European Politics

This intellectually challenging programme is designed for students who are interested in the political science analysis of European integration and governance blended with the opportunity of familiarising themselves with the history and politics of selected European countries. It helps students to step-outside a national perspective and adopt a comparative approach to domestic politics.
KEY BENEFITS

The programme aims to equip students with the competences needed to critically analyse European politics shaped by the interplay of domestic, European and international dynamics. It is designed for students interested in the political science analysis of European governance blended with the opportunity of familiarising themselves with the history and politics of selected European countries.

• Taught by a research-active multi-national faculty with a passion for their subject and a wealth of knowledge in key fields of European politics.
• A wide-range of modules available to specialise in particular policy areas, drawing on the strengths not just of European & International Studies but also other departments across King’s.
• Provides an in-depth perspective on the history and politics of European countries benefitting from the close links with nationally-focused departments.
• The department is a founding member of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, which regularly invites high-profile scholars and practitioners to events at King’s.
• European Politics at King’s provides a strong grounding for a wide-range of careers, including in EU institutions and national government, but also journalism, public relations and consultancies.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The purpose of our undergraduate programme is to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of contemporary European politics. The programme places an emphasis in year one on achieving a grounding of European politics rooted in history, but in year 2 and 3 shifts the focus to political science perspectives and widens the choice of modules available for students to deepen their knowledge in particular areas. The BA in European Politics is comprised of 360 credits in total, studied over three years. Students take 120 credits each year. In addition, they are permitted to take 30 optional credits in languages at the Modern Language Centre.

ABOUT THE Department of European & International Studies
CAREERS

Our undergraduate programmes in the Department of European & International Studies at King’s provides an ideal grounding for a wide-range of careers, including in EU institutions and national government, but also journalism, public relations and consultancies for various kinds.

BA European Politics: We expect graduates to pursue varied career trajectories within national governments, European and international institutions, news media and public relations, non-governmental organisations or consultancies of various kinds.
BA European Studies: Graduates from the BA in European Studies have taken up posts with the Foreign Office, with leading financial institutions, with cultural organisations or with lobbying firms at the European Commission. Others have worked in public and private agencies and think-tanks in the UK, as well as further afield in countries ranging from Bosnia to Japan. Many students have undertaken work placements in the media, working for the French newspaper Liberation, the Franco-German TV station Arte and for Radio-France International.
Recent graduates have found employment as….
• Trade Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development
• Communications Consultant, Kreab Gavin Anderson
• Event Coordinator, Reed Exhibitions
• Individual Giving Administrator, Tate
• Journalism/Writing Intern, New York Times.

TEACHING STYLE

BA European Studies is taught across several departments at King’s, including French, Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies and German, History, War Studies and Geography. The participating staff are research-active and their expertise and passion feeds into the teaching. Teaching usually takes the form of lectures and seminars, offering ample space for students to discuss key concepts and test arguments in smaller groups.
BA European Politics is similar in teaching style to the BA European Studies. However, a larger proportion of the modules are taught by staff within the Department of European & International Studies, rather than the other contributing departments such as History, German, French and Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies.

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT

BA European Studies has a tightly structured programme whose components hold together coherently in a year-by-year progression. In each year, half the modules are concerned with the study of Europe (politics, history, economics, geography, EU institutions); a quarter with the politics and society of an individual country (either France, Spain or Germany depending on your chosen pathway); and a quarter with the language and contemporary culture of the same country. On the country of your choice, you typically take a history, culture or politics module along with the compulsory language element and a module in critical theory or literature and politics. These modules will help you explore the different ways in which political, cultural and economic development in Europe are linked with one another. Students’ progress is assessed through a number of means, including essays, written exams and, occasionally, also oral exams and presentations.
BA European Politics adopts a comparative perspective by giving students the opportunity to take a range of modules on specific European countries but also provides them with the theoretical tools to understand how domestic politics is also part of a European system of governance and where borders have become less significant for the circulation of people, goods and ideas. Through its compulsory modules the programme promotes an understanding of European politics as situated in and influenced by the international system and global politics. It offers substantial opportunities for specialisation in areas such as foreign policy, economic policy and political thought, plus the expertise of staff to offer supervision of an extended essay.

LOCATION

The Strand Campus, where most of the teaching takes place, is located in the heart of London adjacent to the Thames and close to Covent Garden. No other place in the United Kingdom can compete with London with regards to the opportunities on offer for the study of modern Europe. The library and research facilities available, as well as the range of contacts with cultural institutes, libraries, international firms, journalists, clubs and government agencies, far outstrip anything available elsewhere. Foreign language film showings, exhibitions, political talks and other cultural events take place continually.

