International Programme for European Studies

Programme - first cycle - 180 credits

Overview

Admission requirements

The special prerequisites for this programme, besides basic eligibility for university studies, are the following upper secondary school courses: English B. Information on application and eligibility is available at www.mah.se/education/non-exchange.

Yara Alghafri is studying the International Programme for European Studies

"We’re studying political studies, as well as history and philosophy. It’s extremely broad but, at the same time, very applicable. I have done field work in Paris and we study one semester in Roskilde, Denmark, and another at a European university of our choice. I chose Spain, and learned Spanish. Having travelled and studied in different countries will look good on my CV." Yara Alghafri

Content

What is European Studies?

Study European Studies

Teaching methods for European Studies include lectures, group work, theme studies and self-study of literature.

Europe is complex. In order to fully understand Europe and the European Union, more than one national or scientific perspective is required. European Studies at Malmö University provides you with a multidisciplinary approach to Europe in an international setting. 

During the programme you will work actively with cross-border cooperation during the courses and in your research. Our multi- and interdisciplinary approach helps you gain knowledge and awareness related to history and culture on a larger scale than many other similar programmes in Scandinavia.

What makes European Studies unique?

IPES is built to give students a real experience of European mobility together with historical perspectives and knowledge about how the EU functions. During the second year you will have an opportunity to study abroad and/or do an internship giving you practical experience outside the traditional classroom setting.

What can we offer you as a student?

The purpose of the education in European Studies at Malmö University is to give you a European competence, with focus on cultural understanding and critical reflection. Our courses and programmes combine humanities with political science in an attempt to provide understanding of this continent, with its changes and diversities. Thus, you achieve a practical, as well as a more comprehensive, competence in European history, politics, geography, communication and other cultural aspects.

Bachelor Essays, some topics

EPA’s & Problematizing Development: Discourse, Design, Values

Regional Authority in Cross Border Dynamics. A study of the Öresund C...

Making use of Europe: An investigation of the activities of Swedish r...

Environmental NGOs: Channels of Democracy for the European Union

Partner Universities

We cooperate with a number of universities to provide exchange opportunities for students. We have a strategic cooperation with Roskilde University and The Öresund University
Roskilde University Center

Here are some examples of universities where our students do exchange studies:

Grenoble – Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Grenoble, France
Toulouse - Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Toulouse, France
Granada – Universidad de Granada, Spain
León – Universidad de León, Spain
Kraków – Uniwersytet Jagielloñski (Jagellonian University), Poland
Kraków – Wyzsza Szkola Europejska Im. Ks. Jozefa Tischnera (Tischner European University), Poland
Eichstätt – Katholische Universität Eichstätt – Ingolstadt, Germany
Europa - Universität Viadrina Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany

Interviews

EU coordinator in Hässleholms kommun

When Therese Almqvist applied to Malmö University she had worked in agriculture, elderly care, and had run a café with a friend. But the urge to learn more about society and develop as a person made her want to go to university.

Therese Almqvist

- I had considered starting my own business, but I realised that I needed more theoretical knowledge about how society works. I wanted to learn more about political structures.

Therese first chose to study international migration and ethnic relations at Malmö University but then transferred to the International Programme for European Studies.

- After I had completed my degree and started applying for jobs there were a few vacancies for EU coordinators in Skåne.

Therese got the job as EU coordinator in the town of Hässleholm before the economy began to plummet. She’s the only one in that role, but in larger cities, like Malmö, there is usually one EU coordinator in every borough. In smaller municipalities the role is often part of a broader coordination service.

- I’m on the strategic development team with other experts in different areas. My job is to ensure that people, administrations or municipalities can coordinate their needs and efforts and collaborate. I try to bring together ideas, thoughts, and needs and transform them into projects and processes. What I like the most, in addition to all the people I meet, is that I get to see lots of results on this local level. That is really motivating.

Career

What career will I be prepared for?

European Studies provides a good foundation for further studies at the master's level. The programme also enables students to work in regional and national organisations that seek people with knowledge and understanding of European institutions, histories and culture. 

Internship - an optional course

At the Department of Global Political Studies, students have the opportunity to undertake an internship during one semester.

Read more about the course Internship

Read a news article about an IPES graduate 

Syllabus

Programme Code: HGIES

Institution:
Department of Global Political Studies
Revision:
2
For students admitted fall 2008  

Other set versions

  • Version 1
    approved 2007-03-02
    For students admitted fall 2007  
  • Version 3
    approved 2008-09-22
  • Version 3.1
    approved 2009-02-26
    For students admitted fall 2009  
  • Version 4
    approved 2009-09-21
    For students admitted fall 2010  
  • Version 5
    approved 2010-02-11
    For students admitted fall 2011  
  • Version 6
    approved 2011-12-15
    For students admitted fall 2012  
  • Version 7
    approved 2011-12-15
  • Version 7.1
    approved 2013-02-27
    For students admitted fall 2013  

Approval

The programme was established 02 March 2007.
This programme syllabus (version 2) was approved 02 March 2007 by the Board of Studies at the Department of International Migration and Ethnic Relations.
The syllabus is valid from 02 March 2007.

