The Dual Degree Master by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB, Belgium) and the University of Guelph (Canada) offers students courses in European culture, history, contemporary politics and society, linguistics and literary studies and multilingual mediation and communication. Spending one year at each university and earning their MA from both institutions, students specialize in both European Studies and in Linguistics and Literary Studies. At U Guelph, they can choose courses from a list of electives in European Studies as well as other programmes, such as Art History and Visual Culture, English, French, History, Political Science and Philosophy. At VUB, they can specialize in one or two languages (Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian) and in one of six scientific domains (Intermediality, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Multilingualism and Foreign Language Acquisition, Multilingual Mediation and Communication, and Psycho- and Neurolinguistics).

This international dual degree opens doors to career opportunities in e.g. government ministries, civil service, international organizations, teaching, the cultural sector, interpreting services, international relations, academia (PhD). To prepare students well for their futures, the programme includes professional internships, allowing them to put theory into practice and to acquire valuable work experience. These internships can lead to job offers and other opportunities after graduation. VUB has a Talent for Research project in which students take on the role of student-researchers, gaining and further developing research skills and a personal research proposal. U Guelph offers paid Teaching Asssistant-positions to students in the dual degree programme, offering both financial aid and work experience.

Both VUB and U Guelph place a high value on student-participation and on students’ growth as both exceptional thinkers and engaged citizens. The programme prides itself on its excellent student-staff ratio, which allows for interactive education and direct contact between students and professors and assistants. Both universities are campus universities: Located in the multilingual and multicultural hub of Brussels, the green VUB campus houses many facilities such as a student restaurant, cafés, an arts and science centre, sports facilities (including an indoor pool), a library, study spaces, medical services – all within walking distance. The open and friendly U Guelph campus is characterized by green lawns and a blend of modern and traditional architecture and has its own 165-hectare Aboretum.

For interested candidates who do not have enough background in linguistics and/or literary studies in the language(s) they want to study, VUB offers a tailor-made preparatory programme to help them get ready for their MA.

EEA students/European residents can apply directly through VUB Student Self Service until 31 August 2023 for the academic year 2023-2024.

Visit the programme website (https://dualdegree.uoguelph.ca/) for full descriptions of the programme content and admission requirements. For any questions, please contact us via muma@vub.be and euroma@uoguelph.ca.