European Studies
The programme of studies aims to provide you with a solid and comprehensive knowledge of the European Union from a multidisciplinary angle, involving the politics, economics, law and history of European Integration. Another aim is to develop students' analytical skills and to deepen your critical appraisal of EU policies and EU affairs in general. Special emphasis is also laid, where appropriate, on the deepening of knowledge of the theories and theoretical frameworks employed by the various disciplines in assessing EU policies. In your final year, you may have the chance to demonstrate your knowledge by carrying out a research-based dissertation. Participation in the Erasmus+ mobility programme is also encouraged, for a more holistic and diverse learning experience.
Communication and Academic Skills Programme
The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.
European Studies
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Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST1020 | The Legal Order of the European Union | 8 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
EST1042 | European Integration Theories, Paradigms and Key Documents | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Erasmus and visiting students studying in Malta can either register for EST1022 Law of the Institutions: General Principles of European Union Law during the first semester or for EST1023 Enforcement of European Union Law in the second semester.Students registering for EST1023 are required to have covered an equivalent of EST1022 at their home institution.Both EST1022 and EST1023 have a credit value of 4 ECTS and will be assessed at the end of their respective semester.Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST1030 | Introduction to Comparative Politics of Europe | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
EST1036 | A Historical Perspective on EU Integration | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
EST1040 | Introductory Micro Economics for European Studies | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST1041 | Introductory Macro Economics for European Studies | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST2229 | Research Methodology and Writing Skills | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST2140 | Politics of the European Union | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
EST3010 | The Economics of European Integration | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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EST2060 | The Law of the Internal Market of the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2210 | Development Studies and the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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EST2020 | Small States and the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2230 | Social Policy and the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2233 | Contemporary Migration Issues Across the Mediterranean (History, Policy and International Law) | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2234 | Malta in the European Union | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2235 | EU Cohesion Policy Implementation and Management | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
EST2236 | European Union Simulation Unit | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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EST3212 | EU Competition Law | 8 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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EST3180 | Human Rights in the EU | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3190 | European Environmental Law and Policy | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3200 | The EU's External Policy and the CFSP | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3207 | Agenda-Setting in the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3208 | The Economics of EU Policies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3214 | Political Parties in Europe | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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EST3192 | European Union Economic and Monetary Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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EST3090 | Euro-Mediterranean Relations | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3191 | The Role of SMEs and Competitiveness in the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3193 | European Union Trade Policy | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3197 | Comparative Federalism and the EU | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3201 | Sustainable Development and the EU | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3210 | European Security | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3211 | The Future of the European Union | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
EST3213 | Identity and Culture in Europe | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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International Relations
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Semester 1 | |||||
IRL1082 | Introduction to Political Studies | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IRL1025* | Introduction to Economics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL1193** | Introduction to Modern Europe | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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HST1126 | The Mediterranean in Modern Times | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL1091 | Soft Power in International Relations: An Introduction to the Role of Media and Culture | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIN1063 | Academic Reading and Writing in English | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
PHI1014 | Political Philosophy | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
* Study-unit IRL1025 is to be taken only by students who do not have an Advanced Level in Economics. It is compulsory for students who do not have an Advanced Level in Economics. Students with an Advanced Level in Economics must take 4 ECTS from the Elective Units.** Study-unit IRL1193 is to be taken only by students who do not have an Advanced Level in History. It is compulsory for students who do not have an Advanced Level in History. Students with an Advanced Level in History must take 4 ECTS from the Elective Units.   | |||||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IRL1081 | The Global Politics of Inequality: Realities and Perspectives | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
IRL1088 | Introduction to Foreign Policy | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
IRL1089 | Theories of International Relations | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IRL2002 | Security Studies | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
IRL2093 | Comparative Politics | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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BKF3341 | Prevention of Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
INL2004 | International and Public Law for International Relations | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
INL3011 | European Court of Human Rights | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2012 | Foreign Policy of Russia | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2014 | An Introduction to Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2064 | Asia-Pacific in the World | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2074 | The Muslim-Arab World in Contemporary Times | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2089 | Further Studies in Diplomacy | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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HST2005 | Contemporary Mediterranean History | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2010 | International Economics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2011 | Foreign Policy of USA | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2013 | Political Economy of War | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2058 | Terror: Ideas and Realities | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2084 | The International Relations of Small States and Territories | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2092 | Political Movements and Parties | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3006 | Politics and Government in the Persian Gulf | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3010 | Norms, Rights and Climate Justice | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3065 | The Media and International Relations | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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IRL2090* | International Relations since 1919 | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IRL2099 | Conflict Resolution and International Relations | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
IRL3189 | International Political Economy 1 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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BKF3341 | Prevention of Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
HST3109 | International Relations Between the World Wars | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
INL3011 | European Court of Human Rights | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2060 | Contemporary China | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2075 | Environmental Issues in International Relations | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2098 | Malta in International Relations | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3095 | Diplomacy and Diplomatic Practice | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3146 | Foreign Policies of European States | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IRL3057 | Synoptic Study-Unit 1: International Relations | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
IRL3058 | Synoptic Study-Unit 2: International Relations | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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IRL2020 | Nationalism in International Politics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2036 | Intercultural Politics in the Mediterranean | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2063 | Introduction to Humanitarian Action | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL2290 | International Relations since 1945 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3007 | War and Peace in the Middle East | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3041 | Contemporary Warfare | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3050 | International Institutions | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IRL3098 | International Financial Institutions | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MDT3001 | Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Pasts, Urgencies, Prospects | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
* Students who register for study-unit IRL2090 must not register for study-units HST3109 and IRL2290.   |
This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of the Bachelor of European Studies (Honours) - B.Eur.Studies (Hons) - and Bachelor of European Studies (B.Eur.Studies) - under the auspices of the Institute for European Studies.