Yes, although you may want to spread it over a couple of years. In order to welcome students who are working full-time our courses are nearly all taught in the evenings or on Saturday mornings, and for the rare exceptions advance warning is given so that you can take study leave or a day off.
The minimum requirement for admission to one of our Postgraduate Programmes is a Bachelor’s degree and a sufficient level of English proficiency.
Yes. You can either follow a cluster of courses which follow a theme as identified by us, or choose your own groups of courses. It is also possible to follow a single course. Full details are available on the Clusters page of this site.
Yes, even though we focus primarily on economic diplomacy because that is a core part of diplomacy and any diplomatic career. Depending on the diplomatic service you go into, the emphasis on training and education in economic diplomacy will vary. If you want to go into the economic diplomacy field, for example by working for a national or regional trade and investment promotion agency or the economic diplomacy departments of various Ministries, our programmes are very suitable. Please note that to be eligible to sit the Belgian diplomatic service exams, at federal and regional level, a minimum of a Master’s degree is required.
Yes. We do not require a degree in a specific discipline, because all disciplines are accepted for entry into diplomatic or business careers, our only specific requirements for the full programme are a Bachelor or Master’s degree and proficiency in English as all our courses are taught in English. We advise prospective students to get in touch with us so we can discuss individual backgrounds and needs in advance of the application process. Email us at bda@vub.ac.be to arrange a chat. Please note that to be eligible to sit the Belgian diplomatic service exams, at federal and regional level, a minimum of a Master’s degree is required.
A Postgraduate Certificate is a qualification which includes practical aspects within its academic curriculum. The degree title of ‘Master’ is protected under law in Flanders, and as such is subject to an extended accreditation which places emphasis on the primacy of theoretical academic subjects.
Postgraduate in Economic Diplomacy is 6800 Euro, with additional fees if the transcontinental track is chosen. Additional fees are up to 5000 USD and/or 28,000 RMB (travel and accommodation not included).
Postgraduate in International Trade and Investment is 6800 Euro, with additional fees if the transcontinental track is chosen. Additional fees are up to 5000 USD and/or 28,000 RMB (travel and accommodation not included).
Flagship Programme in Economic Diplomacy and International Business is 9500 Euro, with additional fees if the transcontinental track is chosen. Additional fees are up to 5000 USD and/or 20,000 RMB (travel and accommodation not included).
There is an annual registration fee of 200 Euro and each ECTS costs 100 Euros. The number of ECTS per course can be found in the course description on the website.
Information on how to apply via the online system can be found here:
http://www.vub.ac.be/en/studying-at-the-vub/how-to-enroll#apply
If you have any questions contact us at bda@vub.ac.be
You need to apply for a postgraduate programme and once admitted you only register for the courses you want to follow.
Information on how to apply via the online system can be found here http://www.vub.ac.be/en/studying-at-the-vub/how-to-enroll#apply.
We advise you to contact us at bda@vub.ac.be to let us know you will only be following a few courses to ensure your invoice reflects your limited choices.
If you have proof that is fine, but it is not required, it is possible to have an interview in which we can assess whether or not your English is of a sufficient standard to follow the course.
Yes. As our programmes are open to students from different disciplines it is likely that some will have followed courses that are similar to those we offer. This is particularly true for graduates from faculties of Law or Economics. Students can apply for exemptions from courses and if granted they will be awarded the credits commensurate with the exempted course such that they fulfil the credit requirements of the programme.
All our curricula are designed with a view to enhancing your employment prospects. The programmes were developed by people who have worked in economic diplomacy and international trade and investment, in consultation with employers and business representatives, to ensure that what is taught is what is needed in the labour market. You also have the choice of doing an internship as your elective, and we provide help with finding internships in the areas you have will have studied.
Yes, nearly all the postgraduate programmes are taught in the evenings or on Saturday mornings, with the exception of a few days in the second semester.
The BDA year always starts on the 1st of September, irrelevant of when the University’s academic year starts.
Yes, we offer Master Classes, Lectures, and tailor-made courses, as well as organising events such as Ambassador Lunches and Business Causeries. Consult the website for details of everything we provide.