Political Economy of European Integration

This master's programme gives you the analytical tools and methodological grounding to study the pressing challenges facing European integration today — from environmental emergencies and growing economic and social disparities between and within member states to the ongoing humanitarian refugee situation. It brings together insights from macroeconomics, political science, sociology and law so you can examine these problems from multiple, interconnected angles.

Teaching takes a pluralist and critical approach: you will engage with both classical and heterodox theories and learn diverse methodologies across disciplines. The interdisciplinary design encourages comparative thinking and equips you to question mainstream assumptions while developing evidence-based arguments and policy-relevant analyses.

The course is strongly internationally focused in content and composition. Lecturers and classmates come from varied backgrounds, and learning happens in small, interactive groups that promote intercultural exchange, collaborative research and debate — valuable experience for careers in research, policy, international organisations, advocacy or further doctoral study.

Recommended background and programme expectations

• Bachelor’s-level foundation in a related field (e.g., economics, political science, sociology, law or another social science)
• Proficiency in English for academic coursework and discussion
• Interest in interdisciplinary study and willingness to engage with both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Openness to pluralist and critical perspectives, including classical and heterodox theories
• Ability to work effectively in small, multicultural seminar groups and participate in collaborative learning

Curriculum overview

The program starts with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in the first semester: macroeconomic dynamics of money and trade in Europe, the politics of the EU’s multilevel governance, historical and sociological perspectives on European social models, and pressing ecological concerns such as nature protection, sustainability and energy security. In semester two you choose from a diverse set of electives that let you tailor the degree toward law, quantitative methods, political economy, ecological modelling or critical perspectives like feminist economics. The third semester is dedicated to mobility or practical experience—students can study at a partner university or complete an internship—and to focused research: you write a master’s thesis on a contemporary topic in the political economy of Europe, supported by individual supervision and peer feedback in small workshops.

This structure is geared to equip international students with both theoretical depth and applied skills. Core modules build a shared conceptual framework for understanding Europe’s economic and political architecture, while electives and methodological courses (including econometrics and modelling) allow you to develop specialist analytical capacities. The thesis and workshop format help you translate coursework into independent research, preparing you for careers in policy analysis, international organisations, research institutions, NGOs or further academic study.

Key modules and elective examples

• Core first-semester modules: macro-economics of money and trade in Europe; politics of multilevel governance of the European Union; historical, political and sociological dimensions of European social models; nature protection, sustainability and energy security.
• Representative second-semester electives: Politics of Social Cohesion; Recent Developments in European Law; Econometrics; International Political Economy; The Political Economy of Modern Capitalism; Modelling in Ecological Economics; The Role of Europe in a Multipolar World; Feminist Economics (or other options from the master’s course pool).

Learning outcomes (what you will gain)

• Ability to analyse European macroeconomic and trade issues and assess their policy implications.
• Understanding of EU governance structures and multilevel political processes.
• Competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., econometrics, ecological modelling) relevant to political economy.
• Capacity to evaluate social policy regimes and ecological policy challenges (sustainability, energy security, nature protection).
• Experience conducting independent research and producing a master’s thesis, strengthened through individual supervision and peer-review workshops.
• Enhanced readiness for international study, internships and careers in policy, research, and international organisations.

Program requirements (concise)

• Completion of first-semester core modules covering economics, EU governance, social models and ecological issues.
• Selection of elective courses in the second semester from the master’s course pool.
• Third-semester mobility to another university or completion of an internship.
• Submission of a master’s thesis with individual supervision and participation in small peer-review workshops.

Graduates are prepared for careers in EU institutions, national ministries, international organisations, NGOs, policy think tanks, and consultancy roles dealing with European affairs, public policy, and socio-economic governance. The programme’s mix of macroeconomic, political and legal training equips alumni for roles in policy analysis, programme management, and advisory positions focused on integration, sustainability and social cohesion.

The research and methodological training also provides a solid foundation for doctoral studies and academic careers. Practical options such as internships and study abroad enhance employability for roles that require cross-border collaboration and interdisciplinary problem-solving in the political economy of Europe.