Renmin University of China's School of International Relations and Center for European Studies, in partnership with the Free University of Brussels (VUB), established the Double Master's Degree in Contemporary China and European Union Studies in 2018, with recognition from the China Scholarship Council as a “Reserve Talent Training Program for International Organizations” in April 2019.

Adopting a joint training model, students spend their first year at RUC and their second year at VUB. The courses offered at RUC focus on EU studies and address EU political systems, foreign policy, China-EU relations, frontier issues on European studies, public management, and public policy in European integration. At VUB, students may choose from three study tracks. Upon completion of their degree requirements at both universities, students will receive two degrees, one from RUC and one from VUB.

This program offers students the opportunity to gain a deep and systematic understanding of the European political system while also interning at prestigious international organizations, such as the European Parliament and the European Union Asia Center, for more than three months. Such invaluable internship experience enables students to become familiar with the structure and operations of international organizations, apply their professional knowledge in practice, and improve their adaptability and competency in such work. Additionally, studying at the heart of both Europe in Brussels and China in Beijing equips students with a unique perspective on global affairs that is highly relevant.