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Vesalius College
Brussels, Belgium
(pop. 2 million)
Student Enrollment: 300
www.vesalius.edu
Information about the majors
The Vesalius Internship Program
Courses in English
PROGRAM TYPE
Academic year, semester or summer programs
ISEP-Exchange for US students.
ISEP-Direct site for member and affiliate students.
Chance of Placement
ISEP Exchange chance of placement for US students is generally Very Limited.
For the most current chances of placement, see the Sites Open for Applications for US Students
Chance of placement on ISEP Direct is Excellent.
Courses
Vesalius College offers programs in Business (economics, international management, technology management, management science, European studies, and marketing concentrations); International Relations (politics, history, economics, communications and European studies concentrations); and Communications (journalism & scriptwriting, political communication, business communication and European communication studies concentrations). Vesalius College also offers a certificate-earning program on European Peace and Security Studies, which consists of 5 courses and a weekly expert lecture series. The program is given in partnership with the Royal Military Academy, Kent University and the Institute for European Studies. Vesalius offers study abroad students the opportunity to participate in an Internship Program. Internships are available with high-profile public and private organizations throughout Brussels. They are competitive, credit-earning and graded.
Academic Notes
By virtue of its location in Brussels, the heart of the European community, Vesalius College has targeted the three disciplines most relevant to the expertise available in the local academic and professional sectors. The Business program thrives on the knowledge of professors and guest lecturers with experience in the headquarters of large multinational corporations. The Communications program has its fingers on the pulse of the latest in international communication by virtue of Brussels being the home of the world’s largest press corps. As the home of NATO and heart of the European Union, Brussels feeds the International Affairs curriculum with the most knowledgeable experts in the field of public policy and European studies. Students can then confirm and apply the theory they acquire in class by participating in prestigious internships in the public and private sectors in such organizations as NATO, the United Nations, Ernst & Young, MasterCard, and many more.
Special Academic Conditions
If courses for the next fall or spring semester are not available yet, students should review courses currently offered for fall or spring. Fall semester students should review the fall semester schedule, spring semester students the spring semester schedule as they may be different. The “Model United Nations” (POL 315) course, which is offered in the spring and is open to ISEP students, is restricted to students who have applied for and have been previously accepted as delegates for the Geneva International Model United Nations (GIMUN). Students receive preparatory sessions to attend the GIMUN summit, which takes place in March. Applications for the GIMUN must be submitted directly to the GIMUN and are accepted in October/November. This course receives a pass/fail grade.
Certain Vesalius College free elective courses are offered by academic partners such as the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Royal Military Academy, the Royal Music Conservatory and others. Students should note that some of these courses follow the Belgian academic grading system and the Belgian academic calendar, i.e. they start and end later than regular Vesalius College courses. Not all free electives have different dates, only the one or two offered by Brussels partner schools. ISEP Direct students can take these courses at no additional cost other than the extended housing cost. Partner courses with extended calendar dates are not open to ISEP exchange students
Language Notes
The language of instruction at Vesalius College is English. Students from non-native English-speaking countries must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 90/120 IBT or 577/677 PBT or IELTS score of 6.5. French and Dutch are offered as foreign languages.
Program Dates
Academic year: late August to mid-May; Semester 1: late August to mid-December; Semester 2: mid-January to mid-May.
Housing and Meals
Housing and meals are NOT included in the ISEP-Direct program fee. Students will pay Vesalius separately for pre-arranged housing with a host family stay, which includes 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners (12 meals) per week, plus internet access, sheets, towels and access to the kitchen on 2 nights per week. A host family provides an opportunity to experience Belgian family life and is strongly recommended by ISEP. Students who choose not to live with a host family will be responsible for arranging their own housing and meal options; Vesalius College may provide suggestions for reasonable apartment or student hostel facilities in the area.
Student Activities
Many extracurricular activities are sponsored by the Vesalius Student Government (VSG) and the associated Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The VSG organizes regular student parties, outings, ski trips and other activities. Sports include soccer, basketball, swimming, athletics and fitness at a world class fitness center. ISEP students can also participate in student-driven academic activities such as college publications, forums and assemblies. Every semester, the college offers “European Studies” (ART 361) specifically for study abroad students at an additional fee. This course offers field trips to various European cities, with an in-class seminar introducing each trip and highlighting the art and architecture of each city.
Internships, Service Learning, Volunteering
Vesalius College offers students the opportunity to earn academic credit and professional experience through a unique graded internship program in Brussels. With over 50 internship sponsors in the public and private sectors and with partners such as the United Nations, NATO, UPS, the European Journalism Center and many more, students acquire the professional skills and make the important contacts that can propel them into the career of their dreams. Internships can earn 3 to 6 US credits depending on the number of hours worked per week.
ISEP-Direct
Information about ISEP-Direct fees and dates.
Profile
Vesalius College was founded by a collaboration between the Dutch free university of Brussels, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Boston University in order to provide university education in the English language in the heart of Europe. Vesalius is located in the center of Brussels and is surrounded by several universities and other institutes of higher learning, including the VUB and the ULB (the French Free University of Brussels). Although the Vesalius campus is small to accommodate a small student body, the campus is nestled against that of its parent university, the VUB. As such, students have the same privileges that VUB students have, and access to the facilities of the much larger free university, including sports facilities, cafeteria, classrooms, health services, libraries, etc. Vesalius College is conveniently located within rapid walking distance to metro and train stations as well as to tram and bus stops.
Location
Brussels is known as the “Capital of Europe”. A city of approximately 2 million, it is the home of NATO and the European Commission. While largely francophone, Brussels is surrounded by Dutch-speaking communities, a peculiarity of interest in this small country with three national languages (French, Dutch and German). Visitors will be fascinated by the international and multicultural nature of this “small big city”, but will be comforted by the fact that nearly everyone knows at least some English, which is one reason many tourists call Brussels one of Europe’s friendliest cities. Furthermore, Brussels’ relatively central location offers an ideal starting point for international travel. Brussels is only 162 miles from Paris, 198 miles from London, 194 miles from Frankfurt and 108 miles from Amsterdam. Public transportation within Brussels as well as to and from Brussels is plentiful, well-designed and economical. For longer trips, students can find attractive fares on high-speed trains or discount airlines.
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