vesalius college viewbook fall 2013

Vesalius CollegeBrussels

Build Your Future in the Capital of Europe!

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Vesalius College is the oldest higher education institution in Brussels that offers Bachelor programmes taught exclusively in English. Thanks to the influence of our founders, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Boston University, we combine the strengths of two successful academic models. We offer students an American-style curriculum with small classes, interactive teaching and personalised attention and guidance. We also offer a rich, stimulating and international environment distinctive of a college based in Brussels, the “capital of Europe”. Students from all over the world have been drawn by this unique academic environment: more than 50 different nationalities are represented among our student body.

Our academic programmes are challenging and provide students with the necessary tools and foundation to think critically, expand their knowledge and develop areas of expertise. We seek to give students direct insight into the ‘real world’ from the start of their studies by making the most of our central location in Brussels. Often within the framework of their academic curriculum, students have the opportunity to attend guest lectures, workshops and conferences with Brussels-based experts. Outside the classroom, students can also reap the benefits of living in this booming business and political centre by participating in our attractive internship programme, allowing them to gain valuable work experience while earning academic credit.

It goes without saying that this exposure to the real world has paid off for our students. Following their studies, our alumni have attended some of the top graduate schools in Europe and North America and have been employed at prestigious companies and organisations around the world.

Whether you intend to earn a degree, participate in our study abroad programme, or enrol in a summer course, at Vesalius College you will find a rewarding opportunity to prepare for the exciting professional and personal opportunities that await you.

We hope that you enjoy discovering more about the College in this brochure.

Dr Bert MosselmansDean

Welcome.

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Table of contents.

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Why VeCo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Academics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Bachelor in Business Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Bachelor in Communication Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Bachelor in International Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Undergraduate Certificate in European Peace and Security Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Advanced Certificate in Global Risk Analysis & Crisis Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Study Abroad Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Vesalius Internship Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Summer Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Student Services & Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Student Life at VeCo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Life in Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

How to apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Tuition Fees, Study Costs and Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Academic Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

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EU meets USVesalius College (affectionately known as “VeCo”) was founded by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Boston University in 1987 to offer undergraduate education in English in Brussels. Now over 25 years since its founding, the College offers the best of American and European education. It offers an American-style curriculum with small classes, interactive teaching and personalised attention and guidance. It also offers a rich, stimulating and multicultural environment distinctive of a college based in Brussels, at the cross-roads of Europe.

Small yet interactiveThe College gives its students a truly unique educational experience. It is a tight-knit yet diverse college with a student body of ap-proximately 300. With its low student-to-professor ratio, faculty members are accessible and able to take a personal interest in the success of their students. Classes are small but intellectually diverse and marked by a highly dynamic and personalised teaching style.

The “Capital of Europe”Over 50 nationalities are represented among the College’s small student body, representing the diversity that is characteristic of Brussels, the bilingual capital of Belgium and “Capital of Europe”.

Brussels is a cosmopolitan city with an important international vocation: the city is home to the European institutions, NATO and numerous international organisations and multinational companies. Students can benefit from this international setting through Vesalius College’s academic programmes which have a strong European focus, the Vesalius Internship Programme which offers excit-ing professional opportunities at leading companies and organisations, or by attending guest lectures and workshops given by local practitioners and experts.

Innovative TeachingThe College’s teaching methods are characterised by interactive classes, flexibility in course selection, and continuous assessment. It takes a humanistic approach to intellectual inquiry, encouraging students to not only learn skills and knowledge important for their chosen careers, but to also think critically and develop themselves personally and as citizens of an increasingly multicultural and globalised world.

Why VeCo?

Students and parents often ask us about the

origins of the name of the College. The Belgian

anatomist Andreas Vesalius was one of the

premier freethinkers of the Renaissance. Known

as the “father of modern anatomy,” he questioned

centuries-old beliefs about how the human body

functioned and revolutionised scientific study.

Publicly challenging established theories, Vesalius

embodied our college’s principle of liberal inquiry,

unfettered by prejudice deriving from religion,

race, gender, or political ideology.

Andreas Vesalius

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Bachelor Degree StructureVesalius College offers three-year European Bachelor’s degrees in accordance with the Bologna Reform of higher education.

Academics

Academic Core• DistinctivefeatureoftheBachelor’sprogrammeatVesalius

College• Four fundamental courses all students take in their first

year: academic writing, research and presentation skills, critical thinking and statistics

• Students develop the ability to approach problems fromdifferent perspectives, learn how to be flexible, adapt to change and lead others by exercising intellectual judgment

Major• Academicsubjectinwhichthestudentwillspecialise• Students take compulsory and elective courses related to

their major• VesaliusCollegeoffersthreemajors:

o Business Studieso Communication Studieso International Affairs

Minor• Secondaryfieldofstudyorspecialisation• In order to successfully complete a ‘Minor’ classification,

students must pass at least four courses within their chosen minor.

• Optional• Studentscanchoosefromawiderangeoftopics:

Free Electives• Coursesthatareentirelyatthestudent’schoiceandmaybe

taken to explore fields outside the major, further specialise in the major, or develop language/other skills

• StudentscanchooseelectivesfromVesaliusCollege’slonglist of elective courses, ranging from Law to Chinese or Psy-chology to Marketing

• StudentscanalsochoosetotakeelectivesatoneoftheCol-lege’s partner institutions, such as the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies (BICCS), the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Royal Music Conservatory Brussels.

