The Course

The Master programme methodology is a practice-oriented approach, which aims to gain knowledge through a learning-by-doing process. During their practical work, students are supported by a team of academics and EU project consultants, coming from different professional backgrounds and from different Countries. The total number of working hours dedicated to training activities, including academic lectures, guided studies and interactive learning, is 440 hours, with a daily average of 4 hours of lessons plus 3 hours of research and individual studying. Therefore this is a full time, highly intensive Master's course, concentrated into three months; the equivalent of a much longer programme if it were spread out over a more typical university schedule. The Master programme is entirely held in English language and its participants arrive from various educational backgrounds and different EU and non-EU nationalities.

Section I: The european construction and community policies
Organized by the Institute of European Studies of the “Université catholique de Louvain ”

This section is meant to provide students with a broad and comprehensive understanding of the European construction, from the historical, juridical and economic point of view. In order to gain this knowledge, the main Community policies and European strategies are examined, in light of the new monetary agreements and of the Community's recent enlargement. Such awareness is essential to be able to work in an EU environment, both on the policy and project side.

Section II: Successful EU projects: design and management

The second section focuses on learning the mechanisms, tools and criteria for designing and managing successful EU-funded projects and tenders. How to become an EU consultant, what are the main EU funding schemes, how do you apply for an EU grant, how do you answer to an EU procurement, etc. These are the queries that the core section of the Master course addresses to. The student learns, with the support of case studies and interactive workshops, through a learning-by-doing approach. The lessons and the practical activities are held by professional EU Community Advisors, who have years of experience in planning, advising and providing technical assistance to SMEs, NGO, think-tanks, public entities, and international organizations.

Section III: Link with the European Institutions and with advisors and lobbyists active on the Brussels area

On-site seminars are held at the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and different DGs of the European Commission, to allow the student to get close to the Community's central institutions, understanding better their operations and being able to directly address them their queries. In addition to this, this section foresees meetings with experts, advisors and lobbyists who work in Brussels in different EU fields; these encounters aim to give to the Master’s participant an overview of the different carrier opportunities available in Brussels, as well as a direct contact for starting an internship.

                                                    This Master degree does not provide university credits.