Vrije Universiteit Brussel Institute for European Studies

The University

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a young and dynamic university, centrally situated in Brussels, the Capital of Europe. VUB is known for its basic philosophy of Free Examination in a spirit of pluralism and sincerity, independent of Church and State. No dogmas and thus only scientifically based arguments and academic freedom determine education and research. Nevertheless, the university respects completely all political, ethical, philosophical and ideological beliefs of its students.

Originally, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel was part of the French-speaking 'Université Libre de Bruxelles', founded in 1834 by the Brussels lawyer Theodore Verhaegen. Since 1935 more and more courses were taught in Dutch and as of October 1, 1969, the Dutch speaking part of ULB received legal and administrative autonomy. Nowadays, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has reached the dimension of a university with approximately 10.000 students, eight faculties and a University Hospital (capacity over 700 beds), offering a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate training courses.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is member of European and other international university networks, aiming to promote cooperation in the field of education, research and mobility of teachers and students. In many fields, research teams of the university are recognised as 'centres of excellence', conducting broadly based fundamental and applied research often in an international scope. Most important examples to mention are: diabetes research centre, fertility treatment centre, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and molecular biology. Furthermore, the university enjoys a strong reputation in the area of environmental research, computer science and communication, humanism and society research.

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The Law School

The Institute for European Studies is an autonomous department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence.

The Institute’s central location in Brussels, capital of Europe, makes it a supreme workplace for students and scholars who wish to conduct research in an international and interdisciplinary setting. Benefiting from its location, the IES provides an ideal forum for conferences and workshops on European issues.

The Institute’s mission is threefold:

1. providing advanced education, which it does through its LL.M in International and European Law, its MA of European Integration and Development, its Summer School on the European Decision-Making Process and through its E-learning modules on European Law and Institutions;

2. carrying out scientific research. Research is co-ordinated by the IES Academic Director and conducted by PhD researchers as well as post-doctoral Senior Research Fellows that lead research clusters;

3. providing scientific services in the field of European Studies, in particular by organising conferences, workshops and lecture series, and by conducting commissioned research.

The Institute collaborates closely with numerous universities and research institutions in Belgium and abroad. This collaboration and the continuous exchange of new ideas with practitioners and scholars, contributes to ensuring that the IES strengthens its research goals so that it can excell its status of excellence centre on European studies.

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Location

Brussels is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The Brussels-Capital Region, one of Belgium's three regions, is also a city with 19 boroughs covering 162 km2 and housing a million inhabitants. It is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), although it boasts an astonishing variety of cultures, styles and nationalities.

Being the capital of an expanding Europe, Brussels is an international city like no other. 31% of its population is of foreign origin, and this makes for a unique atmosphere in which cultures interact easily with one another.
English is rapidly becoming an important language in Brussels because of the numerous international political organizations. Language is not a barrier in the capital of Europe. These same differences and contrasts can be found in architectural Brussels' various styles, where you will find Gothic cathedrals and churches Grand Place
next to beautiful art nouveau and art deco houses.

The Grand Place (Grote Markt), with its splendid guild houses and the impressive Gothic beauty of its Town Hall, is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe.

Brussels is a historical centre. Whether you want to unravel the mysteries of Brussels by exploring the Atomium, symbol of the 1958 Brussels world fair, or by checking out the different outfits of the world famous Manneken Pis, discovering Brussels will yield many surprises.

Brussels is also a centre for the arts. Feel like delving into its rich cultural heritage? A wide variety of museums, theatres, and concert halls will see to your every need. Grab a movie at Kinepolis, one of the largest in Europe with 24 cinema theaters and a giant IMAX movie screen. Catch a glimpse of the Eiffel tower, the Brandenburg Gate, and other miniature sized major European monuments at MINI EUROPE. Or relive the adventures of Belgium's comic book heroes like Tintin and his dog Snowy at the Comic Book Museum.

Brussels is also a delight for your taste buds. Chocolate, delicious local cuisine, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, bars and pubs that never close. you'll find it all. Belgium boasts an incredible diversity of beers, many of them flavoured with herbs, spices and fruits.

A great many people work in Brussels. It is the headquarters of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament. The Brussels-Capital Region accounts for nearly 18% of all of Belgium's exported goods and services. The compulsory medical insurance system provides comprehensive coverage, making health care affordable for all. Patients have free choice of hospital and insurance provider.

A lot of people study in Brussels. Education is free and compulsory until the age of 18. The cost of attending university is very reasonable (especially compared to the US and the UK). This investment in people pays off.

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