University of Kent

The Brussels community

How does all this benefit you as a graduate student at UKB? First, because the University of Kent ensures that you have a daily gateway to the 'real world' of International Relations, policy-making, and International Law. Frequent tours, conferences, seminars, and receptions are organised both by the University and by other organisations in Brussels that welcome graduate students.

Our location also means that UKB students easily attend the public meetings of these institutions, and have access to them for up-to-date research and internship opportunities. The Brussels community also provides a wealth of practitioners working at the cutting edge of the international world to teach some of our classes, and others are invited to the School for weekly Guest Seminars or special events. In fact, many of our part-time students combine active professional lives in these institutions with study for an advanced degree at UKB.

A multi-cultural city

Despite having a cosmopolitan environment, Brussels itself remains conveniently ‘small’. With a population of only a million people, Brussels is by no means a sprawling metropolis. Public transportation is good, and includes a comprehensive metro, tram, bus, and train system. In addition, Brussels is a convenient hub for travel to other European cities either for research or for a study-break: Paris, London, Amsterdam, The Hague and Cologne are all an easy train journey away.

That ancient and modern coexist in a patchwork of diversity is characteristic of Brussels, which is diverse in a range of other ways. Of its one million inhabitants, approximately one quarter is not of Belgian origin. Indeed, Brussels is a multi-cultural city that is open and welcoming to all newcomers. Brussels is officially bi-lingual, French and Dutch, though most speak English, and the high degree of internationalism has made English the working language of many in the city. In fact, there is a community of approximately 200,000 native English speakers in Brussels. International newspapers are readily available, and there are local newspapers in English, such as The Bulletin and The European Voice. English-medium television and radio stations can be received, such as BBC1, BBC2, BBC World Service, CNN, and NBC. Local television stations also broadcast some programming in English. Nevertheless, Brussels is one of the best cities in the world to take up or improve a second or third language, and many UKB students find the time and energy to do so.

Typical of a European capital city, Brussels has a full cultural agenda ranging from art exhibitions, theatres, ballet, music concerts, sporting events, and a range of carnivals and special events. Yet, not far from the city centre (in fact very near to the School), is the beginning of the splendid forest park, the Bois de la Cambre, with its centuries old beech trees. When the weather is good, UKB students frequently take advantage of this proximity for outdoor sports, but they also have access to extensive indoor sports facilities at our partner Belgian Universities.

History

Brussels has a past that stretches back to the Middle Ages, and its rich history is much in evidence. The remnants of the high rampart walls constructed around the city in 1270, for example, are still visible today. One can also wander through Brussels’ beautiful historic market square to see many of the buildings and streets that are little changed since the 17th Century. The especially beautifully preserved medieval cities of Ghent and Bruges are about forty minutes away from Brussels by train, but for those who prefer more modern sites, the city is also internationally known for its numerous Art Nouveau and Art Deco masterpieces.

Eating out

Belgium is also justifiably famous for its food, and has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per person of any city in the world. The ‘Petite Rue des Bouchers’ (street of the butchers) in the medieval centre of Brussels is famous for the fact that every building on it is a restaurant. The street is for pedestrians only, which allows the restaurant owners to construct wonderfully colourful displays of seafood on ice, and to arrange tables outside along the cobble stone walks. For all the quaintness, however, the astute will be aware that at the next table could be an agenda-setting conversation among people who have just left the corridors of power for a light lunch.