» Art Studies» Political Communication» Media Studies» Economics» Marketing and Advertising» Psychology» Strategic Management» Sustainable Development and Technological Innovation

» European Peace & Security Studies » European Union Studies» Global Governance» History » History of Ideas» Banking and Finance

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Quality Instruction, Guidance and SupportThe quality and accessibility of the faculty is at the very core of the academic experience at the College. Thanks to our low student-teacher ratio, professors take a personal interest in the individual success of each student.

At the beginning of their studies, each student is assigned to a professor who will act as the student’s academic advisor. These advisors assist students in identifying relevant courses, and offer support throughout their academ-ic career at Vesalius College.

Degree Recognition and AccreditationVesalius College is registered with the Flemish government of Belgium as an institution for higher education. The Vesalius College Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to a fully-recognised Bachelor’s degree issued from a Flemish University.

The three Bachelor programmes are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (Neder-lands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie, NVAO). This official organisation was established by international treaty between the Flemish and the Dutch governments with the aim of ensuring the quality of higher education in both the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium).

Vesalius College is a participant in the Bologna Process, the reform effort designed to standardise higher edu-cation throughout Europe. In accordance with the Bologna declaration, Vesalius College offers the three-year European Bachelor’s degree and calculates coursework in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits.

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Bachelor in Business StudiesDevelop the skills and foundation needed to become an international business leader!

The Business Studies bachelor programme at Vesalius College provides the skills and foundation necessary for students to become successful business managers able to face the chal-lenges of an ever-changing international business environ-ment. The curriculum gives students a combination of theo-retical and practical skills, including an understanding of how businesses are organised and managed, as well as how they function within the larger economic, social, legal and political context.

At the heart of Europe, Brussels is home to countless interna-tionally-operating corporations and organisations, including NATO and the European Union. Business students at Vesalius

College bring a wealth of international perspectives to the study programme and gain valuable insight into the world of international business.

Through Vesalius College’s extensive network, students can establish contacts and pursue networking opportunities that will be valuable throughout their careers. For example, stu-dents can choose from a variety of prestigious internships in the Brussels area to apply business concepts and tools in a concrete international business environment. Students also learn from a wide range of experienced guest lecturers includ-ing senior corporate managers, entrepreneurs, consultants and other business professionals.

•InvestmentBanking•Sales•Trade

•BusinessDevelopment•OnlineMarketing•Consulting

•SolvayBusinessSchool•IEBusinessSchool•BocconiUniversity

•BostonUniversity•ESADEBusinessSchool•King’sCollegeLondon

Where do our grads go?Our Business Studies graduates possess a solid foundation in the functional areas of globally-operating compa-nies. Careers of our recent graduates include:

Prior to entering the workforce, many of our Business graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate studies at a number of prestigious universities, including:

The educational experience at VeCo is excellent. Every day you learn something new, even outside the classroom. The professors are easily accessible, which makes students’ lives much easier.

Mohamed Farhat, Class of 2013

Why study Business at VeCo?

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•Capstone:InternationalMarketing•Capstone:Entrepreneurship•TheEuropeanEconomy•InternationalPoliticalEconomy•HistoryofEconomicThought•TheInternationalBankingSystem•InternationalTrade•SocialMarketing•SociologyandPsychologyofMarketing•BusinessWritingandSocialNetworking Applications•Corporate Communications and Public Rela-tions•MarketingCommunicationandAdvertising

•IntroductiontoPsychology•OrganisationalLeadership•CorporateGovernance•CorporateStrategy•BusinessExecutivesSeminar•FinancialMathematics•Mergers,AcquisitionsandRelatedTransactions•InternationalFinance•SustainableDevelopment•ManagementofInnovation and Technical Change•BusinessandMediaEthics•Internship•HonoursEssay

For detailed course descriptions, please visit the website: http://bit.ly/15mr2B1

Busi

ness

- D

egre

e re

quire

men

ts (1

80 E

CtS)

•CompositionforAcademicCommunication•WritingandCriticalInquiry

•QuantitativeMethods•ResearchandPresentationSkills

•Accounting•Business•BusinessLaw•Economics•HumanResourcesManagement•CorporateFinance•Marketing•Macroeconomics

•Methods:MathematicsforBusiness and Economics•OperationsManagement•FinancialMarketsandInvestments•BusinessInformationSystems•Microeconomics•Methods:StatisticsforBusinessandEconomics

MAJOR ELECTIVES (30 ECTS)Students must take 30 ECTS worth of Major Electives, including one capstone course. They may fulfil this requirement either by choosing courses from the list below, or by selecting a minor.

FREE ELECTIVES (30 ECTS)Students also choose five free electives from any of the Bachelor-level courses offered by Vesalius Col-lege or one of its partner institutions previously mentioned. For example, students may choose courses within their major, another major, or outside the curriculum of all majors (i.e. language courses).

ACADEMIC CORE (30 ECTS)

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (90 ECTS)

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Bachelor in Communication StudiesStudy Communications in Brussels, one of the world’s largest media centres and press corps!

The Bachelor in Communication Studies provides students with an in-depth understanding of how communications practices, theories and skills powerfully shape and inform the world we live in. The programme focuses on two key fields, namely, politics and business, and includes courses in public diplomacy, political communication, public relations, lobby-ing, intercultural communication and film.

