Are you dreaming of tackling the world's social complexities? Take the bachelor in Social Sciences, a unique interdisciplinary programme offered by Vrije Universiteit Brussel and UGent. Fill your toolbox with essential skills by following a problem-centred curriculum.

What do you learn on the bachelor's programme? 

Diversity is the name of the game - in the world and in this bachelor. Together with students from all over the world, you’ll acquire different perspectives, in two contrasting cities. At Ghent University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. A broad foundation in sociology, political science and communication studies, during which you’ll master key research methods, such as statistical analysis, interviewing, participant observation and content analysis. Plus a wide range of problem-solving skills. In theory and in practice. 

You will spend the first two years together with all students. In year three, you choose the discipline in which you are keen to specialise: Sociology, Communication Studies or Political Sciences. These are also the specialisations from which you can choose to explore further in a master's programme.

The strenghts of the Social Sciences bachelor's programme:

• You benefit from a truly problem-centred curriculum, in which theory and practice are combined.
• You enjoy a refreshing and valuable interdisciplinary approach, giving the opportunity to discover complex social, political and communication matters from many angles.
• You experience the best of both worlds: cosmopolitan Brussels and beautiful Ghent. You benefit from being a student at two universities. Armed with two student cards, you can make use of the sports facilities, libraries, student restaurants in both places. Not to mention twice as many opportunities for an exciting nightlife. The two cities are well connected by train, so you can also enjoy cultural activities wherever you fancy.

What have you learnt?

The bachelor in Social Sciences involves much more than learning theories. As part of an interdisciplinary approach, in which we start from a problem-centred curriculum, we focus on qualitative and quantitative methodologies and consider the global perspective. In this way, we marry theory to practice.

What does that mean for you? The programme gives you a toolbox of essential skills. You get a broad foundation in sociology, political science and communication studies, while mastering key research methods such as statistical analysis, interviews, participant observation and content analysis. And you come away with a wide range of problem-solving skills. Whatever your future path, the knowledge, attitudes and skills you acquire (data interpretation included) are of true value in tackling the world's social complexities in our data-driven world.

Whichever path you choose in the future, the ability to interpret data effectively will be truly valuable. That’s why we focus on qualitative and quantitative methods, and consider the global perspective. As a social scientist with European aspirations there’s no better place to be than here. In Brussels, at the heart of European and international political, social and media organisations, the opportunities for your future are almost endless.

After graduation:

Social Sciences is a broad field of study. With a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences you have several options for the future. You can further your knowledge of Communication Sciences, Sociology or Political Sciences by taking the master's programme (or a master's in another discipline at VUB or Ghent University). Or you can go straight into the labour market and take a job as a social scientist for one of the many international political, social or media companies based in Brussels, the heart of Europe. The opportunities available to you are almost endless.