Objectives

The Europaeum-sponsored programme in European History & Civilisation is designed to give students a unique opportunity to study the history of European states and nations from the Late Middle Ages until the present day at three leading European universities: Leiden University, Université Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), and the University of Oxford. It leads to a Master of Arts in History awarded by Leiden University, with an additional certificate presented by the Europaeum. The Europaeum, association of ten leading European universities, combines the unique cultures and resources of its member institutions to create a ‘university without walls’.

The main goal of this programme is to provide future academic, governmental, and business leaders with international experience at a formative stage. The programme offers graduate students an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of European history through the lenses of three different university worlds. The programme is centered on the theme of the history of states and nations in Europe - a theme of increasing importance for understanding Europe and the rest of the world today.

Programme

Leiden 

This one-year programme is divided into trimesters, with the first trimester of teaching taking place at Leiden, where students will be required to follow three courses and work on their MA-thesis:

1) Historical Methodology (5 ECTS) 
2) Literature Seminar Introduction to the History of States and Nations in Europe (5 ECTS) 
3) Research Seminar (10 ECTS): elective based on  the students preferences and course availability within the History Department 
4) 5000-word proposal for a MA-thesis, under the direct supervision of an academic member of the Leiden History Department. 

Paris 

During the second trimester students will move to Paris I where they will be required to follow three courses, present the final proposal for their MA-thesis, and write a bibliographical essay, for a total of 20 ECTS. Students will follow courses designed especially for the Europaeum. These classes vary from year to year based on each cohort’s interests, and will be taught in English. In addition, students can sit in on seminars intended for the wider student body at the Sorbonne should they so desire. 

Oxford

The third trimester will take place at Oxford and includes personally- supervised tutorials for the students’ individual theses, as well as weekly seminars subjects that vary from year to year. These weekly seminars will be tailor-made for the Europaeum students, although they are open to the wider Oxford academic community. The activities at Oxford University will be worth 20 EC. In Oxford, students are affiliated with a college and matriculate to that college. 

Teaching will be in English and will be conducted by key academic figures in each host university. Europaeum students will be expected to  take part in the academic and social life of each of the three institutions. In each part of the programme, students select modules from a range of topics, and are thus able to tailor the course to their specific interests and requirements. 

In each university there is an academic coordinator, with overall responsibility for academic and logistical arrangements for that particular institution. The coordinators will work closely with students and with each other, ensuring that the curriculum works as a coherent whole with high academic standards and without overlap.

More information

For more information on the courses of the MA Europaeum see the Prospectus.