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Full-time MBA Programme

Building Entrepreneurial Leaders for Tomorrow

#1

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Executive Education in Benelux

#31

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FT European Business School Ranking

TRIPLE

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accredited Business School (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS)

Our 10-month, triple-accredited Full-time MBA at Vlerick transforms your career, equipping you with the skills to become an agile leader. 

Based in Brussels, the programme offers a deep dive into a dynamic mix of cultures and business insights. Whether local or international, participants gain hands-on experience, a robust network, and the tools to drive change. Prepare to advance as a global entrepreneurial leader with this extensive MBA.

Get inspired by our participants and their personal transformation journeys: Watch the video >

Detailed programme

You want to make impact – when you graduate and throughout the rest of your professional life. The Full-time MBA programme at Vlerick gives you the mindset, knowledge, skills and network to go out into the world and make meaningful change. 

Your learning journey at Vlerick will be practical, hands-on and energising. You’ll workshop ideas, get input from leading faculty and business people – and you’ll put what you learn into practice through projects, group work, business games and simulations. 

Throughout this international MBA programme, you’ll get coaching, expert tuition, world-class careers support and quality networking to completely prepare you to advance your career. 

Integrated learning 

Your courses are grouped into four integrated modules. In each one, you dive deep into a topic – and you learn how it’s connected to other functions and disciplines at the same time. This approach helps you to understand how a company is structured – and how you’ll need to work with other teams to innovate and solve problems. All of this means that you learn frameworks and theory in the context of the way a business is structured and operates. 

Overview of the 4 integrated modules

Financial & Analytical Foundation

At the very beginning of our programme, we lay a strong Financial & Analytical Foundation. This foundation consists of two key components:

  1. Financial Foundation

A combination of three stand-alone courses designed to help you build a solid understanding of financial terms and concepts. These courses are critical for effective communication in the world of business:

  • Financial accounting
  • Corporate finance (incl. FAST)
  • Managerial accounting

   2. Understanding & Using Data

Understanding & Using Data is a unique aspect of our programme integrated into each integrated module. Various concepts and techniques to aid the business decision-making process will be studied to illustrate the road to the valuable information that can be extracted from data. In today’s world of complex and interrelated systems, decision-making remains an essential but difficult part of business. This is where data comes into play.

Excel in two broad areas 

All your hands-on learning, workshops, lectures, networking, trips and projects will lead you to develop two core skill sets – entrepreneurship and leadership.

Entrepreneurship 

"If you are thinking about taking an MBA or starting a business, remember you only have one life. Just do it. Vlerick will support you to take the leap." Jurgen Degrande - Co-founder of Edgard & Cooper - Full-time MBA Alumnus. Discover more about Jurgen Degrande's story.

The business world needs flexible, creative thinkers who are capable of driving their organisations forward and making a lasting impact. Through coaching, listening to guest speakers, gaining an understanding of start-up life, learning to adopt design thinking, and understanding how to finance your own venture – and how large organisations invest in innovation – this international MBA programme will empower you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll also develop your own business plan and gain agile, hands-on experience that will be invaluable – whether you want to start your own venture or drive success in a corporation. 

Leadership

At Vlerick, becoming a leader means mastering the soft skills, as well as the rigorous academic approaches that will help you to navigate decision-making. Throughout this global MBA programme, you’ll learn vital business skills including negotiation, presenting, and working with team dynamics. You’ll learn to problem-solve and motivate others. This is all supported with extensive leadership coaching and monthly group coaching sessions. Your Vlerick coach will push you to evolve and grow. So you’ll learn how to approach business, and importantly, you’ll learn about yourself. 

Electives during this international MBA

Explore your passions by choosing three electives in specialist business areas. From marketing through to finance and exploring innovation, there is a range of possibilities for you to choose from.

International study trip 

Immerse yourself in international business practice and networking during the study trip to Asia/Africa.

Knowledge-in-action project

Put everything you’ve learned into practice in a two-month project for a company or not-for-profit organisation. Address a strategic or managerial challenge – all with expert guidance and feedback from your professors and peers.

Integrated management exercise (IMEx)

During an intensive week, you’ll play the Integrated Management Exercise (IMEx) – a business game where your team competes to run the best company.

