Debate on the 2025 State of the Union Address
On September 10th, 2025 at 9:00, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered her first SOTEU speech of her second mandate to the European Parliament. During a speech that...
Why study EU external action in Bruges?
The advanced MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies targets applicants who are:
- familiar with the European Union, its institutions and decision-making processes and seek to specialize in EU diplomacy and external action,
- ready to take part in a highly demanding and equally rewarding one-year programme,
- curious about the EU’s role in the world and open to new ways of thinking,
- preparing for a career in the EU institutions, national diplomatic services and international organisations or in consultancies, NGOs and research, and
- seeking to pursue doctoral studies in a related field.
Among the major reasons to study EU external action in Bruges are:
1. the programme’s distinctive blend of knowledge and skills aimed at:
- enhancing the understanding of diplomacy and EU external action (such as foreign and security policy, trade and development, EU external relations law, major bi- and multilateral relations, or external aspects of EU internal policies), including through a study visit to the international diplomatic hub of Geneva
- acquiring diplomatic skills (negotiation analysis, simulation game, multicultural competences, insights beyond Europe, interaction with high-level visitors, etc.)
- developing specific professional skills (critical analysis, public speaking, drafting, time management, teamwork, thinking ‘outside the box’, etc.)
- strengthening personal language skills through coursework in English and French and the opportunity to learn a new foreign language
2. the unique, tailor-made courses:
- ensuring a comprehensive understanding of EU diplomacy through carefully designed core courses
- allowing students to construct an individual curriculum including novel topics (for example, peace mediation, intelligence analysis, political risk analysis, project management)
- offering a highly challenging but equally rewarding learning experience and encouraging continuous personal growth
3. the people of the academic department:
- academics from top universities, trainers from think tanks and practitioners from various sectors
- dedicated staff members supporting students in their learning experience
- immersion in a highly diverse and dynamic student body with intercultural exchanges opening new perspectives and creating lasting networks