European Governance

Master on European Governance is a Master's degree programme organised by the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance of Utrecht University and the Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University. The first year is organised in Brno and the second year in Utrecht; moreover, in the course of the studies the joint seminars taught by lecturers from both universities are organised.

The Master's degree programme in European Governance trains the students to analyse complex problems of European governance from multiple perspectives, including economics, law, political science, and public administration. Moreover, the students will learn to apply abstract knowledge and theory to real-life problems through case studies, simulations, and policy-oriented research projects. In this way, the students will become academic professionals, i.e. experts who can use academic knowledge to analyse and solve complex problems in different contexts and from different perspectives.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of relevant theories of governance and complex understanding of the multilevel governance concept, mainly in terms of a model describing the complex reality of contemporary EU political processes;
• use comparative methods in social-sciences research; students will also study the most important works that use the comparative method;
• demonstrate knowledge of the development of the EU with the focus on the common currency, widening and deepening integration, the logic behind the European integration, and show an ability to formulate opinions regarding the current issues of the EU;
• understand the basic principles of the EU law and of the concept of “legal integration”, the main judgements of the European Court of Justice of the EU, and the functioning of the European Court for Human Rights;
• understand the position of Europe in the global economy and its perspectives, explain the impact of the EU economic policies, and formulate reasoned recommendations based on available data.

The unique combination of expertise within the participating Universities offers an opportunity for a challenging international Master's degree programme. It provides students with a sound academic training that prepares them for professional positions in a range of organisations:

local, regional and national governments, which increasingly work within a European context

the EU institutions, such as the European Commission and EU agencies

other international organisations working in Europe

non-profit organisations that are confronted with issues of European governance

firms whose regulatory environment is largely shaped by processes of European governance

consultancy firms

programme graduates typically acquire academic-level jobs in private organisations or public organisations in positions such as policy adviser, consultant, or manager or researcher at research and consultancy firms

Academic stay is a part of the program that is connected with the topic of a diploma thesis. Main cooperating partners are the institutions of the European Union (European Commission, European Parliament, Committee of Regions), the institutions of the member states (typically but not exclusively ministries of foreign or European affairs), NGOs in the Netherlands, in the Czech Republic and other countries.

Students write their Master Theses during internships which take part in Semester 4. The theses are supervised both by Utrecht University and Masaryk University lecturers. The research should connect theoretical concepts with experience from the internship.

During the research internship, the student will study an issue of European governance within an organisation that deals or has to cope with that issue. This should result in a thesis that analyses the issue at hand in a way that both conforms to standards of academic research and is valuable for the organisation in which the study was conducted.

During the process of diploma thesis writing, a student will be supervised by one supervisor from Utrecht University and one supervisor from the university at which the first year was taken (Masaryk University, University College Dublin, or the University of Konstanz). The supervisors from Utrecht University will act as a daily supervisor. The other will be involved in assessing the study design and grading the thesis.

During the third semester, a student starts developing a research question, literature (re)search, and write a research plan that consists both of a thorough literature overview and the design for your empirical research. The research plan should be completed by the end of January. Most of the second semester will be dedicated to data collection and analysis, writing the thesis and presenting the research.

Graduates can continue their studies in doctoral program International Relations and European Politics taught at the department or in related programs at other universities either in the Czechia or abroad.