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- Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales Brussels Management School (ICHEC)
Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales Brussels Management School (ICHEC)
| Area: | International Business Exchange |
| Location: | Brussels |
| Country: | Belgium |
| Term: | Spring |
UofSC's International Business exchange program at the Brussels Management School (ICHEC) is designed to expose American students to Belgian life and culture and international business practices. The Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (ICHEC) is a small, French-speaking, private college with approximately 2,000 students of 60 nationalities.
Brussels is the largest city in Belgium with a population of over 1 million people. Established as a fortress in the tenth century, Brussels is now a thriving metropolis with an increasingly diverse population. Brussels is becoming a the center of art, fashion, and Belgian culture.
ICHEC is located in the heart of Brussels, giving students a unique look at international politics as the host city of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU).
Category: 2, students must have successfully completed at least one 300-level French language course.
Cost: UofSC resident tuition rates + in-country costs
Requirements: junior standing; International Business major
To get an idea of life on site, you will find on the numbeo website indications on the cost of living in Brussels compared to 250 other countries in the world. Students should plan around $750-1,000 per month for living expenses.
A full-time course load at ICHEC is 30 ECTS per semester, which is equivalent to 15 credits at USC. Students are able to take one or two Master's level courses as part of the exchange to meet course requirements. Courses are available in English, but are limited.
ICHEC offers an optional week of intensive French language prior to the start of the semester. This optional course is for an extra fee and is worth 3 ECTS.
To see courses UofSC students have taken at this university, please reference the Registrar's Course Equivalency Table.
Various programs are planned for international students each semester through the International Office. A buddy program is also organized by ICHEC which connects interested international students with a buddy to help integrate into the institutions academic and cultural world.
Per university policy, all UofSC students will be charged emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance for their time abroad. Contact the Education Abroad Office for more details.
ICHEC does not offer on-campus housing and most international students rent rooms (called "kots") from private landlords around the school which accommodate 6-10 people or shared flats of 3-4 students. These are usually fully furnished and offer students their own bedroom with a shared kitchen and bathroom. The International Office offers assistance to exchange students in their search for accommodation.
The spring semester takes place from late January/early February to late June.
ICHEC offers orientation the first day of the semester that includes helpful information and a campus tour. The first weekend on campus there is also a tour of Brussels to familiarize students with their new city. ICHEC does not provide airport pick-up.
Students who attend ICHEC for a semester are required to obtain a Belgian student visa. Students must register for an appointment and appear in person at the Belgian consulate or embassy. If you are 21 years old or older, you will be required to obtain an FBI background check as part of your visa application. Students with SC residency can use the Atlanta Consulate. Out-of-state students should find their jurisdiction on the consulate website.