MA European Studies

How can we understand the EU’s response to the financial crisis or to the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia? How do we account for the EU’s reaction to the refugee crisis provoked by conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa? What are Europe’s peacekeeping role and capacity? The master's programme in European Studies trains you to answer these complex questions. Because you cannot study Europe from just one angle, the programme examines global developments and multi-level governance in a broader context, combining political science, history, international relations, economics and cultural studies. This student-centred, interdisciplinary programme is among the largest, and certainly the most international, in Europe and has an excellent reputation.You will study the internal and external dimensions of European policy, governance and administration. The focus is on the underlying issues of power and influence, governance and culture within the European milieu and between Europe and the wider world.

You can choose one of the three specialisations within the master's programme. Check the specialisations pages for more specific information:

European Public Policy, Institutions and Governance International Relations Global Policy and Governance Challenges

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) is one of the six faculties at Maastricht University . It was founded in 1994. There are approximately 240 employees and around 1800 students. The format of the education is, like at all the faculties of Maastricht University , based on the principle of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The faculty is internationally oriented and most of the programmes are offered in English. Its students come from all over the world. The faculty is located in the centre of Maastricht, in two renovated buildings on the Grote Gracht: the ‘Hof van Tilly’ and the ‘Soirongebouw’.

Academic programmes

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers two three-year bachelors programmes: Cultuurwetenschappen/Arts and Culture; and European Studies, and eight one-year masters programmes: Kunst, literatuur en samenleving/Art, Literature and Society; European Studies; Globalisation and Development Studies;European Public Affairs; European Studies on Society, Science and Technology; Kunst, cultuur en erfgoed/Arts and Heritage; Politiek en samenleving/ Politics and Society and Media Culture. Furthermore, two two-year research masters are offered: Cultures of Arts, Science and Technology; and European Studies.

The faculty has a Graduate School with an intake of about 10 PhD students each year.

Research

The Research Institute for Arts and Culture encompasses all research of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences . The Research Institute comprises three programmes: 1. Politics and Culture in Europe, 2. Science, Technology and Society, and 3. Cultural Memory and Diversity. The research area overlaps both the humanities and the social sciences.