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Monash University

Master in European and International Studies

Course code: 3924 ~ Course abbreviation: MEIS ~ Total credit points required: 72 ~ 1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time ~ Managing faculty: Arts

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Caulfield, Clayton) and overseas

Course description

This course is an inter-disciplinary program which explores the significance of the European Union in the world. It investigates its political, legal, economic, social, humanitarian, environmental, and security implications for the international system.

Its goal is to provide professionals or future professionals with a particular interest in the European region, with a broad and deep understanding of the institutional framework and policy-making processes of the European Union and its relations with non-EU countries, regions and international organizations. The course draws on a variety of disciplines: management, law, politics, sociology, and history. A diverse range of learning experiences is derived from traditional and innovative teaching methods drawing on face-to-face contact, lectures, seminars and videoconferences, as well as audiovisual, multimedia and multisource material, and study abroad.

A wide choice of core units is available. Core units include an introduction to the history and the policy-making processes of the European Union; the investigation of the role of the EU in the world in the economic, monetary, political, social, environmental, development aid, human rights and security fields; an analysis of regional and inter-regional arrangements and processes in Europe, Asia and the Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Africa; an introduction to the basic principles of European Union Law, of benefit to both established legal practitioners and those without a legal background wishing to become familiar with the legal framework of the EU; an introduction to the place of the European Union in the international business environment; and a practical exploration of interest representation and lobbying in the European Union and in Europe.

The extensive range of elective units reflects the interdisciplinary and flexible approach of the program and allows students to develop their understanding of several aspects of the European Union. Students may choose a concentration of electives in a given field. They may also elect to write a research paper. As part of their electives, students are offered the opportunity of completing an internship in Brussels, an intensive study program at the Monash Prato Centre in Italy (with the collaboration of the European University Institute, Florence) or a semester abroad at participating European universities, institutes and centers, including Science Po (Paris) and the Institut d'Etudes européennes (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels). Students are also encouraged to deepen their knowledge of one or more European languages.

Course objectives

Students successfully completing this course will have: 1. a sound knowledge of diverse aspects of the academic discipline; 2. an understanding of the world view of the field of study; 3. a critical appreciation of the secondary literature in the field of study; 4. a familiarity with many of the key texts and cultural products pertaining to the field of study; 5. advanced reading and communication skills, both written and verbal; 6. advanced analytical skills; 7. a grasp of research methodology and ethics, and an ability to undertake a small, independent research project in one of the disciplines represented in the program.

Minimum pass grade

To graduate with the Masters, students must gain a credit (60 C) or above in core units and a minimum credit average overall.

Course structure

Students must complete 72 points of coursework or equivalent to attain this degree, comprising 36 points of compulsory core units and 36 points of electives.

Course requirements

Core units

Elective units

Students may choose from a wide range of electives offered by the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Law. Students will choose their electives in consultation with the course coordinator.

Students who wish to study a European language may choose up to three 6-point language units from units offered by the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics in consultation with the Head of the School, the Director of the Monash European and EU Centre and the unit coordinators, fulfilling 18 points of the elective requirements.

Students may choose to substitute 12 or 24 points of electives with a 12 or 24 point-research project or policy paper. This option will be of particular interest to those considering applying for admission to a research degree. In this last case, these students are encouraged to take AST4220/AST5220 Investigating other societies: area studies in global perspectives to further develop their methodological skills.

Available electives for the Master in European and International Studies include:

  • AFF9160 International banking and finance
  • AFF9730 International finance
  • ANY4440/ANY5440 Asia and the West
  • ASM4430 The Third World
  • AST4220/AST5220 Investigating other societies: Area studies in global perspectives
  • BTX5190/BTX9190 International trade law
  • BTX5730 International law and policy
  • ECF9210 Introduction to international economics
  • ENV414F Ecological systems and management
  • ENV5020 Perspectives on environment and sustainability
  • ENV5050 Environmental governance and citizenship
  • EUM4020/EUM5020 Religion and secularism in the quest for European integration
  • EUM4230/EUM5230 Research paper in European and international studies (12 points in one semester)
  • EUM4620/EUM5620 Policy-makers, intellectuals and the idea of Europe
  • EUM4940/EUM5940 European Union study in region Part A
  • EUM4950/EUM5950 European Union study in region Part B
  • EUM4960/EUM5960 Intensive European Union study in Italy
  • EUM4970/EUM5970 European Union internship in Brussels
  • EUM5200A and EUM5200BResearch in European and International Studies (12 pts each studied as 24 pts in one semester or over two semesters)
  • GYM4260 Cultural landscape, environment and sustainability in Italy
  • HYM4180/EUM5180 Images of the natural world: Issues in environmental history
  • HYM4430 Perfecting America: Rhetoric, reform and reaction
  • HYM4590/HYM5590 Imagining Europe: Representations and images of a continent
  • IDA5220 The art and business of international development
  • LAW7026 Current issues in international human rights
  • LAW7028 International trade law
  • LAW7033 International law of the sea
  • LAW7066 Forced migration and human rights
  • LAW7072 International organisations
  • LAW7077 International aspects of intellectual property
  • LAW7218 International humanitarian law
  • LAW7253 Human rights in the global economy
  • LAW7259 Current issues in environmental protection
  • LAW7278 Comparative competition law
  • LAW7311 International human rights law and women
  • LAW7320 Terrorism and human rights
  • LAW7326 World Trade Organization law
  • LAW7330 Protecting the rights of minorities, marginalised and vulnerable people
  • LAW7333 Comparative bills of rights
  • LAW7334 European and Australian wine law
  • LLC4020/LLC5020 Global modernities: Experiences of modernity
  • MGG5820 Management development for global business
  • MGX5020 Business ethics in a global environment
  • MGX5181 International business strategy
  • MGX5461 Contemporary issues in globalisation
  • MGX5640 Cross-cultural management communication and negotiation
  • MGX5710 The contemporary world
  • MGX5730 International trade policy
  • MGX5760 International institutions and organisations
  • MGX5770 Business and government
  • MGX5780 Principles, Practices of the WTO
  • MGX9110 Diplomacy and statecraft
  • MGX9300 Governance
  • MGX9660 International business theory and practice
  • MGX9670 International public policy and management
  • PLM4065/PLM5065 Advanced seminar in international political economy
  • PLM4075 Foreign aid and world development
  • PLM4310 Wars of recognition: Terrorism and political violence
  • PLM4480 Culture, norms and ideas in international politics
  • PLM5070 Foreign aid and world development B
  • PLM5430 Political Islam
  • PMS5120 International public policy and management
  • all the LLC European language units

Please note that as not all electives will be offered every year. A full list of current electives is available on request from the Monash European and EU Centre.

Exit points

After successful completion of 48 points, including the core units of the program, students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in European and International Studies..

Course coordinator

Professor Pascaline Winand