The European Union and the 21st Century
NUS Special Term 2010
The NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is launching a special term module, “The European Union and the 21st Century” (EU2301), which will equip you with a broad understanding of the European Union, its making, strategies and impact in the world. This course is in part offered in collaboration with the EU Centre in Singapore, a partnership of NUS, NTU and the European Commission. Where possible, lectures will be supplemented by talks by outside experts. The course will discuss the interface between ideas and ideology and consider a range of opinions and sources, so you can come to your own defensible conclusions. It will consider the EU not only academically but in popular press. Where opportune, lectures will be supplemented with talks by experts and prominent people.
3 scholarships will be offered to NTU by the EU Centre to cover tuition costs. Please contact the EU Centre for more information on this.
European Studies B.A. (Honours) at NUS
The National University of Singapore (NUS) offers a Bachelor’s in European Studies with the option of an Honours degree. This exciting interdisciplinary course takes a student through the history, politics, economics, language, literature and philosophy of the European continent, and examines the making of modern Europe, the European Union, and their influence on the world today be it in international relations, institution building, trade or security, through a wide variety of modules.
Students are able to take either French or German to a high proficiency, and EU-related modules such as Politics of Contemporary Europe, European Economic Integration, the EU and ASEAN in the World, and Comparative Business Cultures. They can also learn about the rise and fall of empires, history of the pre, post World War and inter-war periods, ancient to 21st century European philosophers, and European literature, theatre and film.
Through the programme’s strong ties with local and overseas institutions, students have the possibility to participate in internships, exchange programmes, immersion programmes and cultural trips to Europe. Undergraduates can take European Studies as a major or minor.
Courses at NTU College of Humanities & Social Sciences
The Nanyang Technological University College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences CoHASS offers French, German and Spanish up to Level 3 or 4 as electives through its Language & Communication Centre. At the Centre for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, students can take European Literature (HL310), which explores the Fantastic and early Modernist traditions of works that span the continent from Norway to Italy, Russia, German France and Portugal. Literature and the Arts (HL323) explores the relationships between literature, painting and music of the 19th-20th century including works by Turner, Goya, Schubert, Verdi, Dumas and Chekhov.
EU Politics Module at SMU
Singapore Management University’s School of Social Sciences offers a European Union Politics (POSC107) module that provides an introduction to the European integration process and the basic structures and decision-making processes of the European Union, including an examination of selected policies. The course explores the main public policies of the European Union, its diverse foreign policies, its external relations, as well as co-operation in justice and home affairs and its external ramifications.
Career Prospects
European Studies as part of graduates’ portfolios enables them to find employment in both civil service and private sector. Past graduates have gone on to senior positions in the Ministry of Communications, Information and the Arts, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and worked for statutory boards such as Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines, are teaching or have taught in universities and polytechnics. Others have joined embassies and diplomatic missions or have become translators. Alumni’s jobs are not restricted to industry sectors, with some going into mass media, advertising and IT firms as well. With their understanding of European affairs, multi-disciplinary training, language capabilities, and over a thousand European companies in Singapore alone, it may not be surprising that graduates are able to find employment in a wide range of fields. For those who want to pursue postgraduate qualifications, their background is an advantage to gain entry in European universities.
Scholarships and Funding
The top universities National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University have a range of scholarships, awards and financial assistance schems for local and international students:
European Union Centre in Singapore 11 Slim Barracks Rise (off North Buona Vista Road), #06-01 Executive Centre (NTU@one-north), Singapore 138664