European Studies Undergraduate Course

An innovative and well-rounded degree

             

This Program for undergraduate students is organized as one of the Excellence Programmes offered by the Nantes Université and focuses on European issues. It allows the students to develop abilities in understanding and analyzing European issues and combines a chosen Major (Law, History, Languages) with a pluridisciplinary curriculum.

At the end of this programme, students receive a full Bachelor’s Degree (« Licence ») in their Major with a supplement for the European Studies part of their curriculum.

Students attend the core subjects in their chosen Major (Law, History, or Languages) as well as the courses of the common curriculum on European Issues (Economics, Geography, History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science...).

Some of the European Studies courses are taught in English and a third language is compulsory.

Course structure

The European Studies Undergraduate Course covers three years of a Bachelor Program in the chosen Major (Law, History, English, German or Italian). In addition, students who complete the degree are eligible to a Europass thanks to their European Studies curriculum.

For example, when registered in Law with European Studies, students have :

• The first half of their timetable (50 % ECTS) devoted to attending the core courses in Law, as expected from any Law student (from the 1st to the 3d year);
• The second half (50 % ECTS) devoted to courses on European issues with a pluridisciplinary approach.

Students are expected to develop various skills in understanding and analysing European issues, to deepen their knowledge and to develop abilities in oral presentations and debating. Each semester of the European curriculum focuses on specific topics related to European integration :

• Semester 1 : European legacies,
• Semester 2 : European Actors,
• Semester 3 : Policy Tools,
• Semester 4 : Europe as a specific space,
• Semester 5 : Europe and the world (= Erasmus exchange)
• Semester 6 : European values and challenges

Each of these European topics are presented through a pluridisciplinary perspective with courses in Economics, Politics, History, Geography, Literature, Languages and Cultural Studies, aimed at giving the students a well-rounded knowledge of the main European issues. Students are then expected to combine the various approaches used in their curriculum, the specific vocabulary and reasoning of each field, in order to pass the exams. In addition, an internship is compulsory between the 2d and 3d year for every student.

The pluridisciplinary approach requires from students some flexibility, in order to switch from one discipline to another. Vocabulary, methodology, reasoning and the ability to draw connections between the various approaches are necessary. Students also need to be able to cope with a heavy workload. Team spirit and sense of responsibilities are welcome in curricular/extracurricular activities.

In addition to an excellent school record, the students must show a genuine interest in current debates, in European issues and in understanding the culture of other regions and countries.

Teaching is in French and sometimes in English. A C1 level in French is highly recommended. English Language courses are compulsory as well as a third language (Spanish, Italian, or German).

International exchanges

In all European Studies courses, students mobiliy is strongly encouraged as it provides an added value to the academic curriculum and is highly appreciated by employers. From 2017-2018, students are thus expected to go on an Erasmus exchange and spend one semester abroad in one of Nantes’ partner universities.

For further details on Erasmus destinations available at the Nantes Université

Weekly workload

In addition to attending the various courses (25-30 hours a week), students are expected to complete a substantial amount of homework (research, reading, preparing for tutorials, team work, essay writing...) which represents about 60 hours a week.

And afterwards...

Further studies

After completing their degree, students may apply to the Postgraduate courses either in European and International Studies, or in specialised issues such as Minorities issues, Defence, Heritage, Arts and Culture, Journalism, European Business Law, Criminal law, Energy, Commercial Issues...

More information regarding Posgraduate Courses or Cultural Mediation Courses available at the Nantes Université.

Employment prospects

After completing their degree, students intend to get high profile jobs either in European institutions and their agencies, or in European lobbies, in the private sector related to European issues, international institutions or NGOs. They may be involved in many different fields (migrants, defence, law, heritage, journalism, business, politics, minorities, humanitarian law... ).