Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship programme runs full-time from early September until the end of June - entailing 60 ECTS credits. Classes take place from 9am to 5.30pm and are a dynamic mix of working on real-life business cases, class interaction, company visits and group exercises.

Our active learning approach involves many assignments in small teams and thus requires mandatory attendance, 100% motivation, and the willingness to work hard.  

The business world is always changing – and management strategies need to be redefined constantly. This means companies are looking for people who can generate creative ideas, apply frameworks and respond rapidly to this dynamic environment. Our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship will give you the tools and skills to challenge ideas through practical courses, electives, workshops, bootcamps and our start-up accelerator. 

Get a full overview of all the courses here

At Vlerick, our unique approach blends action learning and personal development.  

Action learning

From theory to practice 

• Interactive classes 
• Pragmatic, multidisciplinary approach 
• Insightful business simulations 
• Real-life cases and challenges 

Highlights of the programme include:

• Silicon Valley Disruption Tour: Discover what made Silicon Valley and the broader San Francisco Bay Area such a hub for new technologies and world-leading companies on this one-week study trip.
• Start-up Accelerator: Following the lean start-up approach you’ll build your own start-up – using the accelerator and testing all assumptions underpinning your intended business model. You’ll work alone or in a team – with the support of an experienced entrepreneur or investor.
• Innovation Challenge: Assessing new technologies is a crucial part of the innovation process. In this challenge you’ll evaluate technology, identify the possibilities it offers an organisation and develop a plan to implement it.
• Company or start-up project: Over two months, you’ll apply everything you’ve learned in a real innovation consultancy project of your choice in a start-up or scale-up – or by launching your own start-up.

Personal development  

Make the leap from student to professional with: 

• Continuous feedback and coaching 
• Targeted skill development 
• Comprehensive career services 
• Multiple networking opportunities 
• Personal development portfolio 

Highlights of the programme include: 

• My Vlerick Development Portfolio: Gain insight into your own strengths and weaknesses, be challenged to reflect and take actions to improve. 
• Management Skills Seminar:  During three days you will focus on leadership development and the management skills you need for the digital age. 
• Diversity and inclusion: Understand your own assumptions, biases and preconceived ideas about how the world works – or should work. Discover which behaviours are acceptable, open your mind – and begin to develop a broader world view. 
• Career Coaching: Stay aligned to current global job market as you gain the skills, insights and instincts to make a difference and explore your true potential. 

See a full overview of all the courses here

• Gain expert insights into innovative thinking – so you can challenge the status quo within an existing company, or at the head of your own company. 
• Build a coordinated network of corporate innovators, seasoned entrepreneurs, potential investors and venture capitalists (business angels) and get coaching from them as part of the start-up accelerator.
• Visit the epicentre of global innovation – and witness the disruptive power of innovation first-hand – during our Silicon Valley Disruption Tour.
• Discover where your expertise lies and expand career opportunities in corporate innovation and innovation consultancy.
• Study in Leuven, Europe’s innovation capital, and connect with leading tech-inspired companies and start-ups.
• Pitch your idea to potential investors and access seed money from the Vlerick Student Entrepreneurship Fund.

Curious to find out what it means to study at Vlerick? Discover what it’s like to study in Belgium – and get practical information on how to organise your stay.

Here’s a snapshot of our MIE alumni success in the job market:

Take a look at the career prospects for our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship graduates:

• Business development and innovation project management across a broad range of sectors
• Consultancy: guiding companies in implementing innovative and creative projects
• R&D within established organisations, managing corporate innovation projects
• Graduate jobs in tech hubs around the world
• Entrepreneurship: either by starting your own business or as a founding member of a start-up

Take a look at where our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship graduates are working:

Define your career goals and how to match them with the jobs market with the help of: 

• Practical workshops 
• Career clubs and competitions 
• One-to-one coaching 
• Career and networking events with start-ups and scale-ups  

Take a look at our full career services offer

Are you

• A recent university graduate with limited or no work experience?
• Passionate about innovation and a believer in the power of business to change the world?
• Ready to be an innovative game-changer or start your own business?

Then you’re a perfect fit for a Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Vlerick. With a diverse student body from all kinds of backgrounds, you’ll quickly find your classmates share your passion for innovation and ambition to make an impact on society. 

Our recent cohort for the Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship looked like this:

Educational background

Start date: 2 September 2024 
Duration: 10 months (from September until June) 
Location: Leuven 
Application deadline non-EU citizens: 30 April 2024

The tuition fee for this Masters programme is €19,800.

