Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, Academic Director
University of Kent, Brussels School of International Studies

 

The Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS) is a multidisciplinary graduate school in Brussels offered by the U.K.-based University of Kent. BSIS brings together the disciplines of politics, international relations, law, and economics to provide opportunities for in-depth analysis of a changing world order. Areas of study include international conflict, security, development, migration, political economy, and law.

“Interdisciplinary intellectual interaction is key to our school. Students interact not only in the classroom, but at the many events, conferences, and workshops which characterize the international nature of Brussels,” says Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, academic director. Students have opportunities for internships, research, and other contact with the many international and non-governmental organizations based in Brussels, including the European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, NATO, and other prominent international organizations.

The school’s seven MA programs and five PhD degrees are offered by the University of Kent’s School of Politics and International Relations, one of the U.K.’s most dynamic institutions for the study of politics and international relations. Its two LLM programs are offered by one of the U.K.’s leading law schools, the Kent Law School of the University of Kent.

The school’s friendly, cohesive community of about 250 students offers plenty of opportunity for interaction with faculty and among students in the different MA, PhD, and LLM programs.

The atmosphere is also culturally diverse. “We truly are an international academic community,” says von Koppenfels. “Our students come from over 50 countries and our faculty members come from 12 different countries.”

The MA program requires a year of study, with extended options available. Students may enroll beginning in either September or January.

Extended options for MA students include the University of Kent’s Two Capitals program, which allows them to spend their first year in Brussels and then broaden their international perspective by spending their second year in either Washington, D.C., or Beijing. In Washington, D.C., students pursue an additional master’s degree from Virginia Tech’s Alexandria, Va., campus. In Beijing, they may spend a year or a semester studying at China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), which is China’s top foreign affairs institute. The program in Beijing includes the opportunity to study Chinese language and culture.

Graduate Degree Program Options:
• MA in International Conflict and Security
• MA in International Development
• MA in International Migration
• MA in International Political Economy
• MA in International Relations
• MA in Political Strategy and Communication
• MA in EU External Relations
• LLM in Human Rights Law
• LLM in International Law
• PhD in International Relations, Politics, Conflict, or Law
• Two Capitals Exchange

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