Aston University and Institut d’Etudes Politiques Lille offer students an exceptional opportunity to pursue a Double Masters in the area of European Studies with a vocational focus on the EU. The design of the programme provides an internationally oriented understanding of European affairs which is enhanced by its mix of both French and British perspectives. Students spend one year in the UK (Aston) and the second year in France (Lille). The aim is to prepare postgraduate students for embarking on challenging career paths that require knowledge of Europe’s place in the world and a practically oriented grasp of EU decision-making processes and legislation.
About Aston
Located in the heart of Birmingham, Britain’s second city, Aston University is one of the UK’s longest-established centres for European Studies. The programme is based within the Politics and International Relations Group of the School of Languages and Social Sciences and benefits both from the disciplinary expertise of research active staff in Politics, International Relations and European Studies and from the proximity to other disciplines in the languages and humanities.
Politics and International Relations is one of the fastest-growing areas of Aston. In late 2008, the University announced an investment of £½million into the discipline in order to set up the
Aston Centre for Europe (ACE), which is based in the Politics and International Relations subject group and acts as a host for the programme. This exciting new initiative also carries out cutting-edge research and brings high profile speakers to Aston as part of its mission to showcase the University’s strengths in European affairs. To this end, Politics and International Relations is expanding its staffing levels by almost 50% by 2010, making Aston one of the UK’s principal centres for European politics.
Students on the Double Masters will also benefit from a dedicated resource and IT suite, in addition to the well-stocked library and the School’s newly-refurbished Cadbury Room, in which students can browse current periodicals from across Europe.
Find out more about Aston University
About Lille
France’s fourth largest metropolitan area, an international crossroads and a dynamic financial centre, Lille is an artistic and historic city. In 2004 it was designated as a European Capital of Culture. Lille is an important tourist destination, recognised for its welcoming living environment, well-preserved heritage and active cultural life.
Institut d’Etudes Politiques Lille, which was created in 1991, is one of the nine French Institutes for Political Studies. These public institutions belong to the Elite Graduate School category as students are selected through competitive exams. They coordinate their development policies under the aegis of the National Foundation of Political Science.
Today, Institut d’Etudes Politiques Lille welcomes more than 1,500 students on its Diploma course. The Institute has 130 agreements (Erasmus and Bilateral) in 30 countries. Its international dimension also appears in the large number of conferences it organises as well as in the number of visiting professors teaching in Lille every year from all over the world.
Students on the Double Master will benefit from the well-stocked library of Institut d’Etudes Politiques Lille, especially on EU issues. Moreover, they will benefit from the experience of the Institute on European issues, academic, administrative and professional. Click here for more details.
Find out more about Institut d'Etudes Politiques Lille.
At Aston
At Aston, the programme aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in contemporary European politics, including its international relations. It comprises both taught modules and a research dissertation, and students are required to complete 180 credits to qualify for the Aston MA.
The programme consists of the following modules (view our
module descriptions for full details):
- Two Core Modules:
- The European Union. A Web of Institutions focuses on the development of the European Union, analysing the role of institutions, recent trends in European politics, economics and society, and the impact of European integration at both national and supranational levels (20 credits); First Term.
- The EU as a Global Actor considers the roles and powers exercised by the EU as a political and economic actor in the contemporary world, with attention paid to key policy issues (20 credits); Second Term.
- Up to five optional modules (100 credits) from a range of choices (subject to availability), typically including:
- International Relations and the Global Order (First Term)
- Transatlantic Relations in Historical Perspective: The United States and Europe (First Term)
- Germany and the World (First Term)
- Europe's Regions and their Governance (First Term)
- When is a Nation? Nationalism and Identity (First Term)
- International Security (First Term)
- Cities and Regions in the Global Economy (First Term)
- Partisan Politics in Europe (First Term)
- Asia-Europe Relations: Between Interregionalism and Bilateralism (First Term)
- Research Methods (First and Second Term)
- International Ethics and Literature (Second Term)
- The EU and its Neighbours (Second Term)
- Leaders and Leadership in a European and Global Context (Second Term)
- International Migration: Dynamics, Challenges and Dilemmas (Second Term)
- US Foreign Policy in the Cold War (Second Term)
- Religion and Politics (Second Term)
- Security and Defence in Europe (Second Term)
- International Political Communication (Second Term)
- Comparative and International Political Economy (Second Term)
- The Globalisation of the International Political Economy (Second Term)
- Language module (choice of French, English, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese) (10 credits per term) - First and Second Term
3. Minor Dissertation based on supervised study and research on a chosen topic, linked to the European dynamics, topic (10,000 words length) (40 credits)
At Lille
At Lille, the programme aims to continue and deepen what students have studied during their year in Aston as well as allowing them to specialise in specific European areas. Students also take a work placement opportunity as part of the course.
Students are required to complete 180 credits to gain the Double Masters award.
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Semester 1 - students choose from a range of European Studies modules - two core modules (40 credits), one of which is taught in French, and three optional modules, including a language (60 credits).
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Semester 2 - students take an EU-focused work placement. Guidance is provided by The Institut d'Etudes Politiques Lille is choosing a suitable placement. Placements have previously taken place at European institutions and interest groups in nearby Brussels.
Students write a report and make a presentation to staff and students to analyse their placement experience (80 credits).
Normally a good UK Honours Degree (minimum of an upper second class) in a relevant discipline or an overseas degree recognised by Aston University, plus two references.
IInternational students whose native language is not English and have not completed a full degree programme taught in English, will also need to obtain:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 7 in writing and minimum of 6 in speaking, listening and reading.
Applicants whose first language is not French must show that they have achieved a B1 level in the Common European Framework. This may take the form of:
- AS French for British students
- ASSET grades 10-12
- Level 3 in the Test de Connaissance du Français
- B1 in the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française), or
- the French Baccalauréat (or its equivalent in other Francophone countries).
Applicants whose first language is not French and have not yet achieved B2 level in the Common European Framework are enrolled at Aston on an Advanced French module. They are expected to achieve B2 level, along the lines of the DALF, at the end of their Aston year.
French candidates will have to contact Sciences Po Lille and selections will primarily be made by application form with support from a competitive evaluation.
Students will have to successfully complete the first year at Aston before progressing to the second year at Lille.
*TWE - Test in Written English
Modules are delivered via a variety of innovative and engaging teaching methods. You will take part in lectures, undertake individual research and guided study under the one-to-one supervision of a supervisor. There are also opportunities for interactive learning under a tutor’s guidance.
At Aston the taught modules are primarily assessed by written examination or extended essay. A 10,000 word minor dissertation will be completed.
At IEP-Lille, students are assessed by written examination for their module work. The assessment of placement includes a viva (oral examination)
Graduate opportunities are available in European institutions, European interest groups and lobbies, national governments, international organisations, international business, politics and journalism.
This course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication and modern language skills, as well as research and report writing skills. Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished IT facilities.
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