MASTER OF BUSINESS ENGINEERING: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
Main advantages of this master's programme:
Economics meets technology
"Economics as its foundation, technology as added value and entrepreneurship as a guideline" - this is, in short, the philosophy behind the Belgian academic qualification of business engineering (also known as management engineering or commercial engineering).
The master of Business and Technology focuses on business aspects of cutting-edge technology and offers high-level courses on various aspects of business, finance, accounting, technology, strategy, analytics and more. The entrepreneurship course combines business and technology by putting our products on the market.
Thanks to the mix of in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge, you will learn everything you in order to succeed as a business engineer in a highlevel position. Our master programme prepares you for the challenges of the globalised economy.
Study at Solvay Business School, VUB
The Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School has its roots in the Business Engineering programmes set up by Ernest Solvay in 1903. A long tradition of integrating business education with technology continues in all of its programmes.
We strive to educate students to become highly skilled professionals with an excellent command of various languages and a good understanding of multiple cultures wanted by/needed in national and international public institutions and in multinational companies.
Solvay Schools Alumni Network
Solvay Schools Alumni is the association that gathers all graduates from the VUB Solvay Business School and the ULB Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management.
Representing a network of 20,000 alumni in more than 65 countries, our alumni are present in all areas of the workforce. With about 50 activities and conferences every year, the organisation offers its members lifelong learning, career services, support and networking opportunities.
Thanks to an extensive online database and its annual yearbook, Solvay Schools Alumni gives its members the chance to keep in touch and meet up at professional and social meetings.
International university
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a dynamic and modern university with almost two centuries of history. VUB has 15.000 students, 21% of which are international students from more than 120 different countries.
Being a student at VUB means studying in an international and open atmosphere of tolerance and diversity that will help you to grow into an independent and critical-thinking individual.
VUB offers high quality English-taught programmes, supported by outstanding research. VUB is known for treating its students as individuals. Professors and teaching assistants are available and open to answer questions from students. Interactive methods ensure close interaction and contribute to students growing into independent and critical individuals.
Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School
More informationContact the programme coordinator
mbt@vub.ac.beEducational quality
HERE AT VUB WE PUT GREAT CARE AND EFFORT IN THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION. TRANSPARENCY IS KEY. INFORMATION ON THE EDUCATIONAL QUALITY OF EACH PROGRAMME IS PUBLIC, E.G. DESCRIBING ITS STRENGTHS AND ACTIONS.
Public info on the quality of the programme
Programme overview
The master of Business and Technology is a daytime programme that consists of two modules (two years), for a total of 120 ECTS-credits.
Module 1
Module 1 (year 1) consists of 9 compulsory courses and one elective, for a total of 60 ECTS-credits.
Course title | ECTS | Semester |
---|---|---|
International Corporate Finance | 6 | 1 |
Operations Research | 6 | 1 |
Project Management | 6 | 1 |
Financial Reporting and Auditing | 6 | 1 |
Advanced Marketing | 6 | 1 |
Advanced Technology | 6 | 2 |
Fundamentals of Data Science | 6 | 2 |
Information Systems Strategy and Management | 6 | 2 |
Research Paper | 6 | 1&2 |
Elective (pick one of the three options) | ||
Technology and Applications of Micro-Electronics and Photonics | 6 | 2 |
Materials Science and Innovation | 6 | 2 |
Biotechnology | 6 | 2 |
Module 2
Once you've completed the courses from Module 1, you can start with this second module.
Course title | ECTS | Semester |
---|---|---|
Strategic Management | 6 | 1 |
Entrepreneurship | 3 | 1 |
Corporate Social Responsibility | 6 | 2 |
Master thesis or Trade Mission or Master thesis Pre-doctoral Track | 18 | 1&2 |
Business Aspects elective (pick one of the four options) | ||
Business Aspects of Biotechnology | 3 | 1 |
Business Aspects of Innovation in Materials | 3 | 1 |
Business Aspects of Software Industry | 3 | 1 |
Business Aspects of Micro-electronics and Photonics | 3 | 2 |
Practice-oriented elective (pick one of the options) | ||
Technological Business Development Project | 6 | 1&2 |
Microeconomics of Competitiveness (limited seats) | 6 | 2 |
Internship | 6 or 12 | 1 or 2 |
International Business Project | 6 | 1&2 |
Elective (pick 2 or 3 to end on a total of 60 ECTS in this module) | ||
Advanced Accounting and International Financial Statements | 6 | 1 |
Sustainable Mobility and Logistics | 6 | 1 |
Risk Management | 6 | 1 |
Decision Analytics | 6 | 1 |
Multinational Strategic Planning | 6 | 2 |
Global Banking | 6 | 2 |
Programme Calendar
First semester
All new students start mid-September with a series of daytime classes spanning a period of 13 weeks. The first semester ends in the 3rd week of December (winter break). The first exam session (1st semester courses) is organized in January.
Second semester
the second semester starts in the second half of February - 8 weeks of class, followed by spring break, and then another 5 weeks of class.The first exam session (2nd semester courses) is organized at the end of May and in June.
Resit chance
organized from mid-August till mid-September . This second chance exam is included in your enrollment and we expect you to attend this exam if you've failed a first exam session (no failed result is transferred to second session).
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes describe the intended knowledge and understanding, skills and attitudes that you must master after completing your studies. Do you want to know more about the specific learning outcomes of this program? Click here for more information.
Start application season 2022
December 2021Deadline non-EEA students (visa required)
1 April 2022Deadline EEA students (and holders of a valid permit)
1 September 2022Start of the academic year 2022-2023
19 September 2022Academic requirements
DIRECT ADMISSION
Candidates with a Flemish degree of BSc in Handelsingenieur have direct access into this master.
