid before the due date stated on the invoice. For students who are subject to visa requirements, and who have been awarded a scholarship, the commitment fee amounts to 1,500 EUR.

2.3.2. The remaining part of the tuition fee must be paid before the start of the programme. In the case of payment in instalments, the outstanding tuition fee should be paid in 3 separate instalments before the following due dates: 1 November, 1 February, and 1 April.

2.4. Payment Executive MBA programmes (Executive MBA Combi and European Executive MBA format)

2.4.1. For the Executive MBA programme, the payment of the total tuition fee may be spread over a period of 2 years as follows:

• First academic year: payment of  25,000 EUR;
• Second academic year: payment of the remaining tuition fee.

2.4.2. Depending on the nature of the person paying for the programme (company or consumer in the sense of the Belgian Code of Economic Law), the invoicing will be carried out as follows:

• In the case of payment of the tuition fee by a company: the invoice for the first academic year (25,000 EUR) and the second academic year (the remaining tuition fee) of the programme will be sent on each occasion to the address of the company (as mentioned on the registration form) or as agreed to in writing.
• In the case of payment of the tuition fee by a consumer: the consumer will receive 1 invoice for the first year and 1 invoice for the second year.
• Deviation from the above-mentioned payment options is only possible after written confirmation by Vlerick.

2.5. Payment Online MBA programmes

For the Online MBA programmes, the total tuition fee can be paid as follows:

• Per course with an administrative fee of 500 EUR ;
• In full with a 1-course discount in 4 instalments spread out over 2 years and with an administrative fee of 250 EUR; or
• In full with a 1-course discount.

3. PROGRAMME CANCELLATION OR POSTPONEMENT

3.1. General

3.1.1. Unless provided otherwise below, if a student wishes to cancel his/her programme registration, this can only be done in writing to the Programme Director.

• If the student has notified the programme director of their decision to cancel their programme registration before the official start of the programme, the student will receive a refund for all tuition fee payments except for the commitment fee.
• If the student has notified the programme director of their decision to cancel their programme registration, within 3 months following the official start of the programme, the student will not receive any tuition fee refunds but has the right to transfer their enrolment to the next academic year. In such case, they will be charged the surplus of the tuition fee applicable for that academic year.
  • Notwithstanding the above: if the reason for cancellation is the failure to obtain their Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree (i.e. a condition to be eligible to participate in the Masters programme), the student will receive a refund for all tuition fee payments except for an administrative fee of 250 EUR. The student shall inform Vlerick as soon as possible and at the latest on 30 September.
• If the student has notified the programme director of their decision to cancel their programme registration after 3 months following the official start of the programme, the student will be charged the full amount of the tuition fee.

3.1.2. The cancellation is only deemed valid after Vlerick has duly notified the student and stated its acceptance of the cancellation.

3.2. Specific conditions per Programme

3.2.1. Full-time MBA and Masters Programmes

Full-time MBA and Masters students who did not pass all courses after the second exam session can enrol for the next academic year and will be charged according to the rules stipulated below.

a) Uncompleted coursework

• Masters and Full-time MBA students who have not completed all coursework within those two exam periods will be charged a fee for each course that still needs to be completed, depending on the programme (1,000 EUR for Full-time MBA students  and 500 EUR for Masters students).
• If the uncompleted coursework only concerns the submission of papers or taking exams, a flat fee of 250 EUR per course will be charged.

3.2.2. Executive MBA

a) Uncompleted Knowledge-in-action project

• Executive MBA students who have completed all coursework, except for the Knowledge-in-action project, will be charged an administrative fee of 2,500 EUR. The project must be completed within 5 years from the date their cohort’s graduation.

b) Uncompleted coursework

• Executive MBA students who did not complete all coursework within the first exam session, can complete any outstanding courses within the second exam session of that academic year without additional charges.
• Executive MBA students who have not completed all coursework after the second exam session, can do so in the following academic year in which case:
  • Executive MBA students who have attended all courses but did not complete all assignments/exams, will be charged a fee of 500 EUR per uncompleted assignment/exam.
  • Executive MBA students who have not attended all courses, will be charged a fee of 1,500 EUR per uncompleted course.
• Executive MBA students who did not complete all coursework within the following academic year, have 4 more years to complete the programme (i.e. five years from the date their original cohort’s graduation):
  • The Executive MBA curriculum at the moment of continuation of the programme will be compared to the curriculum of the Executive MBA students’ original cohort. Executive MBA students will be exempted from all courses still part of the curriculum for which they obtained a final passing grade (i.e., 10/20).
  • Executive MBA students must pass all courses and assignments that were not part of the original curriculum at 1,500 EUR per course. In case of uncompletion of the project, an additional fee of 2,500 EUR will be charged.
• Executive MBA students who have completed the first year of the programme but wish to cancel or postpone the second year, will be charged the fee for the second academic year that is valid in that year.