Why this programme

• Benefit from world-class, international MBA content that will empower you to challenge the status quo in your organisation and your sector

• Gain the skills to become a proactive leader who can have a real impact in business, society and the world

• Develop an international perspective, learning in a diverse setting in the heart of Europe

• Get real-world experience with a two-month, hands-on project in a company or not-for-profit 

• Benefit from extensive coaching, group sessions and reflection

• Learn from the perspectives of classmates and faculty from diverse professional, educational and cultural backgrounds 

• Build a powerful network that will support you throughout your career

• Get a tangible return on your investment – on average, graduates of this programme see a 30% salary increase, as well as many other career benefits

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Career benefits

75%

employed in Europe

67%

found a job through Vlerick activities

72%

salary increase

90%

employed after 6 months

In businesses across all sectors, you’ll find Vlerick graduates in strategic roles, working across borders. They’re successful, sought-after and highly valued. Here are just some of the places they’re making an impact:

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AB-Inbev, Accenture, Altran, Amazon, Bain & Company, Barco, Bekaert, BNP Paribas, Bopro, British American Tobacco, Brussels Airlines, Cargill, CG Holdings, Cisco, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Delhaize Group, Deloitte, Dow, Elia, Energetica Natura, Ernst & Young, Froomle, GE, GSK, HSBC, IKEA, Impaqtr, ING, Intertrust Group, Johnson & Johnson, KBC Bank, Mastercard, Materialise, McKinsey, Microsoft, ML6, Morgan Stanley, Nielsen, Novartis, Nxp Semiconductors, Odoo, Ontex, Philip Morris, Philips, Proximus, PWC, Roland Berger, Rydoo, Schindler, Signify, TeamViewer, Tomorrowlab, Tomtom, Toyota, UNIVERCELLS, UPS, and Vinçotte.

Our career services team is there to support you from day one. They get to know you. They push you and find opportunities for and with you, with activities including:

• Practical workshops 

• One-to-one career counselling 

• Executive coaching 

• Company visits 

• Alumni sessions and networking events

Watch this video to learn more about our career services.

Join our alumni community

Want to grow your professional network? Broaden your career opportunities? Or want access to one of the brightest groups of talent in the world? Then you need to be a member of the Vlerick Alumni network. Bringing together a diverse network of 25,000 professionals from more than 100 countries, the Vlerick Alumni network is a way of making your MBA experience create even greater value for you throughout your career.

When you’re accepted onto our Full-time MBA programme, you automatically become a member – and when you graduate, you have the option to continue your membership and carry on enjoying the benefits of it. 

Who should attend

Is this programme for you?

Hyper-international. Progressive. And located right in the beating heart of Europe. No wonder this global MBA programme attracts participants from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds. If you think you’d thrive in this diverse, international setting – and you meet these criteria – we’d love to hear from you…

• Do you have at least three years of full-time work experience? 

• Do you want to become a leader who makes a positive impact? 

• Do you want to develop your entrepreneurial mindset? 

• Are you looking to change career, change sector – or change the country you work in?

• Are you open to thinking differently, challenging the norm and making business a force for good in the world?

Want to see what our international MBA groups are like? Here’s an overview of our most recent cohort:

35

cohort size

88%

international

40%

female

32

average age 

Practical info

Start date: 1 September 2025
Duration: 10 months (September - June) 
Location: Brussels 

Our Full-time MBA programme has one intake each year. We kick off in September and finish in late June the following year. Each week is packed with 40 hours of individual study, classroom sessions, coaching and project work.

This unique programme is highly personalised, hands-on and involves a high level of one-to-one attention for each participant.

Fees and financing

The tuition fee for the Full-time MBA is €43,000 (for the 1 September 2025 start).

This includes: 

  • Full tuition 
  • Electives 
  • Textbooks and course materials 
  • Executive coaching sessions 
  • Use of campus facilities 
  • Alumni membership during the programme 
  • One year of full online access to the Financial Times 

The cost of the international trip is not included in the tuition fee. The estimate of costs for this trip will be between €2,000 and €3,000 for flights, visa and accommodation.

Living expenses in Brussels – including rent – can range between €1,000 and €1,500 a month. Brussels is a very affordable place to live, with a lower cost of living than other European cities such as Paris, London and Barcelona. In fact, living costs can be between 25-50% lower than in these cities.

Financing your Full-time MBA

Joining a Vlerick programme can be a significant financial investment. But there are many options available – and we’re here to help you explore what types of support you might be eligible for.  

Scholarships

We award MBA scholarships mostly on a merit basis. We look at personal and professional achievements, international outlook and added value to the class – as well as admissions test and interview results. Our scholarships range from 10% to 50% of the tuition fee and they are awarded on a first come first served basis. So the earlier you apply, the greater your chance of getting a scholarship.

