Introduction

Are you interested in the world around you and the way in which political power is exercised at national, European and international level?
Completing a bachelor's degree in political science in a bilingual French-English programme is an asset for your future studies and career in an international environment.

The bilingual French-English bachelor's programme in political science at the Saint-Louis - Bruxelles campus allows you to take part of your programme in English. Students take part of their programme in a language other than French, which amounts to three course units per year in English for the bilingual French/English programme.

The bachelor's degree in political science mainly involves learning how to understand the mechanisms of power which govern today's world:

• How are decisions made, and at which levels of power?
• Who actually influences decisions and in whose interest?
• What are the main systems of political power both historically and throughout the world?
• How can we explain their emergence, evolution, successes and difficulties?
• What are the main contemporary issues at national, European and global level? Who do they oppose? What are the power relationships involved? What are the possible outcomes?

These are just some of the questions which political science provides answers to through various specialised areas: political parties and interest groups, electoral studies, international relations, political regimes, etc.

But power does not operate in isolation. Courses in sociology, history, law, economics and philosophy shed light on human relations in general, as well as on how they function and evolve. Finally, in order to decipher a political issue, it is necessary to master the tools for gathering and analysing the data required for a scientific understanding of human phenomena: documentary research, field observations, interviews, opinion polls, statistical analyses, etc.

Your profile

Would you like to understand the issues and political and social transformations in contemporary societies? Would you like to play an active role at local, national, European and international level?

An open mind, intellectual curiosity, knowledge of English and constant attention to current events are basic prerequisites for future students in the bilingual political science programme.

• 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

The bachelor's degree in political science gives access to a variety of master's programs in Belgium and abroad. A master's degree in political science opens up a wide range of career opportunities.

Political scientists work in all positions related to government action:

• its implementation: government administration, international organisations, the European Commission, regional public bodies, etc;
• its elaboration: participation in an elected assembly, parliamentary or ministerial assistance, consulting firm;
• its influence: lobbying, campaigning in an NGO, attaché for a political party, a trade union, an industry association, etc;
• its analysis: journalism, consultancy, polling, research, analysis in a research department;
• its teaching: continuing education or social advancement organisations, upper secondary education, higher education or university.

Your programme

The bilingual French-English bachelor's degree in political science is a first-cycle programme (a 'transition' bachelor's degree), consisting of 180 credits spread over three years (60 credits per year).

The programme is divided into two parts: one general, the other of a political science nature.

The general part of the programme aims to provide a background in the humanities and social sciences. This knowledge is acquired through introductory courses in the main disciplines of the humanities and social sciences (philosophy, history, economics, law, sociology and psychology), and through course units and seminars designed to teach different analytical methods in the humanities and social sciences.
The political science part of the programme is structured around both general (political science: founding texts) and specialised (comparative politics, political parties and interest groups, EU politics, analysis of public action, analysis of international relations, etc.) political science course units.

In the bilingual French-English bachelor's programme in political science, three subjects (courses) per year are taught in English.

• First year: Political science, Geopolitics, Communication science
• Second year: International relations, Economics 1, Economics 2
• Third year: EU Politics, International Organisations, Ethics and the Economy

The courses are usually taught by native English speakers or faculty members who have completed all or part of their university studies in English.

In addition, students continue to perfect their language skills by taking English and Dutch courses in first, second and third year.
Furthermore, during the second term of the third year, students may take part in an Erasmus exchange at a university in Europe, Asia, North America or South America, whose programmes are taught in a language other than French.

Another option is for students who pass the June exam session to apply for a summer language study grant in Flanders or abroad.

The Saint-Louis - Bruxelles campus also offers a trilingual (French-English-Dutch) bachelor's degree programme in political science.

Pursuing a dual bachelor's degree

Our dual bachelor's degrees are one of the special features of UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles. They allow students to take a second bachelor's degree, in tandem with their main bachelor's degree.
The second programme must comprise a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 105 additional credits. It can be spread over several years or completed after the main bachelor's programme.
The dual bachelor's degree has the same value as the main bachelor's degree and provides immediate access to the corresponding master's degree.

Dual bachelor's degree programmes available for political science students:

• Bachelor in Law [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]
• Bachelor in Philosophy [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]
• Bachelor in History [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]
• Bachelor in Information and Communication [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]
• Bachelor in Sociology and Anthropology [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]
• Bachelor in Economics and Management [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Political Sciences]

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