CIEE Business, Communications, and Culture Program in Brussels, Belgium

  Belgium

• Brussels: 
Brussels

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 17 weeks: mid-Aug-mid-Dec or late Jan; Spring 17 weeks: early Jan-mid-May or mid-June; Academic Year 34 weeks: mid-Aug-mid-May or mid-June

Description: The Business, Communications, and Culture program has three goals: to provide opportunities to study European identity, culture, and policy-making from a non-U.S. perspective with other international students; to offer insight into Belgium and Brussels' unique political, cultural, and linguistic situation in Europe; and to enable students to improve their French or Dutch language skills.

Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center in Brussels, Belgium was established in 1994 and moved to its current host institution, Vesalius College, in 2002. Vesalius College is unique among academic institutions in Brussels in that it is
the only institution that offers a selection of courses taught in English at the undergraduate level. Through its association with the French-speaking ULB and the Dutch-speaking VUB, students with adequate French or Dutch
skills may take or audit courses at these institutions. The CIEE Resident Director facilitates registration for regular university courses.

Academic Culture
Vesalius College, like other European universities, offers three-year undergraduate degrees. These fall into three main areas: business, communications, and international affairs. Vesalius College differs from most Belgian universities in the freedom its students have to take elective courses. Typically, Belgian students follow a set curriculum in their area of specialization and have few elective choices. Classes at Vesalius meet three hours per week for 15 weeks. Classes are often small, with fewer than 20 students on average.
While Vesalius aspires to a similar teaching approach as found in the U.S., in practice it can be quite different because most of the professors and students are products of a European educational system. So while there may be more student-teacher interaction at Vesalius than at a regular Belgian educational institution, there will likely be less than U.S. students are accustomed. Class size at ULB and VUB varies but is generally much larger than at Vesalius. The teaching method at ULB and VUB is primarily lecture-style. Students are advised that due to possible changes in the courses offered each term they should be flexible in course selection. Please note that fall semester ULB and VUB courses extend into January, and spring semester courses extend into June. While CIEE students may request permission for early exams, CIEE does not guarantee approval of such requests.

Highlights:

• English-taught courses in business, communications, international relations, and Belgian culture; opportunity to take classes with European and other international students; for-credit internship
  
• Option to take French-taught courses at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and
  Dutch-taught courses at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels
  
• Field trips to EU institutions, excursions within Belgium and to France, Netherlands,
  and Germany, and local cultural activities

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing

Experience Required: yes