Here's a list of the MBA scholarships we offer…

  • Female leadership: For women looking to become business leaders of the future.
  • Diversity scholarship: For participants from diverse backgrounds, who have a global mindset and cultural awareness.
  • Academic scholarship: For candidates with a strong academic record – and a GMAT score of 680+ or a GRE-scaled score of 160+ (verbal), and 162+ (quantitative).
  • Future leader scholarship: For candidates who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential.
  • Entrepreneurship scholarship: For candidates with a strong track record of entrepreneurship or the potential to launch their own business when they graduate.
  • MBA event scholarship: For candidates who have met one of our representatives face-to-face at regional MBA events.
  • Regional scholarship: We offer these to candidates who plan to continue to work in their region after graduation.
  • Sector-specific scholarship: If you want to grow your career in one of our key research areas – healthcare, retail and consumer goods, financial services or energy – you can apply for a sector-specific scholarship.
  • The Dirk Kuijper endowment fund: This fund promotes the international elements of our MBA programme.
  • EU Indian scholarship: This is for permanent residents of India with a GMAT score of 650+ or with a GRE score of 157+ (verbal), and 159+ (quantitative).
  • Vlerick spirit scholarship: This is for applicants who are open and willing to learn from peers with very different and diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
  • One Vlerick (Opportunity & Equality) scholarship: We value social diversity and we encourage individual commitment. For this partial scholarship of up to 50%, you either need to be a first-generation university student, belong to a minority group or an underprivileged community – or actively promote diversity and inclusion.

To apply, write an essay as part of your online application form. You don’t have to say which scholarship you’re applying for. 

Learn more about the Full-time MBA scholarship.

Loans 

You could also consider getting a loan to cover your programme fees.

Regular loans: You can use a loan to pay for part or all of your tuition fees. Remember to explore any options available in your home country, as well as loans from specialist providers.

Prodigy Finance loans: Prodigy Finance provides loans for 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 also pay your tuition fees in four separate instalments due September, November, February and April. If you want to pay in instalments, we’ll ask you to sign a contract and pay an admin fee of €250.

 

It’s important to understand all the stages involved in MBA admissions. There are four key steps to applying for your Full-time MBA programme at Vlerick:

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1. Check your eligibility 

You must meet the following MBA eligibility requirements:

• A degree from an accredited university 

• At least three years’ full-time work experience

Check your eligibility in as little as five minutes using our simple tool.

2. Submit your application 

Complete your personal details and upload the necessary documents via our application tool.

Application deadlines for a start on 1 September 2025:

• If you don’t need a student visa, the final date to apply is 31 July 2025

• If you do need a student visa to study in Belgium, the final date is 30 June 2025

3. Go through the admissions process 

You can apply with our internal admissions test VBAT (Vlerick Business Admissions Test) or take either GMAT (minimum 600) or GRE (minimum 157 verbal, 158 quantitative). 

If you are taking the VBAT, we will contact you to schedule a personal appointment for the MBA entrance exam. The MBA admissions interview takes place after you have passed the test. 

The interview takes place online and lasts about 30 minutes. We want to make sure the programme is a good fit for you – so the interview is your opportunity to showcase your experience and personality and let us know why you and Vlerick are a great match.

Start preparing for your admissions test and interview now:
Preparation tips
How to nail your admissions test

4. Get your results 

Within five days of your interview, we’ll let you know our decision. If your application is successful, you’ll be offered a place in this global MBA programme. To accept the offer and reserve your place, you must pay the required commitment fee towards your tuition. If your application is rejected, we’ll give you individual feedback – and you can apply again the following year.

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

Success stories

Vlerick-Shruti Saxena 20210607 - 20

One of the first things that attracted me to Vlerick was the class profile. It’s so international and there’s a great range of ages and industries. This diversity really helped me to get to know different domains and how they work.

Vlerick-Pierre Antoine Couvreur 20210607 - 16

One of the greatest opportunities I had at Vlerick was to learn about myself. The one-to-one coaching sessions were transformative for me. They gave me the tools to think about what I really wanted, who I am and what would fulfill me. They helped me to make a huge change in my life.

Vlerick-Diana Czentye 20210607 - 05 VRIJSTAAND

I use so many elements from the MBA in my work. The biggest thing is the broader perspective I have of business. You explore all business areas and how they connect – from operations and marketing through to finance. This knowledge is crucial for building strategy and navigating different clients and projects – and I draw on it on a daily basis.

