Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School

Age: 58

History: The school was established within Gent University in 1953 by entrepreneur and former economy minister Professor André Vlerick. It began offering MBAs in 1968. Ten years ago, it became the autonomous management school of Gent University and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. The latter's full-time MBA programme was integrated into the already existing MBA of the new Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.

Address: The school operates from two sites in the medieval cities of Gent and Leuven in Belgium. The school also has a third campus in St. Petersburg (Russia) and delivers the Vlerick MBA at the BiMBA programme in Peking University, Beijing.

Ambience: Both Belgian sites have recently been renovated. In Leuven, the school overlooks a park in the heart of the university area, while the Gent campus is situated in the historic city centre.

Vital statistics: The school offers one-year full-time and two-year part-time MBA courses, which are taught in English. There is also a modular weekend based Executive MBA programme (IEMBA). Individual participation is a key to the studies and to ensure that this happens, class sizes are limited to a maximum of 65. The final term of the full-time programme is devoted to the completion of a strategic project and a CSR project.

Added value: Situated in the heart of Europe, the school offers specific modules concentrating on European management integration and entrepreneurship. It has also developed exchange options with management schools worldwide.

Easy to get into? At least three years' relevant work experience is needed on top of a good first degree. In addition, students have to perform well on one of the in-house assessment days or through GMAT/TOEFL and need to justify their motivation and may need references.

Glittering alumni: Frank Meysman, former CEO of Sara Lee; Jean-Jacques Sioen, chairman of Sioen Industries; Paul Bulcke, CEO Nestlé; Marc Coucke, CEO Omega Pharma; Herman Van de Velde, CEO Van de Velde; Fernand Huts, Chairman Katoen Natie

International connections: Students from over 100 countries in every continent have taken the international MBA. The international faculty tends to be orientated towards Europe and the US but is expanding rapidly with joint programmes in place with European, North American, African and also Asian universities.

Student profile: The average age on the full-time MBA course is 30, and on the part-time MBA it's 33. The full-time MBA is 98 per cent international with over 40 nationalities. The average work experience in the full-time MBA is 5 – 7 years; in the part-time MBA it’s 7 years.

Cost: Full-time as well as part-time MBA are €28,500. The part-time MBA can be paid in instalments. The IEMBA is € 30,500.

Who's the boss? Professor Philippe Haspeslagh, whose teaching and research expertise is in the field of corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions.

Prospectus: + 32 (0) 9 210 97 11; www.vlerick.com/en/programmes/mba.html