European Studies MA

Overview

Our European Studies MA course will give you a detailed understanding of the politics, economics and societies of Europe. As a full-time student, you may also take either a French or German pathway, which offers you the opportunity to complete a master's degree within a year while taking modules abroad.

Course detail

Through this course, we offer you an in-depth analysis of major scholarly debates in history, politics, political thought, political economy and international relations of Europe, both within and beyond the European Union. You will study a range of approaches to the topic on one of the two required modules and then choose from a wide range of specialist modules covering specific regions or issues relating to contemporary Europe, such as EU foreign policy, immigration, economic governance, law, political economy, lobbying and policy making, nationalism and the EU, Russia, the EU and Asia. If you choose the General Pathway, you will spend your whole time with us. If you choose either the French or German Pathway, you will spend your second semester abroad. The overseas institutions will provide a wide range of modules allowing you to further deepen your knowledge of both European and host country institutions, politics and policies. The course is ideally suited for anyone with a degree in European Studies, Politics, International Relations or International Political Economy. We also welcome graduates from other disciplines in the Humanities, the Social Sciences and Law, as well as those from a professional background.

Teaching and assessment

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. You are typically assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. The majority of European and International Studies modules are assessed by coursework rather than a final unseen written examination, although optional modules may differ. The dissertation module is assessed by a 10,000 word essay.

Career prospects

Recent graduates from our department have gone on to prestigious positions, including in UK government departments such as the Foreign Office, Department for International Development, Department for International Trade, and the Treasury; global governance bodies such as the World Bank, United Nations, the World Federation of Exchanges, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank and the International Telecommunication Union; major business media organisations such as Argus and Bloomberg, major financial institutions such as Citi, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and HSBC; research and consultancy firms such as McKinsey & Co, Ipsos and the Boston Consulting Group; and lobbying groups within the European Union and beyond. Overall our graduates have embarked on highly successful careers in the public, private and third sector in the United Kingdom, the European continent, as well as in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in a relevant subject such as (but not limited to): European studies, politics, international relations, history, social sciences, law and modern languages. In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.