Studying Communications in Brussels offers students the op-portunity to study in the world’s top diplomatic city, and one

of the world’s largest business and media centres, home to the second-largest press corps. Students learn from experienced professionals from political institutions, media organisations and international corporations via guest lectures, and they gain practical experience thanks to the internship programme. This is invaluable in enabling them to make use of the knowl-edge and training acquired through their studies, as well as in helping them to quickly develop and operate within a profes-sional environment.

•Communications& Public Relations•Marketing•Media& Journalism

•InternationalSales•PolicyResearch•PoliticalCommunication

•TheLondonSchoolofEconomics•UniversityofEdinburgh•BostonUniversity

•TheGeorgeWashingtonUniversity•GeorgetownUniversity•UniversityofStAndrews

Where do our grads go?Graduates of Communications at VeCo are well prepared to play a leading role in the communications depart-ment of political institutions, business corporations, lobbying firms and media companies. Careers of our recent graduates include:

Prior to entering the workforce, many of our Communications graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate studies at a number of prestigious universities, including:

As an alumna, I can tell you wholeheartedly that VeCo supports its students and invests in their per-formance. VeCo made me discover my own talents and gave me the opportunity to grow and develop to prepare for my future.

Victoria Tregub, Class of 2008

Why study Communications at VeCo?

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•Capstone:InternationalMarketing•Capstone:PublicDiplomacy•Film:History,Theories,Narrationand Scriptwriting•TopicsinEuropeanFilmHistory•LobbyingintheEU•BusinessWritingandSocialNetworking Applications•BusinessandMediaEthics•CorporateCommunicationsand Public Relations•EuropeanIdentitiesinCross-Cultural Perspectives

•CulturalStudiesandCrossCulturalCapability•ScriptwritingfortheAudio-visualMedia•HumanResourceManagement•Marketing•BusinessInformationSystems•InternationalPoliticalEconomy•InternationalRelations•ContemporaryPoliticalDebates•HistoryofPoliticalThought•TheUnitedNationsandGlobalGovernance•PoliciesintheEuropeanUnion•Internship•HonoursEssay


Com

mun

icat

ions

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egre

e re

quire

men

ts (1

80 E

CtS)



•Communications•Business•Economics•Politics•InterculturalCommunication•OrganisationalCommunication•PoliticalCommunication

•EuropeanUnionPolitics•IntermediateResearchMethods•CommunicationTheories•MarketingCommunicationandAdvertising•EuropeanCommunicationPolicies•InternationalCommunication•Methods:Rhetoric



ACADEMIC COURSES (30 ECTS)


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Bachelor in International AffairsPrepare for a career in International Affairs in the world’s largest diplomatic centre!

In an increasingly globalised and complex world, students need to make sense of the underlying political, economic and legal processes that shape contemporary societies and our global future. Whether it is issues of peace and security, the international economic crisis, global climate change, the rise of emerging powers such as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) or the future of the European Union and NATO, Vesalius College’s Bachelor in International Affairs equips students with the broad-ranging tools and capabilities to assess the most pressing issues in national and global poli-tics. The interdisciplinary curriculum is built on the disciplines of politics, economics, law and history.

The International Affairs major offers students a broad range of knowledge and skills taught by dedicated professors, as well as unique insights provided by senior policymakers, diplomats and senior practitioners in the Brussels scene. By drawing on world-class academics and highly-experienced policymakers, students gain fundamental insights into both the theoreti-cal and practical, hands-on dimensions of politics, economics and law. Prestigious internships at the offices of major Brus-sels-based institutions (such as the European Union, NATO and United Nations), NGOs and global think tanks complement and deepen the practical aspects of their studies.

•Diplomacy•MunicipalPolitics•Research

•EuropeanParliamentAdministration•PoliticalAdvising•Journalism

•OxfordUniversity•King’sCollegeLondon•GeorgeWashingtonUniversity

•LondonSchoolofEconomics•DiplomaticAcademyofVienna•SOAS,UniversityofLondon

Where do our grads go?Our International Affairs graduates are prepared to succeed in various settings and organisations, including international organisations (such as the United Nations, EU and NATO), ministries of foreign affairs, lobby organ-isations, NGOs and think tanks. Careers of our recent graduates include:

Prior to entering the workforce, many of our International Affairs graduates have gone on to pursue postgradu-ate studies at a number of prestigious universities, including:

My education at Vesalius fuelled a vested curiosity in me and in doing so, enabled me to grow as both a student and an individual.

Yolanda Lee, Vesalius College - Class of 2012; University of Oxford MSc in Migration Studies - Class of 2013

Why Study International Affairs at VeCo?Especially noteworthy of the Bachelor in International Affairs is the Capstone course. Towards the end of their 3-year Bach-elor studies, International Affairs students are trained to apply their knowledge to a real-life problem. Utilising the College’s unique access to Brussels-based policy circles and internation-al organisations, students spend a semester as personal policy advisors to a high-ranking diplomat on a highly-relevant for-eign policy issue.

For one of the spring 2013 Capstone courses, students formed two separate think tanks and carried out research to advise the Deputy Head of the Maghreb Unit of the European Union’s External Action Service on how to implement the EU’s new strategy in the Maghreb region. The course, which won the 2013 LISBOAN Award for Outstanding Teaching (awarded by a network of over 60 top universities), gave students indispen-sable insight into the functioning of the EU as well as critical skills that will be valuable in their future careers.

