About European Studies

History, Politics, Economics, Culture, Languages

European Studies courses at the University of Reading offer you a unique opportunity to study European history, politics, economics, societies, cultures and languages. Our European Studies courses are cross-national and multi-disciplinary, and will thus prepare you for the modern international job market. You will be taught by experts on Europe from departments across the University. While the degrees are run from the Department of Languages and European Studies, contributors also come from departments as varied as Politics and International Relations, History, History of Art and Classics.

Our four programme choices are;

• BA European Studies (3 or 4 years)
• BA European Studies with optional language
• BA European Cultures and Histories
• BA English and European Literature & Culture

Flexible and diverse courses with or without a language

The range of European Studies courses offered at Reading is among the most flexible, varied, and exciting in the UK - and even in Europe. Beyond the basic European Studies core modules, European Studies at Reading will give you the opportunity and flexibility to personalise your course, choosing modules from all participating departments. This means that you can study those subjects that interest you most. You also have the option to build in a strong language element to your European Studies course, and study French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, both European and non-European (e.g., Arabic, Chinese or Japanese) at different levels, alongside your other options, such as European cinema, France and Europe since 1945, The Algerian novel, Language in Politics, Modern ideologies.

Study with young people from around the world

Because European Studies at Reading attracts students from both inside and outside Europe, you will join a vibrant cosmopolitan and international student body that brings a wealth of different national and individual perspectives to the seminar discussions that are a crucial element of European Studies.

We welcome international and mature students.

Study with a year abroad

If you choose to take the 4-year European Studies course with a language and a year abroad, in a work or school placement, or at one of our distinguished European partner universities, you will have the full support of staff to organise placements and accommodation. There is also support available in the form of ERASMUS funding and a variety of grants from Arts Councils. For more information visit our Year Abroad page.

Personalised student support

Among the biggest strengths of European Studies at Reading are the personal tutor system and the mentoring system. Their aim is to enable you to enjoy and succeed with your studies by giving you personal support and guidance from both your teachers and your peers.

Employability and Careers

European Studies will prepare you for a wide range of careers, not only in the UK, but also continental Europe and beyond. It will also give you opportunities to develop enterprise and work skills through specially designed employability modules. You will leave the course with excellent skills in analytical thinking, project management and presentation, and IT, in addition to your in-depth knowledge of European countries and EU institutions. Our students have gone on to work in education, media, marketing, banking, law, the civil service, tourism, Personnel Recruitment and Management, and to represent the European Commission. They have also been accepted onto prestigious graduate study programmes - at Reading, but also in London, Geneva, or Siena. Click to see presentations on Careers in the EU.

Our research

The staff that teach European Studies are currently involved in a variety of research projects including the links between nationalism and culture, the history of contemporary Italy, the allied bombing offensive of World War 2, and the history and politics of European integration. Many contributors to the course have also pooled their research efforts in a broad research theme on Modern European Histories and Cultures. As a student, you will have the opportunity to get involved in research conferences and seminars hosted by the University.

For more information on the idividual degree programmes within European Studies please see our undergraduate courses page.