Program description
European Studies MA
The program aims to give students skills required in a post-Brexit world where knowledge about the European Union and key member states will significantly enhance students’ career options, especially in Ireland which will see closer direct links with continental member states. To non-European students the program gives a more comprehensive understanding of the reality of the European Union by the lived experience in two very different member states in terms of size, culture (incl. academic culture), language and location.
This innovative two-year Double Degree MA program in co-operation with the Europa Universität Flensburg, Germany is part of UL’s response to the changes Brexit is likely to herald. The program applies the interdisciplinary understanding of European Studies characteristic for UL to postgraduate level and involves key disciplines such as Politics, Law, European Cultural Studies and Modern Languages. The MA in European Studies is a two-year program with semesters 1 and 2 spent at the home campus and semester 3 and 4 at the partner university, the Europa Universität Flensburg for students starting at UL. Alternatively, students can also apply to study at the EU in first year and spend the second year at UL. While the EUF offers options such as European Economics, European Public Opinion, European Society and Philosophy in Europe, UL focusses on International Politics, European Human Rights Law, Migration and explorations of the issue of identity in European literature as well as (optionally) a range of modules taught through the key languages of French, German and Spanish. The program is taught in English at both campuses, but students are encouraged to also study an EU language at beginners or advanced level to gain a more comprehensive sense of the multilingual and multicultural nature of the European Union, while also being better prepared for a post-Brexit EU in which competence in EU language will be valued higher than ever before.
Admission requirements
Applicants must have a primary degree in a related discipline, with first or second-class honours (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) or an approved equivalent qualification. Candidates should be proficient in the use of English.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Year 1 Autumn Semester
Core module
- Graduate Seminar in Institutions and Policies of the European Union
Electives
Select two modules from two different areas of 1, 2 & 3 plus one module in area 4
Area 1 European Politics & Governance
- Graduate Seminar in International Relations Or
- Public Administration: Theory and Practice Or
- Graduate Seminar in Contemporary Political Theory
Area 2 European Law
- Law of the European Convention of Human Rights Or
- Comparative International Protection of Human Rights Law
Area 3 European Cultural Studies
3a In English
- Comparative Literature: Cultural Constructions of the Past Or
- Literature of Migration Or
- Language and Culture
3b In French/German/Spanish
- Questions d’actualité dans la France Or
- contemporaine (Issues in Contemporary France) Or
- Deutsch-irische Beziehungen (Irish-German Cultural Connections) Or
- Español en el mundo contemporáneo (Spanish in the Contemporary World)
Area 4 Skills / Professional Development
- English Language Proficiency 1
- Research Methodologies in Comparative Literature & Cultural Studies
- Professional Development 1: Mastering your Employability
Optional language modules available
Year 1 Spring Semester
Select three modules from at least two areas of 1, 2 & 3 plus one module in area 4
Area 1 European Politics & Governance
- Graduate Seminar in European Governance Or
- Graduate Seminar in Comparative Politics Or
- Graduate Seminar in International Cooperation and Conflict
Area 2 Law
- Comparative and European Criminal Justice Or
- International Criminal Law Or
- European Criminal Law
Area 3 European Cultural Studies
3a In English
- Utopian Theory and Texts Or
- Textual Constructions of Cultural Identity: Regional, National, Ethnic, European Or
- Culture and the Market Or
- People on the Move: studying migration
3b In French/German/Spanish
- Theory and Practice of Translation (FRENCH) Or
- Theory and Practice of Translation (GERMAN) Or
- Theory and Practice of Translation (SPANISH)
Area 4 Skills / Professional Development
- English Language Proficiency 2 Or
- Professional Development 2: Mastering your Employability (3)
Optional language modules available
Year 2 Autumn
Select six modules.
Area 1: European Law and Politics
- Current Topics in European Law and Politics
- External Relations of the EU
Area 2: European Society and Economics
- Europe in the Global Economy
- Challenges to European Society
Area 3: Philosophy and Culture of Europe
- Social and Political Philosophy of Europe: Current Topics and Debates
- Cultural Diversity in Europe
Year 2 Spring
- MA Thesis
Scholarships & funding
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Tuition fees
NB: Due to the Double Degree nature of this program, fees for Year 1 are set at the subsidised rate of half the standard EUs, i.e. €2,870. Fees at EUF Flensburg for Year 2 are c. €500 for year 2 and will be charged by the EUF.
Qualification
The program provides a solid foundation for further research towards a doctorate degree in related disciplines.
Career opportunities
The program prepares graduates specifically for a labour market in an increasingly integrated European Union, where deeper insights into the workings of the EU as well as economic, legal and cultural aspects of European integration (incl. language skills) will be in greater demand, also in areas at the interface between Ireland and other member states. Job opportunities are typically to be found in the institutions of the European Union, the European Council, the OECD but also in public administration, the diplomatic service, private institutions, cultural and educational institutions, such as colleges, universities or museums, private actors and companies, including consultancy companies; non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as the media.
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About this institute
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick (UL) is renowned for its graduate employability, dedication to the student experience, industry-relevant programmes, award-winning research, stunning campus and UL`s deep commitment to community engagement. With close to 16,000 students, including 3,000 international students, UL is...
Why study at University of Limerick
The Universities commitment to graduate employability, UL`s dedication to the student experience, industry-relevant programmes, award-winning research, stunning campus and UL`s deep commitment to community engagement.
The University of Limerick houses a broad range of world class and specialist equipment and facilities that give students and researchers an immersive and practical approach to their studies and research.
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Contact info
University of Limerick
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