European Studies

Study contemporary Europe in all of its historical and cultural diversity. This three-year Bachelor's programme provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage Europe’s complex present and future.

Europe: The bigger picture

Europe is a continent with a long and turbulent history of cultural, political and economic exchange. The Bachelor’s in European Studies provides you with an overview of the politics, economics and law of the European Union (EU), while also introducing you to Europe’s history, literature and culture.

Taught in English, the programme offers a broad perspective crucial to making sense of the challenges facing Europe today. It equips you with the knowledge and skills to address contemporary European issues such as the Eurozone crisis, the challenges of multicultural societies, and the role of the EU in, for instance, its relations with post-socialist states.

Is European Studies right for you?

• You are interested in the history, culture, politics, economics and law of contemporary Europe.
• You would like to pursue a career at a European institution, your national government, an international or non-governmental organisation or in international business.
• You want to learn and be able to communicate in a new European language.

Why study European Studies at the UvA?

• A world-class education: the UvA is ranked 1st in the Netherlands and 59th overall in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.
• Amsterdam is a European cultural hub with a vibrant, creative and diverse international community.
• You will study the politics, law and economics of the European Union, as well as the historical, cultural and literary roots of today’s Europe.
• A choice of five focused majors: Specialise in European Literature and Culture, European History, East European Studies, European Law, or European Economics.
• The chance to master a foreign language: You can choose one of our European languages.
• After completing your Bachelor's, you can apply to one of the UvA's many Master's programmes.

Degree certificate

European Studies is an accredited degree programme. After completion of this programme, you will receive a legally accredited Bachelor's degree and the title Bachelor of Arts (BA).

European Studies

This programme provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage Europe’s complex present and future, and is taught entirely in English.

Programme structure

European Studies is a three-year Bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS credits. An academic year accounts for 60 credits that are spread across two semesters, with each comprising two 8-week blocks and a 4-week block.

• In the first year of the programme you will take a number of mandatory subjects, including the study of a modern language.
• In the second year, you will choose a major that will provide the basis for further specialisation in European Studies.
• In the third year, you may choose from a range of electives or opt for another specialisation in the form of a minor. You can also decide to study abroad for a semester or do an internship

The first year

The first year of the programme serves as an introduction to European Studies. Your courses will offer an overview of the entire discipline.

• You will explore the history of Europe, the development of European cultures, the rise of nationalism, and the creation and workings of the European Union.
• You will choose a modern language (other than English) in which you will become proficient by the end of your studies.
• You can choose to study Arabic, Catalan, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Spanish.
• Dutch native speakers may also opt for one of the following languages: Modern Greek, Serbian and Croatian.
• You will develop specific academic skills, such as academic writing and conducting independent research.
• At the end of the first year, you will visit Brussels to get a firsthand look at the day-to-day workings of the European Union.

The second and third years

The second and third years of the programme build on the foundations laid in the first year, allowing you to specialise in your area of interest.

• In the second year, your course selection will be devoted to your major.
• You will choose to specialise in one of five majors: European Culture, European History, East European Studies, European Law and European Economics.
• In the course, ‘Philosophy of the Humanities’, you will explore the historical and philosophical background of the Humanities.
• You will continue to develop the language you selected in the first year.
• In the third year of the programme, you can tailor your own curriculum by specialising in a second major, opting for a minor or choosing electives in a wide range of subjects.
• You also have the opportunity to use your elective credits to study abroad or do an internship for a semester.
• You will conclude the programme by writing a Bachelor’s thesis, your first major piece of independent research.

Learning and assessment

As a Bachelor’s student, you are expected to spend an average of 42 hours a week on your studies.

