European Studies - Focus on

It is a truism that Ireland has benefited greatly from membership of the EEC/EC/EU. Our membership of the European Union has opened up massive opportunities for Irish businesses, workers and consumers and contributed to huge developments in our economy and society over the past thirty years.

A number of postgraduate social science courses have been set up more recently which provide graduates with an opportunity to study the European Union. These generally take an interdisciplinary approach and provide a basic grounding in the structures, policies and institutions of the EU. They can also incorporate elements of European economics, culture and history, which are relevant to a greater understanding of the European project. Some courses provide the opportunity to study a modern European language. Postgraduate courses in the European Studies area at Irish universities often attract students from throughout the EU, and have links with universities in other nation states.

The MA in European Integration and Public Policy at Queens University Belfast is one such course. It can be taken over one-year on a full time basis or part-time over two years. The entrance requirement is a good degree in European Studies or a related subject [possibilities include humanities, social science, history, economics, politics etc]. The programme is designed to meet the increasing demand for public and private sector managers capable of responding to the demands of the new regulatory environment created by the EU.

Courses and modules include The European Union: Institutions, Process and Policy, Approaches to European Integration and Public Policy, Regionalism and Regionalisation in the European Union, EU Law and Europeanisation. Assessment is by a mix of continuous assessment and examination and a final dissertation of no more than 15,000 words is required.

It is possible to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in each of the areas covered by the MA programmes. On successful completion of the diploma, the student must then complete a dissertation to gain the MA. There is also the opportunity to transfer into a PhD programme on completion of the MA.

There are a number of other similar courses available at postgraduate level throughout Ireland. The University of Limerick runs an MA in European Integration and NUI Maynooth has an MA course in European Social Policy Analysis. The Dublin European Institute in UCD offers an MA, MEconSc and PhD programmes in European Studies. UCC has MA in European Studies and European Development Studies courses.

There are many career options for those who complete a postgraduate course in European Studies or a related subject. Many find jobs with EU institutions, with national governments, in the media or education sectors or with non-governmental and international organisations. They are also sought after as European specialists by industry and business. Therefore, the graduate who chooses to enhance their education and career prospects by taking a postgraduate qualification in European Studies should not be short of options after completing their course.