European Studies

Course detail Description

Through this course, we offer you an in-depth analysis of major scholarly debates in history, politics, political thought, political economy and international relations of Europe, both within and beyond the European Union. You will study a range of approaches to the topic on one of the two required modules and then choose from a wide range of specialist modules covering specific regions or issues relating to contemporary Europe, such as EU foreign policy, immigration, economic governance, law, political economy, lobbying and policy making, nationalism and the EU, Russia, the EU and Asia.

If you choose the General Pathway, you will spend your whole time with us. If you choose either the French or German Pathway, you will spend your second semester at either the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris or the
Humboldt Universität in Berlin. Both institutions provide a wide range of modules allowing you to further deepen your knowledge of both European and host country institutions, politics and policies.

The course is ideally suited for anyone with a degree in European Studies, Politics, International Relations or International Political Economy. We also welcome recent graduates from other disciplines in the Humanities, the Social Sciences and Law, as well as those from a professional background.

The programme is ideally suited to anyone with a degree in European Studies, politics, international relations or international political economy. We also welcome recent graduates from other disciplines in the humanities, the social sciences and law, as well as those from a professional background.

Teaching

You will have regular contact with our staff, who are world-leading experts in their fields, through lectures, seminars and supervision.

You will have six hours per week of teaching per 10-week term, as well as 34 hours of self-study per week.

If you are studying the part-time course, you will typically have two to four hours per week of lectures, seminars and feedback.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

You are assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. The majority of European and International Studies modules are assessed by coursework rather than a final unseen written examiniation although optional modules may differ. The dissertation module is assessed by a 10,000 word essay.

Read more

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules, and students on this course take modules totalling 180 credits.

If you are studying the part-time course you are required to take 60 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2.

You will select from three pathways:

• General Pathway – you will study throughout the year at King’s.
• French Pathway – you will spend the second semester at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris.
• German Pathway – you will spend the second semester at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

You will select from three pathways:

• General Pathway – you will study throughout the year at King’s.
• French Pathway – you will spend the second semester at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris.
• German Pathway – you will spend the second semester at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

You are required to take one of the following modules:

• European Union: History, Institutions & Politics (20 credits)

or

• European Identities in the EU (20 credits)

You are also required to take:

• Dissertation (60 credits)

If you are on the part-time course, you are required to take one of the 20 credit modules listed above during Year 1 and the 60 credit Dissertation module in Year 2.

In addition, you are required to take 100 credits from a range of optional modules from your selected pathway.

• General Pathway: you are required to take 100 credits of optional modules at King’s.
• French Pathway: you are required to take 40 credits of optional modules at King’s and the equivalent of 60 credits at Sciences Po that focus on Modern European politics, history and international relations.
• German Pathway: you are required to take 40 credits of optional modules at King’s and the equivalent of 60 credits at Humboldt University that focus on Modern European politics, history and international relations.

If you are taking the part-time course, you are required to take 40 credits of optional modules during Year 1 and 60 credits of optional modules during Year 2.

The range of optional modules may typically include:

• The International Political Economy of Production (20 credits)
• Globalisation & Social Movements in Europe (20 credits)
• The Political Economy of International Migration (20 credits)
• The EU & Asia: Economics, Politics & Security (20 credits)
• Lobbying & Policy Making in the EU (20 credits)
• Political Economy of Europe: Political Science Perspective (20 credits)
• Research Methods for Social Sciences (20 credits)
• The Political Economy of the Welfare State (20 credits)
• Russia & the EU (20 credits)
• The Political Economy of the Financial Crisis (20 credits)
• Internship Module (20 credits)
• The EU and Global Capitalism (20 credits)