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Business, Communications, and Culture Program in Brussels

Program Affiliation: CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange

Location: Brussels Belgium

The Business, Communication and Culture study abroad program in Brussels, Belgium is especially suited for students majoring in international affairs, communications, and economics who have a keen interest in the European Union. The program has three goals: to provide opportunities to study European identity, culture, and policy-making fr... read more The Business, Communication and Culture study abroad program in Brussels, Belgium is especially suited for students majoring in international affairs, communications, and economics who have a keen interest in the European Union. The 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. Less