Vesalius College’s Award-Winning International Affairs Capstone Course

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•Capstone:GlobalGovernance•Capstone:PublicDiplomacy• EuropeanPeaceandSecurityStudies• TheEU’sCommonSecurityandDefencePolicy•UnderstandingContemporaryConflictsinEurope•NATOandTransatlanticApproachestoSecurity• TheEUandMilitaryApproachestoSecurity•PoliticalInstitutionsofEuropeanCountries• TheEU’sApproachtoDemocratisationand Human Rights•EuropeanIdentitiesinCross-Cultural Perspectives•EuropeanandGlobalGovernanceofMigration•PoliciesintheEU

• TheGovernmentandPoliticsofGlobalPowers•DiplomacyandInternationalNegotiations• InternationalOrganisationsand Global Governance• TheUnitedNationsandGlobalGovernance• EvolutionoftheInternationalSystem1815-1914•HistoryofTransatlanticRelations•HistoryofGenocide•HistoryofWesternPhilosophy•HistoryandPhilosophyofScience•HistoryofEconomicThought•HistoryofPoliticalThought• Internship•HonoursEssay


Inte

rnat

iona

l Aff

airs

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egre

e re

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men

ts (1

80 E

CtS)



•Politics•InternationalLaw•Economics•History•InternationalRelations•Macroeconomics•History:MethodsandProblems•EuropeanUnionPolitics

•IntermediateResearchMethods•ContemporaryPoliticalDebates•InternationalPoliticalEconomy•EvolutionoftheInternational System 1914-1989•CurrentChallengesinInternationalLaw•InternationalAffairsResearchMethods


ACADEMIC CORE (30 ECTS)



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Undergraduate Certificate in European Peace and Security Studies

Analyse major peace and security issues from a European perspective!

The European Peace and Security Studies (EPSS) certificate programme provides in-depth and unique insights into the changing nature and fundamental challenges of contempo-rary security issues from a distinct Brussels perspective. By pooling the combined expertise and resources of five lead-ing educational institutions in Brussels – Vesalius College, the Conflict Studies Department of the Belgian Royal Military Academy, the Institute of European Studies (IES), the Global Governance Institute, as well as the University of Kent’s Brus-sels campus – students are taught by prominent specialists in the field of civilian and military security issues.

The courses emphasise theoretical and practical analysis of the comprehensive, civil-military nature of contemporary conflict and crisis management from a NATO and EU perspective – complemented by assessments of the only global collective security organisation, the United Nations. Additionally, they focus on the history, institutional procedures, policies and in-terrelations of these two key organisations as well as on their interactions with a wide range of civilian and military part-

ners. The programme also sheds light on the complex roots and causes of contemporary conflicts in Europe’s periphery and beyond. Hence, at the end of the semester, students will have acquired an extensive understanding of the institutional, theoretical and practical dimensions of contemporary issues and of the core actors in the field of European Peace and Se-curity.

The programme includes a high-profile guest lecture series and symposium provided by academic experts and leading practitioners from the European Union, NATO, the United Na-tions and related security organisations. Students challenge lecturers with frank questions, and can informally continue the debate with senior officials over refreshments during the informal receptions that follow each lecture.

Students who have successfully completed the EPSS pro-gramme will receive a Certificate in European Peace & Securi-ty Studies. Both undergraduate students and those who have already earned their Bachelor’s degree may apply.

EPSS Guest Lecturers have included:•StevenVanackere,formerForeignMinister& Deputy Prime Minister, Belgium•AntonioCosta,formerUNUnder-Secretary-GeneralandDirectoroftheUNOfficeonDrugsandCrime (UNODC), former Secretary-General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, former Under-Secretary General, OECD•AgostinoMiozzo,ManagingDirector,CrisisResponseDepartment,EuropeanExternalActionService and former General Director, Italian Civil Protection Department•JamieShea,DeputyAssistantSecretary-GeneralforEmergingSecurityThreats,NATO

Why study European Peace & Security at VeCo?

For detailed course descriptions or more information, please visit http://bit.ly/15fWC3h

Completing the EPSS programme in Brussels offers unparalleled opportunities for enrichment outside the classroom. It was an experience I couldn’t expect to find at any other college or university and it will continue to impact my comprehension of international relations in the future.

Jacob Passy - Tufts University, USA; EPSS Class of 2012

•EuropeanPeaceandSecurityStudies•TheEuropeanUnion’sCommonSecurityandForeignPolicy•TheEUandMilitaryApproachestoSecurity•NATOandTransatlanticApproachestoSecurity•UnderstandingContemporaryConflictsinEurope

The EPSS Programme consists of five closely-interrelated courses (see below, 6 ECTS credits each), all taught during the fall semester, as well as the guest lecture series held on Wednesday evenings and a final symposium during the last week of the Programme.

Certificate requirements (30 ECtS)

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Advanced Certificate in Global Risk Analysis & Crisis Management

Develop the skills to manage major crises when they happen.

The Executive Course in Global Risk Analysis & Crisis Man-agement, which is jointly organised by Vesalius College, the Institute for European Studies (IES) and the Global Govern-ance Institute (GGI), provides participants with unique insights and the fundamental skills required for mastering the field of global risk analysis, early warning and the management of major man-made and natural disasters.

