FAQ

The Brussels School of Governance is an alliance between the Institute for European Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and Vesalius College. This BA is a programme of which the degree will be awarded by Vesalius College.

Yes it is. The degree of this programme is awarded by Vesalius College, which is registered with the Flemish government of Belgium as an institution of higher education, and its BA and MA degrees are equivalent to fully-recognised degrees issued by a Flemish University. Vesalius College is a participant in the Bologna Process, the reform effort designed to standardise higher education throughout Europe. In accordance with the Bologna declaration, Vesalius College offers 3-year European Bachelor programmes and calculates coursework in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. All our Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees have been granted accredited status by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO, Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie). This official organisation was established by international treaty between the Flemish and the Dutch governments to ensure the quality of higher education in both the Netherlands and Flanders. More information on the accreditation of the BA in Global Business and Entrepreneurship can be found on its relevant webpage on the official government website regarding higher education in Flanders: https://www.hogeronderwijsregister.be/opleiding?id=130251-2020 - as well as on the relevant page on the NVAO website: https://www.nvao.net/nl/besluiten/vesalius-college/bachelor-in-global-bu...

We recommend not applying to more than one of our Bachelor programmes. Submitting multiple applications does not improve your admission prospects since all our BA programmes have the same admission criteria. Applicants submitting multiple applications will incur multiple application fees, but only one fee will be credited towards the tuition if the applicant is admitted and enrols in one of our Bachelor programmes. However, admitted students have the flexibility to change their major until the beginning of the academic year.

Students may be considered for transfer into the BA programme if they have completed at least one semester and are in good academic standing at an accredited higher education institution. The student should not have been dismissed from that institution. Transfer applicants must submit the same documents as those applying for general admission. Transfer applicants with at least one full-time semester of college credit and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 will be exempt from submitting SAT or ACT scores. The minimum requirements for grades depend upon the school where the credit was earned and the student’s intended major within the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG).

All transfer credits will be awarded at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

To apply for transfer credits, candidates must submit:

  • The online transfer credit application form: download this form from the current FAQ webpage (please indicate on this form the equivalent BSoG course which the transferred course should replace). 
  • Official transcript(s) of all courses taken at the previous university. 
  • Detailed descriptions of the courses taken, including the number of hours per course and copies of course descriptions from the college’s catalogue. 
  • The full course syllabus/course outline of the course taken at another university (A syllabus is a short document, to be distributed at the first class meeting, containing the following information: the aims and content of the course, the textbook(s) and other reading materials, the progress of the course week per week, the way in which it will be assessed, the dates at which written work is due and when the mid-term and final examinations will be held, and contact information and office hours for the instructor). 

Transfer credits can only be granted if: 

  • The course credits obtained at another university were taken in courses that are similar in terms of content, scope and academic rigour compared to BSoG courses (this will be determined by members of BSoG academic staff upon the request of the Admission Office) 
  • The overall course grade is not lower than an average ‘C’ grade 
  • The course carrying the course credits to be transferred is in line with the curriculum structure of the BSoG (i.e., fits within the categories of and available credits of the curriculum components of ‘core courses’, ‘major requirements’, ‘major electives’ or ‘free electives’). 

The credit transfer fee is 60 euros per ECTS credit transferred, payable with the first semester tuition fee invoice.

Admission decisions are usually made within three weeks after receipt of the complete application. Once accepted, students must pay a 1,000 EUR pre-registration fee, to be deducted from tuition, to receive their letter of acceptance. International applicants should contact the Belgian embassy or consulate in their country immediately to get a complete list of requirements specific for that country.

As you will undoubtedly want to travel during your stay in Brussels, we strongly recommend that you ask for a long-stay Schengen Visa, or ‘Type D’ Schengen Visa, which will allow you to travel hassle-free to any of the countries within the Schengen region and to make multiple entries into Belgium. This type of visa is not issued by all embassies/consulates. Please contact the Belgian embassy or consulate nearest to you for details on specific procedures and requirements. Click here for more information about visa regulations.

The picture provided during the application process will be used for your student card. You will receive a student card during the first week of classes, after you’ve arrived for Orientation.

Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. There are some private residencies close to our School, so it is definitely worth to check these out first. Key to these student rooms is to apply as much in advance as possible and if needed to register on their waiting list. Prices go from 330-900€ so there is a big variety. See below for a list of some private residencies:

Most of the contracts for student rooms or flats will be for at least one year. Contracts for apartments are usually three years. You will be required to pay two months of rent in advance as a “guarantee” (security deposit) and the first month of rent is due on the day you sign the contract. Make sure that the utilities are included in the rent (electricity, heating system, water, Wi-Fi connection). Please note you will often need to share the kitchen and bathroom. If you have questions and/or concerns about a contract, please ask the landlord for a copy and ask for a translation (or help) at the School.

We suggest that you arrive one week before Orientation, if at all possible.

The School is located on the campus of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), a green campus in Etterbeek in Brussels. Modern sports facilities with sports halls, tennis and squash courts, and a swimming pool can all be found on site. Monthly gym subscriptions are available at Basic Fit, a modern and well-equipped gym right on campus. The student restaurant offers a large choice of meals and snacks at self-service counters. The campus is easy to reach by train, tram, bus or metro from the city centre or the outskirts of Brussels. Also the school offers the opportunity to attend career seminars and individual coaching sessions and psychological counselling (free of charge) as well.  Click here for some more information about living in Brussels.

For the cancellation terms applicable to our BA and BA Prep programmes, please refer to the 'Financial information > Withdrawal' section of our BA course catalogue for the applicable academic year, which you can find in the Curriculum tab of each BA and BA Prep programme on our website.

FAQ related documents

Contact us

You are *