Master in European Studies

Master in European Studies is one of 3 English-taught Area Studies programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 4,000 to EUR 10,800; this programme lists EUR 4,000 a year. 3 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

European Studies at Aarhus University is a two-year full-time master's programme taught in English. You study European affairs within politics, culture and history, and you learn to analyse the challenges and opportunities in European cooperation. The programme has an international profile, with students from all over the world, and teaching takes place in English.

What you study

The programme covers the EU's institutions, cultural, social and political processes in Europe, and the question of what Europe actually is. You work with European diversity and with what connects Europeans. Courses named on the programme page include Political Institutions of the EU, European Identities and Applied Qualitative Research Methods. The admission page also lists relevant subject areas such as European History, EU Institutions, European Politics, European Cultures and Societies, and Anthropological Theories and Methods.

How the programme is organised

The master's is a full-time course of study corresponding to 37 to 40 hours of work a week. Teaching is a mix of classes, reading and study group work. A typical week includes a study group, classes and reading. Most teaching takes place in the Nobel Park. In the third semester you can specialise by choosing a profile course, a project placement or a period of study abroad. Profile courses are cross-disciplinary courses targeting the labour market for third-semester students on all master's programmes in the humanities. A project placement gives you a practical perspective on your theoretical knowledge, and you attend teaching or supervision sessions during the placement and submit an assignment at the end. Aarhus University has exchange and partnership agreements with many universities around the world.

Who it suits

The programme suits you if you want to understand European cooperation from political, historical and cultural angles. It helps if you have a bachelor's degree in anthropology, cultural studies, history, political science or social sciences, as these subject areas must make up at least 50 ECTS. The international environment means you will speak a lot of English both inside and outside the classroom, and you should be comfortable discussing topics such as democracy and international relations with students from different backgrounds. The programme is also a route to an academic career and PhD study.

Admission, language and next steps

To be admitted, you need a bachelor's degree comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in level and duration (180 ECTS). The university assesses whether your degree meets the specific admission requirements, and it cannot assess your qualifications in advance. Certain Danish bachelor's degrees give direct admission, including Anthropology, English, European Studies, Philosophy, French, History, History of Ideas, Japanese Studies, Chinese Studies, History of Religion, Russian Studies, Social Studies, Social Sciences and Political Science. No bachelor's programme from Aarhus University gives a legal right of admission. Admission is limited, and applicants are ranked by grade level from the qualifying degree, grades in relevant subject areas, and ECTS credits in relevant subject areas. You must meet the university's English language requirements. Applications for master's programmes go directly to the institution. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution.

Master’s applications go straight to Aarhus University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.