European Studies

The European Studies degree at NHL Stenden prepares you for a career as a young European professional. As well as developing your insights into European policy and society, you will develop your cross-cultural sensitivity, your language skills, and your ability to present and debate. You can take various optional courses during your degree that enable you to take subjects or do workshops you find particularly interesting or relevant to your career plans. You can even take subjects offered by other study programmes. You’ll also work on your personal development, taking on leadership roles, developing your talents and exploring the areas you need to strengthen under the guidance of your study coach.

In this internationally oriented programme offered by the Thorbecke Academy at NHL Stenden, you get to explore current affairs across a broad spectrum, from the European Union to European policy and from diplomatic relations to intercultural communication.

There’s an increasing demand for people with a broad knowledge of Europe, extensive cultural awareness and communication skills in different languages – for both national and international organisations. With the European Studies programme you learn about Europe, develop your international and practical insights and work on your personal development. The course covers a broad range of subjects including European law, governance, economics and public administration as well as multilingual communication skills and cross-cultural awareness. By the time you graduate, you will be optimally prepared to handle European and international matters effectively. Whether you work at local, regional, national or European level, you’ll be able to make a difference in a single Europe.

Specialisations

• International Relations(Thailand) Develop yourself as a culturally competent professional who understands how your work impacts the global community. To be able to take a seat at the table where decisions are being made.
• Cross-border Migration, Governance and Security(Leeuwarden, the Netherlands). Explore the different perspectives and dilemmas of cross-border migration with this minor in Cross-border Migration, Governance and Security. You’ll delve into your own social compass and examine how policies can supplement or contradict each other.
• Cyber resilience of citizens and organisations(Leeuwarden, the Netherlands). With this minor looking at cyber resilience you explore the human, organisational and technological measures that can be taken to make citizens and organisations digitally resilient.  
• Intelligence and counterintelligence(Leeuwarden, the Netherlands). Introducing you to the art of intelligence and counterintelligence by focusing on foreign interference and covert action in Europe, this minor covers the role of intelligence and the nature of counterintelligence, denial and deception.
• Sustainable Society(Leeuwarden, the Netherlands). Covering professional development, sustainable change and energy transition, this minor helps you understand what sustainability means and how tools and theories can be applied in real-life situations.
• The Art of Ethical Leadership (Leeuwarden/South Africa). Learn how to apply key concepts of ethical and critical thinking and why tomorrow’s leaders cannot do without a developed moral compass. Develop your soft power, your ability to attract and cooperate rather than to coerce.

Kastu feedback about the program after the visit

• Usually students work in public government, business, local government institutions. It‘s quite hard to get in the European institutions (the ones in Brussels) because there are a lot of people applying there.
• The students are given the opportunity to do exchange and work in non EU countries as well.
• The students are highly encouraged to do their minor abroad.