SPECIAL NOTES Study abroadBA European Studies students spend the third year of their degree taking part in an Erasmus exchange with one of our partner institutions abroad. French pathway students study at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. Spanish pathway students attend the Complutense University in Madrid, and German pathway students are enrolled at the Humboldt Universität in Berlin. We have built up close relations with these institutions to ensure that the classes our students complete while abroad are academically appropriate for their programme. The year abroad offers our students an unrivalled chance to immerse themselves in the culture and society of their host country. It is also an opportunity to achieve language fluency and to meet people who may prove to be valuable contacts in the future. The year abroad is organised and monitored by the Study Abroad Office with additional support from the academic tutors on the three pathways.
ABOUT THE Department of European & International Studies
CAREERS

Our undergraduate programmes in the Department of European & International Studies at King’s provides an ideal grounding for a wide-range of careers, including in EU institutions and national government, but also journalism, public relations and consultancies for various kinds.

BA European Politics: We expect graduates to pursue varied career trajectories within national governments, European and international institutions, news media and public relations, non-governmental organisations or consultancies of various kinds.
BA European Studies: Graduates from the BA in European Studies have taken up posts with the Foreign Office, with leading financial institutions, with cultural organisations or with lobbying firms at the European Commission. Others have worked in public and private agencies and think-tanks in the UK, as well as further afield in countries ranging from Bosnia to Japan. Many students have undertaken work placements in the media, working for the French newspaper Liberation, the Franco-German TV station Arte and for Radio-France International.
Recent graduates have found employment as….
• Trade Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development
• Communications Consultant, Kreab Gavin Anderson
• Event Coordinator, Reed Exhibitions
• Individual Giving Administrator, Tate
• Journalism/Writing Intern, New York Times.

TEACHING STYLE

BA European Studies is taught across several departments at King’s, including French, Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies and German, History, War Studies and Geography. The participating staff are research-active and their expertise and passion feeds into the teaching. Teaching usually takes the form of lectures and seminars, offering ample space for students to discuss key concepts and test arguments in smaller groups.
BA European Politics is similar in teaching style to the BA European Studies. However, a larger proportion of the modules are taught by staff within the Department of European & International Studies, rather than the other contributing departments such as History, German, French and Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies.

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT

BA European Studies has a tightly structured programme whose components hold together coherently in a year-by-year progression. In each year, half the modules are concerned with the study of Europe (politics, history, economics, geography, EU institutions); a quarter with the politics and society of an individual country (either France, Spain or Germany depending on your chosen pathway); and a quarter with the language and contemporary culture of the same country. On the country of your choice, you typically take a history, culture or politics module along with the compulsory language element and a module in critical theory or literature and politics. These modules will help you explore the different ways in which political, cultural and economic development in Europe are linked with one another. Students’ progress is assessed through a number of means, including essays, written exams and, occasionally, also oral exams and presentations.
BA European Politics adopts a comparative perspective by giving students the opportunity to take a range of modules on specific European countries but also provides them with the theoretical tools to understand how domestic politics is also part of a European system of governance and where borders have become less significant for the circulation of people, goods and ideas. Through its compulsory modules the programme promotes an understanding of European politics as situated in and influenced by the international system and global politics. It offers substantial opportunities for specialisation in areas such as foreign policy, economic policy and political thought, plus the expertise of staff to offer supervision of an extended essay.

LOCATION

The Strand Campus, where most of the teaching takes place, is located in the heart of London adjacent to the Thames and close to Covent Garden. No other place in the United Kingdom can compete with London with regards to the opportunities on offer for the study of modern Europe. The library and research facilities available, as well as the range of contacts with cultural institutes, libraries, international firms, journalists, clubs and government agencies, far outstrip anything available elsewhere. Foreign language film showings, exhibitions, political talks and other cultural events take place continually.

SPECIAL NOTES Study abroadBA European Studies students spend the third year of their degree taking part in an Erasmus exchange with one of our partner institutions abroad. French pathway students study at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. Spanish pathway students attend the Complutense University in Madrid, and German pathway students are enrolled at the Humboldt Universität in Berlin. We have built up close relations with these institutions to ensure that the classes our students complete while abroad are academically appropriate for their programme. The year abroad offers our students an unrivalled chance to immerse themselves in the culture and society of their host country. It is also an opportunity to achieve language fluency and to meet people who may prove to be valuable contacts in the future. The year abroad is organised and monitored by the Study Abroad Office with additional support from the academic tutors on the three pathways.