Held during ten intensive weekend modules, the Course in-volves a unique mixture of intensive ‘hands-on’ trainingcourses and comprehensive analytical and institutional lec-tures taught by a renowned faculty of senior officials from major international organisations (such as the European Un-

ion, NATO and the United Nations), NGOs and leading secu-rity scholars. The course allows participants to gain in-depth knowledge and a wide range of practical tools for identifying and analysing global security risks and advancing effective re-sponsestohumanitarian,militaryandpolitical‘complexcrises’.

Participants will not only benefit from the unique course con-tent, but also from exchanges and contact with a broad net-work of leading security specialists. Close interaction between the participants themselves and with guest lecturers is strong-ly encouraged, and the weekend modules provide ample op-portunity for course participants and instructors to exchange ideas and experience in an informal setting.

Why study Global Risk Analysis & Crisis Management at VeCo?

Mod

ules

AdmissionAdmission to the Executive Course is highly selective. Candidates should have a Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant work experience.

Part I: Risk Analysis and Early Warning

Module 1:Understanding Risks, Grasping Uncertainty

Module 2:Analysing Risks, Preparing for Uncertainty

Module 3:Open Source Intelligence: Tools and Techniques

Module 4:A New Information Environment: Media, Conflict and Crisis Communication

Module 5:Global Crisis Monitoring, Conflict Analysis & Early Warning

Part II: Crisis Management and Crisis Response

Module 6:Understanding the Crisis Cycle and Complex Crises

Module 7:Understanding the Main Actors in Crisis Response

Module 8:Political, Humanitarian and Military Approaches: Towards a Comprehensive Approach?

Module 9:Preparing for the Field: Facing Reality on the Ground

Module 10:Core Debates, Lessons Learned, Best Practices and Future

For more information on the Course, please visit http://bit.ly/16XmLnQ

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Study Abroad ProgrammeWith nearly 60 study abroad partners in over 20 countries worldwide, Vesalius College provides exciting study abroad opportunities to both incoming and outgoing students.

USA

Canada

Mexico

Chile

Ecuador

Argentina

Colombia

Czech Republic

Spain

Ireland

MonacoSlovenia

ItalyTurkey

Macedonia

UK

Poland

South Korea

Japan

Australia

China

I became a more open-minded person and made great friendships that are likely to last for a life time. Studying abroad will forever remain one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Patricia Tushabe, VeCo student at Rutgers University, USA

Outgoing Students Explore the world!

With a broad range of international partner institutions such as Rutgers University (USA), IE University (Spain) and Peking University HSBC Business School (China), Vesalius pro-vides students with the possibility of earning credit towards their Vesalius College degree in a variety of exciting and challenging envi-ronments that are rich in both academic and cultural diversity.

For more information on the Study Abroad programme for outgoing students and a full list of our partners, please visit the website: http://www.vesalius.edu/academics/study-abroad-programme/outgoing-students/.

This webpage includes:• Linkstothewebpagesforallpartnerinsti-

tutions• Explanations of how credits and grades

transfer back to Vesalius• Frequently Asked Questions regarding

study abroad• Applicationprocedures• Helpfultraveltips

North America:•BentleyUniversity(USA)•HobartandWilliamSmithColleges(USA)•HuronUniversityCollege(Canada)•RutgersUniversity(USA)•TheWashingtonSemesterat American University (USA)

South America:•CESABusinessSchool(Colombia)•InstitutoTecnológicoydeEstudios Superiores de Monterey (Mexico)•UniversidaddeCienciasEmpresarialesy Sociales (Argentina)•UniversidaddeViñadelMar(Chile)

Europe:•DublinBusinessSchool(Ireland)•IEUniversity(Spain)•LondonMetropolitanUniversity(UK)•TheAmericanUniversityofRome(Italy)•UniversityofLowerSilesia(Poland)

Asia & Oceania:•BondUniversity(Australia)•KansaiGaidaiUniversity(Japan)•KyungHeeUniversity(SouthKorea)•PekingUniversity–HSBC Business School (China)

Below is a selection of our study abroad partners:

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Incoming students Discover Brussels, the Capital of Europe!

For more than twenty years, juniors, seniors, and occasional-ly sophomores from a wide range of colleges and universities in the USA and other countries have studied for all or part of a year at Vesalius College in Brussels*. As a result, Vesalius College has many years of experience in understanding the academic backgrounds and needs of international students studying abroad and in meeting those needs within the Uni-versity’s curriculum and advisory system.

At Vesalius College, study abroad students are fully integrated into the College community. Their workload corresponds as closely as possible with that of second- or third-year Vesalius students and they are integrated into the College’s social life and extra-curricular activities. Most students feel quickly at home here and find it easy to meet other students and partic-ipate fully in College life.

For more information on the Study Abroad programme for incoming students, please visit: http://www.vesalius.edu/academics/study-abroad-pro-gramme/incoming-students/.

*Students can enrol in the spring, fall or summer semester.

Vesalius College provided me with an eye opening, diverse, and life changing experience. The location, the school, and the programme all provided me with experiences that I would have never had a chance to achieve elsewhere.

Nick Vasuta, Study Abroad student from Clemson University

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Students have the opportunity to gain professional experience in Brussels while earning academic credit through the Vesalius Internship Programme (VIP). The VIP offers students a position with one of its many internship partners, which range from multinational corporations and media houses to government institutions and NGOs.

