European Studies-History, Literature and Culture
At Reading we offer an exceptional range of interdisciplinary degrees covering European history, politics, economy, literature and culture. If you are interested in discovering Europe's extraordinarily rich and diverse culture, its global impact, or its history, institutions, economy and contemporary challenges, then one of these programmes could be for you. You could study English literature alongside European literature and film (in translation), or analyse the links between Europe's culture and its history, or specialise in European politics or economy. You may also include in your programme a language and the chance to study or work in another European country or complement it with one of our specially designed modules in entrepreneurship.
• A truly European study environment. European Studies at Reading attracts a really cosmopolitan student body which offers great opportunities to share very different perspectives on the topics studied. Currently we have students from France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, and Russia as well as the UK. Our international academic staff add to that mix.
• Breadth of European cultural and linguistic expertise. The Department of Modern Languages and European Studies offers programmes in French, German and Italian as well as European Studies, and combines expertise in politics and contemporary history with a strong knowledge base in language, literature, and culture. We also enjoy strong cross-department links with our History, Politics, Economics, Literature and History of Art colleagues.
• An exceptional range of interdisciplinary degrees allows you to focus on those aspects of European Studies that interest you most.
• Recognised for our research excellence. In the past 5 years, the Department's staff have attracted prestigious major research awards on projects as varied as Bombing in Western Europe, Languages at War, French Public Finance before
the Revolution, and Lawrence of Arabia. These same experts will be your tutors/ advisors.
• Friendly, supportive staff. The 2010 Periodic Review of Languages and European Studies, which drew on comments from present and past students, found the Department's staff members to be 'very supportive and approachable'. European Studies at Reading offers an ideal mix of a small programme (with a typical year numbering 10-12 across European Studies programmes) within a larger Department (recruiting over 70 students across the whole Department).
Skills and experience
As a student on all these programmes, you are trained in clear thinking, research skills, diligence, independence, adaptability and the ability to understand people and situations in the world at large. In addition, you are given specific vocational training and orientation through a Career Management Skills programme the development of which was pioneered by Languages and European Studies at Reading. This offers you the chance to meet alumni who have entered careers in fields as varied as banking, the European Commission, or marketing. European Studies also offer students the opportunity to apply their knowledge about European societies to the development of new enterprise ideas and skills (either for a charity or a business venture), through a series of modules in entrepreneurship provided by the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the Henley Business School. The 4-year European Studies programme (R900) offers the opportunity to spend a year as a student in one of our numerous, approved partner universities across France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Italy. Among our partner institutions are the Instituts d'Études Politiques in Lyon and Rennes, and the universities of Strasbourg, Toulouse, Montpellier, Florence, Rome, Siena, Bologna, Augsburg, Potsdam, Regensburg, Trier, and Vienna. Alternatively, whilst abroad you can opt to work as a teaching assistant or to go on a work placement in continental Europe. You are carefully prepared for your year abroad on an individual basis in the course of Year 2.
Career prospects
Graduates have gone into a wide range of careers from marketing, journalism, teaching, and the diplomatic and civil services. Recent graduates from European Studies have gone on to work for the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (News Team Director), Welsh Assembly Government (Team Support), Rexel in France (Assistant Executive) and EKKE in Greece (Research Officer). Others go on to postgraduate study at MA and PhD level at Reading and elsewhere. Students who have a European language and a record of study or work abroad during their third year often find that potential employers particularly value this experience.
'The European Studies programme at the University of Reading was a fantastic experience. The department was relatively small, well-organised, and staff were enthusiastic, helpful and easily accessible to everybody. The environment was therefore supportive and challenging, providing us with many opportunities for further development, learning and research. In addition, we had an amazing range of optional modules which showed us not only the richness of European Culture, but also the relevance of Europe to our lives today. A Greek student myself, I had the chance to meet people from all over the world, with whom I have kept in contact with and this has made me appreciate my studies at Reading even more. Thanks to my degree, I have been working in Paris for the last two years in Human Resources Management and then in Education.'
Elisabeth Niadas
BA European Studies with French graduate