Masters Degrees in Political Economics, Belgium

The Brussels-Washington joint degree in Political Economy is an innovative one-year programme combining the strengths of two internationally renowned institutions. Successful graduates will receive a Master of Arts in Economics from Georgetown University, and an Advanced Master certificate from ULB-Solvay Brussels School.

This unique joint degree from Georgetown University and the ULB-Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management offers:

- An international experience at the heart of global policy-making decision powers, with full immersion in both Europe (Brussels) and the U.S. (Washington D.C.);
- A combination of frontier training in formal and quantitative political economy, with a strong emphasis on concrete policy cases;
Academics and practitioners who are leading specialists in their field;
- On-site meetings to learn how to navigate through international institutions and policies, such as at the European Commission, the World Bank, the OECD, the IMF, the European Central Bank, and the U.S. Federal Reserve;
- Opportunity to join the wide and active alumni networks of Georgetown and Solvay.

The objective of the program is to prepare the next generation of economists to rigorously analyze both the economics and the politics behind the key policy questions of the 21st century.
The focus on political economy reflects the view that evaluating and addressing global and local economic challenges also requires an understanding of the institutions and political settings in which such challenges arise.

The program aims at providing students with a balanced and attractive mix of solid theoretical knowledge and exposure to hands-on practice through the inclusion of both faculty and experts in the respective fields.

The courses in Brussels and in Washington D.C., two crucial centers of global decision-making, will expose:

- The specificities and differences between the approaches taken on each continent;
- Their impact at global level and in various geopolitically crucial regions in the world;
- The complexity of their relationships with other significant actors within the global governance framework.

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Aims and objectives

The Postgraduate Flagship Programme in Economic Diplomacy and International Business is a highly specialised and comprehensive
programme preparing students for a career in diplomacy, especially economic diplomacy, and international business. To
an important extent, diplomats and business people need to master the same skills and deal with the same matters, albeit from
different angles. Graduates from this programme who are active in diplomacy will excel in defending their home country’s economic
interests. Graduates who are active in business will excel professionally by mastering trade and investment techniques and through
their knowledge on how to maximise the potential of their home country’s economic diplomacy. Another advantage is that graduates
can easily switch career from diplomacy to business or banking and back.

Courses of a high academic standard are enriched by hands-on input from practitioners. Participants will be offered all-around
training, giving them a sound understanding of the legal, fiscal, economic, monetary, banking and commercial aspects of economic
diplomacy and international business. Skills workshops support optimal professional performance. This programme is not only
relevant for anyone aspiring to a career in diplomacy and international business, it is also of particular interest to anyone who wants
to be involved with international economic, monetary, financial and banking policy making.

Programme schedule

The postgraduate programme consists of three semesters and is completed in one and a half academic years.
A detailed timetable will be given to participants. It is possible to spread the programme over a number of years.

Elective courses

Students can opt for one of the 4 tracks (see below).
- Brussels track (VUB): students have a choice of 18 ECTS credits between 'Professional experience: Internship' or the 'Thesis'.
- Shanghai track (Shanghai University for International Business and Economics - SUIBE). Students have a choice of 18 ECTS between the following courses: 'WTO and China', 'Chinese Investment Law', 'Chinese Trade Law', 'Chinese Intellectual Property Rights Protection', 'Chinese Competition Policy' or ' Seminar on Shanghai Free Trade Zone'
- Washington D.C. track (The Institute of World Politics - IWP). Students have a choice of 18 ECTS between the following courses: 'Crisis Management and Decision making', 'Political Risk Analysis and Forecasting', 'Challenges in the Emerging Geo-Political landscape', 'International Challenges of the Public -Private Partnership in the Cyber Domain', 'Corporate Statecraft', 'Economic Statecraft', 'The Art of Diplomacy', 'Trans-Atlantic Competitiveness & Western Prosperity'
- Students can also choose 9 ECTS of this track in combination with 9 ECTS of the Washington D.C. track

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