Education

In the interdisciplinary Master of Arts in European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (MAES) we educate globally minded, high-performing students to understand Europe as a region of multiple diversities and intense cross-border and trans-border interactions and exchanges. Europe, both as a continent and a concept, is uniquely subject to change and transformation. We welcome ambitious and talented students from all over the world and various disciplinary backgrounds. This initial Master's programme provides academic training based on and focused toward international interaction and top-level interdisciplinary research. Its aim is to enable graduates to anticipate and seek out solutions to the complex challenges created by a globalising world that transcend national and disciplinary borders.
The Master of Arts in European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (MAES) is an initial Master's programme. This programme can also be taken part-time.

Profile

The Master of Arts in European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives is a demanding and specialised initial Master's programme.

Prospective students should:
- be capable of engaging scholarly literature in English;
- be capable of discussing scholarly ideas in English;
- possess basic methodological skills for conducting research in the humanities and be familiar with ICT tools;
- be capable of working individually on a research topic and organising work independently;
- seek to acquire a basic knowledge about the modern development of Europe and be willing to devote extra time at the beginning of the programme if that knowledge is deemed to be too limited;
- have good analytical skills and be open to interdisciplinary thinking;
- have a general knowledge of Europe, European history and European integration;
- have a good knowledge of the history and culture of Europe or certain European countries (especially students who intend to follow Module I);
- have a good knowledge of the history, institutional and legal framework and policies of the EU, as well as of European integration theories (especially students who intend to follow Module II).
Students who have not yet obtained preliminary knowledge of Europe and the EU during previous academic studies should prepare themselves through thorough self-guided preparatory study. Consult the MAES website for a list of background reading materials. (http://ghum.kuleuven.be/ces/)

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

The programme engages students to study Europe as a transnational community in constant interaction with other world regions. Its courses develop in-depth knowledge about the functioning of Europe both in the contemporary world and from a historical perspective. Students are stimulated to bridge disciplinary boundaries and assimilate fresh perspectives. By choosing one of two modules, students specialise either in the internal, transnational functioning of Europe or the participation of Europe in globalisation and global governance. Students participate actively in scholarly research about Europe by acquiring knowledge and specific research skills and by producing original research and communicating research results to a broad audience using various media. Interaction with staff members of various disciplines and faculties exposes students to a wide range of approaches to scientific study and research about Europe. Supervision by individual staff members provides students with focus and guidance for in-depth specialised research. Students acquire skills that enable them to identify and assess issues and problems regarding how Europe functions. The programme provides students with templates to contextualise these issues and problems in order to suggest adequate solutions. The programme strongly emphasises the need to engage in critical debate about the options and alternatives that have confronted, confront and will confront Europe in its dealings with other world regions and with respect to its internal, diversified identities.

After graduation

MAES graduates are equipped with in-depth knowledge of various aspects of European politics, law, history and culture, are schooled in various research methodologies, and are able to communicate their findings to a diverse audience. MAES graduates are thus well positioned for a wide range of professional pursuits.

Many alumni work for European institutions and lobby groups, provide advice on European affairs to national, regional or local administrations and governments, or work as European affairs officers for private companies and non-governmental organisations. Others are engaged in national and multinational diplomacy. Many hold academic positions in European politics, economy, history and culture at universities all over the world. Still other alumni inform the public about European affairs as journalists and cultural officers. Having delivered its first graduates 20 years ago, MAES counts many prominent figures in European affairs among its alumni. Many of them attribute MAES's MA degree in European Studies as a decisive factor in their career success.

Spotlight

The interfaculty programme Master of Arts in European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (MAES) introduces students to the study of Europe as a continent of strong interactions across national boundaries and of constant exchange with the outside world. It is an interdisciplinary programme and includes courses and lectures on Europe by academics from various backgrounds.

MAES, taught in English, is a truly international programme. The programme includes students from all over the world and from a large variety of academic backgrounds. The programme is part of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on 'The European Union, Foreign Policy and Global Governance'.

Contact

Centre for European Studies
Blijde Inkomststraat 5
3000 Leuven, Belgium
esinfo@ghum.kuleuven.be
tel. + 32 16 32 49 81

Useful links

Visit this programme's website.

Download this brochure

Download this Master's brochure.