Study course and curriculum

The Master Programme takes ten months – from October to July of the following year.

It is subdivided into nine modules in total. There are seven modules composed of academic lectures, five of which have to be attended during the winter term, whereas a further two lecture modules follow during the summer term.
After the lectures of the winter term come to an end an academic master thesis is to be written for which a period of four months is provided. The submission of the master thesis is generelly scheduled for mid-June.
A practice module scheduled for the period between the winter and the summer term (February/March) calls for the students to do an internship, e.g. at an institution of the EU, representations of the German Foreign Office in foreign countries, ministries, governmental agencies, law firms or companies.

At the beginning of the Master Programme three basic modules devoted to the legal, economic and political aspects of European integration have to be attended by all students collectively.
During the subsequent specialisation phase students have the opportunity to study one of the following elective specialisation fields in depth:

• The EU as a Political Actor
• External Relations of the EU
• Companies as Economic Actors
• Law of the EU

Each specialisation field consists of four modules. The range of specialisation fields may vary from academic year to academic year depending the interests of the applicants.

Examinations, credit points and academic degrees

Each module is completed with an examination, the form of which may vary (oral exam, exam written in class, exam to take home, written paper analysing a topic or a case, presentation etc.). For each successful exam a certain number of credit points (CP) according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) will be awarded.

A total of 60 CP can be earned; the credit points are allocated to the different elements of the Master Programme as follows:

• basic modules: 15 CP,
• modules of the elective specialisation field: 25 CP,
• internship: 5 CP, and
• master thesis: 15 CP.

The successful passing of an examination requires the minimum grade "sufficient" (4.0); the same applies to the master thesis.

In case of successful completion of all relevant modules and a master thesis marked at least with a grade of "sufficient" (4.0), the University of Hamburg awards the degree of "Master of Arts (M.A.)".
The degree "Master of Laws (LL.M.)" can only be obtained by students who possess a law degree before taking up their studies at the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg. Furthermore, the award of the degree "Master of Laws (LL.M.)" calls for predominantly legal studies.
In the elective specialisation fields "Companies as Economic Actors" and "Law of the EU" this condition is met if the master thesis is written in law, whereas in the elective specialisation fields "The EU as a Political Actor" and "External Relations of the EU" it is also necessary that the internship is juristic in nature.

Further events during the course of studies

Besides participation in the courses which form part of the curriculum of the Master Programme, students have the opportunity to attend or participate in various symposia, workshops and guest lecturers organised by the Institute for European Integration of the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg on a regular basis.
A highlight of 2013 will be the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg planned for autumn 2013.
During the summer term a weeklong excursion to the institutions of the EU in Luxembourg (Court of Justice of the European Union) and Brussels (Commission, Council and European Parliament) as well as to institutions located in Strasbourg (Council of Europe, European Court for Human Rights) is organised.

Language of instruction and examination

It is possible to participate in the Master Programme in English entirely, as English is the main language of instruction and examination.
Some parts of the programme may additionally be offered in German, depending on the language skills and interests of the applicants.

You can find information on how to provide proof of the required language proficiency in our Leaflet "Admission Requirements". (link)