Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles

2016 - 2017 Programme


Bachelor's Degree in History

 Daytime Programme    180 credits   3 years
 European Qualifications Framework (EQF): Level 6 
 Internship: no  Final assignment: no   Exchange Programmes: yes

History is a field of human sciences.

Through the study of humanity, across different periods of history, and different cultures around the world, history provides us with tools to understand human action, and thereby gives us insights into nature of the contemporary world, and its future.

History is part of a process that builds bridges between generations, and between cultures, thereby contributing to the development of the individual, and of society.

A historian must not only be an expert in their specialist field, and its specific research methods, but must also possess extensive generalist knowledge.


The bachelor in history is a first cycle programme (a so-called "transition" bachelor), which comprises 180 credits. It provides a preparation for several second cycle programmes (Master’s degree) in the same orientation that our students follow at another university, but also to several master's degrees for which there are "bridges".

At Saint-Louis University, the programme is organised around three axes that provide its guidelines.

Firstly, a basic training provides the fundamental knowledge in various disciplines of human and social sciences that is essential to the general culture of the historian: philosophy, literature, art, psychology, economics, sociology, law and political science.

Secondly, the ‘Knowing History’ section includes introductory courses that focus on different periods of history, and also seeks to further examine specific periods or specialised themes through more in-depth courses.

Finally, the ‘Practising History’ section aims to provide specialised knowledge and develop strong historian skills with an introduction to the materials, tools, and practices of the historian. The different information sources as well as how to collect, critique and exploit them will be addressed through group as well as individual work.

Please note that students are asked to choose, from the first year, between one of the two majors proposed that each include courses with specific themes:

Option: Literatures, Societies & Civilisations: from antiquity to the modern era.
Option: Contemporary Societies: from the 19th century to the present day.