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Masters in General Management, Business Analytics & AI track

Become the data-empowered manager organisations are looking for

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Accredited Business School

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Business School in Belgium

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Career Opportunities Worldwide

Are you inspired by data science and AI – and the increasingly important role they have to play in business? And are you eager to start a business or project manager role? Then this specific Business Analytics & AI track within the Masters in General Management programme is perfect for you. It will give you the skills and mindset you need to become a highly sought-after, data-empowered manager, ready to accelerate your route to the top.

Detailed programme

The Masters in General Management with the Business Analytics & AI track 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.

Besides the AI study trip to Amsterdam, students can complete an international exchange during the programme at one of our partner business schools.

Get a full overview of all different 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 Business Analytics & AI track include:

  • Data-driven business innovation project: Put your analytical ability and innovative thinking to work in a project focused on data and analytics.
  • Hackathon: Collaborate with your course colleagues and put your skills to the test in a real-life hackathon.
  • AI study trip to Amsterdam: Get an inside view of the world of analytics and data and their application in the world of business. Includes company visits to Google, Amazon, Nike, Cognizant, Uber Eats and Cisco, and networking and lectures. 
  • Company project: Over two months, you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to a real business challenge of your choice – either in a consultancy project or a global social project for an NGO.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Besides the necessary hard skills, this programme will also develop your soft skills that are necessary to work in multidisciplinary teams, bridging the gap between tech experts and business and at a later stage grow into a managerial role.

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 Masters in General Management, Business Analytics & AI track include:

  • My Vlerick Development Portfolio: Gain insight into your own strengths and weaknesses, and 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 the current global job market as you gain the skills, insights and instincts to make a difference and explore your true potential.

EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

Students from the Masters in General Management, Business Analytics & AI track can apply for an international exchange that typically takes place between January and March. Our exchange partner business school is Nova School of Business and Economics (Lisbon, Portugal). Vlerick offers a partial refund of the accommodation cost to allow as many students as possible to apply.

Why this programme

  • Broaden your knowledge of all core areas of management 
  • Bridge the gap between data analytics and a broad range of business fields and industries 
  • Adopt hands-on IT, business analytics and machine learning skills that are relevant for business
  • Develop real, hands-on leadership skills through interactive classes, real-life business cases, business simulations and in-company projects
  • Test your abilities in a real-life hackathon
  • Get an insight into the world of analytics and data and their application in business on an AI trip to Amsterdam. Includes company visits to Google, Tesla, Amazon, Nike, Picnic, Accenture and Cisco, as well as networking and lectures
  • This track was developed in close collaboration with business experts specialised in the field of AI, who will actively contribute to the programme: ML6 (machine learning partner of Google), Imec (R&D hub for digital technology), Faktion & Metamaze (leading experts in NLP), Deloitte, BDO, KBC, Allianz, etc.
  • Put your skills into action in a two-month consultancy project in an industry of your choice
  • Enhance your learning journey by going on a short-term exchange abroad during your programme to our partner business school Nova School of Business and Economics.

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

    Want to know what our Masters students are up to? Check out the Masters stories page.

Career benefits

Top 20

Europe for Career Services

12

different industry sectors recruiting graduates

100+

recruitment partners

Take a look at the career prospects for graduates of the Masters in General Management, Business Analytics & AI track:

  • Business analyst
  • Data & analytics translator
  • Technology & Innovation manager
  • Technology consultancy
  • Data scientist
  • Data & AI analyst 
  • Customer engineer
  • New business opportunities within a variety of business sectors

Define your career goals and align them with the jobs market with the help of:

  • Practical workshops
  • Career clubs and competitions
  • One-to-one coaching
  • Career and networking events

Who should attend

Are you:

  • A recent graduate with strong analytical skills?
  • Inspired by data science and AI-driven tech applications?
  • Committed to making an impact on the future of business?

Then you’re a perfect fit for the Masters in General Management, Business Analytics and AI track at Vlerick. A background in the analytics field is not mandatory. You’ll join an incredibly diverse group of students who all share a passion for technology – and an analytical mindset.

Practical info

Duration: 10 months (from September until June)
Location: Leuven (discover our Vlerick Leuven campus)
Application deadline non-EU citizens: 30 April

Fees and financing

The tuition fee for the Masters in General Management, Business Analytics & AI track is €19,800.

This includes:

  • Textbooks
  • Company visits
  • Amsterdam AI-trip (accommodation, local travel, and company visits)
  • Travel between the school’s different campuses for mandatory programme events
  • One year of full online access to the Financial Times and The New York Times

The fee does not include the cost of travelling abroad for the study trip, visa costs, living expenses or costs related to any optional modules abroad that you take as part of your programme.

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 in Analytics Scholarship: Are you a woman with an outstanding academic record who shows leadership potential and a passion for business analytics? 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 could also 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, offers 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 in instalments, you need to sign a contract and pay an admin fee of €250.

Admissions

There are four steps to applying for a Masters programme at Vlerick: 

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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 (i.e. numerical reasoning and abstract reasoning test), 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.

Success stories

Verena Queis

“The MAI programme at Vlerick has been an incredible year where I broadened my data skills and sharpened my management and business strategy knowledge. What sets this program apart is the hands-on approach with interactive classes, real-life cases and a Hackaton to put to the test what you have learned. Not only the classes, but also the opportunity to attend career fairs and other networking events have been incredibly useful. This combination made the program a multi-dimensional experience of both theory and practice, in which I was able to build upon not only my skills, but also my future.”

Ahmad Flaifel

“This programme is a stepping stone to kickstarting your career. It seamlessly blends foundational courses with practical, hands-on experiences using tangible, real-life cases. In addition to honing your coding and technical skills as part of the Business Analytics & AI track, you'll learn to assess and effectively drive analytics initiatives. By the end of this Masters, you can expect to become an inspiring leader who bridges the gap between your organisation’s core business and its technical capabilities.”

Faculty

Philippe Baecke

Philippe Baecke

Professor of Marketing

Philippe Baecke is harnessing the power of big data and analytics in all areas of marketing.

Kristof Stouthuysen

Kristof Stouthuysen

Professor of Management Accounting & Digital Finance

Kristof Stouthuysen drives sustainable value creation with management accountancy – and leverages technology to make better financial decisions.

Andreea Gorbatai

Andreea Gorbatai

Professor of Entrepreneurship

Andreea Gorbatai explores the role of social interaction and emotion in entrepreneurship research

Mieke De Ketelaere

Mieke De Ketelaere

Adjunct Professor of Artificial Intelligence

An AI ethical evangelist, Mieke De Ketelaere believes AI can be powerful when it’s used in a sustainable and trustworthy way.

Get in touch!

Mounia Bouhlal

Mounia Bouhlal

Masters Admissions & Recruitment Officer