Master of Political Science: European and International Governance

STUDY EUROPE AND THE WORLD

Taught in English, this Master is a one-year programme concerning two of the most important fields of political science: European studies/governance and international politics/relations. This programme will allow Belgian and international students to acquire the skills and know-how they need to kickstart their career in diplomacy, national and international institutions or any related professional fields (such as lobbying, journalism, policy development and academic research).

INTERESTING TIMES

It is hard to imagine more interesting times to study European and international politics. The European Union (EU) is facing internal and external challenges that were almost unimaginable until just a few years ago. These challenges include the rise of nationalism, cracks in the European project, economic inequality and an ever-growing urgency to mitigate climate change and find a coordinated response to international mobility and forced displacement. In a similar vein, the context in which nations interact in regards to world politics has changed substantially. Factors such as the erosion of a liberal world order, the rise of the Chinese Republic and more assertive foreign policies of countries such as Russia and Turkey increasingly dominate international politics.

Are you interested in gaining a better understanding of these dynamics? Do you aspire to contribute – if not shape – European and international politics, be it as a diplomat, journalist, administrator, official, think-tanker, scholar or simply engaged citizen? Then you are the ideal candidate for VUB’s Political Science Master in European and International Governance. The programme is taught in English by experienced professors that hold close links to the policy-making community in Brussels, an ideal stepping stone to develop a career in the fascinating field of European and international politics.

ACADEMIA MEETS PRACTICE

Our professors teach you up-to-date political science concepts and theories on European and international challenges and responses. In a module on modern diplomacy, practitioners will share their experience and insights on how to contribute to the peaceful management of international relations.  Beyond this module, the programme will fully capitalize on its embedment in Brussels, a city hosting NATO and EU institutions as well as the largest number of embassies and international journalists in the world.

Institutions and Governance of the European Union

This course will focus on the patterns and dynamics of the European integration process in times of crisis. It seeks to enhance the skills of Master students to analyse and understand some of the most challenging issues the EU has faced in recent years, from the economic and financial crisis and the threat of terrorism to the rising number of migrants and refugees travelling into Europe. The course will discuss these and other issues from different theoretical perspectives on European integration and governance. The overarching questions to be dealt with include:

• How democratic is the EU?
• How to theorize European integration in turbulent times?
• How has the EU responded to the Euro crisis?  
• What is the EU doing to protect the environment?
• Counter-terrorism: does the EU manage to balance ‘liberty’ and ‘security’?
• Is there a Common European Asylum System?
• To what extent has the freedom of movement for EU citizens become contested?
• Is the EU’s enlargement policy vis-à-vis the Western Balkans and Turkey still credible? 
• Is the EU able to stabilize its Southern and Eastern neighbourhoods? 

European Economics

This course examines European integration from an economic perspective, with regard for both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The course builds upon basic economic concepts and focuses in detail on the role and evolution that macro- and microeconomic structures and theories have played in providing the EU with its past and current market architecture. It also does so by examining a variety of key EU policies: competition, trade, agricultural, regional, monetary and fiscal policy. Finally, the course offers a thorough analysis of the Eurozone crisis by looking at the effects of the global recession on the fundamentals of the European economy. Throughout the course, topics will be illustrated with recent press releases or interesting scientific articles.

International Security and Strategic Studies

War and peace have the power to change the world order and the daily lives we lead. This course aims to provide students with a conceptual toolkit to navigate contemporary questions in international security as perceived from a European perspective, and to make them familiar with key debates in strategic studies. Combining insights from history, political science, international relations and economics in an interdisciplinary spirit, this course offers students a range of lectures delivered by academics and expert policy-makers. These lectures will cover various conceptual questions (such as the causes of war, the logic of deterrence and the function of strategy) as well as geographical and thematic approaches (such as the present instability in the wider European neighbourhood, the transatlantic relationship and security in East Asia).

World Politics

This course looks at the world's major powers and their foreign policy, as well as at the political outlook of key regions. The aim is to develop, in each case, in-depth knowledge of the internal drives of foreign policy, the main objectives and organization of their foreign and security policy, and the interaction with countries in the surrounding area, other major powers, and international institutions.

Modern Diplomacy

Diplomacy aims for the peaceful cohabitation between a specific political community and the wider world. This course intends to provide master students with a conceptual introduction to discussions about modern diplomacy as it unfolds into practice, and to prepare them for a variety of related career paths. It will feature a number of lectures on key concepts and topical issues, as well as several sessions focused on practical diplomatic skills, such as negotiation techniques and drafting policy notes.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes describe the intended knowledge and understanding, skills and attitudes that you must have mastered by the time you completed your studies. Do you want to know more about the specific learning outcomes of this programme? Go to the learning outcomes overview for this programme.

Application procedure

The screening process takes time since several departments are involved. We advise you to start the online application procedure as soon as possible.

• Submit your application file before the deadline
• The screening process can take up to several weeks

1. Check of file completeness & application fee payment (by admissions office)
2. Check of academic requirements (by academic programme board)
3. Check of language requirements (by admissions office)

• Outcome of screening: if accepted, you will receive a Conditional Letter of Acceptance >> what to do next?
• Enroll at VUB university campus (in person) before 8 October

Academic requirements

• Direct admission: Candidates with a Flemish degree of ‘Bachelor in de Politieke Wetenschappen’ or 'Bachelor in Social Sciences'
• Admission after Academic Screening: An Admission Board will evaluate all other applications on an individual basis. Candidates must have obtained at least a bachelor or undergraduate degree in a relevant field with preferably some courses on Political Science, International Relations and/or the European Union.

Language requirements

Good English language skills are an important prerequisite for successfully completing the master. There are three ways to prove your proficiency:

Option A: send us one of the following language certificates proving your CEFR B2 level:

• TOEFL (only the internet-based test is accepted): minimum level: 79
• IELTS: minimum level academic module 6.5
• Cambridge English: Minimum scale grade 170 (equivalent to the CEFR B2)
• ITACE: minimum grade B2

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are aware that students may face difficulties in regards to taking a test in person. Please note that we also accept the TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator. These are variants of the classic TOEFL and IELTS tests that you can take at home.

Please note that the language test results cannot be older than 5 years at the moment of application.

Option B: having successfully completed secondary or higher education with English as language of instruction:

• submit official proof of the language of instruction of your previous study

Option C: having successfully completed Belgian secondary education:

• submit official proof that you completed a study in the Belgian educational system