3.2.3. Online MBA 

a) Uncompleted coursework and projects for Online MBA

• Online MBA students who did not complete all coursework or projects within their 5-year window, can complete any outstanding courses within 2 years maximum with a fee of 2,500 EUR per course.

TERMS & CONDITIONS DBA

1. SCOPE

1.1. The terms and conditions mentioned below apply to the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) programme organised by Vlerick, except for deviations expressly stated in a written individual agreement.

1.2. These terms and conditions are a specific addition to our General Terms & Conditions (cf. above) and to the DBA Education and Examination Rules. In the case of contradictions, these take precedence.

2. SPECIFIC TERMS OF PAYMENT FOR DBA (CF. ART. 15 DBA EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION RULES)

2.1. For the DBA programme, the payment of the total tuition fee will be spread over a period of 5 years as follows:

• 24,000 EUR in the first year;
• 12,000 EUR in the second year;
• 10,000 EUR in the third year;
• 10,000 EUR in the fourth year; and
• 10,000 EUR in the fifth year.

2.2. The tuition fee for the first year includes a non-refundable commitment fee of 6,000 EUR.

2.3. Depending on the nature of the person (company or consumer in the sense of the Belgian Code of Economic Law) paying for the programme, the invoicing will be carried out as follows:

• In the case of payment of the tuition fee by a company: 1 invoice for each year of the DBA programme (except for the first year) will be sent to the address of the company, as mentioned on the registration form.
• In the case of payment of the tuition fee by a consumer: 1 invoice for each year of the DBA programme (except for the first year) will be sent to the address of the natural person, as mentioned on the registration form.

2.4. Diplomas and/or certificates of a programme will only be delivered after the full payment of the tuition fee by the participant and/or company.

3. POSTPONEMENT, EXTENSION OR DISCONTINUATION OF THE DBA (CF. ART. 14, 15 AND 20 DBA EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION RULES)

3.1. Postponement

If a DBA participant did not finish their thesis work by the end of the 5^th year, it is possible to extend the programme at a fee of 10,000 EUR per additional year.

3.2. Extension

Extensions need to be requested to and approved by the DBA Committee.

3.3. Discontinuation

3.3.1. If a participant decides to discontinue the DBA programme during or before the end of the ‘commitment stage’, they must notify the DBA programme director in writing of their decision. There are no further financial commitments except for the non-refundable commitment fee. The DBA participant receives proof of participation in the Introduction to Academic Research course.

3.3.2. If a participant wishes to discontinue their studies after the ‘commitment stage’, they must notify the programme director in writing of their decision. The participant will be charged the entire tuition fee for the year they are currently enrolled in. A document will be provided that gives an overview of the completed programme components.

3.3.3. Vlerick can also request a participant to discontinue their DBA programme. This decision will be duly explained based on the programme progress and officially ratified by the DBA committee. The programme director will notify the participant in writing of this decision.

TERMS & CONDITIONS IN-COMPANY PROJECTS (ICP)

1. SCOPE

1.1. These terms and conditions apply to any application for a Project provided by Vlerick for a Fee (all as defined below).

1.2. These terms and conditions are a specific addition to our General Terms & Conditions (cf. above). In the case of contradictions, these take precedence.

1.3. Applying for a Project implies acceptance of these terms and conditions, even if they conflict with the Company’s own general or specific conditions.

2. DEFINITIONS

3. APPLICATION AND SCREENING

3.1. Project proposals must be submitted via the application form on the Vlerick website.

3.2. Upon receipt of the application form, Vlerick will contact the Company to screen the Project and ask the Company to complete and return the project screening form. Vlerick will only consider project proposals for which a project screening form has been completed.

3.3. The Company is responsible for the description of the content and objectives of the Project to present to the Students as well as for the description of the Company itself.

3.4. Vlerick is entitled to refuse project proposals and will inform the Company thereof.

4. PROJECT ALLOCATION

4.1. At its sole discretion, Vlerick will allocate the Students to the Projects, taking into account the preferences of the Companies and the Students.

4.2. The Companies will be informed of the allocation status of their Project no later than 1 month before the official project start date. Projects that cannot be allocated will not be executed.

