About the programme

European and International Governance programme at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a one-year programme dealing with two of the most important fields of political science: European studies/governance and international politics/relations.

The European and International Governance programme at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will allow Belgian and international students to acquire the skills and know-how needed for kickstarting a career in diplomacy, national and international institutions or related professional fields (such as lobbying, journalism, policy and academic research).

It is hard to imagine more interesting times to study European and international politics. The European Union (EU) is facing internal and external challenges that were almost inconceivable until a few years ago.

They include the rise of nationalism, fissures in the European project, economic inequalities and an ever-growing urgency to mitigate climate change and find a coordinated response to international mobility and forced displacement. In a similar vein, the context in which nations interact in world politics has altered substantially. Factors such as the erosion of the liberal world order, the rise of China and more assertive foreign policies of Russia and Turkey increasingly dominate international politics.

The Key Assets

• The program is taught in one of the world’s centers of governance, at a stone’s throw from the European institutions, NATO, and hundreds of embassies, corporate offices, and NGO’s. This is the ideal point of departure for any student with an interest in international politics, offering the opportunity to participate in conferences off-campus, to find internships, to network and to engage in one of the many organizations.
• Many of our professors do not only have a strong track record in academic research and shaping the public debate; they are also involved in policy-making. They have thus an ideal background to mix academic knowledge with practical insights and can offer their network at the disposal of students.

Courses included:

• International Security and Strategic Studies
• European Economics
• Institutions and Governance of the European Union
• International Political Economy
• World Politics