History and mission

ERASMUS MUNDUS MASTER
JEAN MONNET CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

A highly stimulating programme that allows students to discover the many facets of Europe in a interdisciplinary fashion. The wide range of high class courses and the opportunity of making friends from all over the world make it an unforgettable experience. (Maurits Meijers Baumeister, The Netherlands/Germany)

History and Mission

The Centre for European Studies of the University of Leuven was founded in 1988 with the intention of providing international students with a high quality and unforgettable study abroad experience in one of the oldest universities of Europe and in the immediate vicinity of the European headquarters in Brussels. In 2008, the Centre celebrated it’s 20th anniversary with some major turning points. The European Commission granted the label of “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence” to the Centre for European Studies and four other institutes in Leuven, with the Commission’s evaluation report emphasising “the high level of internationally-recognised research and publications”. The Centre became a partner in the the Erasmus Mundus consortium “Triple III”, funded by the European Commission. And, finally, the Centre strengthened the existing Master programme by sharpening its focus, which is also mirrored in its new name: “Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives”.
 

The “Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives” (MAES) is an interdisciplinary study programme that deepens your knowledge of what Europe was, is and is becoming in the 21st century. The programme introduces you to the study of Europe as a continent of strong interactions across national boundaries and of constant exchange with the outside world. It provides you with tools to adequately analyse Europe as an actor in the formation of the modern and contemporary world. The focus of the programme is a multidimensional analysis of the political, historical, cultural, economic and judicial aspects that shape the current position of Europe as a region of internal and global interactions. In today’s era of globalisation the position of Europe constantly changes. Europe is deeply involved in globalisation processes. And our programme puts this into perspective.

MAES enables you as a bachelor or master student in the humanities to get a thorough one-year education and training in interdisciplinary thinking with respect to a broad range of European issues and interests. In line with the 20 year old tradition of the Centre for European Studies at the university of Leuven your study abroad experience will be supplemented with activities and social events that stimulate a sense of Europeanness among students.

Thanks to a perfect mix of different nationalities and a great variety of courses, MAES does not only teach you European Integration -
it makes you feel it. (Thomas Holenweg, Switzerland)