Brussels Programme on European Foreign Policy
Course introduction
The Brussels Programme on European Foreign Policy aims at bringing together students to learn and critically discuss issues and challenges related to European foreign and external policies. This multidisciplinary summer programme draws on the consolidated partnership between the Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (VUB) and the University of Southern California (USC), and has been successfully running for fifteen years. While the student body has been so far mainly American, over the past few years we have developed the ambition of bringing together a more diversified student body. In fact, in 2025 the course is now open to students enrolled at Flemish universities (full details below).
Bringing together students has been a strong ambition of this programme from the start. We ensure that this summer programme and our student body mingle and learn from one another. The faculty blends renowed Flemish and international experts in European foreign policy. Capitalising on its Brussels location and on its consolidated partnership, CSDS has so far offered a strong teaching team, which includes academic and policymakers alike. By offering lectures and presentations by well-established scholars, think-tankers and civil servants from the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and NATO, the programme offers a true immersion in the process of EU foreign and external policy-making.
Over the course of this intensive 5-week summer school – which runs from 19 May – 20 June 2025 for USC students – students have the chance of visiting and attending lectures at the European Parliament, the EEAS and NATO.
In addition to attending lectures in the mornings, USC students will have the possibility of attending seminars on how to foster their research and policy skills.
Flemish university applications
If you are a student at a Flemish university, you can apply to enroll on the Brussels Programme on European Foreign Policy. Over the course of this intensive 2-week summer school – which runs from 9-20 June 2025 – students will attend lectures on European foreign and security policies, including on: the role of EU institutions in the external and foreign policy cycles, future of the transatlantic relationship, relationships with key partners and regional challenges such as the Russia war in Ukraine, etc. Furthermore, students will engage in a course designed to enhance their skill set and improve their academic and policy writing as well as presentation abilities.
To be eligible for the programme, you must be a student enrolled at a Flemish university (University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University, Hasselt University, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven). Applications will be assessed on a rolling, first-come first-serve basis by the CSDS team.
To apply for enrolment, complete this form. The deadline for applications is 23 May 2025. Successful candidates will be contacted by CSDS by 27 May 2025.
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