Whether having full responsibility for a project, or working as a team member within a bigger enterprise, students have the opportunity to exercise their skills and to provide the host organisation with high-quality results.

The internship counts as an academic course during the se-mester, and can be taken as a Major Elective. Degree-seeking students can earn 6 ECTS credits (3 US academic credits) for

the “single” internship option. Study abroad students may also opt to extend the internship in order to work more hours per week. This “double” internship option is worth 12 ECTS credits (6 US credits). For all students participating in the internship course, the experience in Brussels will look outstanding on their CV.

For more information on the internship programme, please visit the webpage: http://www.vesalius.edu/academics/vesalius-intern-ship-programme/.

•CitibankBelgium•Ernst& Young Belgium•EUobserver•EuropeanCooperativeforRuralDevelopment•EuropeanParliament•EuropeanSecurityRoundtable•FulbrightBelgium•GlobalGovernanceInstitute•LaffineurLawFirm

•MasterCardEurope•MinervaConsultingandCommunication•MissionofHondurastotheEU•NATOHeadquarters•NewEurope•TheJaneGoodallInstituteBelgium•TimeWarner•UnitedNations•UPS

Internship partners that have participated in the Vesalius Internship programme include:

I would definitely recommend the Vesalius Internship Programme to anyone that is looking for a unique, rewarding and overall life-changing experience here in Brussels.

Ashley Minett, Intern at Laffineur Law Firm

Vesalius Internship ProgrammeGain valuable practical experience in the capital of Europe!

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•ArtinBelgium•CorporateResponsibilityand Sustainable Development•EuropeanandGlobalGovernanceofMigration•Internship•IntroductiontoDesign•IslamandPoliticsinEurope•LawoftheEUInternalMarket

•LobbyingintheEU•ManagementofArtandCulture•TheEU’sApproachtoDemocratisationand Human Rights•TheEuropeanUnionintheWorld

A selection of courses that are offered during the Summer Programme includes:

Vesalius College offers students a unique summer experience. Lasting just six weeks, the Vesalius Summer Programme gives students a targeted academic programme and the opportunity to experience and explore the best of European culture and travel.

The Vesalius College Summer Programme offers courses in Business, Communications and International Affairs, with a strong focus on Europe. In addition, there are also a number of internship opportunities available.

Summer ProgrammeSpend your summer at VeCo and experience the best of European culture and travel!

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Student Services & ResourcesVesalius College offers students the best of both worlds: the personal attention and community environment of a small college, as well as access to the resources of a major university, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The College shares relevant academic events and guest lectures, and also participates in faculty exchanges with the VUB, the Université libre de Bruxelles, the University of Kent at Brussels and Boston University.

Research and Library ResourcesStudents at Vesalius have access to extensive resources for re-search at three major libraries: the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université libre de Bruxelles and The Royal Library, Belgium’s national library. Together, they provide students with access to over five million books. In addition, students have access to a wide variety of online resources including thousands of jour-nals and newspapers, library catalogues and databases.

Computer ResourcesComputer and internet access is an essential part of student life. The Vesalius College computer lab features PCs and Ap-ple computers as well as facilities for students with laptops to connect to the College’s computer network. Students also have access to the extensive computer resources at the Vrije Univer-siteit Brussel, including the free campus-wide wireless network.

English & Math WorkspaceStrong English and writing skills are crucial for academic achievement, as well as professional success. The English & Math Workspace aims to help students develop their ability to efficiently and effectively communicate their ideas in writ-ing, in English. The Workspace also provides tutorial sessions for math and statistics courses. The Workspace directors offer students individual help on topics such as text structure, style, clarity and grammar in a relaxed and friendly environment to develop their writing skills and clarity.

Health ServicesThe medical care centre on the VUB campus provides medical assistance to students and staff. Medical assistance includes consultation in case of illness, accidents, small medical inter-ventions, vaccinations, preventive care, etc.

Food ServicesEvery day, the VUB campus cafeteria serves a wide selection of warm and cold dishes, snacks, sandwiches and drinks – all at student-friendly prices. Students pay a fixed price depending on the dish chosen. The set menus include soup, a main course and a dessert. The cafeteria serves breakfast, sandwiches and drinks. Students can also find two trendy snack bars on cam-pus:‘tComplexandOpinio.

Psychological CounsellingMoving to a new country, living alone, and experiencing exam pressure are just a few of the major changes that students may experience in college. Vesalius offers free psychological coun-selling to students who would like to speak to a professional about missing home, exam pressure, or other challenges they might face.

Career CounsellingTo assist students with life after college, Vesalius College of-fers students in their final year the opportunity to attend ca-reer seminars and individual coaching sessions. This free ser-vice aims to help graduates gain a competitive advantage on the job market after graduation. This is achieved by helping students determine their career objectives in addition to ac-quiring the skill sets necessary to achieve their professional goals. The workshops range from CV and cover letter writing to information on networking and how to apply for various internship programs offered in Brussels. For those planning to continue their education, assistance in choosing the right graduate programme is also offered.

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Student Life at VeCoVesalius College is part of a broader student community in Brussels that consists of three other universities: the Vrije Universiteit Brus-sel, the Université Libre Bruxelles and the University of Kent. Together, they support a vibrant student lifestyle. Easily accessible by bus, train, tram, or metro, the area has everything to meet students’ needs including affordable housing, two on-campus cafeterias, libraries, banks, shops, markets, restaurants, bars, live entertainment venues, organised athletic activities, and state-of-the-art sports facilities.

