FT European Business School Ranking
accredited Business School (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS)
Executive Education in Benelux
You know your future is as a business leader in Europe. And you know that deep, immersive experience of business practice and ecosystems across the continent, will help you to unlock opportunities, enter new markets – and take your career to a whole new level.
The European Executive MBA, also known as the MBA in Sustainability Management, combines high-quality, cutting-edge business learning with immersive business experiences in centres across Europe. You’ll learn entrepreneurial, socially responsible business skills. You’ll experience the Vlerick spirit in business communities from Dublin to Copenhagen, learning from some of the most cutting-edge enterprises in Europe, as well as renowned Vlerick faculty and coaches.
The European Executive MBA is a true innovation in both content and format. Over 15 intensive months, you’ll experience a unique blend of online and in-person learning. You’ll break out of the classroom and dive into cutting-edge businesses in seven prominent European hubs at the forefront of sustainable business. Approaches and models will come to life in live cases and simulations in businesses from Paris to Zaragoza – and you’ll experience business life, culture and practice in action. And whether you’re learning about finance in Paris or supply chains and operations in Zaragoza, you’ll find that a focus on sustainable strategy runs through everything.
A consistent focus on sustainable business strategy – including sustainable finance, sustainable supply chains, purposeful and resilient organisations and the role of business in society
The European Executive MBA combines high-quality, online learning with in-person, immersive experiences at important business hubs across Europe. Throughout the programme, you will take part in:
Whether you want to expand into Europe – or deepen your understanding of the European business landscape – the European Executive MBA will give you unparalleled insight, connections and confidence.
You’ll learn from leading European faculty – and you’ll explore European businesses in cities across the continent. It’s a unique opportunity to understand European business and build an outstanding network of contacts.
Break out of the classroom and dive into big-name businesses in prominent European centres. You’ll experience approaches and models coming to life in live cases and simulations – and you’ll absorb business life, culture and practices.
Blended online and in-person learning gives you flexibility – and means you’re prepared to get the most from your immersive experiences in businesses in Brussels, Copenhagen, Zaragoza, Dublin, Paris and Ghent.
Apply everything you’ve learned in the Knowledge-in-Action project for your own company – or for a new company. You can also create positive, sustainable impact in a separate project, for a not-for-profit organisation.
You’ll receive expert, personalised support and coaching. This is designed to develop you as a leader, help you understand everything you’d like to achieve – and know the steps you need to take. You also get career coaching and curated networking opportunities and introductions.
Modern working lives demand flexibility… but you also want to meet your peers, faculty and businesses face-to-face. The European Executive MBA blends the best of online working with opportunities to meet in hands-on immersion modules in cities across Europe. This unique approach combines powerful experiences in cities and businesses across Europe, with flexible online learning and business simulations.
All of this means you have the flexibility of an online programme, combined with face-to-face experiences and opportunities. Networking, career coaching, support, live cases, introductions and deep interaction all come together on this programme – where you learn online, on campus, and in Brussels, Copenhagen, Zaragoza, Dublin, Paris and Ghent.
Whatever your ambitions, our careers team is here to help you achieve them. They’ll be by your side throughout the programme – giving you advice and support and helping you identify opportunities to go further. They’ll encourage you to take part in:
We welcome participants from diverse professional, social and cultural backgrounds. It’s an approach that contributes a rich blend of specialisms, experiences and perspectives to our class groups.
When you join the European Executive MBA at Vlerick, you’ll join a select group of peers. With them, you’ll expand your network, gain fresh insights from a wide range of industries and develop a truly European mindset.
Average class profile
Start date: 13 March 2024
Locations: Brussels, Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen, Zaragoza and Ghent – as well as remote, online learning
Format: A blend of immersive learning experiences in European business hubs, and highly interactive online learning
Duration: 15 months
Taking an MBA involves a considerable time investment. You can expect to spend an average of 10-12 hours a week taking part in classes, immersive experiences, team assignments, projects and self-paced study.
Our European Executive MBA has one intake per year, in March. The programme takes place over a 15-month period, finishing in June of the following year. We limit place numbers to make sure you have a quality experience, with high levels of personal attention.
We accept applications for the programme on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply sooner rather than later. Applying earlier also means you can take full advantage of any scholarships that may be available to you.
