Exchange in Criminology

• Université Libre de Bruxelles (French language proficiency is required)
• Université de Liège (French language proficiency is required)
• Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (French language proficiency is required)

• Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
• Universiteit Leiden
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

• Université de Bordeaux (French language proficiency is required)

• Universidade do Porto (Portuguese language proficiency is required)
• Universidade Fernando Pessoa

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra
• Universidad de Alicante (Spanish language proficiency is recommended)
• Universitat Autònoma Barcelona
• Universitat de València (Spanish language proficiency is recommended)
• Universidade da Coruna
• Universidad de Salamanca (Spanish language proficiency is required)

• University of Maribor

• Vilnius University

• University of Fribourg (French language proficiency is mandatory)

• University of Lapland

• University of Oslo

• Nottingham Trent University

• Ankara University (Turkish language proficiency is mandatory)

It is also possible to go on an exchange outside Europe. Available destinations are: 

• Bureau de Coopération Interuniversitaire (BCI)-Programme (Québec) (Canada) (French language proficiency is mandatory)
• Windsor University (French language proficiency is mandatory)
• Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico) (Spanish language proficiency is mandatory)
• Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla - BUAP (Mexico) (Spanish language proficiency is mandatory)

Please note: If you wish to go on exchange outside Europe, you must submit your application via e-mail to mobility.rc@vub.be no later than the 1st of December of the academic year preceding the exchange period. Besides the general exchange procedure, you have to take into account some extra steps. More information can be found here.

The Learning Agreement is a contract between the selected student(s), the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the host university. This contract contains a list of the course units the student will follow at the host university.

Once the study programme has been drawn up and approved by the exchange assistant, you can fill in the Learning Agreement on mobility online. 

Once you have arrived at your destination university, you must immediately contact the local Exchange Coordinator or Assistant in order to complete the necessary formalities.

If the Learning Agreement cannot be followed through no fault of your own (e.g. because a subject on your Learning Agreement is not taught or because you cannot follow this subject due to overlaps), you will have to adjust your programme. Consultation with the Exchange Assistant of the Faculty of Law and Criminology of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is necessary. 

If the proposed adjustment of your programme has been accepted by the local Exchange Coordinator and the Exchange Coordinator of the Faculty of Law and Criminology of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, you must complete the form Changes to the Learning Agreement via Mobility Online by 15 October of the academic year of the exchange period at the latest.

The form Changes to the Learning Agreement is then signed by the Exchange Coordinator of the Faculty of Law and Criminology of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and returned to the host university.

If your exchange period lasts one semester, it is possible that a number of course units, for which you have to take exams at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, are taught during that semester. It is therefore advisable to make clear arrangements with the lecturers and assistants of these course units about sitting the exams at the beginning of the academic year.

If your exchange period takes place in the first semester

It is possible that you can still take the examinations for the course units that take place in the first semester during the examination session of the first semester, that is if your exchange period ends early enough. If you are still residing abroad when the exam takes place at VUB, you have the right to take the examination of the course units during the examination period in June. You should contact the professor of the course to request this. Please note, this right does not apply to courses that do not belong to the RC faculty. 

If your exchange period takes place in the second semester

This is sometimes possible within the framework of the Erasmus Belgica programme. If you study in the second semester at a university of the French Community, you have to take the exams for the course units of the second semester that you still have to take at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel during the exam session of the second semester (or during the second sitting period). These exams cannot be transferred to the first semester.

In case an exam at the host university falls on the same day as an exam at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, it is advisable to contact the Exchange Assistant in order to find a solution.

If your exchange period is a full year

This may be possible within the framework of the Erasmus Belgica programme. If you can study for a full year at a university of the French Community, it is possible that you still have to take a course unit at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel because you would like to take this course unit at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, or because for a compulsory course unit no similar course unit is available at the host university.

If this is the case, you will have to find a solution in consultation with the Exchange Assistant. This may consist of taking the exam for this course unit in the second term or commuting between the two universities.

The number of available scholarships varies from year to year and strongly depends on the number of applicants. Unfortunately, not everyone receives a grant.

The faculty creates a ranking list in May and sends it to IRMO. If you're a student who belongs to the category 'fewer opportunities' (scholarship student or near-scholarship student), you will be given priority on the list. The remaining ranking depends on your grades. In July you will be notified by IRMO whether you have received a grant. 

For more information about scholarships, you can contact IRMO at exchange.outgoing@vub.be

If you failed one or more courses during your stay abroad, you must follow the rules of the host university regarding retaking exams. The timing of these resit exams may differ from what you are used to. For example, they may take place shortly after the regular exams, instead of during the usual re-exam period.

Only in exceptional circumstances (for example, if your resit exam at the host university conflicts with a VUB exam) may the dean grant you permission to take examinations for the equivalent VUB course unit at VUB during the August examination period of the same academic year, if you did not obtain a credit certificate for a course unit taken at the host institution.

If you retake the exam at your host university but fail, you will be automatically excluded from the August examination period at VUB. 

Interested in an exchange? 

In October, there will be a session on campus where the entire application process will be explained and where you can ask your questions. Keep a close eye on Canvas for the specific date.

Selected? 

In March, a session will be organized where it will be thoroughly explained again how to fill in your study program. The date will be communicated to you.

In May, IRMO organizes a take-off session for all outgoing students. The date will be communicated to you.