Linguistics and Literary Studies

Our strengths

• Diverse and multilingual student population: Students come from a multitude of backgrounds and countries, resulting in an interesting and enriching learning environment. This is particularly worthwhile given the multilingual and multicultural perspective underpinning the curriculum.

• Critical thinking: the lecturers actively promote discussion and debate, with students being encouraged to think critically and disagree with what is being stated. Lecturers do not expect students to merely memorise and regurgitate what is taught in class, as the teaching staff does not only want to impart knowledge but also wants to stimulate students to create knowledge themselves.

• Personal approach: the faculty staff takes pride in its open-door policy and personal approach, providing a welcoming environment to students.

• Unique: first of its kind bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies in Belgium.

• Affordable tuition fee: in comparison to similar programmes and to give as many students as possible the chance to enrol, VUB offers courses at a rather affordable tuition fee: for EEA-students, tuition fee is expected to amount to €980 per academic year. For non-EEA students, tuition fee would amount to €3580 per academic year. For more information on the tuition fees, please check this page.

• Student support services: an experienced team of student psychologists, student counsellors, and study-pathway supervisors are there to give you personal study advice, guidance and training, at every phase of your study career. Discover what study guidance can mean for you.

Where do we get this information from? 

We routinely ask our students to give their honest opinion about the study programme during their academic career. We also consult our professors and assistants and gauge the expectations in the future field of work. Lastly, we receive structured feedback from our former students and compare our programmes with others at home and abroad.

Opportunities

• Further refining and optimizing the opportunities to gain international experience, for example by signing Erasmus+ agreements with relevant international higher education institutions, would provide valuable opportunities to students.

• Better informing international students of the Belgian grading system in order to mitigate the frequent initial confusion among the international student population.

• Keeping a close eye on whether the ambitions regarding student growth can be realistically supported by the available staff and infrastructure.

What is the programme working on now?

• The program is currently monitoring if improvements and refinements with regard to the screening of prospective students, as introduced in the previous years, is having the anticipated additional positive effects on the study success of students.
• The programme is investigating the possibilities of increasing the influx of new students via a new bachelor programme.
• The results of a recent benchmarking with various national and international programmes are being analysed, with the outcome thereof guiding future improvements and refinements of the curriculum.

This public information is part of VUB’s quality assurance and was approved by the Course Council in 2021.