Programme

What is EPS?

The EPS Programme offers students a unique opportunity to gain and develop their knowledge in European affairs from political, societal, economic, historical, and IR  perspectives and self-leadership and collaboration capacities. The EPS Programme is based on three pillars

• gaining knowledge,
• learning by experience,
• networking. 

Knowledge

Students gain theoretical knowledge in compulsory courses through a two-year study period where the EPS students learn about

• EU institutions, economics, home and justice affairs;
• political, social, cultural, and economic challenges in the European context;
• methodology, methods, and theoretical debates in social sciences;
• languages. 

Alongside compulsory courses, the curriculum is flexible, and students choose facultative classes from the broad offer at Partner Universities to tailor studies to their interests. Moreover, the EPS Partner Universities organised various supplementary lectures, seminars, and workshops through a two-year study period where EPS students learn additional theoretical and practical capabilities. 

The EPS Consortium is aware that practical skills are crucial for professional development and the future career of students. Therefore, the programme offers

• a complex workshop ʻLeading in Complexityʼ to support the development of students’ cooperative and self-leadership capacities;
•  a series of workshops organised by Partner Universities on how to write a CV and application letters, present themselves on LinkedIn, deal with work stress, negotiate the salary etc.

A student can design the set of lectures and workshops according to her/his needs. 

Experience

The EPS programme goes beyond theoretical knowledge as students are encouraged to apply the gained know-how in practice.

First, an integral part of the EPS courses is arguing, debating, defending opinions, and presenting outcomes among their peers. Second, students introduce and defend their MA thesis research in Barcelona Research Seminar where academics and students from all EPS Partner Universities meet once per academic year. Third, EPS students are invited to present their research in the Oxford Spring School to get in touch with the prestigious academic environment in the City of Dreaming Spires and gain inestimable experience. Fourth, extra-curricular workshops are frequently based on interactive learning and thus include the practical element, e.g., modules of ʻLeading in Complexityʼ based on negotiating, training, and working in groups. 

Alongside applying self-leadership, discussion, communicative and collaborative skills in academia (e.g., classes, Barcelona Research Seminar, Oxford Spring School), the internships within the EPS curriculum offer an ideal opportunity to simulate a working environment and develop the gained capacities in the labour market. 

Networking

EPS Programme opens to students a large contact network of people from all around the world. An EPS student is a member of a community encompassing

• her/his peers and alumni from a wide range of countries,
• academics through all EPS Partner Universities,
• professionals from EPS Associated Partners, from the internship, the Brussels Field Trip etc.

Being a member of the EPS Community means having many friends and relations not only all around Europe but all over the world.

The three-pillar EPS scheme within the two-year study period offers to the students a valuable basis in theoretical and practical knowledge about European politics, society, the European Union, and know-how in self-leadership, self-presentation, and cooperation. Students might lean on these skills in future development and work engagement in the EU institutions, international organisations, NGOs, private sectors etc.

Last updated 3. 1. 2022.