ADMISSION AFTER SCREENING
All other students will be screened on study background, motivation and language skills.
You must have an academic Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Business/Management or Economics in order to apply. In addition to this, you need to have successfully acquired a minimum number of (European) credits in Economics, Business/Management, Quantitative Methods, Law. Also, it is absolutely vital that you have acquired credits in Natural Sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, etc.):
- Law: 6 ECTS
- Economics: 15 ECTS
- Business/Management: 24 ECTS
- Quantitative Methods: 24 ECTS
- Natural Sciences: 12 ECTS
Language requirements
There are three ways to prove your English language proficiency:
Option 1: send us one of the following language certificates proving your CEFR B2 level:
- TOEFL (only the internet-based test is accepted): minimum level: 79
- IELTS: minimum level academic module 6.5
- Cambridge English: Minimum scale grade 170 (equivalent to the CEFR B2)
- ITACE: minimum grade B2
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are aware that students may face difficulties to take a test in person. Please note that we also accept the TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator. These are variants of the classic TOEFL and IELTS tests that you may take at home.
Please note that language test results cannot be older than 5 years at the moment of application.
Option 2: having successfully completed secondary or higher education with English as language of instruction:
- submit official proof of the language of instruction of your previous study;
Option 3: having successfully completed Belgian secondary education:
- submit official proof that you completed a study in the Belgian educational system
Online application procedure
If you feel you meet both the academic requirements and the language requirements, you best start the online application procedure to find out if you will be accepted to join the programme. You will be required to upload the following documents during the online application procedure to start the screening process:
- Proof of identity (Passport or ID-card)
- Profile picture (ends on your student card)
- All higher education degrees (official documents, both original and translations)
- All higher education transcripts of records (official documents, both original and translations)
- Motivational letter
- 2 recommendation letters
- Proof of English language proficiency
The screening process can take up to several weeks. Submit your file as soon (and complete) as possible.
You meet all entry requirements?
Start your online application todayPrepare your study
Welcome at VUB. Find out how we can facilitate and support your study.
A quick campus tour
All courses will be organised on the Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus
Contact the programme coordinator
mtb@vub.ac.beWhat our Alumni say
Our B&T alumni share their experiences at VUB with you.
I would definitely recommend this programme to any student who wants to improve oneself in a challenging and international environment
"On my first day at the VUB, I found a warm welcoming environment where the administrative staff was very helpful and supportive. During my studies, the professors and teaching assistants were always ready to help us understand the courses better and answer our questions.
VUB research environment taught me to ask ‘How, Why and Why not’ questions to comprehend the deeper levels of the study topics. Even during my oral exams, I had a chance to learn new aspects of the subjects while I was discussing the questions with my professors. Thanks to several student projects, I’ve worked with students from almost all corners of the world and had a chance to discuss a variety of different perspectives on how solve a problem. Within the scope of the Business and Technology Programme, I did an internship in a multinational consumer goods corporation where I met with other interns from VUB and several universities from all over the world. For the technological business development course, I found an opportunity to work with a startup company from VUB. To conduct market research, we visited sector fairs and met with several potential customers.
VUB has provided me with an international environment where I could meet a lot of new people. I have made new international friends with who I learn, study, discuss, travel, eat, drink and enjoy together. To sum up, I would definitely recommend this programme to any student who wants to improve oneself in a challenging and international environment. To top it all off, even though we had some difficult times during 2020, VUB crowned this journey with a legendary graduation ceremony in the heart of Brussels – Grand Place!"
Asli is currently a PhD candidate.
I further developed my business knowledge on strategy, finance, marketing, and management while also acquiring technological insights and skills.
“After receiving my bachelor’s degree in Business Engineering at the VUB, I searched for a programme with a more international and tech-focused approach to pursue my master’s degree. Hence, I decided to continue my career at the VUB by submitting my application for a master’s in Business Engineering with a specialization in Business & Technology. During the program, I further developed my business knowledge on strategy, finance, marketing, and management while also acquiring technological insights and skills. Furthermore, both worlds collided to teach students how business impacts technology and vice versa. The programme balanced these two elements perfectly with great support and guidance from the academic staff. In addition, as a Belgian student, you get the opportunity to have a more international experience since fellow students are coming from different parts of the world. All aspects combined, the programme provided me with a strong foundation to initiate my career as Management Trainee at Proximus where I need to apply both business and technological skills in the telecom sector. I thus warmly recommend this programme for whoever wishes to pursue a career in business with a focus on technology”
Currently Michiel is a Management Trainee (Product Manager) at Proximus.
An Erasmus experience in my own country
"After finishing my bachelor studies of “Handelsingenieur” at VUB, I was ready for the next challenge. I chose the Master in Business & Technology for several reasons. Following a master programme taught in English after a Dutch bachelor programme gave me the opportunity to finetune my speaking, writing and reasoning in English. There was also a good mixture of courses, mostly focused on technology from a business perspective. Our group consisted of Belgian and international students from all over the world. For me, it felt like going on Erasmus in my own country. I had a lot of fun discovering Belgium and Brussels all over again while learning customs from other countries. I will never forget the lunches at the Resto, the picknicks in Terkamerenbos, the game nights after class, celebrating birthdays etc. Choosing VUB and specifically the Master in Business & Technology has made me discover my full potential and helped me become the best version of myself. At VUB you are treated as a person, not as a number!"
Emmelien is currently a Phd Student in our Data Analytics Laboratory (VUB)
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Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony, September 2020, Grand Place Brussels
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AFTER GRADUATION
A master degree opens doors in many different branches and sectors. You will be able to work in the private sector, (non-) governmental organisations, or continue your academic career as a PhD researcher. Not sure what your next step should be? The VUB helps you with your first steps in the job market.
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