Overview

The master’s in European Union Studies at Leiden University covers the EU's broad geographical sweep from an interdisciplinary perspective. During the EU Studies programme you will attend lectures and seminars by academic staff members who are internationally renowned in their field. You also get the opportunity to attend elective European studies courses taught by practitioners, combining academic insights with practical experience in politics, government, advisory bodies, NGOs and think tanks.

This international master’s examines the European Union with theories and concepts from different disciplines: history, economics, political science and law. You will analyse and explore the core concerns of the European Union, an increasingly complex and fascinating political and socio-economic landscape. You will also look at the developments of post-war Europe and examine the current state of affairs within the European Union.

A highlight of the master’s in European Union Studies is a three-day trip to Brussels, where you will visit EU institutions, member states' representations and lobby groups. During your studies you will also benefit from the close contacts between the university and national and international government institutions in The Hague, as well as the unique wealth of area studies at Leiden University.

What you will learn

The master’s programme in International Relations at Leiden University aims to equip you with a range of important transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. In class, we encourage every student to participate in discussions to develop their ability to clearly and confidently articulate their ideas as well as fine-tune their logic and reasoning abilities. Other skills you may encounter in the various International Relations courses are:

• Collaboration
• Persuasion
• Research
• Self-directed learning
• Creative thinking

Career prospects

For graduates of European Union Studies at Leiden University there are a variety of career options available within the Brussels-based EU organisations, as well as the myriad non-governmental organisations, research institutes, and businesses which are operational within the inner-circle of the EU institutions. Our graduates end up working in a diverse range of positions, examples include:

• Communications manager and project assistant at an NGO promoting reconciliation and peace
• PhD student
• Policy advisor for the European Parliament
• unior advisor on public affairs at a communications and consultancy firm
• Research assistant at a legal institute
• Junior advisor on PR at a consultancy firm
• Programme assistant at an NGO promoting Eastern European interests and development
• Research analyst at a consultancy firm
• Project officer at an embassy in the Netherlands
• Project manager at a company specialising in geo-services, international development and project management

Career options in EU organisations

After your graduation you will have a solid grounding in the main issues of the European Union, you will be highly employable both in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. Joint research programmes and EU-administered regulations are ensuring that both employers’ and employees’ organisations are in regular need of qualified graduates in this field.

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.