Master in European Union Studies

Master in European Union Studies is one of 14 English-taught Social Sciences & Psychology programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 8 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's in European Union Studies at the University of Salzburg is taught in English and runs over four semesters (120 ECTS). It is the only programme of its kind in Austria, and the university is the only one in the country with a focus area specialising in EU studies. The programme is run by the Salzburg Centre of European Union Studies (SCEUS), based in a historic building in the centre of Salzburg.

What you study

The programme gives you a grounding in European Union law, politics and economics. It takes an interdisciplinary approach and links research with practice. You look at how European decision-making works and how actors such as businesses, interest groups and civil society organisations position themselves within the EU framework.

Teaching goes beyond lectures. The programme includes study trips and specialised seminars that give direct insight into the daily work of EU institutions. You meet practitioners, and you take part in simulations and moot courts where you negotiate current issues. The curriculum also leaves room for study abroad, and SCEUS runs regular events such as summer schools and invites experts from practice and academia as guest lecturers.

How the programme is organised

Four semesters, 120 ECTS, full degree title Master of Arts (MA). The language of instruction is English throughout. SCEUS emphasises a close student-teacher ratio, so you get support across the whole programme. Students come from different educational and cultural backgrounds, which shapes the classroom. The centre also has partner universities where you can gain additional experience.

Who it suits

It suits graduates who want to work where EU decisions matter. The programme complements Bachelor degrees in the social, cultural and natural sciences, so you do not need a law or politics background to apply. You do need solid English and an interest in how the EU actually operates, not just in theory. If you want to spend time in Brussels or in simulations rather than only in seminar rooms, this fits.

Admission, language and next steps

Only a limited number of study places is offered each year, and interested students go through an application process. The most important requirements are a Bachelor's degree (or higher) and profound knowledge of English, with proof of language proficiency. The dates and deadlines change every semester, so check the current deadlines on the programme page before you apply. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the University of Salzburg, and its own page gives the application period. As a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. Graduates can go on to a doctoral programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The aim of the English-taught master's programme in European Union Studies is to train students to become EU experts. The programme provides the students with profound knowledge of European Union law, European Union politics and economics. The master's programme has an interdisciplinary approach and tightly links research and practice. In study trips and specialised seminars the students will get insights into the daily work of EU institutions and the possibility to meet practitioners. An international educational environment and attractive possibilities to study abroad further strengthen the students' international qualifications.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Salzburg. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.