Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE)

Master in Advanced European and International Studies – Mediterranean Studies – Nice-Tunis-Istanbul

Graduates receive two certifications:

• The Master in Advanced European and International Studies - Mediterranean Studies. This is the diploma of CIFE as a private institute of higher education, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS at Master level.
• The degree qualification "Policy Officer in European and International organisations" (level 7 EQF), recognised by the French state.

A one-year programme + optional professional internship (3 to 6 months to be completed by 31 December)

• October to December: Nice
• January to March: Tunis
• March: 3-week study trip to Dakar and Banjul
• April to June: Istanbul

Degree and recognition

Students who successfully complete the programme are awarded two certifications at the end of the academic year:

• Master in Advanced European and International Studies: This is the diploma of CIFE, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS credits at Master level
• The degree qualification Chargé de Mission en Organisations Européennes et Internationales (Policy Officer in European and International Organisations): This qualification is recognised by the French state as a degree at Master level (level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework EQF).

Teaching modules

• Conflict Management and Peacemaking

The Mediterranean is a case study par excellence for Peace and Conflict Studies. In the last two decades, Mediterranean societies have been significantly affected by inter­group violence and inter­state conflicts: from the Western Balkans to Cyprus, from Israel to Palestine, from Libya to Syria.

• Economics, Sustainable Development, Inequalities and Forms of Poverty

The 21st century and especially the Mediterranean face unprecedented economic, environmental and social challenges, as the globalised economic development exerts increased pressure on limited resources, deteriorates the environment and creates growing inequalities.

• Regional Integration and Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation

The EU has become a role model of regional integration. How is the dynamic architecture of European institutions functioning, including the European Neighbourhood Policy? To what extent do the Arab League or the Union for the Mediterranean follow a similar logic of regional integration? How can we explain differences in the Southern Mediterranean since the Arab Spring?

• Mediterranean Societies and Cultures

Migration, gender, and media are policy fields that all Mediterranean societies have in common but approach differently. At the crossroads of theory and practice, this policy-oriented module proposes solutions to the historical, social and cultural challenges Mediterranean societies face today.

• Professional Skills Workshops

This module equips the participants with professional skills and competencies that will enable them to work in Euro­pean and international cooperation. They will participate in negotiation and mediation training, simulation games and workshops on project cycle management and intercultural communication.

Overview of the academic year

The first term (October to December) starts in the European Union, in Nice, France. It encompasses classes on the basics of the five teaching modules. Studying in France helps students to analyse the Mediterranean region and Euro-Mediterranean relations from an EU perspective. Courses will introduce the institutional architecture of the EU and its neighbourhood policy. They will also discuss the shared risks of populism, terrorism and climate change. Mid-term exams will take place in December. The trimester concludes with a simulation exercise.

The second term (January to March) starts off in Tunis, Tunisia, with our cooperation partner, the Université Mahmoud El Materi. Researchers from the region will analyse transformation processes in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean in times of globalisation. Studying in Tunisia provides students with a unique experience of a historic democratisation process that turned the Nobel peace-prize winning country into a role model throughout the MENA region. For non-Arab speakers, an Arab language course is compulsory.

The programme concludes (April to June) in Istanbul where students study on the campus of our long-term partner, Istanbul Bilgi University. Courses tackle the changing EU-Turkey relations. Students will have the opportunity to advance in their research work, as they are free of obligations from mid-May to mid-June to allow them to work on their theses. The programme concludes with the defence of the thesis and oral exams. With their graduation on the shores of the Bosphorus, students become part of CIFE’s worldwide Alumni network.

A three-week study trip to Dakar and Banjul will also take place between the 2nd and 3rd terms.

After graduation, students who have chosen the internship option will do a professional internship (three to six months). The internship can be completed in a European institution, an international organisation, national diplomacy, consultancies, non-governmental organisations or research institutes.

Have a look at our video to learn more about the experience of our participants!

Professional Fields of Recent CIFE Graduates

• International and EU Organisations
• Companies and Banks
• National Governments and Administration
• Research and Teaching
• Consultancy and Advocacy
• International Humanitarian Sector/NGOs
• International Media