Vlerick-Gancho Rusev 20210607 - 01

What Vlerick did – through a mixture of experiences and interactions – was open me up and help me make connections. The whole Vlerick experience operationalised my knowledge and gave me the concentration and focus to become a better, more efficient professional.

Faculty

Xavier Baeten

Xavier Baeten

Professor of Reward & Sustainability

Xavier Baeten is highlighting the vital role of rewarding in helping organisations deliver their strategy and gain competitive advantage.

Frank Goedertier

Frank Goedertier

Professor of Marketing

Frank Goedertier is passionate about marketing, customer journey management, brand strategy and impactful public speaking.

Katleen De Stobbeleir

Katleen De Stobbeleir

Professor of Leadership

Katleen De Stobbeleir is inspired by leaders who stand up and speak – and she is passionate about those who have the courage to sit and listen.

Bjorn Cumps

Bjorn Cumps

Professor of Financial Services Innovation

Bjorn Cumps is passionate about FinTech, platforms and business ecosystems.

Get in touch!

Aurelie Van de Meulebroucke

Aurelie Van de Meulebroucke

Customer Relationship Manager – Full-Time, European, Executive and Online MBA

Frequently asked questions

Is Vlerick’s Full-time MBA a global MBA or an international MBA?

Different business schools describe full-time MBAs in different ways. Our Full-time MBA can be considered as both an International MBA and a Global MBA. This means it covers cutting-edge business and leadership approaches – and it does so with an international focus. This means our Full-time MBA – which you can think of as a global or international MBA programme – gives you the skills and knowledge you need to develop an international career.

Is a full-time MBA worth it?

A Full-time MBA from Vlerick has been the starting point for fulfilling and well-paid careers for many of our alumni. They certainly believe that a full-time MBA is worth it – and if you would like to make contact with our alumni to find out about their experiences, we’d be glad to introduce you.

Reach out today >

What level of English proficiency is needed to follow this global MBA programme?

To follow this programme, you’ll need to have the ability to speak and write English to a professional business level. You’ll need to be able to join in with class discussions, read and interpret course materials and write papers and reports.

What is the minimum GMAT or GRE score needed to apply for this Full-time MBA programme?

There are two routes to applying for the Full-time MBA at Vlerick. The first is via our own, holistic admissions test, the VBAT. The VBAT takes into account your achievements, experience, ambitions – and the difference you want to make. We make our final assessment by considering your CV, your VBAT test results and your interview with us. Alternatively, we will also consider robust GMAT scores.

If you would like to discuss admissions with us, please arrange a call. We’d love to hear about your plans and offer no-obligation advice.

What is the difference between a full-time MBA and an executive MBA programme? And can you study them in different formats?

At Vlerick, you can study for a full-time MBA or for a part-time MBA. And we offer a variety of MBA programme formats.

Full-time MBAs are typically designed for people who are just a few years into their careers and can take time out to dedicate to their studies. This is because when you’re studying for an MBA full-time, you’re likely to spend at least five days a week on campus. In fact, our Brussels campus quickly becomes a home-from-home for our Full-time MBA participants, where they work, socialise and study. Our Full-time MBA takes place in Brussels, over an extremely intensive 10-month period.

On the other hand, we have designed our Executive MBA, European Executive MBA and Online Executive MBA to be more flexible and to accommodate working professionals.

Our Executive MBA and European Executive MBA are part-time and suitable for people who have a number of years of professional experience. These MBA programmes combine home study with regular, intensive in-person learning.

Participants in our Executive MBA meet on campus every three weeks on Fridays and Saturdays to take part in intensive learning activities. These sessions alternate between our Brussels and Ghent campuses over an 18-month period.

Professionals who take part in our European Executive MBA combine at-home study, online learning and five intense, immersive learning experiences that take place over five days at important European business hubs. From start to finish, this part-time MBA takes place over a 15-month period.

For ultimate flexibility, our Online Executive MBA happens entirely online over a period of 15 or 18 months. You get all the hallmark benefits of a Vlerick MBA – a deeply immerse experience, working alongside professionals from across the world, learning cutting-edge approaches and techniques, coaching, building networks and more – and you can do it from anywhere in the world. 

Deciding which MBA programme is best for you will depend on what stage you’re at in your career, the level of flexibility you need, where you want to study – and the experience you are looking for.

Find out more about our:

European Executive MBA

Executive MBA

Online Executive MBA

If you’d like to talk about your options, please set up a call.