• In your first year, 12 to 15 of those hours will be spent attending lectures, while in your second and third years you will have approximately 8 to 10 hours of class. 
• The remaining time will be spent on self-study, preparing for lectures and seminars, completing coursework and assignments, as well as exams.
• You will attend both lectures and small group seminars.
• Lectures generally introduce the main topics of the course, discussing and explaining course readings and literature.
• In the seminars, you will work closely with your fellow students, collaborating on assignments, presentations and talks.
• You will be tested by means of written and oral exams, presentations, essays, reports and assignments.
• Your final grade for a course is determined by the results you receive for each of these.

Honours programme

Highly-motivated students may qualify to take part in a selective honours programme. This programme accounts for an additional 30 ECTS and will help familiarise you with various other aspects of academic research and prepare you for a subsequent Research Master's degree.

Prior education

• Studying with a foreign diploma at the University of Amsterdam means that a student's preparatory education must be equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma, with English included in the final examination.
• The starting level of a regular study programme at Dutch universities is comparable to that of other European countries, which is usually one or two years higher than in most countries outside of Europe.
• A student's diploma or certificate from prior education will be compared with the list of country qualifications that has been drawn up by the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Nuffic).

Required documents

In this application you will need to indicate your previous education and upload all of the required documents:

• Final secondary school/higher education diplomas and grade lists obtained;
• Proof of recent results (if you are still attending a programme);
• Official translations in English or Dutch if the diploma and/or transcripts are not already in English, Dutch or German;
• A sufficient English test result, if required and already available. If your results are insufficient, do not upload this test, but send another one at a later date;
• A curriculum vitae;
• UvA Matching form.

What is it?

UvA Matching for international students is an introduction to the Bachelor’s programme for which you have applied. It is designed to help you assess whether you have chosen the right programme, through a combination of online activities such as assignments, reading course literature and/or making a test. The activities may differ per programme.

Once you have completed these activities, you will receive personal advice based on your test results. This will help you determine whether the Bachelor’s programme matches your interests and capabilities and whether you have the motivation and study skills to start the programme in September.

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink you will receive more information on UvA Matching for international students.

English language requirements

All our international programmes are conducted in English, therefore, applicants must show their ability to write and speak in English on an academic level. Students with a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university and students who successfully finished a full academic programme at an esteemed institute in one of the following countries are exempt: UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Please note we only accept the TOEFL Test, the test of the International English Language Testing Service (Academic IELTS) or a Cambridge Examination Score. For Non-EU/EEA students the required English test result should be received on or before 1 February in the year of application by the International Team at the Faculty of Science. If this in any case is not possible, contact the International Team first, before applying. For EU/EEA students the deadline of submitting the test results is 1 July.

TOEFL Test

The minimum scores required on the TOEFL Test are:

• Internet-based test (iBT): 92 with a minimum of 20 on each subject
  
  Exceptions:
• Artificial Intelligence, Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Information Studies: 98, with a minimum of 22 for reading and listining and 24 for writing and speaking
• Software Engineering: 98 with a minimum of 22 on each subject

Please note the TOEFL-code for the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam is: 8628. 

 IELTS Test (only Academic IELTS is accepted)

• Minimum score 6.5, at least 6.0 on sub-scores (listening/reading/writing/speaking). 

Exceptions

• Artificial Intelligence,  Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Information Studies> minimum score 7.0, sub-scores on writing and speaking at least 7.0, sub-scores on listening and reading at least 6.5 
• Software Engineering > minimum score 7.0, at least 6.5 on each sub-score (listening/reading/writing/speaking)
• The UvA offers the IELTS test for free to current UvA students to assess their English language proficiency.    

Cambridge Examination Score

A Cambridge Examination Score with a minimum test result of C1 Advanced (CAE) A or B will also be accepted. For the C2 Proficiency test (CPE) a minimal score of C is required.

Nuffic Certificate for Chinese students

Chinese applicants are required to take an IELTS test or the TOEFL (Internet-based test only). These are the only two tests accepted by the Nuffic, which provides certificates to all Chinese students who wish to study in the Netherlands.

Please note there are some differences between the TOEFL and IELTS test. Available practice material, test dates, prices and locations differ per country.