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Studies & Degrees in European Studies

European studies is an interdisciplinary field about Europe as a region: its history, politics, law, economies, languages and cultures. Programmes combine the social sciences and the humanities instead of working within one discipline. Most give special weight to post-war European integration and to the European Union (EU): how its institutions work, how its law is made and how it acts in the world.

The field has two broad versions. One is area studies, common in the United States, where students learn about European societies and at least one European language. The other is EU studies, common in Europe at master's level, which trains specialists in EU law, policy and institutions.

What students learn

  • Modern and contemporary European history
  • The political systems of European countries and the institutions of the EU
  • EU law, the single market, the euro and economic policy
  • The EU's external relations, security and enlargement
  • One or more European languages
  • Research methods and a final thesis or project

At the University of Washington, for example, the European Studies major of the Jackson School of International Studies requires 50 credits plus language proficiency: a European language through second-year level, courses on Europe today and European history, electives and a senior seminar or thesis. Vanderbilt University groups the field in a Department of European, German, and Russian Studies that covers languages, cultures, histories and politics.

Qualifications and levels

Bachelor's degree. In the United States and the United Kingdom, European studies is offered as a major or as a named bachelor's degree, often with a language and a period abroad. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits; European topics are usually studied within degrees such as international relations, law, political science or history, and the specialisation comes at master's level.

Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Unión Europea of the Real Instituto Universitario de Estudios Europeos (Universidad San Pablo CEU, Madrid) has run as an official master's degree since 2010. It analyses European integration from a historical, political, economic, legal and social perspective, and can be taken on campus or online. The degree is awarded by the Universidad San Pablo CEU in collaboration with the Instituto Universitario Ortega-Marañón, which describes the programme as bilingual. The institute was created in November 1999 and has been designated a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence by the European Commission.

In Austria, the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA) offers the Master of Advanced International Studies (MAIS), a two-year joint master's degree with the University of Vienna. It has 120 ECTS credits, is taught in English with some optional courses in German and French, and includes international and European law. The tuition fee is EUR 32,800 for the 2026-28 programme.

Study abroad and short programmes. Students from outside Europe often take a semester of European studies on site. AEP Academic Experience in Prague, for example, runs fall and spring semester programmes.

Jean Monnet Actions

The EU funds teaching and research about itself through the Jean Monnet Actions, which run under Erasmus+. For higher education they support teaching and research in European Union studies worldwide. A Jean Monnet chair, module or centre of excellence at a university shows that it has dedicated EU teaching, which is a useful point to check when comparing programmes.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 53 active schools for European studies. The United States has 16, the United Kingdom 10 and Spain eight. Germany and Ireland have three each, and Austria, the Netherlands and Greece two each.

The list includes, in the United States, the University of Washington, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and The University of Texas at Austin. In the United Kingdom it includes the University of Sussex, Lancaster University and the University of Strathclyde. In Spain it includes the Real Instituto Universitario de Estudios Europeos, the Fundación Ortega-Marañón and the Universidad de Navarra, and elsewhere in Europe the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and AEP Academic Experience in Prague.

English is the main language of instruction in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and in many master's programmes on the continent. A second European language is expected or required almost everywhere.

Careers

Graduates work in the EU institutions, national and regional administrations, diplomacy, international organisations, consultancies and interest groups in Brussels, non-governmental organisations, journalism, education and companies that trade across Europe. The University of Washington describes careers that range from diplomacy and international business to government, education, journalism and culture.

A degree does not give direct entry to the EU civil service. Permanent staff, called officials, are recruited through selection competitions. Contract staff, a route the EU describes as suited to early-career professionals, are recruited through a selection process with tests and interviews.

Frequently asked questions

Is European studies the same as international relations?

No. International relations covers relations between states worldwide. European studies concentrates on one region and on the EU, and adds history, law, culture and languages.

Do I need to speak several languages?

At least one foreign language is normally part of the degree. The University of Washington, for example, requires a European language through second-year level.

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

One to two years. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, and the MAIS of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna takes two years and 120 ECTS credits.