Course overview

This degree offers students at partner universities the opportunity to spend the final year of their undergraduate degree programme at the University of Portsmouth, home to the UK’s largest interdisciplinary research centre in European Studies.

Students who have successfully completed two years’ study on a European Studies/International Politics degree programme in their home institution may apply to enter direct into Level 6 (the final year) of our European Union Studies degree programme.  They will have the opportunity to further their knowledge of the EU through a flexible programme of taught units and a year-long independent project under the guidance of a personal tutor. 

Informed by current research

The BA (Hons) European Union Studies has been designed to maximise students’ exposure to current research in European Studies. Most staff teaching on the course are members of the Centre for European & International Studies Research (CEISR), which in the last UK research assessment exercise was awarded the highest rating for research power, with the majority of our research being judged world-leading or internationally excellent. Its activities have been funded by major UK and European research councils, including the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the European Science Foundation, the Economic and Social research Council, the European Commission, UNESCO, the British Academy and various NGOs.

Jean Monnet Module

Students on this programme have access to the prestigious EU-sponsored Jean Monnet Module, which provides an experiential, comprehensive understanding of the EU policy making process. It is offered by Dr Karen Heard-Laureote, one of the University’s Jean Monnet Chairs in European Studies. 

Course content

Modules available include: 

• Governing the EU
• Applying EU Policy
• Fighting over Europe: parties, business, NGOs and lobbying in the EU
• The EU in Global Context

The course is also available with an English language pathway. 

Career prospects

Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of international contexts requiring knowledge of the EU and will gain a range of transferable skills which can be applied in different areas of employment.  In a context where regional blocs have emerged as key global players, there is a demand for people with an advanced knowledge of European affairs and the workings of the EU. This applies to a range of areas such as business, local and central government and international institutions such as the UN. The programme also offers an ideal route into postgraduate study.

Facilities and features

The School is located in Park Building, just behind the Guildhall in the centre of the city. Park Building houses two large, modern, high-tech lecture theatres, a number of smaller but equally high-tech lecture theatres, four computer suites, multimedia digital classrooms and editing suites. The Learning Resource Centre provides facilities for independent study, including listening booths, video/DVD/CD players and satellite TV monitors.

You will also have access to the University Library. Open from 8am until midnight every day during term-time, it provides an abundance of information to help with study and research. It has also invested heavily in the purchase of electronic resources. There are thousands of electronic journals and ebooks, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BA (Hons) European Union Studies for the academic year 2013/14(opens in new window).