Subject overview

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. Visit Research.

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.) 

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

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

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

If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, 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.

Related subjects

• International relations and security
• Politics

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: £13,000³

¹ 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: £13,000³

¹ 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.

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.

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 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. 

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. 

Dr Emily Robinson British political history, politics of time, progress and progressivism, nostalgia, heritage and tradition. 

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 SEI. 

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. 

School and contacts