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EUROPEAN STUDIES

Master's Degree Programme

About the programme
Language: English  (See language requirements)  | Place of study: Aarhus  |  Commencement: August / September (no winter intake)

Introduction

Political, cultural and historical issues in Europe

The Master’s degree programme in European studies focuses on European issues relating to politics, culture and history. You will work with the theme of European diversity and everything that ties Europeans together. You will learn how to analyse the many issues and opportunities involved in the European cooperation and in Europe as a whole. You will focus on EU institutions and work with the analysis of cultural, social and political processes in Europe and the question of what Europe actually is. This is an international Master’s degree programme, so your fellow students come from all over the world. This also means that the teaching is conducted in English, and that you will speak a lot of English both inside and outside the classroom.

Career opportunities

Master’s graduates in European studies are qualified to teach European issues as well as presenting them in a variety of media. You can work in international organisations, in political institutions, or with European issues in business life. You can work with cultural communication, project coordination and intercultural communication – for instance at embassies, in export companies or in Danish or European organisations. You can also pursue a career in research by applying for a PhD degree.

Admission requirements

Access to the Master’s degree programme in European Studies at Aarhus University requires successful completion of a relevant BA degree within Humanities or Social Sciences, which is deemed relevant (at the level of course content) in relation to the aim, approaches, and competences further developed in European Studies.

Only students who fulfil these requirements should apply.

Examples of Bachelor’s degrees which qualify the applicant for admission:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in history
  • A Bachelor’s degree in anthropology   
  • A Bachelor’s degree in law
  • A Bachelor’s degree in political science
  • A Bachelor’s degree in philosophy
  • A Bachelor’s degree in sociology
     

Language requirements

English at B level at upper-secondary school or the equivalent is a requirement for admission: read about English language requirements

Selection criteria

As the Master’s programme only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme. 

In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. Academic background (75%)
    • Average mark (i.e. GPA) – Bachelor’s degree (25%)
    • Average mark (i.e. GPA) – relevant courses (25%)
    • The number of relevant courses* (measured in ECTS) included in your Bachelor’s degree course of study (25%)

* Relevant courses include courses within the subject areas of Cultural Studies, International or European Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Political Science and other related areas.

Please note that marks/grades obtained after the time of application will not be included in the GPA.

The admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the information provided by diplomas, transcripts and the statement of relevance.

2.Other relevant experience (25%)

    • Relevant work experience**
    • International, cultural or organizational experience

** Work experience in e.g. NGOs, international organisations, private companies, the public sector.

The admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the information provided by the CV and other relevant documentation.

Documentation

In addition to the general documentation requirements, you must upload the following documentation to your application:

1) Statement of relevance: a brief statement in English (1-2 pages) which explains:

  • the relevance of your Bachelor’s degree in relation to the Master’s programme
  • the courses in your Bachelor’s degree which have particular relevance to the Master’s programme

2 Curriculum vitae

  • All applicants must submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) describing your relevant educational and work experience in chronological order.
  • You may enclose additional documentation of relevant work experience, letters of recommendation, etc.

Please note that applicants for the Master’s programme in Europeans Studies are NOT required to upload course descriptions.

Programme structure

Academic regulations

As a student, it is important to know the regulations for your chosen degree programme: what is the content, how is it structured and what does it require from you.

You can find this information in the academic regulation for your degree programme:

Language of teaching

The degree programme has been approved with English as the language of teaching. This is the language in which the programme is generally taught.

To read the individual course descriptions, click on the courses in the study diagram for the Master’s degree programme in European studies.

Profiles

Students of European studies can specialise by choosing a profile course, a project placement, or a period of study abroad:

  • Profile courses 
    Profile courses are cross-disciplinary courses targeting the labour market for third-semester students on all Master’s degree programmes in the humanities. Read more about profile courses
    .   
  • Studying abroad
    There is also another obvious opportunity: studying at a university outside Denmark for a semester. Aarhus University has exchange and partnership agreements with many universities around the world, and help is always available if you want to study abroad. The Arts study portal contains relevant information about studying abroad, so all you need to do is visit the site for inspiration and seize the opportunity!
  • Project placements
    Project placements or internships give you a practical perspective on your theoretical knowledge, as well as helping you to build a network and gain valuable work experience. To prepare for your project placement, you need to start by contacting the company/organisation/institution with which you would like to work. During your project placement/internship you will also attend teaching and/or supervision sessions. At the end of the placement you are required to submit an assignment. You can read more about project placements here
    . For further information about the requirements, please see the academic regulations.
    Project placements are advertised in, for example, the Aarhus University job bank.

Student life

Example of a typical week as a student

Monday:
8-12 Study group
12-15 Class in Political Institutions of the EU

Tuesday:
8-12 Reading
12-13 Lunch
14-17 Class in European Identities

Wednesday:
8-12 Reading
12-16 Study group work

Thursday
8-16 Reading

Friday
8-11 Reading
11-14 Class in Applied Qualitative Research Methods

Everyday life on the European studies programme

The Master’s degree programme in European studies is a full-time course of study corresponding to 37-40 hours of work a week. Even though you may not have to attend lectures or classes every day, you should expect to spend quite a lot of time preparing for the teaching and meeting your study group.   

Most of the teaching takes place in the Nobel Park, where there are plenty of international students speaking English, Russian, Chinese and many other languages. Previously, students from the European studies programme have volunteered for the Harvard WorldMUN in both the Hague and Taipei, and you are welcome to supplement your degree programme with additional experiences and competences.

Meet a student

Kim Bæksgaard Hansen, Master’s student on the European studies programme

I’ve got a Bachelor’s degree in history, and European studies helps me to gain a more diverse understanding of European development in a political, historical and cultural sense. I really love the international angle – plenty of my fellow students come from outside Denmark. The cultural differences between the students often generate alternative approaches to specific issues, and this has definitely helped to develop my academic competences.

Internship in Ankara

A typical day largely consists of teaching and independent study in a reading room. But this semester has been very different: I’ve done an internship in the political/financial department of the Danish embassy in Ankara. This has given me the chance to test my academic skills in a practical setting. The things I’ve learned on the European studies programme have definitely created the knowledge base needed to do my job at the embassy.

Follow the student life at Aarhus University

- experienced, photographed and filmed by the students themselves.

With thousands of pictures #AUInternational, #AarhusUni gives insight into the everyday life as a student at AU; the parties, procrastination, exams and all the other ways you’ll spend your time at university.

The photos belong to the users, shared with #AUInternational and #AarhusUni.

Career

Job functions for grads

The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.

Graduate at work

Anette Dincher Nielsen, coordinator of volunteers in Aarhus Municipality

My job involves supporting the work done by volunteers with elderly citizens in Aarhus Municipality. I recruit volunteers for a range of tasks at our local centres for the elderly, as well as making sure that the framework for their efforts is constantly expanded and improved. For instance, I apply for grants, launch new projects and check that all the needs of our volunteers are being met. European studies has given me a very broad range of skills which I actually use on a daily basis.

European studies is international

One of the interesting aspects of European studies is that it has such an international slant. It’s fascinating to discuss democracy and international relations in a group of people from so many different cultural and educational backgrounds. This always generates new perspectives which you had never thought of before. It’s all in English, of course – and this includes your own presentations as well as all the discussions.

Career guidance

You can read more about a range of career guidance services, including events and workshops, on the Arts Karriere website. They can also advise you about employment opportunities.