Internationalisation

Global framework

The Faculty of Applied Sciences has taken part, since their inception, in all the various mobility programmes which have been set up at both the European and world levels.

The numerous contacts it has with professional circles, notably via its Advisory Board, have demonstrated  to what extent employers are favourably impressed by a mobility experience in someone’s CV. The ever-increasing internationalization of research via networks linking laboratories throughout the world, speaks in favour of encouraging this mobility.

Students’ interest is aroused at the end of their Bachelor studies, notably via intensive courses such as those of the ATHENS (  ) or BEST (  ) networks.

In the course of the two-year Master’s programme, students are encouraged to take part in a 1- or 2-semester exchange scheme

Within Belgium, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is involved in a privileged partnership with the Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, with whom it has set up an exchange scheme relating to the first year of the Master’s curriculum (   ).

At the European level, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is strongly involved in the CLUSTER excellence network (  ). This network encourages internal mobility, since this is a guarantee of quality as concerns both the level of teaching and the hosting of exchange students. Moreover, Cluster partners have signed an agreement recognizing each other’s Bachelor’s curricula. This agreement stipulates that all Bachelors of network institutions will have access to the Master’s studies in any institution on a par with local students.

Outside Europe, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is a partner in the Magalha#s network, which groups about fifteen European universities together with the best South American science and technology universities (   ).

Besides these network partnerships, the Faculty has also signed a number of individual agreements with various universities in Europe, North Americ or elsewhere in the world. A list of these agreements may be found on the website of UCL International Relations (  ).

International possibilities (for UCL students)

In addition to the intensive courses which are a first taste of the international, FSA students whose academic results are very good, are invited to apply for an exchange program of 5 or 10 months.

If it takes place in the first year of the Master, the exchanges are normally for 10 months. In the second year, they are only for half a year, for either a semester of coursework or a semester of research in a laboratory abroad related to the students’ final thesis.

A number of more specific formulas exist for exchanges with Latin America which has a southern hemisphere academic year.

Students are informed about the various exchange programs in the second year of the Bachelor program. They are invited to prepare themselves in advance, especially on the level of language skills, by taking courses at the Institut des Langues Vivantes of the University. Up to 50% of the courses are taught completely in English (excluding the thesis); this also is an excellent preparation for a foreign exchange.

International appeal (for non-residents)

Up to 50% of the master’s courses are taught completely in English (excluding the thesis). In practice, most of the courses in the first semester of both years are given in English. Those of the second semester are mostly given in French. This “bilingual” offer allows students who do not master French to take courses in the first semester in English while learning French to prepare for classes in French in the second semester.

Moreover, a number of Dual Masters agreements (“codiplomation”) have been signed allowing students after the two years of the master’s (one spent at UCL, the other in the host university) to receive degrees from both universities.