As of the 2023-2024 academic year, students of our Advanced Master in European Integration (EuroMaster) programme are eligible for the Paid Educational Leave system of the Brussels Capital Region. This system is available for people who (a) are working in the private sector or as a contractual employee in an autonomous public company, and (b) are employed on the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region, either full-time or part-time. EuroMaster students are able to benefit from a maximum of 120 hours of paid educational leave per year if the student is a full-time employee. For part-time employees, a pro rata calculation will be made.
Also, for part-time employees (at least half-time and employed less than 4 days a week), a distinction is made according to their working hours:
- If the employee is employed part-time with a fixed working schedule, he/she will only be entitled to paid educational leave if the classes are given during his/her working hours.
- If the employee is engaged on a part-time basis with variable working hours, he/she will be entitled to paid educational leave even if the classes are given outside his/her working hours.
In addition, please note the following:
- Paid educational leave may be taken outside of school days and during school holidays as long as it is taken between the start and end date of the course.
- (Un)justified absences and/or a reduced course programme may reduce the number of hours of paid educational leave granted.
- More than 10% of unjustified absences in a given quarter will result in the suspension of the right to paid educational leave for a period of 6 months.
EuroMaster students who would like to request Paid Educational Leave should follow the same procedure as other VUB students. The first step is to register at the VUB as a 'Working Student / Werkstudent'. The second step is to request the actual Paid Educational Leave. You can complete these two steps during your online application in the VUB CaLi system. If you perform these two steps after 31 October, the procedure is different (see aforementioned hyperlinks).
