This 3-year fast-track version of European Studies (ES3) challenges you to earn a 4-year degree in just three years. That means taking on an ambitious courseload that doesn’t leave much room for optional courses, but you have a lot of options for extra-curricular activities. International students who don’t go on exchange take minors, intensive packages of courses in which you’ll explore social entrepreneurship, study sustainability, sharpen specific skills, discuss cultural and political differences, investigate international law or take on other topics. ES also allows students to earn credits for activities of their own choosing, including cultural projects like Zukunft Deutschland and Futur France. You can also get hands-on experience in marketing and event planning as part of our study association ESCAPE; working as a language partner for someone who needs help learning your native language and much, much more. Show less

Year 1
Understanding Europe & Its Challenges
Your first year at European Studies is all about understanding Europe and understanding yourself. You’ll study politics, business and culture while getting to know Europe’s government agencies, international organisations, non-profits and private businesses – your potential employers.

You’ll also learn the fundamentals of management within those organisations and collaboration between them, while also looking at some of the big challenges facing Europe and its organisations today. You’ll also face your own challenges, because your first year will include several accelerated courses that cover content from our four-year programme in a much faster format.

Along the way, you’ll sharpen your research and communication skills, get comfortable with public speaking, study intercultural communication and work on your foreign languages and English. You’ll also begin a four-year personal development process, guided by a coach, to help you identify and pursue your own career goals.

There will be a lot of opportunities for extra-curricular learning and you’ll have a good time with field trips, clubs and parties put on by our study association ESCAPE.

It’s a challenging year, especially with the fast pace of the 3-year programme, but you’ll have help from a mentor and access to tutoring and language support.

Semester 1
Political Challenges
Business Challenges
Professional Communication Skills in English
Project: Facing Europe’s Challenges
Modern Foreign Languages – French, German, Spanish or Dutch
Personal Leadership

Semester 2
Fast-Track Bootcamp on Management & Sustainable Public Policy
International Cooperation in the EU & Beyond
Peace, Security & Prosperity in Europe
Marketing & Communication for Organisations in Europe
Project: Fundraising in the EU
Modern Foreign Languages – French, German, Spanish or Dutch
Personal Leadership

Year 2
Dive Deeper into Sustainability and Diversity
The second year of the European Studies fast-track will push you harder and take what you’ve learned in Year 1 to the next level. This will include an intense semester focused on Diversity and Sustainability as they affect public policy and private business, which also includes intense research training and a major project.

The year also includes one of the high points of the European Studies programme: a 5-month exchange to one of over 100 partner institutions all over the world. While mandatory for Dutch students, the study abroad experience, supported by the Erasmus Plus programme, is optional for internationals. Either way, you’ll follow courses of your own choosing, giving you another opportunity to build a unique CV that is fully tailored to your own career goals. Choose wisely.

Semester 3
Diversity in Europe
Sustainable Business
Applied Research
Project: Sustainability Summit
Modern Foreign Languages – French, German, Spanish or Dutch
Personal Leadership

Semester 4
Exchange or Minors

Year 3
Professionalisation and graduation

In this final phase of your studies, you’ll choose to specialise in either the public sector or the private sector, in politics or business, and you will customise your final year around that discipline, by doing an internship and a graduation project in your chosen field.

Your internship will put you to work advising or assisting with policy advice, strategic planning or marketing/communication at an organisation, institution or business that is active in Europe, but it doesn’t have to be in Europe. You’re welcome to go abroad for work experience, though you should keep in mind that The Hague also has a lot to offer as the international city of peace and justice. In your final project, you’ll conduct applied research for an employer and provide them with practical advice, producing a professional product that you can use to show employers what you’re capable of. Alongside this research, you’ll take a final foreign language class that will prepare you to speak French, German, Spanish or Dutch in the workplace and you’ll round off your personal development by reflecting on where you’ve been and planning out where you’re going next.

Semester 5
Work Placement

Semester 6
Final Projects
Modern Foreign Languages – French, German, Spanish or Dutch
Personal Leadership
The Graduation Phase

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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