Master of Arts in Global Studies
The Erasmus Mundus Master in Global Studies – A European Perspective is a two-year programme organised jointly by five European and nine world-wide partners. This international research-based Master's programme combines perspectives, methods and theories developed in history, the social sciences, cultural as well as area studies and economics to investigate phenomena of global connectedness.
What
This international research-based Master's programme combines perspectives, methods and theories developed in history, the social sciences, cultural as well as area studies and economics to investigate phenomena of global connectedness. We do not believe that globalisation exists as an objectively given, material reality which can be measured. Rather we have to understand the phenomena described as globalisation as a collection of political, economic, social and cultural projects to manage increasing transnational and transcontinental connectedness (the so-called global condition). Therefore, the multi-national class-room of the programme and the cross-over of contributions from various disciplines and universities dealing either with some of these projects and/or with their conflicts and resulting entanglements offer a substantial added value to the study of processes of globalisation. Each year we count almost 150 students staggered across two cohorts. They represent citizens from forty-five different nations from all world regions, which results in a truly global classroom experience.
For whom
The admission requirements vary. Depending on your prior education, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements.
Structure
The Erasmus Mundus Master in “Global Studies – A European Perspective” is a two-year Master’s programme divided into four phases (two winter and two summer terms). Students take up one year at one of the European partner institutions, and spend the second study year at another European partner university. For an overview of the European partner institutions, their specialisations and education portfolio, see https://globalstudies-masters.eu/about/members/
The joint module structure of the EMJMD consists of the following components: in the first term, students are presented with the basic understanding of global studies. This consists of an “Introduction to Global History”, an interdisciplinary introduction in “Theories of Global Studies”, and a post-disciplinary module on “Methods of Global Studies”. During the second and third term, specialised thematic modules on global phenomena based on specific case studies from different world regions are offered. Students have the option to spend the third term at one of the non-European partner universities of the EMGS Consortium. For an overview of the non-European partners, see https://globalstudies-masters.eu/program/course-offer-at-non-european-partner-universities/. In the fourth, and final, term, students write their Master’s dissertation as well as attend dissertation seminars and colloquia.
In addition, winter schools take place each year in December, some weeks after students have started the programme. Their focus is on introductory information and course units. The winter school familiarises students with the complementary study programme of each partner university. This process is further strengthened during the summer schools, which take place in July of the following year. Co-taught course units focus on methodological aspects and provide important support and advice to students for drafting their Master’s dissertation. A further essential component to start the Master’s dissertation process is a workshop in which students present their first ideas about the topic they chose. Finally, the summer schools not only prepare students for the second year but also for challenges they will face on the labour market after graduation.
Labour Market
This international research-based Master's programme provides excellent training for future careers both inside and outside academia, training experts who can analyse and navigate globalisation processes from multiple perspectives. Our graduates are well prepared for academic positions in the field of Global Studies and related disciplines dealing with global phenomena as well as for jobs in supranational agencies and non-governmental organisations. They are ready to work as intercultural mediators in the fields of foreign aid, economy, management, and beyond while contributing to pioneering scholarship for understanding the past, investigating the present, and debating the future.
In the EMGS programme, students learn:
• to develop a multidisciplinary understanding of processes of globalisation (global history, international studies, political economy, human geography, transregional and area studies etc.), knowledge of how concepts of globalisation worked out in the past and today in different world regions; and
• to have insight into the production of social scientific knowledge and to relate this knowledge production to concepts of globalisation.
The EMGS programme enables its students:
• to develop the necessary social and communicative skills to work both independently and in collaboration with others in a profoundly multidisciplinary and multicultural context;
• to be aware of one’s rootedness in a specific discipline and academic culture and
• to develop general and professional skills for a wide range of possible future employment through work placements as well as the skills acquired in class that are required for specific labour markets (such as simulations of international conferences, presentations of short memos on complex topics, explanations of the organisational consequences of specific political ideas in a multilevel governance system etc.);
• to compare and apply socio-political concepts and configurations and to investigate their mutual interactions;
• to apply these insights and concepts in the design and execution of an independent study or research project and to present it in a scientifically sound paper, report, or dissertation.
For more information about career prospects, see the career surveys conducted by the EMGS consortium.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Ghent University's Education Objectives
Unique Selling Points
- Uniquely interdisciplinary: This research-based master combines perspectives, methods and theories developed in history, the social sciences, cultural as well as area studies and economics to investigate phenomena of global connectedness, offering a uniquely interdisciplinary and multiperspectivist training to be able to address global societal challenges.
- Highly relevant: The program prepares students for working in an increasingly multi-polar world and conveys knowledge and skills for analyzing and overcoming the disruptions of conflict-ridden globalization processes – essential qualifications for enhancing one’s prospects in the contemporary labour market.
- Profoundly international: the mobility track allows students to study at two different European partner universities, next to an optional extra exchange with one of 9 world-wide partners, offering a profound international experience, integral to the multiperspectivist take on globalisation.
- Common approach and specialisation: the partner universities combine a shared understanding and (comparative, historicising) approach of globalisation, with local specialisation according to comparative advantages. Depending on their specific mobility track, students can specialise in particular areas of globalisation research at different European and world-wide partner universities.
- Global citizenship: the master Global Studies is designed to equip highly-qualified students with the ability to contribute to the forward-looking debate on globalization processes in a self-reflective and critical manner. As such it fosters global citizenship and intercultural understanding.
Strengths
- Erasmus Mundus success story: the Master Global Studies is one of the oldest Erasmus Mundus programs that has received continuous funding from the EU (since 2005) and the European Commission has identified it as a success story and good practice in terms of the highly relevant content, high teaching quality, excellent management, attractiveness to students worldwide and employability.
- Dedicated lecturers: the master Global Studies unites the expertise of leading global studies institutions with highly-qualified researchers and lecturers, who are dedicated to the program and its students. The lecturers, as well as student representatives, are actively involved in the quality assurance process.
- Connection between research and education: through (guest) lectures, seminars, workshops and the master thesis, students become acquainted with a wide array of ongoing research in Global Studies and learn how to conduct their own research in this field. In turn the program also feeds into the research agenda and strengthens the research capacity at the partner universities.
- Recruitment: as a result of a successful recruitment and promotion strategy, the program attracts a high number of highly qualified students, with diverse backgrounds, from all over the world, who are stimulated to contribute actively to the creation of a truly international and interdisciplinary learning environment.
- Employability: the high success rate of Global Studies graduates on the labour market shows the value of creating this new academic field that tackles the big issues of our time like globalisation and regions in crisis. With graduates in all regions of the world, the program has also helped to develop an excellent worldwide network of alumni working in international companies, state institutions and NGOs.
Weaknesses
- Jointness: although both the European evaluators and the students highly appreciate the complementarity and adaptability of the program, jointness is an ongoing process and a constant priority of the consortium. One way in which the integration of the program will be further increased in the future, is the development of co-designed and co-taught methodological and thematic workshops by lecturers from different partners at the joint Summer and Winter School.
- Connections with the world of work: although the program can boast very high employability rates, an excellent world-wide alumnus network, and well-established contacts with professional organisations, the connections with the world of work could be developed even more systematically. To this end, the consortium is working towards the creation of an external advisory board with representatives from the public sector, civil society and business.
- Staff exchanges and invited scholars: although the program already allows for intense exchanges (both at the joint summer and winter school and through the Erasmus Mundus staff exchange funding) and the different partners actively invite external scholars to teach in the program, these staff exchanges among the consortium partners and with external experts could be intensified even further.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).The accreditation was granted based on an external review according to the European Approach. The accreditation decision and the assessment committee's report can be found here
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.