International Programs / Study Abroad

Leuven, Belgium

Belgium: Community, Policy Making and Parliament

In cooperation with the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe, DePaul students can study at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Leuven, Belgium. This program is designed for students who have not previously studied Western Europe in depth but who want to gain a practical understanding of modern Europe, particularly its political structures and processes.

A highlight of this program is the opportunity to intern with a member of the European Parliament or a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the EU government.  Local faculty and staff provide DePaul students with the preparation, training and support to succeed in the work of supporting a parliament member.

Coursework on European history, society, politics and literature also support the internship by providing a comprehensive overview of the European Union’s emergence and development. The required courses allow for a comprehensive academic study program linked to practical exposure to — and project work on — the emergent trends and developments in the central EU policy spheres. Studies focus on the institutional framework of the EU and the resulting legislation from its development. As students examine the continuing formation of the European Community, they will also consider the foundations of economic integration, the movement towards an economic and monetary union, and the political systems of member states.

This program is limited to the number of students that can be placed in internships, but is offered twice a year—during the Fall quarter or the Winter and Spring quarters. This program has hosted students from many majors at DePaul including International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Communication, Commerce, History and Philosophy. For a similar program offering internships in the Irish Parliament, see our Dublin program.

COURSES   

Students participating in the Fall program will attend four of the five courses listed below and participate in a credit-bearing internship. Students attending the Winter and Spring program will attend all five courses as well as participate in the internship. Each course will count as 4.5 credits at DePaul. Students, therefore, will earn a minimum of 22.5 credit hours for the Fall program or 27.0 credit hours for the Winter/Spring program.

ANT397/HAA397/SOC397- European Culture: Context and Focus

HST398 - The Development of the European Community

INT340 - European Institutions and Decision Making: The Legal Framework

INT341/ECO398 - European Economics Integration

PSC395- Comparative Politics in Europe

INT382/PSC392- European Internship

Students interested in earning an additional 4 credit hours may enroll in one of the following on-line courses offered through DePaul’s University Internship Program and designed to complement an internship experience. For more information on these course go to careercenter.depaul.edu.

ISP 250: You, Your Work and the World

ISP 350: Navigating the Changing Workplace

Students participating in this program during the Spring of their senior year should be aware that overseas grades may not be received for their degree conferral until August. While the Study Abroad office will do everything they can to expedite the process, transcripts are usually not received from overseas early enough for a June graduation conferral. 

Circumstances, such as an unexpected event abroad or a curriculum change at a host institution, may require DePaul University to make changes to the program. DePaul University reserves the right to cancel or alter programs and courses without notice.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS   

Situated 20 minutes east of Brussels, the heart of the European Union’s institutions, students in Leuven take courses and live at the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe. The institute itself is located in the Irish College, a seventeenth century building located near Leuven’s picturesque main square, shopping district, and the university. Founded in 1425, KU Leuven is of Europe’s oldest universities and boasts such names as Erasmus and Gerard Mercator as some of its scholars.

Students will be housed in large duplex rooms (4 students to a room) at the Institute. Each room has a shower and WC en-suite, and each occupant has a work station and wardrobe in the room.

Participants will also receive 16 meals per week while on the program. The meals include breakfast every day, lunches Monday through Friday, and dinners Monday through Thursday.

EXPENSES   

Fall Quarter: In addition to DePaul tuition for 22.5 or 26.5 credits, costs include a specific program fee.  For updated information on specific program expenses, click here:

The program fee covers lodging, sixteen (16) meals a week, and insurance.

Winter & Spring: In addition to DePaul tuition for 27 or 31 credits, costs include a specific program fee.  For updated information on specific program expenses, click here:

The program fee covers lodging, sixteen (16) meals a week during academic sessions, and insurance.

Students must plan their budgets to cover airfare, passport and visa fees, local transportation, supplies, text books and personal expenses.  For the Winter/Spring program, housing and meals during break are not covered.

Program fees are based on actual costs of the prior year and projections for the current year. Inflation and fluctuating exchange rates make it impossible to state a fixed cost. DePaul University reserves the right to adjust program fees without notice.

APPLICATION   

There are no language prerequisites. Admission to this program is open to students who have completed their second year of undergraduate studies and graduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA. To apply, submit the following to the Study Abroad Program office:

• A completed DePaul application form

• A biographic summary or current resume

• Two (2) academic recommendation forms from faculty familiar with your academic work.

• An official copy of your transcripts. At DePaul, these may be requested on Campus Connect in the Students section under Records and Registration.

DePaul University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or handicap in admissions, employment or the provision of services. Inquiries regarding this policy should be addressed to the Director of Human Resources, 1 E. Jackson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

APPLICATION DEADLINES:

Fall: February 15

Winter/Spring: May 15