The Master's in European Studies offers an interdisciplinary training on contemporary Europe, combining political science, sociology, law, economics, and contemporary history. By integrating teachings from various disciplines with a solid foundation in social science research methods, students are enabled to gain in-depth knowledge of the European integration process since the end of World War II and the current challenges facing Europe. The master's program primarily focuses on social and political sciences. The course offerings also draw on recognized areas of expertise at the University of Fribourg in European law, economics, and cultural sciences.

Bilingual Mention

As a trilingual study program at the only French and German-speaking university in Switzerland, European Studies is shaped by this transcultural and multilingual environment. This is an important pedagogical and scientific feature of the master's program. Students can obtain a Master's degree with a bilingual mention. For more information, please refer to the Faculty of Arts regulations of March 8, 2018, Articles 36 and 50, and to the advisors in the field of European Studies.

Study Structure

The field of European Studies offers an in-depth study program of 90 ECTS, consisting of four core modules and the master's thesis, as well as a specialization program of 30 ECTS and a secondary program of 30 ECTS.

The four core modules are composed as follows:

• Introduction to European Integration
• Europe as a Political Space
• Europe as a Cultural Space
• Research Methods in Social Sciences

      + Master’s Thesis and Defense (30 ECTS).

Additionally, students can optionally refine their profile and accumulate extra ECTS for potential doctoral projects:

• Option A: Specialization program in European Studies (30 ECTS)
• Option B: Secondary study program from another curriculum

Moreover, students from the University of Fribourg in other fields of study have the opportunity to choose European Studies as a secondary program (30 ECTS). The secondary study program consists of the first two core modules.