A training course organised by the Royal Higher Institute for Defence with the support of the Royal Institute for International Relations – Egmont

Seminars: dates 2025-2026

1st Sem 12-13 September 2025: Belgium
2nd Sem 17-18 October 2025: Key Factors and Tendencies in World Politics
3rd Sem 21-22 November 2025: Instability factors I
4th Sem 12-13 December 2025: Instability factors II
5th Sem 23-24 January 2026: The European Union
6th Sem 20-21 February 2026: Superpower Politics
7th Sem 20-21 March 2026: Crisis zones – (1) Former Soviet Union
8th Sem 24-25 April 2026: Crisis zones – (2) The Middle East and Northern Africa
9th Sem 22-23 May 2026: Crisis zones – (3) Sub-Saharan Africa
10th Sem 12-13 June 2026: Summary, Conclusions and Evaluation

Selection process

Applications, in the form of a CV and a letter of motivation (maximum one page) using the online form.
Registration opening: 3 September 2024
Registration closure: 15 December 2024 at 11.59 p.m.
Selection interviews from October 2024 to January 2025
Selection by the HSSD steering committee in late March 2025
Auditors list approval in June 2025.
Contactirsd-hsd@mil.be

For more information on the training course ‘High Studies for Security and Defence’, click here.

Practical details

Where? Brussels.
When? From September 2025 to June 2026, once per month from Friday 9 a.m. until Saturday 6 p.m. The auditors are accommodated on site.
Cost price? €1950 (for non-Defence participants).

Use of languages

The auditors use their mother tongue (French or Dutch). The speakers use French, Dutch or English. A more than passive knowledge of these three languages is therefore essential.

Chatham House Rule

The participants must adhere to the non-attribution policy in order to allow everyone, whether participant or speaker, to express his real views.


Session 2024-2025Session 2023-2024Session 2022-2023Session 2020-2021Session 2019-2020