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Studies & Degrees in European Community Information

European Community information is an older name for what universities now call European Union studies: how the EU works, how it makes law and policy, and where to find its documents. The name comes from the European Communities, the organisations from which today's European Union developed. It is also used for the documentation services that hold EU publications in university libraries.

Students learn the history of European integration, the institutions and how they decide, EU law, the single market and the Union's economy, and the EU's external relations. They also learn to work with primary sources: treaties, legislation, case law and official statistics. The European Commission describes EU studies as covering the study of Europe in its entirety, with particular emphasis on the EU dimension.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's level. The subject is rarely a degree of its own. It is usually taken as a set of courses inside degrees in law, economics, political science or international relations. In Spain these bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits. The Universidad de Navarra, for example, lists a Grado en Relaciones Internacionales of four years and 240 ECTS credits in Pamplona.
  • Master's level. Most specialised programmes are master's degrees. Official Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Unión Europea of the UNED, Spain's public distance university, is run by its Faculty of Law and has four specialisations of 60 credits each: two taught in Spanish (economics and politics, and law) and two taught in English.
  • Specialised colleges. The College of Europe teaches one-year master's programmes, from September to the end of June, on campuses in Bruges, Natolin (Warsaw) and Tirana. They include European economic studies, European law, EU international relations and diplomacy, and European political and governance studies. Students sit examinations each semester and submit a master's thesis.
  • Jean Monnet courses. Under Erasmus+, the EU funds Jean Monnet Modules (short teaching programmes on EU studies), Jean Monnet Chairs (teaching posts held by professors specialised in EU studies) and Centres of Excellence at universities worldwide. A module or chair is a sign that a university teaches the subject regularly.

Sources and documentation

Much of the subject is learning to find and read EU documents. European Documentation Centres, which support education and research on EU integration, hold a selection of documents on European affairs for the academic community. EUROPE DIRECT centres answer general questions from the public. Before enrolling, check whether the university library has a documentation centre and access to legal databases.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists three active schools under European Community information: two in Spain and one in Austria. In Spain they are the Universidad de Navarra, in Pamplona, and the Facultad de Economía y Empresa of the Universidad de Zaragoza, whose degrees include Economía and Empresa Internacional/Bachelor in International Business, with one business administration group taught in English. In Austria the list has the University of Graz.

The degree lists consulted for the two Spanish schools show no degree with this exact name, so ask each school which EU law, EU economics or European integration courses are part of the degree you choose. Spanish universities teach mainly in Spanish; ask the University of Graz about the language of each programme. English-taught options exist at master's level.

Careers

Graduates work in public administration, law firms, consultancies, companies that deal with EU rules and funding, non-governmental organisations, journalism and research. Some work for the EU institutions.

  • Traineeships. Twice a year the European Commission offers a five-month paid Blue Book traineeship. Registration for the October 2027 session opens on 15 February 2027 and closes on 12 March 2027. A separate traineeship exists for vocational education and training graduates.
  • Permanent posts. Permanent staff of the EU institutions, called officials, are recruited through selection competitions.
  • Fixed-term contracts. Contract staff are recruited through a selection process with tests and interviews, a route the EU describes as suited to early-career professionals.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a degree called European Community information?

Rarely. The content is taught today as European Union studies or European studies, most often at master's level, or as courses within law, economics, political science and international relations degrees.

How long does a master's degree in EU studies take?

Often one year. The College of Europe's programmes run from September to the end of June, and each specialisation of the UNED master's degree has 60 credits.

Can I study EU subjects in English?

Yes. The College of Europe publishes its programmes in English, and the UNED master's degree has two specialisations taught in English.

How do I get experience in the EU institutions?

The usual first step is a traineeship. The European Commission's Blue Book programme offers five-month paid traineeships twice a year.