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Belgium

Gastronomy, history, and fun! Belgians love gastronomy. They love good food and will invite you to taste their special beers and cheeses and obviously also their chocolate, bonbons, endives, beef stew, speculaas and the like. And the fries are simply legendary.

But above all, Belgium is a place of fun: it has a very vibrant cultural scene (exhibits, concerts, festivals, theatre, dance, etc.) and its night live is one big celebration.

CUNY and non-CUNY students will have the chance to enjoy this while taking classes with any of these magnificent partners: The Brussels School of Governance in Brussels or The Institute for American Universities (IAU) that includes a J-Term Travelling Seminar that goes to Morocco, France and Belgium.

Arts and Sciences at The Brussels School of Governance in Brussels, Belgium

Overview

You will thrive in Belgium on this great study abroad and internship program!  The Brussels School of Governance, located in Brussels, the "Capital of Europe," offers a unique 7-week summer program, which combines both educational and professional experience through coursework, including an internship option. Internship partners range from multi-national corporations and media houses to international government organizations and NGOs. Gain first-hand knowledge of the European Union and the Belgium perspective, while exploring this important European capital city and beyond! 

Information Sheet
Advisor Russell Davis
Advisor Email Russell.Davis@csi.cuny.edu
Minimum GPA 2.7
Class Standing Freshman, Junior, Non-Matriculated, Senior, Sophomore, Undergraduate
Min Required Number of College Credits Completed in Order to Apply 12
Language of Instruction English
Areas of Study Art, Business, Communication, Communication Design, Design, European Studies, Gender Studies, Government, Human Rights, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Internships, Law, Marketing, Peace & Conflict Studies, Political Science, Politics, Pre-Law, Psychology, Social Policy & Administration
Housing Option Apartment, Dorm, Homestay, Independent Housing
Program Open to CSI Students, Non-CUNY Students, Other CUNY Students

Studying

The Brussels School of Governance is an alliance between the Institute for European Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB) and Vesalius College.

Participants in the Brussels Summer School program at The Brussels School of Governance can choose from a selection of 3-credit courses (listed below) in the following disciplines: Business, Communications, Politics, International Affairs, International & European Law, and more. For those students looking to gain professional experience and insight, there is an internship option, which also counts as a 3-credit course. Students can choose to enroll in one or two courses during the 7-week program.  The summer 2023 course offering is:

  • BUS102G  The Belgian Brewery Industry in a Global Context: Business, Economics, Culture and Innovation

  • BUS315G  Women and Leadership: A Global Context

  • CMM 232G Video Production: Theory and Practice

  • LAW2015G  Fundamentals of the Energy Transition (new course)

  • POL229G  EU security governance and international security challenges (new course)

  • POL334G  The European Union in the World

  • INT381G  Internship

For full course descriptions please refer to the The Brussels School of Governance summer progam website here.  Syllabi are available on request to the advisor at the College of Staten Island.

Vesalius Internship Programme (VIP)

The Vesalius Internship Programme (VIP) provides students with a supervised work experience that enriches their academic experience through on-the-job application of skills and theories learned in the classroom. In exchange, Vesalius internship partners receive the assistance of enthusiastic young workers with fresh ideas and energy.

At The Brussels School of Governance, there is a diverse student body – students come from over 50 countries around the globe, many of them are multi-lingual and open-minded. Thanks to their background and education they are comfortable working in an international environment and accustomed to adjusting their work style accordingly. Students have solid foundations in 4 areas of study: Communications, Business, International Affairs and International & European Law. Only qualified students in their second and third year are allowed to join the VIP.

Please note the 2023 internship catalogue will be available during the first week of April. However, see the internship catalogue from summer 2022 as a reference here.

First week of April: Internship catalogue available
Last week of April: Deadline to apply
30 May 2023:   First day of internships: During 1st week of classes.  
7 July 2023:   Last day of internships
7 July 2023:   Submit final report no later than this date

Read more on internships by clicking here.

 

Take a 360 degree tour of VUB!

 

Living

Program participants may choose to live with a host family, stay in independent student apartments, or live in international student housing.  The Brussels School of Governance has a housing office to assist students with the selection and placement process. Housing costs are included in the cost of the program.  However, if you make a housing choice that is expensive, you may need to pay an additional cost for housing.

Exploring

Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a major center for international politics and has become the home of numerous international organizations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions. Today the majority language is French, and the Brussels-Capital Region is an officially bilingual enclave within the Flemish Region. All road signs, street names, and many advertisements and services are shown in both languages. Brussels is increasingly becoming multilingual with increasing numbers of migrants, expatriates and minority groups speaking their own languages.

Brussels contains over 80 museums and is known for its local waffle, its chocolate, its French fries and its numerous types of beers. With the art scene, the food, and the dynamic sports calendar, there is always something to experience in this political hub!

Eligibility

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors with a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale can join the study abroad program. The internship program is open only to juniors and seniors who have at least 60 undergraduate credits and a 2.7 GPA.  There are no foreign language requirements; all courses are offered in English.

Dates & Costs

Please note all dates and costs are subject to change.  Non-CUNY & CUNY Non-NYS Residents contact program for cost.  This rate may not apply.
 

    Summer 2023: 3 credits       arrive May 28 - depart July 15    

    $3,840    

  Summer 2023: 6 credits     arrive May 28 - depart July 15   

    $5,100     

 

 

 

 

Program Cost Includes:  tuition & fees, The Brussels School of Governance application fee, orientation in US and Brussels, basic housing option (though the price could change should you make a more expensive housing choice) and health and accident insurance

Estimated Costs Not Included: Airfare: $1,100 approx., Meals: $800 approx. (unless you select homestay in which breakfast and dinner are included), Personal Expenses: $650 approx.

*A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within two weeks of acceptance. This deposit is applied towards the program cost and paid to the College of Staten Island. 

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Contact the program sponsor to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

Internship Application deadline:
Summer:  April 1

Summer Study Program Application deadline:
Summer:  March 15