As a multicultural university with one third of students and researchers from abroad, international relations is a daily reality for the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), just like the city of Brussels itself, one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. Its outward-looking position with regard to Europe and the world has resulted in a number of agreements, collaborations and special partnerships being set up with some of the world’s top universities.
The Université libre de Bruxelles has twelve faculties that cover all the disciplines, closely combining academic input and research. It offers almost 40 undergraduate programmes and 250 graduate programmes (among them 23 Masters fully taught in English). One of the University’s main aims is to give its students a solid foundation in critical thinking as well as a taste for research, while at the same time catering to the needs of new publics.
By choosing ULB, students will take the study track Security and Conflict join the Specialized Master in International Law programme taught in Brussels, at the heart of Europe. Special emphasis is placed on the practice of international law through exercises and mock trials where student knowledge and advocacy skills will be put to use. In addition, the courses take the form of interactive seminars, ex cathedra lessons and practical exercises in small groups, which allow students to develop a close academic collaboration with the members of the Centre de droit international (the Centre). Students have access to the various resources of the Centre as well as to the wide expertise of its members on, among others, general public international law, international humanitarian law; jus contra bellum; law of international organisations; international human rights law and international criminal law).
Students also benefit from the organisation of various events and activities such as seminars and colloquiums on issues relating to global security and conflicts. The Centre is closely linked to the Belgian society of international law which brings together experts on public international law from all Belgian Universities. The various Centres at ULB work together in an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to experience a varied and rich academic environment.
Ideally located in Brussels, choosing ULB will allow students to discover the European Institutions, as they can for example visit the European Parliament and the European Commission, and NATO. Brussels is also located near Bruges, where the Bruges Colloquium on International Humanitarian Law that takes place every year.
There are also several museums located in Belgium linked to war experiences of Belgium, such as the Bastogne War Museum which offers a contemporary interactive context of the causes, events and consequences of the Second World War, as well as the Royal Military Museum on the Armed Forces and Military History located in Brussels and the War Museum Hooge Crater related to World War One and located in the city of Ypres, with its life-size reconstructions of World War I battle scenes, its extensive collection of weapons, equipment and photographs.
In addition, Brussels offers an easy access to Luxemburg where students can discover the Court of Justice of the European Union; to Strasbourg where they can visit the European Court of Human Rights; and to The Hague where they can visit the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and other institutions like Eurojust.
