European Studies course summary
The European Studies degree at NHL Stenden prepares you for a career as a young European professional. As well as developing your insights into European policy and society, you will develop your cross-cultural sensitivity, your language skills, and your ability to present and debate. You can take various optional courses during your degree that enable you to take subjects or do workshops you find particularly interesting or relevant to your career plans. You can even take subjects offered by other study programmes. You’ll also work on your personal development, taking on leadership roles, developing your talents and exploring the areas you need to strengthen under the guidance of your study coach.
The programme for European Studies
The programme focuses on developing the skills you need to work in international or internationally oriented jobs in policy, communications, public relations and commercial fields. The small scale of the programme means you get to really draw on the experience and network of our lecturers taking you into the worlds of European institutions, sciences and public administration.
The international setting broadens your horizons, helps develop your intercultural and language skills and, above all, ensures you’ll have an amazing time.
Projects
Learning through doing is the best approach and you’ll get straight down to business with practical assignments in the first year. The subjects you cover are also integrated into the projects so you get to put the theory straight into practice.
- Intro to the EU part 1: gives you an introduction to the European Union that includes an overview of European history and European institutions. You’ll also work on developing your skills in effective studying, speaking skills, organising, reporting and project-based working.
- Communicating between cultures: enables you to explore European identity and the cultures that form Europe
- Policy and Politics: an introduction to international relations and interests that play a role at a global level
- Intro to the EU part 2: gives more insights into the organisations active in Europe and teaches you about organisational structures, communication and economics
Subjects:
You will develop your skills in effective studying, making conversation, structuring and reporting and project-based working as well as presenting. You’ll also work on Dutch, German, French or Spanish language and culture, including speaking and listening skills, idioms, grammar and European insights. In addition, you will learn English writing skills.
Study load: 20 contact hours, 20 self study hours per week | 60 ECTS per year
Projects
In the second year, you work with other students on various projects covering policy and communications.
- Intercultural Communication: Dive into the concept of European citizenship among diverse groups and work on current issues related to Human Rights while applying your knowledge and competence in intercultural communication.
- Media Communication: Explore the world of media by creating your own productions and analyzing how various international media outlets cover current events.
- European Policy and Governance: You will specialize in a specific EU policy and write a detailed policy brief for a government body. This hands-on project will give you a deep understanding of the policy-making process and the impact of the EU on local governance.
- European Funding: You will develop a comprehensive Europe strategy and create a detailed funding proposal. This project will equip you with strategic planning skills and practical experience in securing EU funding for local initiatives.
To help give you more insights into the EU and really get a sense of the atmosphere and how things are run, you will go on a field trip to Brussels, exploring the European capital and visiting European institutions such as the European Parliament. Check out the Brussels vlog here:
Subjects:
Study load: 20 contact hours, 20 self study hours per week | 60 ECTS per year
Minor subject (study abroad)
During your minor you focus on a specific subject or expand your knowledge by taking an additional subject. This allows you to truly take charge of your education by ‘customising’ your course.
You can take these minors on the NHL Stenden campus in the Netherlands or at one of the NHL Stenden Grand Tour locations in South Africa, Bali or Thailand. You can also choose from minors offered by other courses and universities of applied sciences via an Exchange programme – this is all part of broadening your academic skills.
Read more about the options available and where you can take your minors in the section below on minors and specialisations.
Internship
If you’ve already earned enough credits, you can opt to do an internship. You can work for a company operating in the field of European policy, legislation or politics so you not only increase
your work experience but also develop a useful network. You’ll also carry out research for an organisation of your own choice.
60 ECTS per year
Europe at a Crossroads
In this module, you get the chance to delve deeper into the issues and dilemmas at large in today’s Europe. You’ll discuss the future of Europe by covering subjects such as populism, nationalism, democracy, geopolitics and the possible enlargement of the EU. You will not only write a position paper but also carry out research in preparation for your graduation project.
Graduation
You’ll finish your studies by carrying out a graduation project during a final internship with a European-oriented organisation. You’ll carry out research and write, in English, about your findings in a dissertation. Your dissertation could, for instance, look into the influence of Dutch lobbyists in Brussels or be a study of international relations between European countries or regions.
60 ECTS per year
In your third year European Studies, you get to specialise by taking a number of minors.
- International Relations (Thailand)
Develop yourself as a culturally competent professional who understands how your work impacts the global community. To be able to take a seat at the table where decisions are being made. - Cross-border Migration, Governance and Security (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
Explore the different perspectives and dilemmas of cross-border migration with this minor in Cross-border Migration, Governance and Security. You’ll delve into your own social compass and examine how policies can supplement or contradict each other. - Cyber resilience of citizens and organisations (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
With this minor looking at cyber resilience you explore the human, organisational and technological measures that can be taken to make citizens and organisations digitally resilient. - Intelligence and counterintelligence (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
Introducing you to the art of intelligence and counterintelligence by focusing on foreign interference and covert action in Europe, this minor covers the role of intelligence and the nature of counterintelligence, denial and deception. - Sustainable Society (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
Covering professional development, sustainable change and energy transition, this minor helps you understand what sustainability means and how tools and theories can be applied in real-life situations. - The Art of Ethical Leadership (Leeuwarden/South Africa)
Learn how to apply key concepts of ethical and critical thinking and why tomorrow’s leaders cannot do without a developed moral compass. Develop your soft power, your ability to attract and cooperate rather than to coerce.
The degree at a glance
Download the brochure to get a really useful one-page overview of the curriculum with a description of the modules and a list of subjects per year, the study load and the ECTS you can earn. Use it to compare the programme with other studies you’re interested in.
Course catalogue
Field trips
To help give you more insights into the EU and really get a sense of the atmosphere and how things are run, you will go on a field trip to Brussels, exploring the European capital and visiting European institutions such as the European Parliament. Check out the Brussels vlog here:
Practical approach of European Studies
We aim to help you put theory into practice as quickly as possible. Through our educational concept, Design-Based Education (DBE), you work in small teams of students, teachers, researchers and industry professionals. You tackle current, real-life issues developing and adapting your visions and ideas to form a solid solution.
International opportunities
We want to prepare you for an international, intercultural, and ever-changing environment, so that you can dive into the unknown and gain experience in an international context. It is possible with our Grand Tour, Exchange programme or one of our mobility options offered by RUN-EU. Or you can choose to do your internship abroad. You’ll be able to put together the right combination of courses and internships to develop both your professional and personal skills – and develop your own network for the future.
'During the International Relations minor in Bangkok, I discover how international cooperation and conflicts really work.'
Is this degree for you?
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