Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Launch Bold Ideas. Lead Innovation

The Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MIE) at Vlerick is your launchpad to drive change inside companies, shape the future of innovation and ultimately create bold ventures. Are you ready to fastrack your career in the beating heart of Europe?

Whether you’re:

• A game-changer aiming to drive corporate innovation by spotting new opportunities, leading teams, and managing change. 60% of our graduates secure roles in corporate innovation.
• Eager to join a high-growth startup, following in the footsteps of alumni at Teamleader, Faktion, and Showpad.
• An aspiring founder ready to develop your business idea in our Start-up Accelerator, get hands-on support from experienced entrepreneurs and coaches, and pitch to incubators and investors.
   

Programme at a Glance

This full-time, project-driven programme runs from September to June (60 ECTS) and immerses you in hands-on learning: live business cases, electives, company visits, and group exercises. In small, focused teams, you’ll tackle real-world challenges in fast-moving startups and innovative companies—getting direct feedback, making your ideas count, and gaining experience that sets you apart in the job market.

To complement this learning experience, you can also take part in two optional internships:

• Start-Up/Scale-Up Internship: During the year, earn up to 3 credits while reinforcing learning-by-doing in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Career Acceleration Track: Gain deeper industry experience with a 6-month placement, providing practical exposure and a competitive edge in the job market.

Get a full overview of all the 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 programme include:

• European Venture Tour: Get hands-on exposure to Europe’s top innovation hubs in Paris and Barcelona. Visit corporate R&D labs, startup incubators, and cutting-edge tech campuses, where you’ll see how the latest technologies are developed and meet the entrepreneur’s driving innovation
• Venture explore & connect: Gain real-world insight into dynamic startup ecosystems in cities like Ghent and Amsterdam. Connect directly with founders, explore growth-stage ventures, and understand the challenges and opportunities that come with scaling a business in different regions. For instance, going to start-up pitching events at Wintercircus in Ghent will put you right at the heart of the action.
• Start-up Accelerator: If you’ve got a business idea, this is where it starts to take shape. Work closely with experienced entrepreneurs and investors to validate your business model, fine-tune your pitch, and present it to accelerators like imec.istart and Start it @KBC.
• Innovation Challenge: Collaborate with leading companies like KPMG to solve real business challenges using emerging technologies. You’ll assess market potential, design actionable strategies, and deliver tangible results that have a real impact on industry leaders and a roadmap to implement it.
• Final Project: Conclude your programme with two intense months: either tackle a real-life innovation project for a corporate partner or focus on building and launching your own startup. This is where theory meets practice, and you get to put everything you’ve learned into action.

Personal development  

Make the leap from student to professional with: 

• Continuous feedback and coaching 
• Targeted skill development 
• Comprehensive career services 
• Multiple networking opportunities 
• Personal development portfolio 

Personal development highlights of the programme include: 

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

See a full overview of all the courses here

• Drive Innovation: Gain the skills and mindset to challenge the status quo in established companies or launch your own startup.
• Learn from Leaders: Access mentorship from top entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate innovators through our accelerator.
• Explore Europe’s Venture Hubs: Visit Paris, Barcelona, and other hotspots to meet founders, tour R&D labs, and see disruptive entrepreneurship firsthand.
• Shape Your Career: Discover your strengths and open doors to high-impact roles in consulting, innovation, or entrepreneurship.
• Pitch & Fund Your Idea: Refine your concept, pitch like a pro, and access seed funding through the Vlerick Student Entrepreneurship Fund.
• Go Global: Earn a double degree with the Darla Moore School of Business (USA) and develop skills to succeed in international markets.
• Hands-On Learning: Apply theory to real-world projects, innovation challenges, and deep industry collaborations.
• Final Project: Execute a two-month intensive project, consulting for a company or launching your venture.

Tap into our Venture Ecosystem

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

Here’s a snapshot of the career outcomes of our MIE graduates:

Take a look at some examples of career paths pursued by our MIE alumni:

As a graduate of the Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, you’ll be ready to thrive. Discover how our curriculum and hands-on experiences set you up for success in these career paths.

• Startup Founder – Turn bold ideas into a funded venture.
  • Refine your business through our Start-up Accelerator and access seed funding via the Vlerick Student Entrepreneurship Fund
  • Leverage Vlerick’s global alumni network of 25,000+ to grow your venture
• Innovation Manager – Lead change and create solutions that matter.
  • Apply your skills in live projects and innovation challenges
  • Manage teams, scale solutions, and receive mentorship from industry innovators
• Consultant/ Innovation Consultant – Solve complex challenges for leading organizations.
  • Work on real-world innovation projects for clients in sectors like technology, telecom, and healthcare
  • Build strategic problem-solving and business modeling skills through hands-on experience
• Sales Representative / Business Development Manager / Growth Strategist – Drive growth and build lasting client relationships.
  • Boost your sales skills, gain global exposure, and build a strong network through courses and experiences like Scaling-Up, Business Development & Sales, the Internationalization Bootcamp and the European Venture Tour.
• Young Talent / Leadership Development Programs – Accelerate your career in a global corporate environment.
  • Rotate across functions and geographies, tackle high-impact projects, and gain mentorship from senior leaders.
  • Build leadership skills, career readiness, and a global network through targeted personal development and coaching.

