The English-taught MA in Diplomacy and Global Governance provides students and professionals with comprehensive knowledge and policy-oriented skills at the intersection of diplomacy and global governance. Both diplomacy and global governance are important institutions of the international order; but they are also the institutions undergoing permanent processes of change in the modern and at times turbulent world.

With its strong links to the policy-making world and university/think tank partners in Brussels, wider Europe, US and Asia, the programme can offer students a truly global exchange between theory and practice. By bringing together key practitioners with scholars from these fields, graduates of this programme will be equipped to extract insights and advantages of the various perspectives and approaches at this turning point in the history of diplomacy and global governance.

The programme is designed and taught by a network of leading international academics from top universities and think tanks as well as senior policy-makers from international organisations. It provides both theoretical foundations and practical skill-sets for students interested in international careers in diplomacy, government, international organisations, think tanks and NGOs. 

This MA in Diplomacy and Global Governance is a programme of which the degree will be awarded by Vesalius College. Vesalius College is part of the Brussels School of Governance, an alliance with the Institute for European Studies, established in February 2021.

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 policy-maker scene in Brussels
• Accredited by the Flemish educational authorities (NVAO)
• Supported by the extensive expertise of our Office for Teaching, Learning and Innovation to accommodate sophisticated blended teaching methods

Programme structure

The 90 ECTS MA in Diplomacy and Global Governance runs across one intensive academic year and is divided into three trimesters. Hence, it will take a full-time student a total study time of 12 months. Students taking the 120 ECTS option will have a to complete a fourth semester and will therefore have a total study time of 16 months. The 120 ECTS option will remain available until the 2021-22 academic year (included).

• Trimester 1: Core Foundations (Compulsory Courses): students take five compulsory courses
• Trimester 2: Specialisation Tracks (Elective Courses): students take four compulsory courses and one elective
• Trimester 3: MA Thesis, Capstone Case Study and one elective

The Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) is an alliance between the Institute for European Studies (°2002) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Vesalius College (°1987). For decades, both institutions have built up strong reputations as frontrunners in education, research, and academic services on the international scene. Both being associated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), one of Belgium’s prime universities with a strong internationalisation focus, the IES and VeCo decided to work together more closely as of 2018. In 2021, they launched the Brussels School of Governance.