How does a Full-time MBA compare to a part-time MBA?

In many ways, a Full-time MBA and part-time MBA at Vlerick are similar – in terms of the immersive experience, quality of teaching, the international experience and much more.

However, there are two paths to gaining your MBA. On one, you stop working and commit to full-time study on our Brussels campus. On the other, you continue to work and study during evenings and weekends. All of our part-time MBA programmes give you the opportunity to take international trips. And on our Online Executive MBA, you can choose to study 100% remotely.

To find the option that works best for you, book a call with us. We’d love to hear about your goals and ambitions – and help you take the next leap in your career.

How long does the Full-time MBA programme take to complete?

It’s important to understand how long an MBA takes. Our Full-time MBA is an intensive, 10-month programme. You’ll start in early September and finish towards the end of June the following year. All successful participants graduate on the first Friday of July.

How much time should I expect to spend in the classroom or working on projects each week on this global MBA?

For the Full-time MBA, you should expect to spend around 40 hours a week on your studies. You’ll be learning on-campus Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm. And you may need to spend some evenings and weekends on electives, additional study and exam preparation. There will also be trips and visits to factor into your scheduling.

Is it possible to do the Full-time MBA as a working professional?

No, it isn’t. The Full-time MBA is an intensive international MBA programme that involves on-campus study, five days a week during normal working hours – as well as events and social activities in the evenings and at weekends. Participants in our Full-time MBA programme find that our Brussels campus very quickly becomes a second home, where they take part in intense learning activities, study and socialise. For the 10-month duration of the programme, campus life is everything – it’s where you find support, coaching, inspiration, friends, great food and a truly family feel.

If a full-time MBA programme doesn’t feel right for you, check out our part-time MBA programmes. If you’d like to study on campus part-time, our Executive MBA  or our European Executive MBA could be perfect for you. Or you can opt for even more flexibility with our Online Executive MBA – which allows you to study remotely.

How many starting dates are there each year for the Full-time MBA?

There is one starting date each year for our Full-time MBA – in early September.

Can I get a Full-time MBA if I don’t have a Bachelors degree?

To apply for this programme, you must have a Bachelors or Masters degree from a recognised university, as well as three or more years of full-time, professional work experience.

You can check your eligibility here, in as little as five minutes.

Will I get a degree when I graduate from the Full-time MBA?

Yes – when you successfully complete this programme, you graduate with an internationally-recognised Masters in Business Administration.

Does Vlerick help Full-time MBA participants find work?

We provide multiple opportunities for Full-time MBA programme participants to meet prospective employers – and we help to guide you in your search for your next big leap.

Throughout your Full-time MBA, our Careers Services team works to help and support you, giving you access to:

  • High quality coaching and advice – giving you opportunities to take mock interviews, perfect your CV and understand what truly motivates and inspires you
  • Events – providing opportunities to grow your network, meet potential employers and connect with professionals in your chosen field
  • Workshops – covering topics including personal branding, preparing for interviews, negotiating salary
  • Vlerick’s Career Platform – empowering you to connect with top employers, find job opportunities and tap into a wealth of resources

If you’re moving to Belgium from another country, you may be entitled to remain in Belgium after you graduate to look for work.

Want to find out more? Set up a call – we’d love to help.

Will I get work experience as part of the Full-time MBA?

As part of your Full-time MBA at Vlerick, you’ll complete a two-month In-company Project or a Global Social Project – either for your own company, or for a business that’s eager for you to help them address a strategic challenge.

These experiences give you the opportunity to put everything you’ve learned into practice. It’s not unusual for our MBA participants to go on to work with the organisations they support in these projects.

These projects are part of a comprehensive and highly personalised career development approach that also sees you taking part in group coaching, career coaching, executive coaching, networking – and meeting companies and recruiters.

Check out our Career Development Services.

What career support will I get throughout the Full-time MBA?

Throughout the programme, you’ll have dedicated support from our careers team. And you’ll benefit from a comprehensive career development track, including:

  • A personalised development platform
  • Group coaching
  • Networking opportunities with Vlerick alumni
  • Access to companies and recruiters
  • Leadership and personal development
  • Career workshops and resources
  • Mock interviews
  • Career coaching

What is the grading system for the Full-time MBA programme?

Throughout your MBA journey, your work will be evaluated in a number of different ways, including:

  • Exams
  • Papers
  • Case work
  • Group work
  • Presentations

And because you’ll be assessed module-to-module, you’ll always know how you’re performing – and understand any areas where you may need to improve.