Belgium | Webster University

Brussels, Belgium

For students interested in increasing their proficiency of French, there is now an option to study abroad during the Spring semester at Université Libre de Bruxelles at their Département de Traduction et Interprétation (formerly the Institut Supérieur de Traducteurs & Interprètes [ISTI]), in Brussels, Belgium.  This exchange is open to undergraduate students who have advanced proficiency in French, as the primary language of instruction is French. Classes are not conducted in English.

Brussels La Grand-Place

Département de Traduction et Interprétation

The department has a student population of nearly 1,000, and offers university-level programs in translation and interpreting.

The department (ISTI-Cooremans) is located in the commune of Uccle, a green, residential area of Brussels that borders the Bois de la Cambre and is easily accessible by tram or bus. The Université Libre de Bruxelles, which is but a few blocks away, and the nearby Place Flagey, a meeting place for the city's music and art lovers, make the area a favorite among students and young adults.

Foreign exchange students particularly appreciate the unique experience of studying French in the heart of Europe, in a multicultural, safe environment that is only a few hours away from Paris, London and Amsterdam.

ISTI has been training language specialists for some fifty years and has maintained its reputation in Europe for offering one of the most challenging programs in the field. In addition to pursuing careers in translation, a number of our students go on to earn advanced degrees in education, history, international relations, communication, and cross-cultural studies.


Rightly nicknamed “the Crossroads of Europe”, Brussels is a truly cosmopolitan city of more than one million people.

Brussels is one of the most international cities in the world. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the population is made up of foreigners, not including those who have taken Belgian citizenship. In following with its status as the Capital of Europe (the seat of the European Union), Brussels is the location for 40,000 EU employees, 4,000 NATO employees and hosts about 300 permanent representations: lobby groups, embassies and press corporations.

Brussels is also a center of European culture, officially nicknamed ‘the European Village', with almost 90 museums, beautiful parks, fascinating walks, restaurants boasting cuisine from about every country imaginable and bars. There is a lot to learn about the history of the city, the architecture, the Belgian obsession with comic strips, and the art of chocolate and beer.

Brussels has a fascinating and old history that dates back to the 11th century when it began as a small dukedom the size of the current downtown area.

In 1830 Belgium became independent and Brussels became the capital of Belgium under a new king and parliament. The Kingdom of Belgium has a population of 10.5 million and is separated into 3 regions mainly due to differences in language – French and Dutch speakers. The regions are Flanders in the north (Dutch), Wallonia in the south (French) and Brussels in the center (Bilingual). There is also a small German-speaking area close to the German and Dutch borders in the Ardennes but it is not an official region.

Université Libre de Bruxelles Website