The English-taught MA in Global Security and Strategy based in Brussels (Belgium) provides students and professionals with comprehensive knowledge and policy-oriented skills at the intersection of international security and strategic studies. This international relations focused Master degree is available both as a 90 ECTS (12 months) and as a 120 ECTS (15 months) programme. The programme enables students interested in an international career in government, international organisations, think tanks or NGOs to gain unique theoretical foundations, practical skill-sets and high-level contacts.

Leading scholars from top universities and think tanks, and senior strategists in security studies (from organisations including NATO, the United Nations, and the Royal Military Academy of Belgium) are brought together in the partnership circle, advisory board and faculty of this international security Master programme to allow for a critical and balanced exchange between the perspectives. Our teaching staff currently includes the following practitioners:

  • Dr Jamie Shea – former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO
  • Dr Giovanni Grevi – Former Director of Fride and senior analyst at EPC
  • Dr Ethan Corbin - Director of the Defence and Security Committee at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Graduates of this programme will be equipped to extract the insights, advantages and limitations of these perspectives and approaches to global security and strategy.

Our School also offers a similar Master programme focusing on Diplomacy and Global Governance.

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

After many years in the private sector, I felt a strong desire to change my career direction. I chose to pursue a master's in Global Security and Strategy at BSoG, and it turned out to be a game-changer for me. Not only did it equip me with valuable knowledge and skills, but it also paved the way for me to secure a position at a major global think tank.

Student looking at camera with nature background
Jan Petrásek
MA alumnus

Key features

  • Organised in cooperation with the Royal Military Academy
  • Strong link between theory and actual practice
  • Limited class size ensures high interaction and close contacts among students and with the professors
  • Internship placement in international organisations, think tanks and NGOs
  • Intensive skills training and policy workshops, e.g. during a Capstone course that exposes students to real-life issues and challenges of policymakers and practitioners; during several simulations students participate in (SUNY model EU, Model NATO, Model UN MEDMUN)
  • Strong link to the policy-maker scene in Brussels
  • Accredited by the Flemish educational authorities (NVAO)
  • Unique educational experience based on the STEP approach to teaching and learning
  • Supported by the extensive expertise of our Office for Teaching, Learning and Innovation to accommodate sophisticated blended teaching methods
The College (BSoG) benefits from a strong network of adjunct professors and has strong ties with other organisations in Brussels. The advantage (...) is the Brussels based location in the centre of Europe and in the middle of the European institutions which brings the student in close contact with the reality of policy-making from the perspective of the professional field. The students were very positive about the internship, the networking and career opportunities and teachers from the professional field. This allows the students to play an active role in the international policy making community during their studies.
Audit report of our MA programmes by independent panel of experts of VLUHR QA (Flemish Universities and Colleges Council Quality Assurance), May 2021
VLUHR quality assurance