5. CONTRACT

5.1. After allocation of the Project, Vlerick will present a contract for signature to the Company and the Students. The present terms and conditions are attached to this contract. A template contract can be obtained upon request.

5.2. In the absence of a signed contract, the Company will not receive the Project Report and will not be able to participate in the Project Assessment (cf. below).

6. FEES AND EXPENSES

6.1. The Company undertakes to pay Vlerick the following Fee invoiced after signature of the contract.

• For Projects involving 3 students:
  • Market research project: 11,500 EUR (excl. 21% VAT);
  • Consultancy project: 10,500 EUR (excl. 21% VAT).
• For Projects involving 2 students (if the scope of the Project is limited):
  • Market research project: 9,500 EUR (excl. 21% VAT);
  • Consultancy project: 8,500 EUR (excl. 21% VAT).
• For Global Social Projects involving 2 or 3 students: 2000 EUR (excl. 21% VAT).

6.2. The Company will reimburse the following expenses:

• Any expenses:
  • incurred by the students while performing the Project;
  • directly related to the execution of the Project and necessary or at least useful for the execution of the Project; and
  • of which proof can be provided by the Students to the Company.
• Examples of such expenses:
  • (daily) travel expenses: train tickets, car expenses at 0.4259 EUR per km for project traffic and 0.1681 EUR for commuter traffic, etc.;
  • accommodation expenses when travelling and/or staying abroad;
  • expenses for data collection in the case of a market research project;
  • Project report copy expenses;
  • …

6.3. The Company shall agree with the Students on the Expenses beforehand. These Expenses (plus 21% VAT) will be reimbursed to the Students directly or will be invoiced by Vlerick on the basis of an expense claim form (including the original receipts of the expenses) approved by the Company.

7. CANCELLATION BY THE COMPANY

7.1. If the Company cancels the Project after signing the Contract and before the start of the Project, a cancellation cost of 1,000 EUR will be charged.

7.2. The Project cannot be cancelled after the start of the Project.

8. SUPERVISION

The Company shall appoint a Supervisor and Vlerick shall appoint a Promoter to guide and support the Students.

9. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY

9.1. When working at the premises of the Company, the Students shall be able to use an office space, a phone and, if not provided by the student, a computer.

9.2. The Company shall provide the Students access to all information and people relevant to the Project.

10. PROJECT REPORT

The project report shall be written in English, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and Vlerick.

11. PROJECT DEFENCE AND ASSESSMENT

11.1. The Students will defend their Project before a jury. In this jury the Company shall be represented by the Supervisor. Other people of the Company can attend the project defence but the Company shall have only 1 vote.

11.2. The jury will evaluate the Project on content and methodology, written report, oral presentation and defence, personal efforts / commitment, usefulness and practical value.

11.3. The jury will mark the Project on the basis of the guidelines provided by Vlerick.

12. CONTACT AFTER THE PROJECT

The Company agrees to be contacted by Vlerick for future Projects, for which the contact details of the Company will be saved in Vlerick's database.

EVENTS

1. SCOPE

1.1. These terms and conditions apply to any registration to an event provided by Vlerick: Events | Vlerick Business School. These included but are not limited to: corporate events, fairs, info sessions, recruitment events, topical events and webinars (‘Event’).

1.2. These terms and conditions are a specific addition to our General Terms & Conditions (cf. above). In the case of contradictions, these take precedence.

1.3. Registering for an Event implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

2. CANCELLATION

2.1. If the Contracting Party is compelled to cancel their registration, the following procedures must be adhered to:

• Cancellations must be notified to Vlerick in writing (by letter or e-mail). The cancellation is only deemed valid after Vlerick has duly notified the contracting party and stated its acceptance of the cancellation.
• Cancellations of Events for which a registration fee is asked:
  • For cancellations more than 30 days before the Event, no cancellation or registration fee is due.
  • For cancellations between 30 and 21 days before the Event, an administrative fee amounting to 50% of the registration fee will be charged.
  • For cancellations on the 21st day or less than 21 days before the Event and on the day of the event itself, the full registration fee is due.
• Cancellations of Events for which no registration fee is asked:
  • Since the number of registrations is limited, a no-show fee of 50 EUR for administrative costs will be charged for cancellations on the 5^th  day or less than 5 days before the Event.

2.2. Vlerick reserves the right to cancel the event up to 7 calendar days before the Event. Registration fees already paid will then be refunded to the contracting party within 14 calendar days after notification of the cancellation.

Last update: 1 December 2023