HousingVesalius College does not have on-campus housing, and stu-dents are responsible for making their own housing arrange-ments. However, moving to a new city can be both stressful and confusing. To help students get settled in Brussels and ready to begin classes, the College provides them with links to help find suitable off-campus housing. With the large number of universities and higher education institutions in Brussels, student rooms are widely available. For off-campus housing, rates and availability, students can refer to a helpful student housing resource, www.brik.be/en. Vesalius College students also have access to new VUB on-campus housing. For more information, visit www.u-residence.be.

Study abroad students who join Vesalius College for one semester have the opportunity to stay with a French or Dutch-speaking host family. This type of accommodation gives the student a unique experience that gives insight into the everyday life of Belgian families, Belgian culture, and so-cial norms.

The VSGThe Vesalius Student Government (VSG) is an elected student body that acts as the main liaison between students and the academic administration of Vesalius College. The VSG appoints representatives to the Academic Council, which is the aca-demic governance of the College, and regularly meets with the Dean on matters which affect students at the College. The VSG also holds a very important social role: it organises welcome activities for new students, sports activities, seasonal parties, drama evenings and other social activities throughout

the year. It acts as the point of contact for student clubs, such as the Debate Club, Cine Club and Adventure Club. VSG mem-bers act as student ambassadors at events such as orientation, Open Days and recruitment fairs. If you would like to connect with the VSG or our students, you can check out their Face-bookpage,‘VSGfriend’.Theyareverywillingtogiveyouin-formation about Vesalius College from a student’s perspective.

Sports and Outdoor ActivitiesVeCo students have full access to the athletics facilities of the VUB. The sports facilities include two large multipurpose sports halls (for indoor soccer, basketball, badminton, tennis, etc.), one martial arts hall, three squash courts, a swimming pool and one

climbing wall. Students also have access to a state-of-the-art fitness complex. This sports centre consists of a 1,500 m² fitness and cardio area, a spinning studio, two large changing rooms, a relaxation area, a solarium and a dance/aerobics studio.

Next to its indoor infrastructure, the VUB Sports Department also has outdoor sports fields, including one synthetic soccer field and a brand new athletics track and rugby pitch. A mem-bership fee and/or usage fee (discounted for students) applies. With numerous spacious parks and a vast forest at the doorstep of the city, students also have many opportunities for biking, running, rollerblading, horseback riding, taking a scenic stroll, or simply relaxing.

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Life in BrusselsVesalius College encourages students to work hard to reach their academic potential, but also to live a full life away from books and classes and enjoy everything that Brussels has to offer.

Although the international business and political world form an important part of Brussels’ culture, students quickly discover that it is vibrant and cosmopolitan with a warm, friendly charm. The quaintness of its cobblestone streets and rich variety of beer, chocolate and lace give the city a festive ambiance. 30% of the Brussels population is comprised of foreign nationals, so the city has something for every taste and culture in the areas of music, dance, cuisine, art, associations and much more. The city is home to an excellent music scene, with clubs and nu-merous festivals where almost any genre of music can be found - from local musicians to the biggest touring bands. Brussels also has many museums and art galleries, ranging from classical to modern art, and also houses a national symphony, opera and theatre. In addition, Brussels has a rich variety of architecture including Baroque buildings from the 1600s, classic Flemish, art deco, art nouveau, and the modern architecture of the European Union buildings.

Finally, no description of Brussels would be complete with-out mentioning its renowned fine gastronomy. Ranging from prize-winning haute cuisine to the tastiest chocolate, beer, mus-sels and fries in the world, there is surely a dish for everyone.

Beyond BrusselsStudying in Brussels affords students the unique opportunity to go on some great (as well as quick and inexpensive) travels and getaways. Belgium’s inter-city trains provide quick ac-cess to the coast of Flanders, Medieval Bruges, Antwerp (“The diamond capital of the world”), and the wooded hills of the Ardennes. Looking beyond Belgium, Brussels is the ideal base from which to visit the rest of Europe. Paris is a short 90 min-utes by fast train and London, Cologne and Amsterdam are just two and a half hours away. In addition, most major Euro-pean cities are two hours or less away by plane.

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How to apply

Entrance requirementsVesalius College seeks students who are able to meet the chal-lenges of its academic programme and who are willing to par-ticipate fully in the intellectual and social life of the College in a spirit of openness and tolerance. Admission to the College is selective. We endeavour to accept students whose records indicate that they possess the qualities needed to achieve aca-demic success in the degree programme of their choice.

Applicants for admission must have graduated from a second-ary school prior to beginning their studies at Vesalius College. Admission decisions take into account the candidate’s second-ary school performance, examination results and English lan-guage competence, as well as demonstrated personal qualities and character.

To apply, candidates must submit:• Acompletedapplicationform;• Official academic credentials and transcripts (showing

courses and grades) from all secondary schools and uni-versities attended, including public examination results and official results of any national or regional examination (usuallytakeninthecandidate’scountryofresidence);

• Twolettersofrecommendation(frompersonsfamiliarwiththe candidate’s academic work, for example, teachers, pro-fessors,guidancecounsellors,orschooldirectors);

• Anon-refundableapplicationfeeofEur.50.00;• Proof of identity in the form of a photocopy of either a

passportoranationalidentitycard;• ResultsofanEnglishproficiencyexamination(ifrequired).

