History
The College of Europe was the world’s first institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs. It was founded in 1949 by leading European figures such as Salvador De Madariaga, Winston Churchill, Paul Henri Spaak and Alcide De Gasperi in the wake of the first Congress of the European Movement in The Hague in 1948.
Education
On our two campuses, Bruges and Natolin, you will find not only a top quality postgraduate institute of European studies with a unique interdisciplinary approach and senior academics and practitioners from over twenty-five countries, but also a truly European living experience that will remain with you for the rest of your life, as you will become part of an extraordinary network - the College family.
Research
The Global Competition Law Centre (GCLC) is a research centre of the College of Europe. It was founded on 1 January 2004, aims to promote rigorous legal and economic analysis of competition policy reforms in the EU and globally, and to provide a discussion forum for academics, practitioners, and enforcement officers in the competition field.
The EU-China Research Centre has been established in 2014, thanks to the financial support of the Baillet Latour Fund. The Baillet Latour Chair of European Union China Relations, established in 2008, works closely with the Centre. Both the Chair and the Centre are based in the Department of EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies, at College of Europe in Bruges.
Career
The main goals of the Bruges Careers Office of the College of Europe are to familiarise students with the European job market and to equip them with the right skills and tools to access it.
The mission of the Careers Office is not to replace students in their own individual job seeking efforts but, throughout the academic year, to support them and advise them on how to, for example, draft a European CV or prepare for an interview. The Office also informs them about the different stages of EU competitions, the meaning of ‘networking’, etc.
Short Courses
Student services
The Student Affairs Office guides students in the organization of social, cultural and sporting activities. Our goal is to support students throughout their stay at the College by creating a campus culture that engages and inspires all students.
Housing services
The College campus including its halls of residence are situated in the centre of Bruges. The College has a policy of acquiring suitable buildings and of renovating them to a high standard of comfort. Students are allocated private rooms on a lottery base. We endeavour to respond to all student needs and to maintain good standards of service.
All students have individual rooms with wifi connection (cost included in the general fees) as well as a private bathroom. In addition, communal leisure and entertainment facilities are available in each residence. Sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, duvets and cutlery are supplied.
Library services
The Bruges Library holds a collection of over 70,000 books focusing on European law, economics, political and administrative sciences and international relations and diplomacy.
The Natolin Library holds a collection of over 45,000 books covering all the subjects taught on the campus and many more.
ICT services
The ICT Service of the College of Europe in Bruges provides a wide range of services, facilities and support. This includes high speed network access, computer rooms for students, supporting computers in class rooms and auditoria and high quality help.
Campus life
The campus in Bruges, with its nine halls of residence, is located in the historic centre of what is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and a former "European Capital of Culture".
The campus in Natolin forms part of a 120 hectare historical park and nature reserve.
The academic programmes of the College of Europe (Bruges and Natolin campus) are accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO, Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie) and are listed in the Flemish Register of Higher Education.