Subject overview
Contemporary European studies at Sussex was ranked joint second in the UK for research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 90 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.
The Sussex European Institute (SEI), a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for the study of European integration, consolidates the University’s position among the leading international centres of graduate training and research in European studies.
SEI comprises a vibrant community of scholars, visiting practitioners and academic fellows.
Research in the Institute focuses on four themes:
- European integration and political economy, including the single market, structural funds, the EU budget, trade policy, comparative welfare and labour markets
- representative politics in Europe, focusing on political parties, democracy and electoral politics
- internal/external security challenges to the EU, covering justice and home affairs, and European security policy and defence
- migration and citizenship, including migration politics and policies, immigrant integration, and European citizenship and the European public sphere.
SEI provides an excellent environment for research students with its Research-in-Progress seminar series and its own tailored Professional Development Workshop series.
SEI is home to the journals European Foreign Affairs Review, Government and Opposition and Party Politics; the Centre on European Political Economy; and the European Parties Elections and Referendums Network (EPERN).
Specialist facilities
The University Library is a European Documentation Centre, and Library holdings in the fields of European institutions, economics and politics are particularly strong. The excellent Sussex Centre for Language Studies is on campus, which provides taught modules and self-study facilities for a wide range of European
languages, both east and west.
Academic activities
The Sussex European Institute organises a Research-in-Progress seminar series that runs for most of the year. Here faculty members and visitors introduce work related to current research projects in the field of contemporary European studies.
Programmes
- PhD in Contemporary European Studies
- MPhil in Contemporary European Studies
Research students are based in the Sussex European Institute.
You can either choose to study for a research degree in contemporary European studies or in a particular discipline, eg anthropology, geography, economics, international relations or politics, while focused on a European topic. SEI also hosts visiting researchers.
Coursework
There are two common modes of entry for research students. First is traditional entry to an MPhil or PhD. Second is the MSc plus PhD pathway, which is the 1+3 route supported by the ESRC for studentships.
All new research students will be required to participate in a programme of research training modules and to take other modules that may be recommended by the supervisor of their research. (Exemption from research training modules can be granted to those who have already taken such modules at postgraduate level. Refer to the Research for more information.)
Recent thesis titles
EUrope and the EUropeans: definition, identity and belonging
Explaining the emergence of Eurosceptic protest movements
Political participation and role of migrant organisations in Sweden and the Netherlands
Political strategy and ideological adaptation in regionalist parties in Western Europe
Punching above its weight? A case study of Luxembourg’s policy effectiveness in the EU
Shifting sands and changing minds: the role of the European Parliament in the area of freedom, security and justice
The EU and international cooperation on competition policy: public interest or public choice?
The impact of structural funds in Greece and Ireland
Entry requirements
- MPhil in Contemporary European Studies
-
UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in any relevant social science, but applicants with other backgrounds may be considered. Applicants should submit an outline (two to three pages) of their research interests.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to column A in Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
- PhD in Contemporary European Studies
-
UK entrance requirements
A Masters degree in any relevant social science, but applicants with other backgrounds may be considered. Applicants should submit an outline research proposal indicating the nature, ambition and primary questions of the research project.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
- MPhil in Contemporary European Studies
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
- PhD in Contemporary European Studies
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Faculty interests
Research interests are briefly described below. For more detailed information, visit the Sussex European Institute.
Dr Sabina Avdagic Comparative political economy, the politics of market reforms, national variation in politico-economic institutions.
Dr Sue Collard French politics, the politics of culture, European citizenship.
Professor Gerard Delanty Social and political theory, philosophy of social science, identity.
Professor Marie-Bénédicte Dembour Human rights (theory and European Convention).
Professor Mick Dunford Comparative regional and urban economic performance, inequality and social cohesion in Europe, and theories of
regulation.
Dr James Hampshire The politics of race, ethnicity and citizenship; modern political theory; public policy.
Dr Peter Holmes International economics.
Dr Dan Hough German politics, party politics, post-communism in Europe, political corruption.
Zdenek Kavan Nationalism, democracy and citizenship in Eastern and Central Europe.
Dr Kate Lacey Gender, media and the public sphere. Has published widely on radio history and theory. Current work focuses on listening publics.
Francis McGowan Policy making in the European Union, European government/industry relations.
Professor Alan Mayhew Transition and integration in Europe, political economy of transition, institutional economics.
Professor Susan Millns Law of the EU Single Market. Co-Director of SEI.
Professor Jörg Monar Justice and home affairs in the EU.
Emeritus Professor Jim Rollo Economics of EU integration.
Professor Malcolm Ross EU Law, competition law, law and citizenship.
Professor Aleks Szczerbiak Comparative politics of central eastern Europe, lustration and de-communisation, Poland. Co-Director of the Sussex European Institute.
Professor Paul Statham Europe and the public sphere, migration and ethnic relations in Europe.
Professor Paul Taggart Euroscepticism, populism, party politics.
Dr Adrian Treacher International relations of the EU, European security, French foreign policy.
Professor Paul Webb Parties and elections – UK and comparative, empirical democratic theory.
Careers and perspectives
Our graduates have gone on to roles such as EU project manager, budget assistant for the European Commission, editor, and tutor in Higher Education.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Law, Politics and Sociology
Engaging with key issues of contemporary concern, the School of Law, Politics and Sociology brings together academic units that are committed to excellence in teaching, and recognised nationally for research.
Professor Aleks Szczerbiak, Politics,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SP, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678443
E a.a.szczerbiak@sussex.ac.uk
Contemporary European studies
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.