The content of the MA ECUE (English track) includes European, social, cultural, economical and political developments, structures and processes. The study programme ECUE gives the opportunity to students to do in-depth analyses and studies with these topics with the help of a multiperspective and interdisciplinary linkage of the knowledge of involved subjects (Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Ethics, Cultural Studies, History). The students will be able to get analytical, methodological, communicative, social and cultural competences. With these skills the students can compare, evaluate and analyses topics related to Europe and the European Union in a scientific manner.

Content-related focus is the convergence and divergence of the European social, cultural, and economic space in comparative perspective. The aim is to work out, to reflect, and to analyse together with the students important European topics.

The MA programme ECUE includes:

• structured fundamental training in 1st and 2nd semester
• methodological training in 1st and 2nd semester
• flexibility and individualisation of studies through elective in-depth moduls in 3rd semester
• optional practice module (internship) in the compulsory course section
• in-depth methodological training
• practice-related use of study contents at the field-trip to Brussels

Within 4 semesters (2 years) you will study:

• Introductory Module (1st semester)
• Basic Module Philosophy and Law (1st and 2nd semester)
• Basic Module History (1st semester)
• Basic Module Language and Culture (1st and 2nd semester)
• Basic Module Economy (1st and 2nd semester)
• Basic Module Politics and Society (1st and 2nd semester)
• Module Research Methods 1 (1st and 2nd semester)
• Module Research Methods 2 (2nd and 3rd semester)
• Indepth Module 1 (3rd and 4th semester)
• Indepth Module 2 (3rd and 4th semester) or Practice Module
• Final Module (4th semester)

Details see Module Handbook (pdf).

If you wish to apply for the MA studies programme ECUE, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• completed BA studies (minimum of 180 Credit Points/ ECTS) in multiple combinations of social and/or political science, in economics, in humanities, or in cultural studies at a German university or an equivalent foreign academic degree e.g. BA, ... (see content-related requirements)
• very good to excellent academic degree (final degree: minimum 2.3 according to the German grading system)
• submission of application essay (see application essay)
• English language skills (see language requirements)
• for applicants from PR China, Vietnam or Mongolia: valid certificate of the German Embassy (Acedemic Assesment Office, APS).

If you wish to provide evidence of your international/ intercultural orientation, which are relevant for the MA studies programme ECUE, you may do so by handing in further certificates or documents (e.g. traineeships in foreign countries and/ or international organisations/ institutions or stays abroad during your BA studies).

Application Deadline

Please apply by July 15th of the respective application year via the RUB online application portal (general information on the online application).

During the online application process you have to upload:

• certified copy of your BA certificate
• Transcript of Records (course overview with information on CPs/ ECTS, study achievements with grades and information on weighting of modules grades and examinations)
• application essay as pdf with file name ECUE_application essay_family name (see requirements)
• English language certificate (see requirements)
• for applicants from China, Vietnam and Mongolia: valid certificate of the German Embassy (Academic Assessment Office, APS)
• if available, proof of semester abroad (either by Transcript of Records or a separate official document)
• if available, proof of internship with a duration of at least sis weeks (copy of the professional internship certificate)

Your study contents are supposed to serve as a profound basis for the MA studies programme ECUE. Therefore, you need to fulfill one of the following pre-requisites.
Before applying, you are welcome to send us a current Transcript of Records of your studies by email to ecue@rub.de. Without obligation, we will check your content-related requirements.

Proof of possile BA studies from social science, politcal science, economics, cultural studies or humanities, history studies, philosophy:

• BA 1-subject programme; in addition to your major you need to have obtained a total amount of  minimum 20 Credit Points (CP/ ECTS) in at least two of the follwoing subjects: sociology, political science, economics, history studies, philosophy, language and cultural studies, media studies.
• BA 2-subject programme with major in literature and/or lingusitic studies (resp. cultural studies); in addition to your majors you need to have obtained a total amount of  minimum 20 CP/ ECTS in at least two of the follwoing subjects: sociology, political science, economics, history studie, philosophy, media studies.
• BA 2-subject programme with major(s) in economic studies (economics and/or business administration); n addition to your majors you need to have obtained a total amount of  minimum 20 CP/ ECTS in at least two of the follwoing subjects: sociology, political science, history studies, philosophy, language and cultural studies, media studies.
• BA 2-subject programme with one major in aus den literature and/or lingusitic studies (resp. cultural studies); studies need to be combined with one of the following subjects: sociology, political science, economics, history studies, philosophy, media studies.
• BA 2-subject programme combining two of the following subjects: sociology, political science, economics, history studies, philosophy, media studies.
• An interdisciplinary BA studies programme combining at least two of the following subjects: sociology, political science, economics, history studies, philosophy, language and cultural studies, media studies. You need to have optained a total of 100 CP/ ECTS in those subjects. Out of those 100 CP/ ECTS you need to have optained at least 30 CP/ ECTS in non-lingusitic and/or non-literature studies.

In the application essay, the applicants should deal with one or more main topics of the MA studies programme ECUE (European Politics, European Society, European Culture, European Economy, European History). In particular, it is assessed whether the applicants can develop their own relevant questions on one or more of the focal points of the degree programme and answer them independently and conclusively.
Specifications:

• lenght: two to three pages (maximum number of characters: 7200) plus one page maximum for references
• language: German or English
• submitted as pdf-Document

The application essay should fulfill following criteria:

• the candidate is able to write an essay indepedently and conclusively to one or more of the main topics (European Policy, European Society, European Culture, European Economy, European History) of the MA studies programme ECUE;
• the candidate is able to consider and to connect normative and analytic-descriptive aspects;
• the candidate is able to structure his or her own essay in an easily accessible format and to articulate in a both generally comprehensible and academically adequate language;
• the candidate knows generally accepted academic standards.

The application essay must be written independently by the applicant. This means that no sources or aids other than those indicated may be used and that quotations must be clearly marked.

The study components within the MA studies programme ECUE are conducted in English. To be a successful student, you must possess excellent English language skills.

For all applicants*, proof of English language skills extends to:

• TOEFL (internet based from 87 points/ computer based from 227 points),
• IELTS (levels 9 – 6),
• FCE, CAE or CPE (grades A – C)

* Students whose native language is English from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are exempt. Students who have completed a full BA programme in one of the mentioned countries are also exempt.