This international research-based Master is combining perspectives, methods and theories developed in history, the social sciences, cultural as well as area studies and economics to investigate phenomena of global connectedness. We don’t believe that globalisation exists as an objectively given, material reality which can be measured but that we have to understand the phenomena described as globalisation as a bundle of political, economic, social and cultural projects to manage increasing transnational and transcontinental connectedness (the so-called global condition). Therefore, the multi-national class-room of the programme and the cross-over of contributions from various disciplines and universities dealing either with some of these projects or/and with their conflicts and resulting entanglements offer a substantial added value to the study of processes of globalisation.

The learning targets of the programme are:

• to get familiar with different academic ways to look at processes of globalisation 
• to learn about how concepts of globalisation worked out in the past and work out today in various world regions
• to work with concepts from different analytical and theoretical perspectives
• to systematically compare socio-political concepts and configurations as well as to investigate their mutual interaction (cultural transfers) 
• to gain insights into the production of social science knowledge and to relate knowledge production to concepts of globalisation
• to become aware of one’s own rootedness in a specific discipline and academic culture

Since we start from the assumption that there is no single discipline which is able to cover the whole set of phenomena summarised under the term globalisation, the programme favours a post-disciplinary organisation of knowledge production by privileging comparative approaches (both diachronic and geographic), encompassing constructivist approaches and questioning essentialist notions. Taking the postcolonial challenge seriously we would argue that the current disciplinary organisation of universities (with which we have nevertheless to deal with) is often inadequate for the production of knowledge on the current world and that we have to reflect upon this inadequateness to overcome it at least partly.

Currently almost 150 students are enrolled in the programme, representing citizens from 45 different nations from all world regions, which results in a truly global classroom experience.

The European Master in Global Studies is a two year's Master and divided into four phases (two winter and two summer terms). The programme has a modular structure according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), as initiated by the Bologna Process. It is made up of 120 credits (30 credits each term), that is equivalent of a study workload of 900 hours per term or 1,800 hours a year). You will find more information about ECTS here.

Should the student fail to have met all of the required examination criteria by the end of the fourth semester of the course, the student will be offered the chance of enrolling in a further semester of the course in order to fulfil the units required. In the case of an extension to the study period, full tuition fees will be incurred. Should the student not wish to extend the study period in order to complete the course, a partial transcript of only the successfully completed modules will be awarded

Leipzig, London, Roskilde, Vienna, Wroclaw

The Consortium’s universities share a joint understanding of the field and privilege a comparative and historicizing approach within which local course content differs according to comparative advantages. According to this emphasis upon certain fields within the participating universities and its already existing Master programmes - which the MA in 'Global Studies - a European Perspective' is drawing upon -, students can specialise in particular areas of globalisation research:

• at the University of Leipzig on comparative analysis of global entanglements both historically and for the present times, focusing on Eastern Europe, Western Europe, East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Northern Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and Northern America 
• at the London School of Economics on the economic and social history and analysis of economic globalisation since around 1400
• at the Roskilde University on development studies, global political economy and global governance, political culture and civil society
• at the University of Vienna study of international organisations, global history from the year 1500 onwards, as well as area-related analysis of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Europe and Latin America
• at the University of Wroclaw on the analysis of transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe, security issues, regional cooperation, communications and the media

All modules comprise history, cultural, area studies, social or political based approaches upon historical and contemporary patterns of globalisation and different societal responses, towards these processes.

Please click here in order to access the links to the previous and current syllabi of each university. 

Knowledge of two modern languages is a precondition for applying for this Master Course. German and English are used throughout the consortium as official languages. English will be accepted at all five universities for presentations, assignment and the Master thesis.
The medium of instruction of this Master Course is English.  At the Leipzig University and the University of Vienna there is the possibility to attend also classes offered in German. Additional languages courses in the local language of instruction (i.e. Danish, German and Polish respectively) are offered at all five partnering institutions of the consortium. See also Language courses.