Introduction

Having a bachelor's degree in information and communication in a bilingual French-English programme is an asset in an increasingly global society. This bilingual programme is the only one of its kind in French-speaking Belgium. It is offered at the Saint-Louis - Bruxelles campus.
Are you interested in the world around you and the way in which information, media, digital technologies and social relations in our society are evolving? The bachelor's degree in information and communication at the Saint-Louis - Bruxelles campus offers you an undergraduate education which prepares you optimally for a master's degree leading to careers in information and communication (journalist, communications manager, multimedia project manager, digital network manager, etc.). The bachelor's degree covers five main areas:

1. the academic theories of information and communication;
2. the Belgian, European and international media world;
3. a broad background in the humanities and social sciences, including political science, sociology, anthropology, economics and law – among other disciplines;
4. the implementation of knowledge, for example through reading seminars, practical work or workshops to create information or communication productions;
5. language instruction. Proficiency in several languages is a prerequisite and an asset for your studies and career in information and communication. In addition to learning and perfecting their skills in English and Dutch, students in the bilingual programme in information and communication take classes in English.

Through this range of skills, the bachelor's degree in information and communication offers you the chance to widen your perspective by fine-tuning your analytical view of the world and by providing you with a varied academic and cultural background. It gives you the opportunity to acquire concrete skills in information research, data analysis, written and oral communication, and languages other than French. As of the first year, students are asked to work individually and in groups. The analysis of everyday subjects and events (social networks, disinformation, the role of journalists in our society, communications management of crises (health, economic, political, etc.), the use of digital technologies, etc.) is one of the strengths of our programme.

At the end of their bachelor's degree, students will have the ability to identify the issues at stake in a given situation and analyse them from an information and communication perspective. They will therefore be able to put in place concrete, relevant and innovative ways to address them and meet the challenges facing our society.

Your profile

The bilingual French-English bachelor's degree in information and communication is for you if...

• you are interested in the humanities and social sciences in general, and information and communication issues in particular;
• you are interested in current topics and issues, and in putting them into perspective;
• you would like to develop your critical thinking skills, your ability to search for and reproduce information, and your communication skills;
• you are looking for an extensive programme which leads to several different opportunities;
• you have a basic knowledge of English, allowing you to take courses in English.

There is no selection process for multilingual programmes.

• However, a written language test is held at the beginning of the year. It is used as a guide to assess language skills and to recommend or advise against a bilingual or trilingual programme.
• In the event of difficulties, there is the option to return to the unilingual programme in French, with language courses.

Your future job

After completing a master's degree in information and communication, our graduates have a wide range of career opportunities:

• Print, radio, television or internet journalism: local, national and international daily news, periodicals (magazines), etc.
• Corporate communication, political communication, internal communication, external communication, public relations, etc.
• Digital communication: social network management, online community moderation, multimedia project management, digital strategy, etc.
• Lobbying, marketing, advertising management
• Designing information systems (e.g. databases), auditing information management and quality in companies, government agencies, etc.
• Socio-educational communication: educational media design, science popularisation, media, information and digital literacy, etc.
• Teaching and academic research (under certain conditions, access to 3rd cycle or doctoral studies).

Your programme

The bilingual French-English bachelor's degree in information and communication is made up of lecture-based course units, with introductory courses in the humanities and social sciences (philosophy, law, history, economics, psychology, sociology, political science, information and communication), sometimes accompanied by more 'hands-on' learning activities, as well as lessons in academic methodology, which are also accompanied by practical work. The workshop organised in year 3 allows students to carry out a research project (in small groups) leading to a production possibly intended for stakeholders outside the university. Finally, the programme provides a practical and reflective introduction to the principles of journalistic writing and multimedia communication. Bachelor's degree students also receive high-quality language instruction.

The bilingual French-English programme

Three subjects (courses) per year are taught in English. The courses are usually taught by faculty members who are native English speakers or who have completed all or part of their university studies in English.

• First year: Communication Science, Political Science, Geopolitics
• Second year: Intercultural communication, Economics 1, Economics 2
• Third year: Corporate Communication and Public relations, International Communications, Ethics and the Economy

In addition, students continue to perfect their language skills by taking English and Dutch courses in first, second and third year. These language course units focus on the progressive acquisition of skills for dealing with a variety of situations, particularly in the context of information and communication. They are held in small groups and are aimed at an active approach based on multiple listening comprehension and oral expression exercises.

Furthermore, during the second term of the third year, students may take part in an Erasmus or equivalent exchange at a partner university whose programmes are taught in a language other than French, with which the faculty has established an agreement. Another option is for students who pass the June exam session to apply for a summer language study grant in Flanders or abroad.

Pursuing a dual bachelor's degree

Our dual bachelor's degrees are one of the special features of UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles.

Students can take a second bachelor's degree, in tandem with their main bachelor's degree. This means that they complete their main programme with a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 125 additional credits spread over several years. The additional bachelor's degree can be completed after the main bachelor's degree. A series of courses taken as part of the main programme count towards the additional bachelor's degree and are therefore no longer subject to assessment. The additional bachelor's degree has the same value as the main bachelor's degree and provides immediate access to the corresponding master's degree.

The following additional bachelor's degrees are available:

• Bachelor in Philosophy [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in in Information and Communication]
• Bachelor in Economics and Management [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Information and Communication]

For further information, please contact the faculty administration: espo-slb@uclouvain.be.