Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (no winter intake) |
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.
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.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in European Studies. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below you will also be able to learn more about language requirements and find out whether or not this master's degree programme has a limited intake.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Cultural, historical or social subjects/areas | 100 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
No Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles applicants to an offer of admission to the Master's degree programme in European Studies.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in European Studies:
This master's degree programme has a limited intake.
Because of the limited intake all qualified applicants will be prioritised according to a set of selection critieria (see below).
Meeting the admission requirements does not automatically ensure your offer of admission. Only if you have a specific bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'legal right of admission' will you be guarenteed an offer of admission to this master's degree programme.
If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of vacant places, the following criteria will be taken into account in the selection process (each criterion counts as 1/3):
1. Grade level from qualifying degree programme
2. Grades achieved in relevant subject areas:
Cultural Studies
International Studies or European Studies
Sociology
Anthropology
History
Political Science
Please note that grades obtained after the application deadline are not included in the grade level.
3. Relevant subject areas (expressed in ECTS credits). This assessment does not include ECTS credits, which are part of the admission requirements described under 'Other degree programmes that may give access'.
Cultural Studies
International Studies or European Studies
Sociology
Anthropology
History
Political Science
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's english language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
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:
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.
Students of European studies can specialise by choosing a profile course, a project placement, or a period of study abroad:
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
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