Entry requirements

The special prerequisites for this programme, besides basic eligibility for university studies, are the following upper secondary school courses: English B. Information on application and eligibility is available at www.mah.se/education/non-exchange.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in International European Studies:

- can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of multidisciplinary theories and methods in explaining, analysing and critically approaching Europe as a field of study;

- can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the tension field between universalistic and particularistic ideas in the processes of integration in Europe, as well as Europe’s historical, political, social, economic and cultural development;

- can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the European Union and its institutional organisation;

- can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Europe and its role in the World both in a historical perspective and in the contemporary era of Globalisation and

- has an understanding of Malmö University’s perspective: the environment, gender, migration, and ethnicity.

Applying knowledge and understanding

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in International European Studies:

- can apply knowledge and understanding in a way that indicates a professional approach to their work or vocation, and can demonstrate competence through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within the field of European studies;

- can fulfil assignments and projects within agreed timetables using a scientifically validated form of presentation;


- can search for, gather, evaluate and critically interpret historical and scientific data, and present this in a way that shows awareness of scientific problem solving and

- has the ability to apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspective -- environment, gender, migration and ethnicity -- to European issues.

Making judgments and communicating perspectives

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in International European Studies:

- can think logically and make rational judgements which reflect social, scientific and/or ethical issues relevant to current and historical European issues;

- is aware of and has the ability to participate and act in intercultural settings;

- can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions on European issues to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

- has an understanding of the societal role of knowledge, and the responsibilities behind its use;

- has the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and can communicate their competences both at a personal and an organizational level and

- is aware of his/her personal achievements in working towards a degree and can communicate his/her competences to potential employers.

Organisation

Term 1. IPES Basic. History with a focus on European Studies I, 1-30 credits
- European Studies Skills,
10 credits (compulsory)
- Historical Europe,
10 credits, including theme studies (compulsory)
- Contemporary Europe, 10 credits, including theme studies (compulsory)

Term 2. IPES Intermediate. History with a focus on European Studies II, 31-60 credits
- Issues, 7.5 credits (elective)
- Theories/Research History, 7.5 credits (compulsory)
- Methods, 15 credits, including field work and an essay (compulsory)

Term 3. European Geography and regional studies at Roskilde University, Denmark.
- Lectures, GIS-training (Geographical Information System) and essays, 15 credits
- Group Project, 15 credits.

Term 4. Term abroad. Studies in relevant fields at one European partner university which have exchange agreement with Malmö University, 30 credits

Term 5. Power and Policy-making in the European Union II, 31-60 credits
- Theoretical and historical perspectives, 7.5 credits
- Political Representation, 7.5 credits
- Institutional Processes, 7.5 credits
- Post-National Politics, 7.5 credits

Term 6. IPES Final. History with a focus on European Studies III, 61-90 credits
- Block 1, 15 credits. Multi-disciplinary theories of European Studies, Theme Course (elective), Training in communication to non-specialist audiences, Career planning
- Block 2, 15 credits. BA dissertation

Organisation

The general aim of the International Programme for European Studies is to develop perspectives and knowledge, built on a multidisciplinary approach on Europe, past and present. Europe is undergoing radical change, and it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the circumstances under which the Europeans live and act socially. The program is constructed to meet those needs by developing knowledge about historical and cultural contexts as well as politics and contemporary institutions. It combines critical perspectives and self-reflection with hands-on training, mobility and intercultural experiences as natural parts of its progression.

The first term creates a common basis of historical and institutional knowledge, academic skills and group project work. The second term expands and deepens the knowledge gained during the first term, and provides methodological training by essay-writing and field work studies. It also provides a better understanding and knowledge of different theories and their contextual and historical settings. The students also elect one issue from a range of options presented by the program coordinator.

The third term offers European Geography and regional studies at Roskilde University, Denmark. During this semester the students gain intercultural skills, training in mobility and flexibility together with the academic content. The term consists of lectures, GIS-training (Geographical Information System) and essays, and a larger group project.

The fourth term is a term abroad, through a developed network of exchange agreements with European Universities. The student can choose courses which the programme coordinator deems to be relevant to the study programme. The preparation and fulfilment of this term prepares and develops communication skills, intercultural understanding, planning and fulfilling activities to agreed timetables, together with network building and the academic content selected by the student. The fifth term is built on earlier studies and mainly develops and deepens the theoretical and factual knowledge and understanding of national and supranational institutional development in general, and more specific the case of the European Union.
During the sixth term the advanced theoretical course prepares the student for the BA dissertation. It is built on courses in theory during the second and fifth term. During the term the student also select one theme course that is deemed relevant by the program coordinator. The main part of the term is the individual BA dissertation.

The International Programme for European Studies will enable the students to work in regional, national, European and global institutions, organisations and companies, who search for people with knowledge and understanding of European institutions as well as European cultural and historical identities, perceptions and experiences.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts / Science.

Kandidatexamen i Historia med europeisk inriktning / Bachelor of Arts with a major in History with a focus on European Studies

Contact

Further information

Cecilia Hansson, student services assistant
Phone: 040-66 58370
E-mail: cecilia.hansson@mah.se

Fredrik Lindström, programme responsible
Phone: 040-66 57280
E-mail: fredrik.lindstrom@mah.se

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