Experienced Roles:

• Startup Accelerator / Incubator Manager – Guide startups to success.
  • Support founders with strategy, resources, and investor connections
  • Gain practical mentoring experience within our accelerator programme
• Venture Capital Analyst – Evaluate startups at the cutting edge of innovation.
  •  Assess real ventures and investment opportunities
  • Connect with investors, founders, and international innovation networks

Here are some examples of companies where our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship graduates work:

Define your career goals and how to match them with the jobs market with the help of: 

• Practical workshops 
• Career clubs and competitions 
• One-to-one coaching 
• Career and networking events with start-ups and scale-ups  

Take a look at our full career services offer 

Are you

• A recent university graduate with limited or no work experience?
• Passionate about innovation and a believer in the power of business to change the world?
• Ready to be an innovative game-changer or start your own business?

Then you’re a perfect fit for a Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Vlerick. With a diverse student body from all kinds of backgrounds, you’ll quickly find your classmates share your passion for innovation and ambition to make an impact on society. This cross-disciplinary teamwork is where true innovation and entrepreneurship thrive.

Our recent cohort for the Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship looked like this:

Educational background

Start date: 1 September 2026
Duration: 10 months (from September until June) 
Location: Leuven 
Application deadline non-EU citizens: 30 April 2026

The tuition fee for this Masters programme is €20,950.

This includes:  

• European Venture Tour (incl. hotel, company visits, travel between cities, and local transportation)
• Company visits 
• Travel between 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 personal travel expenses to and from the study trip destinations or living expenses. You should budget approximately €150 for additional travel costs, depending on departure location and mode of transport.

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.

Academic Excellence Scholarships

Academic Merit Scholarship

• Purpose: Reward students with an excellent academic track record
• Requirements:
  • Belgian degrees: Study results equal to great or greatest distinction at Bachelor’s level.
  • Non-Belgian degrees: Study results within the top 20% of the class at Bachelor’s level.
  • Outstanding GMAT/GMAT Focus (> 700/> 655) or GRE (> 164 quantitative and > 163 verbal) scores (for specialized programs only).
• Scholarship: Up to 50% of the tuition fee.
  

Diversity & Equality Scholarships

Women Entrepreneur

• Purpose: Encourage women to enter fields in which they are underrepresented.
• Requirements: Outstanding academic record, leadership potential, and passion for specific fields.
• Scholarship: Up to 50% of the tuition fee.

Equal Opportunity Scholarship: 

• Purpose: Encourage social diversity and individual commitment.
• Requirements: Represent diversity (e.g., minority group, underprivileged community) or actively promote diversity and inclusion by engaging in long-term initiatives that have a clear social impact.
• Scholarship: Up to 50% of the tuition fee, with a chance to receive one full scholarship sponsored by alumnus Jan Toye. Applicants who fit the criteria will be automatically considered for this full scholarship.

European Talent Scholarship: 

• Purpose: This scholarship specifically aims to promote educational mobility within Europe and to strengthen cultural diversity among our student population.
• Requirements: For students with citizenship in an EEA country (outside of Belgium) or in Switzerland
• Scholarship: Amount and allocation decided on a case-by-case basis.
    

Need-based Scholarship

Financial need scholarship: 

• Purpose: Support students with financial need.
• Requirements:
  • A realistic financial plan.
  • Proof of financial need (e.g. previous scholarships or grants).
  • This scholarship can be combined with any other scholarships
• Scholarship: Amount and allocation decided on a case-by-case basis. Full scholarships sponsored by MGM1973 alumni, and 3d Investors. Applicants who fit the criteria will be automatically 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 may 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 offer 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
• Boost your Vlerick journey with Lendorse: Lendorse offers German students at Vlerick Business School between €3,000 and €20,000 to cover tuition and/or living costs. In return, you commit to repaying a fixed share of your future income. Learn more
• Lendwise loans: Lendwise provides loans to international students at the world’s top business schools. Lendwise loans cover your living expenses and up to 100% of your tuition fees minus your course deposit (which must be paid by you), less any scholarship you may be awarded. Click here to learn more.

Paying in instalments  

You can choose to pay your tuition fees in four separate instalments in October, November, January and March.

If you want to pay by instalments, you need to sign a contract and pay an admin fee of €250. 

There are four steps to start your Vlerick journey: 

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 2026-27 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 two elements in your admissions test:  

1. Online Test  – we accept our own in-house online test: numerical reasoning (and abstract reasoning if applicable), GMAT (minimum 555) or GRE (157 verbal and 158 quantitative). 
2. Interview – Faculty will look at your motivation, fit and knowledge of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Show us clear goals, curiosity for management, and awareness of business news. This interview also takes place online and lasts about 30 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.