Vesalius College starts its inaugural graduate degree: a Master of Science in European Union Policy (MSc EUP).

Organised in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies (IES), the MSc is specifically designed for BA graduates, allowing students to upgrade their working knowledge of the EU via a unique series of high-quality, interdisciplinary, policy-focused modules on EU policy making.

"Our new programme combines the 25-year teaching experience of Vesalius College as an institute for higher education, with the broad research experience in European Studies of the IES, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence ", says Bert Mosselmans, Dean at Vesalius College.

In fall 2012, the first cohort will begin the intensive, one-year (60-ECTS) programme designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to follow this Master of Science degree programme in Brussels, the heart of Europe.

The MSc is divided between taught ‘keystone’ courses in the first semester, and the Brusselsbased Graduate Internship and the written thesis in the second semester. Keystone courses lay the foundation for an advanced understanding of the EU, and include cover theories, politics, legal foundations and economics of European integration. Students are prepared for their thesis writing via a specially-designed module on ‘Tools and Methods for European Policy Analysis’.

The second semester continues this course, assists students in an incremental fashion to prepare and complete their thesis, whilst successfully undertaking their chosen the Brussels Graduate Internship.

“In addition to offering high-level courses, the MSc is uniquely positioned to enhance the career potential of our students by offering high-profile internships at European institutions and related organisations (representations of private or public interests at the EU, NGOs, think tanks)”, explains Academic Director, Prof. Michel Huysseune. The MSc also features in its offerings the IES Lecture Series, focusing upon issues of relevance in the EU policy sphere by bringing together leading academics and practitioners”,

The programme has received accreditation from the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO) and will enhance and draw from the thriving political environment at Vesalius College and in Brussels.

Further information on the programme can be found on the Vesalius College website:

http://www.vesalius.edu/master or by contacting Willemijn Nieuwenhuys, Director External Relations and Recruitment (willemijn.nieuwenhuys@vub.ac.be).

Vesalius College operates in association with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).