Bachelor in European Studies - Politics, Societies and Cultures
Malmö, Sweden
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
18 Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
SEK 325,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* this is the deadline for national round. Non-EU/EEA students who require a residence permit should apply during international admissions round opening mid-October 2026.
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor in European Studies equips you with knowledge of Europe and the European Union, past and present, using political science, history, geography, law, culture, and literature. You’ll study multidisciplinary theories and comparative perspectives in an international setting. This three-year bachelor's programme focuses on Europe’s politics, societies, and cultures and its global role.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue roles in regional and national administrations, EU institutions, private sector, public sector, NGOs. You can work in policy, governance, diplomacy, public administration, research, or communications, or continue to master's-level study in international relations, European studies, law, or public policy and practice.
The Bachelor in European Studies programme provides you with further knowledge and a deeper understanding of Europe and the European Union today and historically, including its position and role from a global perspective. You will be introduced to a variety of disciplines and perspectives on Europe, with a combination of theories and insights from the fields of political science, history, geography, law, culture, and literature. The programme will prepare you for a career in regional and national administrations, EU institutions, or elsewhere in private, public, and NGO sectors. It also provides a solid foundation for further master's level studies.
About European Studies
Until recently, our generation was the first in hundreds of years to grow up in a Europe without war. That changed in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, and Europe is now facing new threats and challenges. At the same time, the early 21st century has seen divisions and constellations challenging the accepted European order of the last 60 years. By participating in the European studies bachelor’s programme, you will gain knowledge and understanding of the continent's complex and diverse politics, societies, and cultures, from past to present.
The programme combines perspectives, theories, and issues from the fields of political science, history, geography, law, culture, and literature studies. Europe is complex, and it plays an increasingly important role in our lives. To fully understand the continent and the EU, more than one national or scientific perspective is required. This three-year bachelor's programme provides you with a multidisciplinary approach to Europe in an international setting.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, you will gain knowledge and awareness of issues related to politics, society, and culture on a larger scale.
The first year focuses on introducing Europe as a field of study and investigating the political governance and emergence of the EU as a leading European and global player. Students will also explore artistic expressions from the Enlightenment until the early 21st century that have been important for shaping our understanding of Europe. The second year will focus on deepening the knowledge and understanding gained from the first year, presenting research fields, and preparing to write a minor thesis. The final year explores theoretical, philosophical, and methodological issues and perspectives, ending with the students consolidating their studies through research and completing their final thesis.
During the second and third years, the programme also offers elective semesters where you have the opportunity to choose from an internship, exchange studies, or elective courses such as Global Politics and Climate Change, Project Management, and Migration Studies.
The programme is designed to offer students a real insight into European mobility, together with historical perspectives and knowledge on how Europe and the EU function. The education aims to give students a general competence and understanding of Europe from a historical and critical perspective, beyond the present-day EU and individual national perspectives. The courses combine humanities with social science, providing an understanding of the continent, its changes, and diversities. Students will thus develop a practical and comprehensive competence that prepares them to face future challenges in Europe.
Academic approach and teaching methods
During the programme, you will work actively in the courses and your research, cooperating with actors both inside and outside the academic world; locally, regionally, nationally, and on a wider European level.
The academic approach closely connects to current events in the European sphere. Teaching methods include lectures, group work, simulations, debates, theme studies, and self-study of literature.
Go abroad during your studies
During the second and third years, you will have the opportunity to study abroad and/or do an internship, which will offer you practical experience outside the traditional classroom setting. Malmö University cooperates with many universities to provide our students with exchange opportunities.
Contents
Autumn 2025 - Semester 1
- European Studies I: Europe as a Field of Knowledge - Politics, Cultures, and Societies from the Past to the Present (ES100L), 30 credits, compulsory
Knowledge and Understanding
A graduate of the Bachelor’s Program in European Studies:
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and understanding of European Studies, including its scientific foundations, methodologies, and current research issues.
- Understands processes of nation- and state-building in Europe, including historical, functional, and border regions, and their impact on Europe’s development.
- Possesses knowledge of the European Union's institutional framework, historical development, EU law, policy-making, and its relationship with member states.
- Familiar with the structures of European space and its evolution over time, along with relevant theories and methods for analysing such changes.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
A graduate of the Bachelor’s Program in European Studies:
- Capable of searching for, evaluating, and critically interpreting relevant data to address problem formulations and discuss phenomena.
- Demonstrates the ability to independently identify, formulate, and solve problems within established timelines.
- Effectively presents and discusses information, problems, and solutions both orally and in written form, engaging in dialogue with diverse groups.
- Exhibits the necessary abilities to work independently in fields pertinent to European Studies.
Making Judgments and Communicating Perspectives
A graduate of the Bachelor’s Program in European Studies:
- Makes informed judgments reflecting social, scientific, and ethical considerations relevant to European Studies.
- Understands the societal role of knowledge and personal responsibilities in its application.
- Identifies the need for continuous learning and development of competencies to address evolving challenges and contexts.
This programme is ideal for those seeking to start or advance a career in regional and national administrations, various EU institutions, or elsewhere in the private, public, and NGO sectors, seeking to employ people with knowledge and understanding of European institutions, politics, and societies. The program also provides a solid foundation for further master's-level studies.