This includes:  

• Silicon Valley Disruption tour (incl. hotel, company visits, travel within the United States) 
• Company visits 
• Travel between different campuses for mandatory programme events 
• One year of full online access to the Financial Times and The New York Times
• Textbooks 

The fee does not include the cost of travelling abroad for the Silicon Valley trip, any visa costs or living expenses. You will need to budget approximately €800 for return flights to the USA and visa costs (organised by the student). 

Financing your Masters 

Joining a Vlerick programme can be a significant financial investment. But there are many financing options available to help towards your tuition fees – and we’re here to help you explore what types of support you might be eligible for. We process applications for our Masters programmes on a rolling basis as of October, for the September intake. If you want to be considered for one of our full scholarships, make sure to submit your scholarship application together with your programme application before February.

Scholarships 

• Academic Merit Scholarship: Provide us with proof of your excellent academic track record and get a scholarship of up to 50%. To qualify for this scholarship:
  • You need study results equal to great or greatest distinction at Bachelors level for Belgian degrees or study results within top 20% of class at Bachelors level for non-Belgian degrees.
    
    OR
    
  • You need to have obtained outstanding GMAT/GMAT Focus (> 700/> 655) or GRE (> 164 quantitative and > 163 verbal) scores.
• Women Entrepreneur Scholarship: Are you a woman with an outstanding academic record who shows leadership potential and a passion for entrepreneurship? If so, and if you pass our admissions test with a great overall performance, you might get a scholarship of up to 50% of the tuition fee.
• Equal Opportunity Scholarship: We value social diversity and we encourage individual commitment. For this partial scholarship, of up to 50%, you need to either represent diversity (e.g., belong to a minority group or an underprivileged community) or actively promote diversity and inclusion, by engaging in long-term initiatives that have a clear social impact. We thank alumnus Jan Toye for sponsoring a full scholarship in this category. Applicants who fit the criteria will be automatically considered for this full scholarship.
• Financial Need Scholarship: This scholarship can be combined with other scholarships. To apply, you will need a realistic financial plan and proof of financial need (e.g. through previous scholarships or grants). The scholarship allocation and amount are decided on a case-by-case basis. We thank MGM1990 alumni, and MGM1992 alumni for each sponsoring a full scholarship and 3d Investors for sponsoring three full scholarships in this category. Applicants who fit the criteria will automatically be considered for this full scholarship.

If you're planning to apply for a scholarship, make sure you apply early and submit your scholarship applications alongside your application file. Please check the application form for full conditions.

Loans 

You may consider getting a loan to cover your programme fees.  

• Regular loans: A loan from your bank could cover your tuition fees – get in touch with them for more information.  
• Prodigy Finance loans: Our partner Prodigy Finance offer loans to international students at the world’s top business schools. These loans could cover your living expenses and 100% of your tuition fees, minus any scholarship you may be awarded. Learn more

Paying in instalments  

You can choose to pay your tuition fees in three separate instalments in November, February and April.

If you want to pay by instalments, you need to sign a contract and pay an admin fee of €250.

There are four steps to start your Vlerick journey: 

1. Check your eligibility 

What you need: 

• Candidates studying in Belgium need a Masters degree from a recognised institution  
• Candidates from outside Belgium can apply with a Masters degree or a 3 to 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised institution (there may be additional requirements too)

Our Masters programmes are designed for young graduates, with an average age of 23 and little-to-no professional experience. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact our admissions team. 

2. Submit your application 

We process applications on a rolling basis from October, for the following September intake. If you need a visa to study in Belgium, we expect your application by 30 April at the latest for the following September intake.

Complete your personal details and upload all necessary documents to our application tool. If you don’t need a visa to study in Belgium, you have until June to apply. However, we advise early application as we allocate places on a first come, first served basis. 

3. Take your admissions test 

There are three elements in your admissions test:  

1. Vlerick Online Test  – we accept our own in-house analytical test, numerical reasoning (and abstract reasoning if applicable), GMAT/GMAT Focus (minimum 600/minimum 565) or GRE (157 verbal and 158 quantitative). 
2. Motivational interview – Using a standard set of questions, we assess the match between you, Vlerick and our programme. This interview takes place online and lasts about 20 minutes.
3. Knowledge interview – Vlerick faculty will ask you about your interest and insights into the field of studies you are applying for. This interview also takes place online and lasts about 20 minutes.

Want to prepare for your admissions test? – discover our tips and tricks.   

4. Register for the programme 

We’ll let you know within a week of your interview whether you’ve been admitted. You can request feedback on your application, whatever the outcome. Once you’ve been admitted, you can go ahead and register.

Discover what it’s like to study in Belgium – as well as practical information on how to organise your stay.