The tuition fee for the European Executive MBA is €49.750
This includes:
Your company may be willing to finance part or all of your European Executive MBA – particularly if they need help making their sustainability ambitions become reality.
Find out how to make a case for funding to your employer >
You may also be able to source finance in your home country or region from organisations or government. For example, the KMO Portefeuille can be helpful for professionals in Flanders. Our admissions team can help you to identify potential resources.
Book a meeting with our admissions team >
In addition, we offer a number of MBA scholarships and grants.
There are four steps to applying for your European Executive MBA programme at Vlerick:
What you need:
Use our application tool to create your profile and start completing your application. Remember, we review applications on a rolling basis.
We’ll get in touch a few days after you submit your application.
If you meet our criteria and we feel the European Executive MBA programme is a good fit for you, we’ll invite you to an admissions test and online interview.
Within two days of your test, we’ll let you know our decision. If you’re successful, we’ll offer you a place on the programme. If not, we’ll give you individual feedback – and you can retake your admissions test once more in the same academic year.
Professor of Financial Services Innovation
Bjorn Cumps is passionate about FinTech, platforms and business ecosystems.
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.
Professor of Financial Markets
David Veredas makes sure you understand finance and sustainability – and think critically about them.
Professor of Reward & Sustainability
Xavier Baeten is highlighting the vital role of rewarding in helping organisations deliver their strategy and gain competitive advantage.
Customer Relationship Manager – European, Executive and Online MBA
Both 'Blended MBA' and 'Hybrid MBA' are terms used to describe a programme that combines online and in-person learning. A hybrid programme describes a model where both online and classroom participants join at the same time. In contrast, a blended programme offers a curriculum in which some classes are conducted entirely online, while others are exclusively classroom-based. Our European Executive MBA is a blended MBA, not a hybrid MBA.
A blended MBA programme combines in-person and remote online learning to create flexible approaches. At Vlerick, this blended MBA programme includes elements that are 100% online, such as the majority of the Core Curriculum and Electives. The classroom element consists of six immersion trips where the entire class participates face-to-face for project work, case studies, and guest speakers, as well as company visits. The programme has been created and is delivered by our highly experienced faculty, who are experts at bringing both online and in-person learning to life, creating deeply immersive experiences, regardless of your preferred learning mode.
An MBA from Vlerick helps professionals across the world to take the next leap in their lives and careers. It’s an investment that can give you significant returns – including access to more senior and fulfilling roles and higher salaries. In addition, the European Executive MBA gives you a unique view of the sustainable way that Europe does business.
If you’d like to find out more – or speak to our alumni – please reach out.
If you have a high standard GMAT or GRE score, we will certainly consider it. However at Vlerick, we have our own admissions test – the VBAT. This has been designed to take account of your experience and motivation, as well as your skillsets and capabilities.
To apply for our European Executive MBA programme, you must have a degree from a recognised university. In addition, you should have at least four years’ experience in the workplace
Yes, you do. When you graduate from the European Executive MBA programme, you get a Masters in Business Administration. This is the same qualification as if you take part in our Executive MBA programme, Online MBA programme or Full-time MBA programme.
We evaluate participant progress in a number of ways, including exams, papers, case work, group work and presentations. This happens course by course, so you’ll always know how you’re performing – and if you need to brush up in any particular areas.
Our European Executive MBA takes 15 months to complete. For more details, please reach out. Set up a call >
On average, you will need to spend 10-12 hours every week on class work, assignments, projects and study. Remember that in months when you have immersive European trips, you will be spending five days in each country – in addition to the time you’ll need for study.
Every three months you travel to Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, Dublin, Madrid and Zaragoza, and Ghent. You’ll need to factor in time to travel to and from these locations – and being in them from Wednesday morning through to Sunday evening.
In between these European visits, you will spend one weekend each month taking part in live, online learning activities. These take place on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you have any questions, please get in touch – we’d love to hear about your ambitions.
Set up a call >
Absolutely, yes. We have designed the European Executive MBA especially for busy working professionals. It’s an intense time commitment – but one you’ll be so glad that you made. Talk to us to find out more about scheduling.
Exams for the European Executive MBA take place via Zoom. Remember, you’ll also be evaluated via group work, individual papers, presentations and projects. Want to find out more? Please reach out, we’d love to help. Set up a call >
We start the European Executive MBA once each calendar year, in mid-March.