Master in European Studies [120.0] - EURO2M

The European dimension is taking on an increasingly important role in economic affairs, the social situation, the formulation of law and political issues for member states and European citizens.

Attached to the Masters in Political and Social Science, the Master in European Studies is a course which gives students the necessary knowledge and analytical tools to understand and evaluate the process of European integration ; it prepares students for those professions relating to the European dimension in different levels of government  (European, national, regional and local), lobbying, consulting and think tanks concerned with the European institutions and a variety of other economic and social affairs in which special knowledge of European affairs is required.

The programme covers economics, law and history relating to European construction as well as studying the political aspects, both internal and external. With its emphasis on budgetary resources and how European decisions are made, the European Policies, Dimensions and Means focus is centred on the main internal policies of the Union, whilst the Europe in the World focus has as its subject the role of the Union as a global player in international relations in the era of globalization. The Europe, States and Societies focus concentrates on the issues of identity, culture and education, the ideological debates and the institutional challenges of legitimacy and efficiency.

The Thinking Europe seminar adds an interdisciplinary dimension to the programme.

Students are expected to speak both French and English as some elements of the programme are in English. In addition, the programme also includes study of another European language (German, Spanish, Italian and Russian) to reflect European multilingualism.

The programme is organized jointly by the Institute of European Studies at UCL and the  Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis.

The programme comprises core subjects worth 90 credits and a professional focus of 30 credits to be chosen from a list of three. The core subjects and the European Politics, Dimensions and Means focus are organized in Louvain-la-Neuve. The other two focuses are in Brussels.  
The first year programme provides students with the basic elements of law, economics, history and politics which are necessary before moving on to one of the three focuses and also for the production of a dissertation. 
Various components enhance the training : European Information and Documentation introduces research from documentary sources ; the interdisciplinary seminar Thinking Europe offers a cross-disciplinary approach to various different subjects ; learning a European language in addition to French and English add a multilingual profile.  
Alongside the writing of the dissertation, the second year is mainly devoted to specialization in one of the following three areas : European Politics, Dimensions and Means; Europe, States and Societies; Europe and the World. For each focus, a seminar on current affairs examines problems in relation to the scope of the focus.  
Erasmus exchanges are organized in the first semester of the second year.  

Advanced Masters : /

Doctoral programmes : the Institute of European Studies does not award doctorates in European studies. Each Faculty sets the admission criteria for the doctorates it organizes. The Institute of European Studies is part of the doctoral school of European studies.