Is This Program Right For You? This program is especially suited for students majoring in international relations, politics, and economics who have a keen interest in the European Union. The program is also open to students who wish to take courses in the humanities, social sciences or other disciplines taught in English and who want to learn or continue studying French.

The program has three goals: 1) to provide opportunities to study European identity, culture, and policy-making from a non-U.S. perspective with other international students; 2) to offer insights into Brussels’ unique political, cultural, and linguistic situation in Europe; and 3) to enable students to improve their French or Dutch language skills.

Vesalius College, a unique European institution structured and administered like a U.S. undergraduate college, is an international college affiliated with the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The College is located on the VUB campus, in an area south of central Brussels. Of the 350 or so students who attend Vesalius, approximately 30% are Belgian nationals, 10% are from the United States, and the remainder is from more than 60 other countries.

The Courses/Program: Participants select courses from among the various offerings at Vesalius College. Course offerings include business, economics, international affairs, history, politics, economics, management, art, communications, history, literature, psychology, sociology, French, Dutch, and German. All CIEE participants are required to study French (or Dutch); placement in the appropriate language level (elementary, intermediate, and advanced) is based on language tests administered at the beginning of the program by Vesalius College.

Typically, Belgian students follow a set curriculum in their area of specialization and have few electives.  Vesalius College differs from most Belgian universities in that it offers a wide range of courses and students are able to take electives.  Classes at Vesalius meet three hours per week for fifteen weeks.  Classes are small—fewer than twenty students on average—and the teaching approach is interactive and similar to that in the U.S.  CIEE participants are likely to find that Vesalius courses have a familiar feel, albeit with a more international flavor because of the multicultural and multilingual student body.

Vesalius College offers for-credit and unpaid internship opportunities on a pass/fail basis. CIEE participants enrolled at Vesalius College are able to apply for any available slots. However, internships are competitive.  As such, there is no guarantee that students will be assigned an internship. Interested students should arrive with an updated resume and cover letter.  Good foreign language skills are essential because all internships require interviews.

Housing: All housing is included in the program fee, including temporary accommodations in a youth hostel during orientation. The CIEE Resident Director and Vesalius College’s housing coordinator work together to find housing for participants. Vesalius College’s housing coordinator arranges a limited number of homestays. Students who prefer a more independent lifestyle may live in an independent room with or without other students and may share common spaces with landlords. All housing placements and information are given on-site.

Duration/Deadlines: 
• Fall Semester (17 weeks): mid August – mid December/ Application Deadline: April 1st
• Spring Semester (17 weeks): mid January – mid May/ Application Deadline: November 1st
• Academic Year (34 weeks): mid August – mid May / Application Deadline: April 1st

Requirements: (Language of instruction is: English, French)
• 3.0 GPA

Program Cost Includes: tuition, housing and some meals, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, pre-departure advising, and insurance. Visa not included. For more information: http://www.ciee.org. Catalogues are available in ISAP’s Resource Rooms.  Please note: The information on this sheet is for reference purposes only.  It is your responsibility to confirm details and deadlines.