Master

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 is 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.

Fast facts

Truly international: students from more than 20 countries
Learn from expert lecturers and professionals in the field
Small study groups of max 15 students
1-year, full-time master’s, taught in English
Starts in September
Weekly: 10 contact hrs, 30 hrs group & independent study
You will get an MA in European Studies

Study Europe from multiple perspectives Apply now

Sign up for our explore FASoS magazine

Do you want to know all about our Faculty? We’ll give you the grand tour! Sign up for our e-zine and get a sneak preview of studying at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and life in Maastricht!

Keep up with our vlogs, columns and background articles and we will put you in touch with some of our student ambassadors. You can follow their stories and ambitions on Facebook.

Sign up for our e-zine!

Manuel Rauscher, Student Ambassador Master European Studies

Manuel is from Germany, he completed a double degree bachelor’s programme in Banking and Finance in Germany and International Accounting and Finance in Wales and chose to come to Maastricht University for the master’s programme in European Studies. “I’ve always wanted to study abroad to improve my language skills, on an academic level as well, and broaden my views. That is also why I decided to build on the international aspects of my bachelor’s programme but move on to a different topic, European Politics and International Relations, one of the tracks in my master’s programme. The interdisciplinary and international approach is a perfect fit with my academic knowledge and experiences so far, also with my work experience as a management consultant. It’s one of the aspects that drew me to Maastricht University and this particular programme, next to the diversity of students and the Problem-Based Learning environment. So far, I’m extremely happy with my choice.”

Follow Manuel on Facebook

During my Bachelors studies, I became interested in politics and international relations. After doing my minor in European Studies, I realised that that was the programme for me.

Read the full story

David Kaik, European Studies
“I always wanted to show the world that I can leave an imprint on society.”

Watch the video

Siebe Geerts, Student Ambassador European Studies 2016-2017
We went on a two-day trip to Brussels and spoke to Business Europe, one of the biggest lobby groups there

Read the full story

Frank Mütze (The Netherlands), European Studies

News

Patrick Bijsmans and FASoS alumna Christiane Barth publish thesis research
Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Patrick Bijsmans and FASoS alumna Christiane Barth (MA in European Studies) have just published Christiane's thesis research in the peer-reviewed Journal of Contemporary European Studies

Read more
FASoS alumnus appointed as Economy Minister Lithuania
Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite on Monday appointed Virginijus Sinkevicius, chairman of the parliamentary Economic Committee and a member of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Green Union, as the country's economy minister.

Read more

Calendar

31 Aug

FASoS Introduction for Master's students

The FASoS introduction day is intended to give new master's students a better idea of the various aspects...
17 Nov 10:00

Master’s Open Day on 17 November 2018

Experience Maastricht University: find out more about one of the most international universities in Europe...

- NWO has awarded a Vidi grant worth 800.000 euro to six experienced UM researchers: Dr. Tamar Sharon (FASoS), Prof. Caroline Goukens, Prof. Olivier Marie and Dr. Annelies Renders (all SBE) and Prof. Bart Rutten and Dr. Judith Sluimer (both FHML/MUMC+). The grant enables them to develop their own innovative line of research and set up their own research group.
  
  Sharon’s research is about "The Googlization of health and the common good". As we move into the digital era, companies like Google and Apple are becoming important actors in health research. But how do we ensure that this serves the public interest? This research studies the impact of the “Googlization of health” on the common good, and investigates ways to secure it.
  Vidi grant for Tamar Sharon | FASoS Weekly
  
  Maastricht University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences via
  
  17 hours 13 min ago
- Hayo Raaphorst, alumnus of the MSc European Studies (Research), has been awarded the Daniel Heinsius Prize for the best MA thesis in political science (by the Dutch and Belgian Political Science Associations). Hayo received the prestigious award for his thesis on: ‘Countering the Realist Narrative on Common Diplomacy Coordination: A Political-Historical Analysis of European Political Cooperation, 1970-1986’.
  Research Master ES alumnus Hayo Raaphorst wins thesis award | FASoS Weekly
  
  Maastricht University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences via
  
  3 days 15 hours ago
- Last week, BA European Studies student Josh Oudendijk, a.k.a. Josh Island, performed his song at the 60th anniversary of the Benelux union. In the large audience of 450 people Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Philippe of Belgium were present.
  
  Josh told us that the Kings and the Grand Duke were even whistling along to his song.
  
  For more information about the evening, check out: https://www.facebook.com/joshislandmusic/
  
  Maastricht University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences via
  
  1 week 2 days ago