TheCollegeacceptstheTOEFLorIELTStest;

• Official scoresoftheSATtestor theACTtestmaybere-quired. Candidates should contact the Admissions Office to determine whether they must take one of these examina-tions.

• Note: Applicants who take the SAT or TOEFL test must ask the testing agency to send score reports directly to Vesalius College, using the College code: 3574.

DeadlinesVesalius College processes applications on a rolling basis. Ad-missions decisions are usually made within three weeks after the complete application is received. Applications will be con-sidered as long as places remain in the class to which they are applying for admission. However, students who wish to be considered for the Academic Excellence Scholarship (see page 42) will have to submit their college application before 15 April.

Official CredentialsCredentials should be sent directly from the authorising or-ganisation or institution. Transcripts must be certified by the Registrar or Head Teacher of the educational institution issu-ing the documents. Transcripts must be sent in an official en-velope of the institution that is sealed and then signed across the back flap by the sending official. Photocopies of original documents are not accepted as official transcripts.

Vesalius College accepts credentials in English, Dutch, French, and German. For all other languages, official translations by a certified translator (whose signature is authenticated) are required and are accepted only when accompanied by the document in its original language.

Transfer AdmissionVesalius College may award transfer credits on a limited basis for courses taken at the university level in other accredited in-stitutions. The minimum requirements for grades depend upon the school where the credit was earned and the student’s in-tended major within Vesalius College.

All transfer credits will be awarded at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. For more information, please contact the admissions office.

Visa InformationStudents who are not EU citizens must obtain a student visa in order to live in Belgium and attend the College. The time it takes to obtain a student visa may vary from one to several months depending on a variety of factors including the stu-dent’s age and country of origin.

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tuition Fees, Study Costs and Scholarships

More information about tuition, fees and methods of payment can be found on the website: www.vesalius.edu.

Note that there are separate tuition fees for the Advanced Certificate in Global Risk Analysis & Crisis Management. Please see the programme web page for further details.

Estimated Costs other than Tuition and Fees

In addition to the tuition and fees, students should also budget for living costs. The following table shows a very rough esti-mate for some of these costs and may be of help in budgeting for the semester.

Tuition Fees (2014-2015)

» Bachelor’s degree full-time € 5,900/semester (4-5 courses)

» Bachelor’s degree part-time € 1,475/course (up to 3 courses)

» Educational Materials € 750.00 – € 900.00

» Accommodation € 2,000.00 – € 3,000.00

» Food (minimum) € 1,000.00 – € 1,500.00

» Public Transportation € 160.00

» Health Insurance € 100.00

» Mobile Phone € 200.00

Vesalius Academic Excellence Scholarship Fund

The Academic Excellence Scholarship Fund re-wards students who have outstanding academ-ic records in secondary school and whose ex-tra-curricular achievements show evidence of leadership in today’s global society. Other factors include letters of recommendation from their secondary school and (in certain cases) stand-ardised test scores.

This merit-based financial assistance can provide up to a 50% reduction in tuition per semester for students who have been accepted into a Bache-lor programme as a full-time, first-year student enrolling in the fall semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme.

Note that students accepted into a Bachelor pro-gramme at Vesalius College automatically apply for the Academic Excellence Scholarship. They do not have to submit a separate application form for the scholarship. However, the deadline to be considered for a scholarship is 15 April.

For more information on scholarship require-ments and eligibility, please visit our website at: http://www.vesalius.edu/admissions.

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Academic Calendar

Spring Semester 2014

Summer Programme 2014

Fall Semester 2014

Spring Semester 2015

Summer Programme 2015» 15-17 January Orientation and registration for new students

» 20 January First day of classes

» 3 – 7 March Mid-term exams

» 12 – 16 May Final exams

» 16 May End of spring semester

» 31 May Graduation Ceremony

» 26 – 30 May Registration

» 26 May First day of classes

» 7 – 10 July Final exams

» 10 July End of summer programme

» 20-22 August Orientation and registration for new students

» 25 August First day of classes

» 6 – 10 October Mid-term exams

» 8 – 12 December Final exams

» 12 December End of fall semester

» 14-16 January Orientation and registration for new students

» 19 January First day of classes

» 2 – 6 March Mid-term exams

» 11 – 15 May Final exams

» 15 May End of spring semester

» 30 May Graduation Ceremony

» 25 – 29 May Registration

» 26 May First day of classes

» 6 – 10 July Final exams

» 10 July End of summer programme

In association with:

Visit Vesalius CollegeVesalius College encourages potential applicants to visit the campus, where you will have the opportunity to take a tour of the facilities, meet with current students and speak with an admissions advisor who will review your credentials and answer your questions.

We can also arrange for you to have a “student-for-a-day experience” and observe an actual class to experience the Vesalius College learning environment first-hand. In the fall and spring semesters, we also organise an Open Day for pro-spective students and their parents to visit the campus and speak to students, members of our faculty and administration. Please contact the admissions office or visit our website for more information.

Contact usEmail: [email protected] Address: Pleinlaan 5, Brussels - 1050Mailing address: Pleinlaan 2, Brussels - 1050Telephone: +32 2 614 8170Fax: +32 2 614 8050

www.vesalius.edu

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