The principal aim of the two years of the second university study cycle ("licence"), is to deepen the methodological and critical studies of the first cycle in terms of use and specific application of the information to a given period or domain of history.

This programme is accessible to students holding the academic diploma of "candidat" (1st university study cycle) in History, or a diploma judged as being equivalent. Holders of a teaching certificate for the lower classes of secondary school ("agrégation") in the subject may have access to the programme, subject to passing a single year of "candidature", the programme of which is determined by the History jury. Admission applications should be addressed to the President of the History jury, accompanied by the list of the courses taken and the results obtained.

The conditions and regular admission applications are detailed in the "General information" section of the Web page :
http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/libres.acces.html
.

During the two years of the " licence " programme, the student is invited to go into a period or domain of history in depth : Antiquity, the Middle Ages, Modern Times, the Contemporary Period ; Didactics and Methodology. The main orientation themes, including the History of Institutions and the History of Politics, Economic and Social History, the History of Intellectual and Artistic Life and the History of Other Civilisations and Cultures, complete the study programme. The second phase of the "language plan" is continued. The student will compose a programme where the courses on auxiliary sciences and the optional courses play an important role. These are chosen in accordance with the theme of the thesis and the specific professional orientation to be followed.

The "licence" thesis , written under the supervision of a lecturer, is a personal piece of work based on first hand document sources, where the student will apply what he has acquired during his study programme.

Before the 20th October of each of the two years of the programme, the student will hand in a programme project to the Department, as well as the title of his thesis and the name of the promoter. Any student whose programme is not in conformity with the regulations or who does not respect the deadline fixed, risks having his exam registration refused.

(This course is compulsory in the first year)

Antiquity section

Middle Ages section

Modern Times section

Contemporary Period section

(This course is compulsory)

(The students must follow the two parts consecutively - 2 x 30 hours - in the 1st or 2nd year.)

(60 hours in total, to be spread over the 1st and 2nd year.)

1. One of the two following courses is compulsory (30 hours) :

or

2. For the 30 remaining hours, a choice will be made :

- from among a series of courses (including the two courses mentioned above), presenting an approach to the history of intellectual life, the literary world and the artistic world or religions, the list of which can be consulted at the department secretary's office.

or

- from among the different "licence" courses offered by the other departments of the Faculty, presenting a historical perspective and not going over 30 hours, as long as the student possesses the necessary prerequisites and subject to the agreement of the course lecturer and the President of the History jury.

(this course is compulsory in the first year)

Interactive communication course, 30 hours, intermediate or advanced level.

The student must take the exam in the first year. If he does not feel ready, he can postpone it to the second year.

One course, according to choice :

or a language course of the same level, organised at ILV.

90 hours (10.5 credits) minimum, in the 1st or 2nd year

1. Compulsory courses for all the sections :

"Initiation" into the course on Western Paleography:

2. Compulsory courses for the sections on Modern Times and the Contemporary Period :

3. Courses to be chosen

with the approval of the lecturer supervising the thesis

from among :

one course on Papyrology, to be chosen from the ULB programme

(Prerequisite : to have followed the ARKE 1255 course : Introduction to methods of analysing images [15])

(Prerequisite : knowledge of Spanish)

or any other course featuring on the University programme that the students deems to be useful, subject to the approval of the thesis promotor and the "licence" programme jury.

(C.f. list for the second year )

The students will follow at least 75 hours (7.5 credits) of options. One of the subjects chosen (30 hours minimum) must be connected to History. The choice will be submitted to the programme manager or his delegate for approval. The students are requested to seek advice from their thesis promoter as regards their subject choices.

The students will follow the second part of the "Institutions" course for the period chosen for the thesis.

Antiquities Section

Middle Ages Section

Modern Times Section

Contemporary Period Section

(The students must follow the two part consecutively - 2 x 30 hours - in the 1st or 2nd year)

(60 hours in total, to be spread over the 1st or 2nd year)

1. One of the two following courses is compulsory (30 hours) :

or

2. For the 30 remaining hours, the student will choose from between :

- a series of courses (including the two courses mentioned above), presenting an approach to the history of the intellectual, literary and artistic world or religions, of which the list is to be consulted at the secretary's office of the department

or

- the different "licence" courses offered by the other departments of the Faculty, presenting a historical perspective and not surpassing 30 hours, as long as the student possesses the necessary prerequisites and subject to the approval of the course lecturer and the President of the History jury.

The choice is subject to the approval of the programme manager or his delegate.

90 hourss (10.5 credits) at least in the 1st or 2nd "licence" : c.f. 1st year

The students will follow at least 75 hourss (7.5 credits) of optional courses. One of the subjects chosen ( 30 hours minimum ) must be related to history. The choice is submitted to the approval of the programme manager or his delegate.

The students are requested to seek the advice from their thesis promoter for their choice of subjects.

The attention of the students is attracted to the interest presented by :

1. the courses enumerated above, especially the Institutions course, which are not subject to an examination

2. the following courses :

(Compulsory course for the teacher-training programme ("agrégation")

3. the following groups of courses :

1st group : States, regions and communities

2nd group : Overseas History and intercultural relations

4. the following course :

5. the options belonging to a specific domain of history, of which the list is posted on the department notice-board ;

6. the optional courses addressed to the whole of the Faculty :

as well as numerous "licence" courses of the 2nd cycle UCL programmes ;

7. one of the courses of the "licence" History programme at KULeuven;

8. the following courses organised by the Institut des langues vivantes :

Dutch

English

The thesis must be linked to a scientific question to do with one of the exam subjects.

Individual pieces of work play a far greater role here than for the "candidature" programme. The "licence" thesis, evaluated by three lecturers, represents the accomplishment of the four years of studies.