No. To study abroad with BCA, a student must have at least one year of undergraduate study. If you are a first year student, then we encourge you to jump right into planning for your study abroad experience. Your first year in school is a great time to figure out where you want to go and find out what your school's policies are for study abroad, including financial aid, credit transfer and programs available to you. Good Luck!
Yes. All U.S. citizens must obtain a student visa from a Belgian embassy or consulate in the U.S. in order to study in Belgium. Please consult the Belgian Embassy website at www.diplobel.org to determine to which consulate you will need to apply for a visa. Regulations are generally updated each May for the following academic year. It is important to call the consulate or embassy prior to getting your visa to ensure that you have the necessary documents and that you follow the proper procedures.
No. BCA Brussels students attend an American-style, English-language liberal arts College.
Generally, students take four or five classes during a semester, receiving three credits for each class. It is important to consult with your advisor prior to studying abroad to decide what classes are needed to meet academic requirements of your college or university.
BCA Study Abroad aims to engage each participant in an appropriately challenging level of academic work while abroad. We acknowledge that an applicant’s cumulative grade point average is only one indicator of accomplishment and ability.
The BCA Study Abroad expectation is that most students would show at least a B average (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) across their course work prior to their study abroad term. Certain host universities may have GPA requirements of their own, in which case the higher GPA requirement of the two would apply.
Recent enrollment history shows our students’ average GPAs have been above 3.44 (4.0 scale). Our post-semester academic results reveal that students with higher and lower GPAs can excel in study abroad. We are open to discuss program selection and course of study for students who do not reach the expected 3.0 GPA.
BCA Brussels students attend Vesalius College in Brussels, Belgium, an American-style, English-language liberal arts college. Vesalius is registered with the Flemish government as an institution of higher education.
BCA Brussels students live with host families. This is the ideal way to become immersed in the Belgian culture.
BCA is one of the nation's oldest independent organizations committed to promoting international understanding and academic excellence through college study abroad programs for U.S. students and adult seminars for faculty and administrators. Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA promotes international understanding, awareness of global citizenship and academic scholarship through educational exchange. Among the special qualities of BCA's programs are: unique opportunities to study peace and justice issues in places where conflict has profoundly affected culture, history and daily life; opportunity for cultural immersion; and tremendous academic and administrative support.
Financial aid from an individual school is transferred at the school’s discretion, but all federal aid is transferrable. Students should consult their financial aid advisor for further information and advice.
It is important that students check with their university registration and records office to determine whether BCA credits will be accepted. Each university has its own policy for transferring credits, and it is the students’ responsibility to follow their home university rules and regulations. Upon completion, BCA sends transcripts from Vesalius College to students and their home universities. If the home university or college requires a transcript from a U.S. school, BCA provides a transcript from Elizabethtown College, which is BCA’s school of record.