• 35 credits for political science courses including three of the following four courses (or their equivalent) : POLS 1328 Comparative politics (5 credits), POLS 1319 Geopolitics (5 credits), POLS 1223 Theory of Organizations and Public Policy (5 credits), POLS 1320 Analysis of the International System (5 credits)
• 10 credits from courses on the methodology of social sciences 
• 6 credits from English language courses. Students must have reached intermediate level.

Courses which have not already been taken may be added to the Master study programme (up to a maximum of 15 credits). It is up to the programme director to agree the equivalences between different courses. If the total of prerequisite subjects is more than 15 credits, entry to the Master programme is conditional on the successful completion of a preparatory year and gaining a maximum of 60 credits.

- Special conditions for entry to the focus in Humanitarian Action  Contact : Ch. Herman

Methods which reflect interdisciplinarity
Most of the teaching staff on the programme have backgrounds in two, sometimes three different areas which encourages contacts and approaches of an interdisciplinary kind. The very nature of international relations makes them a field for interdisciplinary research, aided by various transnational networks.

Variety of teaching strategies (including e-learning)
Most of the teaching staff are familiar with new multi-media technology and innovations introduced by the University Teaching and Multimedia Institute (Institut de pédagogie universitaire et des multimédias - IPUM). The overall rhythm and workload of the programme is carefully coordinated each year.
The geographical and subject range of the optional courses reflects the outward looking nature of the course and the diversity of the teaching.
The seminars are designed to give students support in the methodology of their individual project, whether in the research or professional focus.

Different learning situations 
Courses, seminars, exercises, lectures, competitive examination simulations and learning to work in academic networks are all evidence of the multidisciplinary nature of the programme.

The professional focus in Humanitarian Action is designed to develop a global approach to so-called humanitarian crisis situations and post-crisis situations. The teaching staff have different academic backgrounds e.g. political science, anthropology, law, health, management and development). There is emphasis on learning how to work individually and in groups as well as using e-learning. Students must also do a work placement during the second year of the Master.

This is done on an annual basis, course by course, and is organised by the academic staff in charge of the programme and discussed by the Master Committee. Diplomats and members of NGOs may also take part in this process.  

• Programme content of international appeal  
• Programme structure organized to attract non-Belgian students
• Some courses given in English to prepare students for exchange visits ; important yearly lectures of the Chair of Political, Administrative and International Reform, given (either in French or English) by a professor of international standing  
• Study visit abroad for one semester possible under the Erasmus scheme, and to a lesser extent, Mercator; exchange can take place in the first or second years and is worth 30 credits.
• Importance given to European communication strategy  
• In addition to the general agreement with KULeuven for regular exchange of subjects, discussions are currently under way to seek agreement for :  1/ access to specific courses for 15 credits ; 2/ access to courses which together form a natural group (for example groups of area studies or modules of seminars on methodology).

The professional focus in Humanitarian Action is part of the group formed in 1993 by a consortium of European universities under the aegis of the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) and in collaboration with the European Community Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO). It is also one of the programmes supported by the Erasmus Mundus scheme. This gives a strong international element to the programme, allowing it to be entitled European Master in International Humanitarian Action.
Students may take advantage of the possibilities for exchange visits with the six other universities in the network.

• Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
• Paul Cézanne University, Aix-Marseille, France
• University College Dublin, Ireland
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG), Netherlands
• Deusto University, Spain
• Uppsala University, Sweden

Under the Erasmus Mundus scheme, research may be done at partner universities outside the European Union.

Under another initiative, links have been established with doctoral students and the network of the Centre for the Study of Crisis and International Conflict (Centre d'études des Crises et des Conflits internationaux – CECRI)