European Studies - English - 3 years - Full-time
ES combines business management and public policy-making with research, communication skills and languages, all taught by a diverse mix of methods. Our international and multilingual approach enables our global citizens to meet employers’ demands in the public and the private sectors, or to prepare for an international master’s. You can also choose your own path by specialising in business or politics and customising your studies with other language options, minors and electives. Based in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice, ES has been certified for ‘excellence in internationalisation’. We offer an international classroom with foreign languages, intercultural skills, experience studying abroad and international internships that’ll give you the edge in the job market.
Contact the study
Contact the programme directly with any questions about ES.
European Studies on social media
Like or follow our ES Facebook Page, where we publish news and updates on the programme and answer questions within 24 hours, 365 days a year. Every year, ES creates a private Facebook group for Incoming Students, where you can get information and contact classmates and teachers.
Follow europeanstudiesthuas on Instagram and esstudiesthuas on Snapchat, where you can get a close-up close look at daily life in our programme and see what our students and staff are up to.
You can also find answers to a lot of your questions in The Big Book of European Studies, a short booklet with a complete overview of our courses, projects and activities.
For questions about admission requirements, enrolment or related matters, please contact the Enrolment Office csi@hhs.nl.
Structure of European Studies - English - 3 years - Full-time
Lectures
20hours per week
Self-study
20hours per week
Projects
10hours per week
Study credits
60in year one
Year 1
The first year is the foundation (propaedeutic) year
Year one of ES is about getting to know Europe, its employers and yourself. You start by exploring European politics, business and culture and examining government agencies, international organisations, non-profits and private business within the European framework. Plus, the fundamentals of management and marketing within those organisations. You’ll sharpen your professional skills and work on research and critical thinking. You’ll get comfortable with public speaking, study intercultural communication and work on your foreign languages and English. And you won’t do it alone. You’ll be guided by a mentor and have access to tutoring and language support. During this orientation year, you’ll choose a specialisation for the rest of your studies. If you want to change the world through government service or non-profits, you can specialise in the public sector. If you want to make your mark with innovative and sustainable business, you can specialise in the private sector. This choice will set you on your future career path.
Timetable
Year 2
Dive deeper
After getting to know Europe and its public and private sector organisations in year one, your second year will focus on the tools you need to operate in one of those organisations. You’ll explore the decision making processes used by governments, non-profits and companies and develop the skills to influence those decisions. You’ll study public and private policy making processes, but you’ll also dive deep into your specialisation. Public sector students study European politics and international relations while private sector students learn the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of export and international business strategy. Along the way, you’ll continue with your languages and bring all of your knowledge and skills together in a big project simulating an international sustainability summit. The second half of year two is one of the most exciting parts of the programme - the exchange. During our Study Abroad programme, you’ll spend five months studying subjects related to your specialisation and other electives at one of our 100 global partner universities. International students have the option of staying in The Hague and following minors.
Year 3
Getting ready to graduate
The final year of the programme is all about getting you ready to start your career or apply for a masters programme. You’ll complete your professional development with a five-month internship at an international employer and a complete a final research project to show the world what you’ve learned. We provide a wide range of interdisciplinary internships. Public sector students typically work at local, regional, national or international governmental organisations or non-profits, while private sector specialists work at small, large or global businesses. The work often involves conducting research, providing policy advice, marketing (especially on social media), communications or public relations. Students have been engaged in everything from assisting refugees with the Dutch legal system, to promoting lingerie on Instagram. As many as one in three are offered jobs at the end of their internship. Many students go abroad for this, but as the international city of peace and justice, The Hague is home to over 160 international organisations, so there are also plenty of options close by.
Here are a few examples of recent internship organisations. ES has dozens of partner organisations, but also allows students to pursue their own opportunities. Many students go abroad for this part of their training.
Public Sector Placements
- D66
- EP Nuffic
- The ministries of Foreign Affairs & Economic Affairs
- The Hague Security Delta
- World Animal Protection
Private Sector Placements
- Akzo Nobel
- Ernst & Young
- ABN Amro
- Nestle
- Koninklijke Ahold
Minors
Shape your degree
ES offers ample opportunity for students to customise their studies with minors and electives on a wide range of topics related to business, politics, culture, philosophy, foreign languages and 21st century issues. You can explore entrepreneurship, discuss sustainability, sharpen specific skills, analyse cultural differences and understand political ideologies. The possibilities are endless and the choice is yours.
Working methods
Lectures, seminars, study visits, self-study, group activities and project work
ES is an interdisciplinary programme with a diverse, international group of students. We reflect this in our teaching and assessment methods. We keep our classes small to guarantee a personal experience. Each class is exposed to different types of teaching, from big lectures to small seminars and intimate workgroups. We use different types of assessment, from multiple-choice exams to open questions, essays, research reports, projects and presentations and even filmmaking. No matter what type of assessment you’re doing, you can be sure that the focus will be practical to give you an edge in the labour market. We have lots of activities in and out of the classroom to keep you engaged. From regular guest lectures by business leaders to debates, panel discussions, company visits, excursions to Brussels and a wide range of clubs and special events. ES is taught exclusively in English and everyone is expected to speak English at all times. But you’re not expected to speak perfect English when you walk through the front door. We’ll help you develop your English skills so that you’ll walk out ready to work in any English speaking environment.
Assistance during your studies
Study coaching and advice
We assume your time on ES will run smoothly. However, we do offer personal assistance if you are experiencing any study problems. Every class has a mentor to help them keep track of their study progress and guide their career development, while providing effective study strategies and time management advice. We also have a team of counsellors and psychologists on hand to help you with any personal problems that arise during your studies and we’re equipped to make arrangements for students with special needs.
Collect ECTS
Binding Study Advice (BSA)
If you haven’t acquired the basics needed to continue the degree programme of your choice, you will have a hard time completing it successfully. To make sure that you have these basics, you will have to meet an academic progress standard during your first year as a student (the foundation year). If you have earned at least 50 of the 60 credits (or, if relevant, have satisfied a qualitative requirement), the Examination Board will give you a positive binding study advice to continue your degree programme. In most cases, if you earn fewer than 50 credits, you will receive a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA) and you will have to leave the degree programme.
But the Examination Board will always consider personal circumstances. These could include illness or participating in elite sports: personal conditions that might have kept you from meeting the required academic standard. In such cases, the Examination Board can postpone giving its study advice. This means that you can continue your degree programme for the time being and that your study advice will be issued later, possibly with additional conditions imposed.
It is important, however, that you inform the Examination Board immediately of any personal conditions that might apply to you.
In conclusion: every student is responsible for his or her own academic progress. For this reason, make sure to contact your academic career coach early on if things are not going well. Read all the rules and requirements for the binding study advice in Chapter 7 of the Programme and Examination Regulations (PER) for your degree programme.