Study in Belgium!
Institution
Vesalius College was founded by a collaboration between the Dutch Free University of Brussels, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Boston University in order to provide university education in the English language in the heart of Europe. Vesalius is located in the center of Brussels and is surrounded by several universities and other institutes of higher learning, including the VUB and the French Free University of Brussels. The Vesalius College Summer Program consists of courses in the fields of business, communications and international affairs, with a strong focus on Europe. In addition, there are a number of internship opportunities available in high-profile public and private organizations in Brussels. Students may enroll in two courses, or combine enrollment in one course with a for-credit internship.
Location
Brussels is known as the 'Capital of Europe.' A city of approximately two million, it is the home of NATO and the European Commission. While largely francophone, Brussels is surrounded by Dutch-speaking communities, a peculiarity of interest in this small country with three national languages (French, Dutch and German). Visitors will be fascinated by the international and multicultural nature of this 'small big city,' but will be comforted by the fact that nearly everyone knows at least some English, which is one reason many tourists call Brussels one of Europe’s friendliest cities. Brussels is also the home of some of the world’s most famous foods, drinks and cultural icons, such as 'Pommes Frites' (French fries), waffles, chocolate, thousands of different types of beers, comic books (i.e. 'TinTin'), Hercule Poirot, Eddie Merckx and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Academic Calendar
- Summer Semester: Early June to Late July
Housing
Students on the Vesalius Summer program will stay in Vesalius arranged homestays.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
| |
Summer |
| Vesalius Tuition & Fees |
See ISEP Page ($5200 estimate) |
| Vesalius Housing & Meals |
See ISEP Page ($1400 estimate) |
| 1OIED Program Development Fee |
$200 |
| Intl Health Dev Fee |
$60 |
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Summer |
| ISEP Application Fee |
$100 |
| ISEP Placement Fee |
$375 |
| Airfare |
$1200 - $1800 |
| Additional Meals |
$200 - $300 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$700 - $1000 |
| Books and Materials |
$200 - $300 |
| Local Transportation |
$200 - $300 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
TBD |
| Passport |
$150 |
| 2Personal Travel and Spending |
$500 - $1000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
Lasting seven weeks, the Vesalius College Summer Program “Focus on Europe” is situated in Brussels, the capital of Europe, and offers students a unique summer experience and the opportunity to earn the equivalent of 6 U.S. credits. The Summer Program consists of courses in the fields of business, communications and international affairs, with a strong focus on Europe. In addition, there are a number of internship opportunities available in high-profile public and private organizations in Brussels. Students may enroll in two courses, or combine enrollment in one course with a for-credit internship.
For more information please visit the ISEP Vesalius Summer webpage.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the ISEP program will enroll in 6 credits during the summer. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to an ISEP program should complete the
ISEP application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
