Master of Science in Advanced Business Studies

  My profile | Admission requirements | Study programme | Assets | Career prospects| Registration fee | More information | Application

Fact sheet

The Master's

The Master of Science in Advanced Business Studies is mainly designed to offer students with a background in business or management science an additional and advanced curriculum in business research methodology. The programme allows the participants to deepen their knowledge in a number of substantive areas, both conceptually and methodologically. Its courses are not designed to offer a general management background, but instead to provide in-depth, specialised treatment of business research methodology. The purpose of the programme is to familiarise students with current research practices in business and management studies used in leading academic institutions, international companies and institutions.
 

The programme provides excellent preparation for undertaking a PhD in Business Economics, but it is also ideal for students seeking research-oriented positions outside the university. Extensive contact with students from different nationalities and cultures adds an extra dimension to the programme.

My profile

As the programme's courses are at the advanced Master’s level, we stress the importance of a solid undergraduate background in business economics or management studies. Students should also have a sound mathematical and statistical background. Students should have a keen interest in recent analytical developments in business economics and a desire to work in research positions at universities, in business or in national and international institutions.

Admission requirements

To the definitive admission requirements
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Study programme

The programme focuses on the use of business research methodology and stresses a combination of theory and applications drawn from real business problems in various management disciplines.

To a detailed overview of the programme

Assets

One of the faculty’s most important assets is its vast national and international network. We maintain strong links with the business and financial community by organising regular workshops with industry leaders and the European Commission, situated only 30 minutes from our campus. Many of our alumni work at European institutions, and many of the department’s staff members act as advisers to various European bodies and international companies. The student association, Ekonomika, is equally active via its Business-to-University lecture programme. Our Alumni network offers excellent communication channels and networking opportunities with leading figures in industry and politics.
 

We have a wide international student exchange network as well. Not only do we participate extensively in the (intra-EU) Erasmus programme (with 65 partners), we also have numerous agreements with leading universities outside the EU, e.g. the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), the University of Chicago, Cornell University, the University of Illinois and Rochester University in the United States, the University of British Columbia, Queen’s University, the University of Toronto and the Université de Montréal in Canada, the Indian Institutes of Management Calcutta and Bangalore in India, the Chinese University and the City University of Hong Kong, Beida, Tsinghua and Fudan in China, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, National Taiwan University, Seoul National University in South-Korea, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane and the University of Sydney in Australia, Stellenbosch in South Africa, Insper in Brazil, Esan in Peru, the University of Monterrey in Mexico and the Singapore Management University.

Career prospects

A large majority of the graduates of the Master of Science in Advanced Business Studies programme begin careers in managerial and/or research positions in business, national and international institutions and universities. Graduates from the MABS programme can also enrol in the PhD programme in Business Economics at KU Leuven.

Before joining KU Leuven, I graduated in management at Bocconi University, Italy. I had already realised that research was my passion during my studies, thanks to two internship experiences at the United Nations and at the European Parliament. After graduating, I worked as a researcher at Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, a leading Italian research centre for two years. My main research interests are regulation, privatisation and corporate governance. Given my previous studies in management, I felt that I needed more specific training in quantitative methods, and after very careful consideration, I decided to come to KU Leuven. In fact, I found this Master’s programme to be a truly unique combination of quantitative methods, applied economics and business research. Moreover, you have a wonderful environment for learning, PhD level classes and a very stimulating teaching method, with many applications not only for research, but also for high-level professions in banking or consulting. I was also positively surprised by the city of Leuven, which is very beautiful and offers a very nice and lively environment for students. In Leuven and at KU Leuven you always feel welcome and you can enjoy a lot of different activities besides studying.
- Silvia Vitiello, graduate

Registration fee

• Applications should be submitted by 1 March for non-EEA citizens and preferably by 1 June for EEA citizens. However, EEA students with the required background and language fluency may register until the end of August.
• Tuition fee: 1400 EUR

For more information on how to apply, please visit www.econ.kuleuven.be/eng/edu/prospectivestudent.

More information

Visit the faculty’s website.

If you have other questions, contact:

Faculty of Business and Economics
tel. + 32 16 32 66 12
fax + 32 16 32 66 20

Application