Prospectus

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International Relations: European Union Studies

Master

This one-year Master of Arts in International Relations, specialisation European Union Studies, offered by the Faculty of Humanities of Leiden University, focuses on the processes of European integration from an interdisciplinary angle by a mix of specialist, academic researchers and experts with direct experience in policy-formulation and policy-making.

During the first semester students will follow four compulsory basic courses each designed to explore the state-of-the-art developments in its own field. Whilst each course maintains its own unique identity, their content has been designed to produce an integrated interdisciplinary core of overlapping and mutually reinforcing conceptual tools of analysis. In addition, all students take a combined thesis seminar and methods course, the course Regionalism in World Politics, and a European seminar, which is continued in the second semester.

In the second semester students can choose three courses from a wide range of specialist courses. By writing a thesis, the students will explore a topic of their own choice in-depth.

Please read the details under the heading “more info” for additional information about the curriculum and options for each intake.

Students who start in February will follow an adapted course-schedule: please consult the details under the heading “more info” to view the curriculum for students of the February 2016 intake in September 2016 and the curriculum for students of the February 2017 intake.

All students have to apply for admission, see mastersinleiden.

Courses

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

September semester
Economics of the EU 5
EU Law 5
EU Seminar 0
History of European Integration 5
Institutions of the EU 5
Regionalism in World Politics 5
Thesis Seminar and Methods in International Relations Research 5

February semester

Choose three courses of the following: (Students of the February intake can only select electives from block IV – schedule to be announced during the September semester) Please note: contents of the electives subject to change, specifically when no teacher is indicated yet.

Electives (choose three of the following courses):
Economic and Monetary Union 5
EU and Energy Policy 5
EU and Parliamentary Democracy 5
EU Environmental Policy and Law 5
EU External Relations: the Neighbourhood and Beyond 5
EU Public Affairs & Lobbying 5
Europe on the World Stage: the development of the EU’s foreign, security and defence policies 5
Euroscepticism 5
External Economic Relations 5
Germany and European Integration, with a particular focus on the Euro crisis and its effects on German leadership in Europe 5
Justice and Home Affairs 5
Migration Law and Policy in the EU 5
EU Seminar 0
MA Thesis European Union Studies 15

More info

Objectives Structure Contact information

Objectives

The programme focuses on the processes of European integration from an interdisciplinary angle by a mix of specialist, academic researchers and experts with direct experience in policy-formulation and policy-making.

Structure

During the first semester students take the following compulsory basic courses of 5 EC each:

  • History of European Integration

  • Institutions of the EU

  • EU Law

  • Economics of the EU

  • Regionalism in World Politics

  • Thesis Seminar and Methods in International Relations Research

Whilst each course maintains its own unique identity, their content has been designed to produce an integrated interdisciplinary core of overlapping and mutually reinforcing conceptual tools of analysis. In addition to these six courses, students attend a number of EU Seminars (continued in the second semester).

During the second semester, students can choose three electives from a wide range of courses (15 EC total) and write their thesis. By writing the thesis, students will explore a topic of their own choice in-depth. Students wishing to replace one of the three electives with an elective from the International Studies specialisation or with an external course or internship, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies to discuss your options.

The September 2016 semester of students who started in February 2016 (30 EC):

  • EU Law (5 EC)

  • History of European Integration (5 EC)

  • Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)

  • EU Seminars

  • Thesis (15 EC)

For students starting in February 2017, the programme looks slightly different:

February semester, 30 EC:

  • Institutions of the EU (5 EC – block III)

  • Economics of the EU (5 EC – block III)

  • Thesis Seminar and Methods in International Relations Research (5 EC – block III)

  • Three electives (15 EC – block IV)

  • EU Seminars

September semester, 30 EC:

  • History of European Integration (5 EC)

  • EU Law (5 EC)

  • Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)

  • EU Seminars (continued)

  • Thesis (15 EC)

Contact information

For more information, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies.