Information for enrolled European Studies Students

Schedule 2nd Semester (PDF)

Schedule 4th Semester (PDF)

Lecturers usually hand out course syllabi in the first sessions of each class.

For general course information, please refer to 'Remarks' on Studiport. Please also make sure the get acquainted with the E-Learning-Plattform of Europa-Universität Flensburg Moodle.

Classrooms at Europa-Universität Flensburg are located in different buildings. (Please view interactive campus map!).

Rooms have names (building abbreviations) with numbers (123: 1 = first floor, 23 = room number).

Following buildings are located on campus (see "map of campus" below):

Oslo (OSL), Helsinki (HEL), Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Riga (RIG), Trondheim (Tro), Tallinn (TAL)

Following buildings are located off campus:

Madrid (MAD) is located off campus near the Flensburg train station at Munketoft 3b.

In the first and second semesters, students take compulsory modules, which introduce them to the topics of European law, the actors and decision-making processes of European politics, the history of European integration and European ideas, the theories underlying them, and the methods of empirical European and social research. They also deepen their competences in the fundamentals of good scientific practice (Critical Writing and Thinking, 5 ECTS). A special focus (15 ECTS) is on political science and sociology. In addition, students acquire 10 ECTS each in the fields of law, economics, research methods (Research Design for EU Studies) and the humanities.

In the third semester, students choose 30 ECTS from elective modules in three areas: Political and legal Europe, Societal and economic Europe, and European ideas and diversity. They acquire the ability to discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in a field, to justify their position in discussions and defend it argumentatively. In addition, they learn to critically examine and abstract various research questions and problems and to independently develop and work on further research questions.

 In the fourth semester, students come together for a master´s colloquium. This helps them understand the more practical aspects of thesis writing and provides them with a platform to discuss their research, which then results in their Master´s thesis.

Students also have the option of completing an internship to further their practical education in their field of choice, as an optional module (module 16) in the third semester which would credit them with 5 ECTS.

Our programme also offers students the opportunity to spend their third semester in one of our partner universities abroad, either through the Erasmus programme or pursuing a optional double degree with the University of Catania, in Italy or the University of Limerick, Ireland.

Here you will find the module catalogue of M.A. European Studies, which gives you an overview of the contents of each module, exam methods and workload.

The M.A. European Studies lecturers, students and programme administration of the Europa-Universität Flensburg agreed on the following academic writing guidelines. The guide provides information on all formal and academic standards.

Students are supposed to acquire the contents independently. Written assignments are graded under the expectation that students took note of the guidelines and applied them correspondingly.

Academic Writing Guide

For further assistance in academic writing, students can make use of the courses, workshops and individual consultations that are offered by TextLab.

The "Examination and Study Regulations Document (Statute) of the Europa-Universität Flensburg for the European Studies Degree Course with the Graduate Qualification Master of Arts" are the legal framework of the master's programme (German: "Prüfungs- und Studienordnung (PStO) (Satzung) der Europa-Universität Flensburg für den Studiengang European Studies mit dem Abschluss Master of Arts").

Please find the currently valid Examination and Study Regulations here:

• Prüfungsordnung der Universität Flensburg für den Masterstudiengang 'European Studies / German version (legally valid)
• Examination and Study Regulations / English version

Please be aware that the German version is the legally binding version, while the English one is provided for better comprehension purposes for those who do not speak German.

• Please make sure that you are registered for the exam on Studiport. The appropriate dates for registration can be found on the university website.
• Should you fail to register for the exam, you will not be able to participate in the exam even, if you have taken the course in which the particular exam is offered.
• Please note: to be on the safe side make sure to print out the PDF of your registered exams list as this will prevent any problems arising.
• Please be present at least 15 minutes before the exam begins.
• It is vital that you bring your student ID with matriculation number with you as you will need this to sign into the exam.

Please make sure that you are registered for the exam on Studiport. The appropriate dates for registration can be found on the university website.

Should you fail to register for the exam, you will not be able to participate in the exam even, if you have taken the course in which the particular exam is offered.

• With every term paper, each student must complete, sign and submit the  "Anti-Plagiarism Declaration"
• You might also want to have a look at the European Studies Academic writing guide

For all other matters, please follow the instructions given by your lecturer.

This seminar focuses on current issues in European Union (EU) decision-making, legislation, adjudication and politics. We will look into the EU’s management of the various ongoing and simultaneous crises, notably the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU's response to Russia's war against Ukraine, and the EU's internal controversies about the backsliding of rule of law and democracy in some of its own member states. Together, we will explore how law, politics and policy choices are interconnected and how different actors, such as the EU institutions, member state institutions, citizens and advocacy groups interact. Students learn how lawyers and political scientists respectively address a similar analytical or normative issue. Students get involved into case study work and have the opportunity to interact with external experts and politicians who join the seminar as guest speakers.

This seminar focuses on understanding the role of EU institutions in contemporary EU politics and policy-making. It discusses how EU institutions, such as the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice, act as crisis managers and engines of European integration. Examples include the COVID-19 pandemic and the euro crisis. The seminar introduces students to theories and research perspectives, such as new intergovernmentalism, principial agent theory, and policy entrepreneurship, which can help us to analyse how institutions act in EU politics and relate to member state governments, interest groups, the wider public and, indeed, other EU institutions.

The aim of this module is to look at the external perspectives of the European integration process and introduce the students to the main conceptual and theoretical debates on EU’s external action. The module explores the relevant theoretical approaches, EU’s institutional and political status, as well as foreign policy instruments on the global scale. This is achieved by considering the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and external action in general, as well as by an in-depth analysis of the EU’s diplomatic architecture. Thus, the students receive an in-depth and critical understanding of the EU’s external action and are able to present this in an individual or as a group research project. Moreover, the module aims at covering the current topics of the EU’s external action.

Students get acquainted with theories concerning the transformation of European economies. The aim of this module is to qualify students for institutional analysis, enabling them to transfer theoretical knowledge to empirical cases and further their skills in assessing comparative advantages and disadvantages of national and regional economies. Students will analyse the way in which these economies meet the challenges of recent transformation processes. Moreover, the module furthers the students’ methodological understanding, in particular their ability to apply mixed methods designs.

This module's purpose is to make students familiar with a range of current societal challenges European societies face, related, for example, to the issue of borders, migration/mobility, social inequality, the welfare state and religious or social conflicts. Moreover, the module gives the students a chance of practically employing the concepts, theories and social science methods studied in the second semester for developing their own research project. To this end, students know selected sociological theories, concepts and research methods as well as relevant empirical studies so that they have an appropriate toolkit for understanding, analysing and critically evaluating these diverse social phenomena.

In order to pass the module, students have to take both sub-modules – "Social Philosophy of Europe: The Role of Emotions in the Social Realm" and "Political Philosophy of Europe: Inequality in the EU"

Attitudes and emotions (e.g. hope, resentment, fear) are not only of individual importance, but also of social and political relevance. On the basis of philosophical theories of individual and collective emotions we will discuss the role of emotions like anger, indignation, and resentment within the social realm. Emotions expressed in the public sphere (e.g. in social movements, protests, media, art) are analysed regarding their diagnostical as well as their evaluative, critical, and transformatory roles within society. The ambivalent role of public anger on the one hand expressing emancipatory claims and on the other expressing hatred and ressentiments against certain social groups will be discussed. Emotions and their expressions as well as evaluations of emotions are analysed as well as critically assessed. How can public emotions be evaluated, criticised or legitimized?

The course adopts a philosophical, conceptual and argumentative approach to the analysis and evaluation of current examples and expressions of collective emotions (e.g. in protest-movements) in the EU (and beyond).

In this course, we survey recent philosophical literature on equality as a political value, we investigate the state of play regarding equality and inequality (in their many forms and guises) in the European Union, and we formulate assessments of the relevant policies of and within the EU to address problems of inequality. We will likely concentrate on economic inequality and unequal access to education and health care, but this is open to suggestions and preferences of participants. The focus of readings and discussions will be on normative arguments regarding equality as a pillar of justice. At the same time, we will incorporate empirical data and engage in policy analysis and assessment in order to either apply or modify the more abstract philosophical arguments.

Participants in this course will practice reconstructing as well as constructing normative arguments, they will engage in conceptual analysis just as much as in non-ideal political philosophy, and they will be asked to form reasoned views both on the nature and significance of inequality in the EU and on avenues for amelioration of political institutions and practices.

‘Diversity’ is a central feature of European societies and has been for centuries. Beyond the visible demographic changes occurring with the intensive migration processes since World War II the 400 autochthonous minorities, 37 national and 53 ‘stateless’ languages spoken as well as the various religious communities constitute the intercultural fabric of society as a norm rather than as an exception on the continent.
Accommodating and managing diversity, resolving and preventing cultural clashes, ensuring cultural survival and peaceful coexistence have therefore been a common challenge and an everyday reality shaped by the historical shifts of values, priorities and approaches. By addressing diversity as a fundamental condition and as a factor that has been and still is shaping political, economic, social and cultural developments in the wider European context, the module will address the complexity of the field exploring it from various perspectives. It will aim not only at equipping students with knowledge and skills to analyse critically phenomena and events, to assess and evaluate policies and practices, to respect, promote and protect cultural diversity and the identity of every individual on an equal basis. Upon completion of this module, students will be able to identify and explain fundamental aspects of cultural diversity and define and evaluate the most important methods of diversity management. Since the approach of the module is multi-disciplinary, students will be able to examine cultural diversity issues from the perspectives of political science and law, including international human rights law and international relations studies, political theory, political sociology and cultural studies.

We recommend and support students in doing an internship related to the course content during their studies.

If you fulfill the following requirements, your internship can be accepted as an elective course:

• The internship has to be related to the study programme.
• You have talked about doing the internship with the Coordinator of M.A. European Studies before the start of the internship.
• It was carried out after the beginning of your master studies in European Studies.
• It was a full-time internship of at least three weeks.
• Your participation can be confirmed by a reference letter or certificate.
• After completing your internship, you have to write a report of 7-10 pages which will be graded by the Head of Studies.

Your internship is worth 5 ECTS. Since it is graded on the basis of passed/failed the grade cannot be considered for your final average grade on your diploma (which indicates your overall performance in the master).

Acknowledgement of your internship is voluntary, you have to decide yourself whether you prefer to take an elective course which is graded within the regular grading system and will affect your final average grade or not.

We encourage our students to take part in summer schools related to the course content during their studies.

If you fulfill the following requirements, your participation in a summer school can be accepted as an elective course:

• The summer school has to be related to the study programme.
• You have talked about doing the summer school with the Coordinator of M.A. European Studies before the start of the summer school.
• It was carried out after the beginning of your master studies in European Studies.
• It was a summer school on a Masters level and gives you at least 5 ECTS.
• Your participation can be confirmed by a reference letter or certificate.

Your summer school is worth 5 ECTS. Since it is graded on the basis of passed/failed the grade cannot be considered for your final average grade on your diploma (which indicates your overall performance in the master).

Acknowledgement of your summer school is voluntary, you have to decide yourself whether you prefer to take an elective course which is graded within the regular grading system and will affect your final average grade or not.

The following list is supposed to give you an idea as to where you can apply for an internship:

• Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)
• ECMI - European Centre for Minority Issues
• Hanse-Office
• European Court of Justice (ECJ)
• European Ombudsman
• Regional Ombudsman
• European Parliament
• European Commission
• EuroBrussels.com (job search)
• Institute for Security Policy Kiel (ISPK)
• Regional Representatives
• Lobbyist groups
• National Representatives

Through this website you will access other websites which are not under the control of M.A. European Studies of Europa-Universität Flensburg. Links to external, or third party websites, are provided for visitors' convenience. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. When visiting external websites, users should review those websites' privacy policies and other terms of use to learn more about, what, why and how they collect and use any personally identifiable information.

M.A. European Studies students have the opportunity to take part in double degree programme with either Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy or University of Limerick, Ireland.

The double degree with the University of Catania offers the students an opportunity to enlarge their knowledge about Euro-Mediterranean and international relations, while the double degree with Limerick offers a deeper insight into the cultural and linguistic aspects of European integration.

After finishing the double degree programme, students will receive the following degrees:

• Master of Arts/Laurea Magistrale in Global Politics and Euro-Mediterranean Relations (Università degli Studi di Catania) & Master of Arts in European Studies (Europa-Universität Flensburg)
• Master of Arts European Studies (University of Limerick) & Master of Arts European Studies (Europa-Universität Flensburg).

How to apply:

• Fill in the application form on your computer.
• Send the completed application form (pages 3-4) and an additional photo via email to the programme coordinator.

The following documents (checklist) must be submitted:

• application form completely filled in and duly signed;
• copy of your Transcript of Records, showing that you have passed all courses form your first semester (until May 31st);
• curriculum vitae showing complete education from start of primary school until the present day, including professional experience, voluntary social and/or political activities, especially engagement in extracurricular activities of the MA European Studies, language skills etc.

Please be aware that we will only consider applications that were submitted according to the procedure outlined above. Please be aware that incomplete applications cannot be considered.

Please find out more about an Erasmus exchange on the International Centre’s homepage.

In order to register your Master's thesis, please fill in the corresponding form and hand it in to Karin Drenkow.

You have to be registered as a student at Europa-Universität Flensburg until the day of your oral defence of the Master's thesis. This means that you have to re-matriculate as a student also when writing your Master's thesis. Not re-matriculating will lead to your removal from the register of students and you will not be able to finish your studies.

Please note: at most 4-6 weeks may pass between the initial topic discussion with your supervisors and the registration of the thesis (at the examination office).

You have five months to complete the Master's thesis. The subject and task of the Master's thesis must be such that the deadline can be kept. The minimum time for processing a thesis (from registration to handing-in) may now not undercut ½ of the total allotted time.

In the 4^th semester you will attend a Master’s colloquium which aims at supporting students in the thesis writing process. Amongst other topics the Master's colloquium addresses academic writing skills, time management, writing a literature review, developing a hypothesis/ research question, presentation skills etc.

Before registering their thesis, students have to find two supervisors:

•     1st supervisor: any lecturer (minimum: PhD degree) of the Europa-University of Flensburg.
•     2nd supervisor: any lecturer of the M.A. European Studies programme (including external lecturers).

Should you choose an external supervisor, please get in contact with programme coordinator before registering your thesis.

Identifying who can be your supervisor may seem a difficult task. For this reason, the table below has been created to help you. See who could be your potential supervisor by matching them to your area of interest.

Here you can find the list of supervisors.

Dr. Serguisz Bober

• National and ethnic minorities in post 1989 East-Central Europe
• Nationalist discourses and ideologies in contemporary Europe
• Federalism and multi-ethnic societies
• Regional and regionalist political parties in contemporary Europe

Prof. Dr. Hauke Brunkhorst

• European politics
• Constitutionalism
• Public sphere 
• Social movements

Dr. Sören Carlson

• Education
• European society formation/horizontal Europeanization
• Intra-European migration/mobility
• Social class/social inequality

Dr. Pascal Delhom

• History of Ideas
• Political Philosophy
• Social Philosophy
• Scientific Rationality

Prof. Dr. Emanuel Deutschmann

• Sociology of Europe
• Mobility and migration
• Transnational sense of community
• Social class/social inequality
• Conflicts

Dr. Ljubica Đorđević Vidojković

• European Legal Framework on National Minority Rights
• Language Rights of National Minorities
• Participation of National Minorities in Public Life
• Minority Autonomy Arrangements
• Anti-Discrimination
• Europeanization of Constitutional Law
• Democratic Transformation

Prof. Dr. Monika Eigmüller

• EU-Migration/ Border Regime Policy
• EU-Social Policy
• Cultural Studies
• The constitution of a European society/ Horizontal Europeanization
• European Identity building/ Attitudes towards European integration

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Glassmann

• For official inquiries please use: secretariat.cia-PleaseRemoveIncludingDashes-@uni-flensburg.de

Prof. Dr. Tove Malloy

• Minority rights of ethno-cultural groups
• European normative regime on minority rights
• Diversity governance and international relations theory
• National approaches to minority protection
• Monitoring of rights violations
• Democratic theory and autonomy of groups

Prof. Dr. Anna Katharina Mangold

• EU Law
• International Law
• Human Rights Law
• Antidiscrimination Law
• Feminist Legal Studies / Legal Gender Studies
• Legal Theory and Philosophy
• History of Public Law

Prof. Dr. Vello Pettaí

• Multiculturalism
• Post-communist politics
• Party politics
• Transitional justice
• Democratization

Prof. Dr. Uwe Puetter

• European Politics
• EU Institutions
• Integration Theory
• EU Policies (economic, monetary, social, foreign, trade, internal market)

Prof. Dr. Anne Reichold

• Social Philosophy
• Moral Philosophy
• Anthropology, Concept of Person
• Emotions in the Public Sphere
• Social Movements

Prof. Dr. Christiane Reinecke

• Migration History
• Critical Border Studies
• History of Social Inequalities and Urban Peripheries
• History of Decolonization

Prof. Dr. Christof Roos

• EU Governance
• Asylum and Migration
• Freedom of Movement

Dr. Felix Schulte

• Ethnic conflicts, conflict dynamics
• Democratization, peace processes
• Federalism, power-sharing, autonomy

Prof. Dr. David Schweikard

• Politcial Philosophy
• Democratic Theory
• Social Justice
• Legitimacy
• Policy Analysis and Assessment

Prof. Dr. Marcel Smolka

• International Trade
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Multinational Enterprises
• Vertical integration and outsourcing
• Technological Change

Dr. Kyriaki Topidi

• Education and education rights for majorities and minorities
• Religion and religious freedoms for majorities and minorities
• Legal pluralism
• Comparative legal methodology
• Diversity management
• Hate speech and hate crime
• Anti-discrimination

Dr. Stefan Wallaschek

• European Politics
• Solidarity research
• Political (online-)communication
• Social media research
• Gender studies
• Discourse (network) analysis

Please read about the Master's thesis registration, writing and submitting process in Part III of our Exam regulations.

General guidelines of Master’s thesis.

The list of former Master's theses already written can give you an idea about possible topics: