The European Studies MA program is designed to provide students with a flexible, inter- and transdisciplinary approach to European Studies that combines humanities and social science perspectives on the study of European cultures and the concept of European identities. The program has three key objectives:

1. to promote studies crossing boundary-lines of all types and explore European culture in its relations with other continents;
2. to introduce students to a variety of methodological approaches in preparation for advanced doctoral research in the field of the Humanities;
3. to prepare students for careers in the arts, teaching and communication, and management, and to equip them with the skills needed to play leading roles in international institutions, national administrations, cultural organizations or media groups.

The European Studies program offers two streams:

1. Exploring European Identities: 3 to 4 consecutive semesters in length, program requirements to be completed mainly at Guelph, with the option of a semester abroad (in France, Germany, Italy or Spain).
2. Crossways in Cultural Narratives, is offered through the University of Guelph’s participation in the Erasmus Mundus Consortium. This stream is 2 years in length (2 Fall and 2 Winter semesters) and involves a compulsory mobility component, whereby the student attends 3 different universities in 3 different member-states of the Consortium.

The program also offers a dual degree pathway between the MA in European Studies at the University of Guelph and the MA in Linguistics and Literary Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Students complete course requirements at each institution and fulfill the requirements of both degrees through successful defense of a major research project, co-supervised by a faculty member at each institution. Students spend one year at each institution and can choose to begin their studies at either institution.

Administrative Staff

Interim Director
John Walsh (266 MacKinnon, Ext. 53167)
waljo@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Coordinator
Margot Irvine (280 MacKinnon, Ext. 53182)
mirvine@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
Darren Sargent (267 MacKinnon, Ext. 56887)
dsarge02@uoguelph.ca

Graduate Faculty

This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.

MA Program

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements and procedure as well as program requirements for the two streams and dual degree option differ, and are listed separately below.

Exploring European Identities

Candidates for admission must hold a BA in an honours program or equivalent from a recognized university or college. The applicant must have achieved a grade average of at least B+ in the work of their last four semesters or last two undergraduate years (full-time equivalent). A reading competence in a European language in addition to English is recommended.

Crossways in Cultural Narratives

Candidates for admission must have a Bachelor’s Degree in an honours program or equivalent in the field of Arts, Languages or Social Sciences; particularly a Modern Languages Degree (e.g. language, literature, thought and cultural studies programs of a high, specialised level relating to one or more of the following: Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain – or Europe as a whole). The applicants must have achieved a grade average of B+ or better (or equivalent), or be among the top 5-10 students of their year. Applicants must also possess a near-native, degree-level command of two of the following European Languages: English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish – together with a basic knowledge of, or a willingness to acquire, a third European language.

Applications should be made through the Mundus Masters consortium.

Dual Degree Program: MA European Studies (University of Guelph) / MA Linguistics and Literary Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Prospective dual degree students must meet the admission requirements of both individual programs.

Admission requirements for the MA in Linguistics and Literary Studies can be found on their website: https://www.vub.ac.be/en/studying-at-the-vub/how-to-apply/#apply.

Applicants must apply to and be accepted into each program, separately, indicating interest in the dual degree program at the time of application. Individuals may apply to both programs at the outset of their studies, or they may apply sequentially. That is, students already registered in one of the two participating programs may apply to the other and “transfer” into the dual degree program.

Program Requirements

Exploring European Identities

A minimum of 4.00 credits is required for completion of the M.A., to consist of the following:

1. A minimum of six semester courses, each worth 0.5 credits, including:
   1. Core courses: Team-taught courses on European Identities (EURO*6010 European Identities) and Research Methods (EURO*6000 Research Methods Seminar).
   2. Electives: 2.0 credits to be chosen from a list of restricted electives in European Studies and other programs such as Art History and Visual Culture, English, French, History, Political Science and Philosophy. Visit the European Studies website for an updated list. https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/solal/programs/european-studies/exploring-european-identities-ma/
2. Students will also write a research project (EURO*6100 Research Project), worth 1.0 credit of approximately 12,000 words under the supervision of a faculty member.

Study Abroad

It is strongly recommended that students study or conduct research abroad. Typically, this would be taken over one semester.

Crossways in Cultural Narratives

A total of 6.00 credits (120 ECTS minimum) must be obtained: 4.00 for coursework, 1.75 for a thesis of 20,000 words (0.25 or 0.50 credits for the thesis proposal depending on whether students opt for an internship or not, 1.50 for the thesis). Students may opt for an internship worth 0.25 credits.

In compliance with the compulsory mobility component, students are required to obtain 2.00 credits (40 ECTS) from each of 3 universities chosen from the 8 member institutions:

• University of Perpignan Via Domitia, France
• University of Bergamo, Italy
• University of Guelph, Canada
• New University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland
• University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• University of Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
• University of Sheffield, United Kingdom)

The required mobility pattern is as follows: Semester 1 – University A, Semesters 2 & 3 – University B (known as the home university), Semester 4 – University C.

For further details of the program and for downloadable application, visit the Crossways website.

Dual Degree Program: MA European Studies (University of Guelph) / MA Linguistics and Literary Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

At the University of Guelph, dual degree students must complete a minimum of 4.00 credits as follows:

And 2.00 credits to be chosen from a list of restricted electives in European Studies and other programs such as Art History and Visual Culture, English, French, History, Political Science and Philosophy. Visit the European Studies website for an updated list: https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/solal/programs/european-studies/exploring-european-identities-ma/.

At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, dual degree students must complete 42 ECTS consisting of a research methodology course, linguistics and literary studies course, and profile “field” courses.

Students should complete the research methods course at whichever institution they study at first; they may choose to complete an elective instead of a second research methods course at their second institution.

The European, Linguistics and Literary Studies Research Project (EURO*6300) is jointly supervised by a faculty member at the University of Guelph and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Collaborative Specializations

Sexualities, Genders and Bodies

The European Studies program participates in the collaborative specialization in Sexualities, Genders and Bodies. MA students wishing to undertake their major research paper/project with an emphasis on sexualities, genders and bodies are eligible to apply to register concurrently in European Studies and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the Sexualities, Genders and Bodies listing for more information.

Courses