Study

A Bachelor of Arts with a major or minor in European Studies covers the cultural, economic, historical, political and social aspects of the European Union and provides an insight into how the EU impacts our lives in Aotearoa and in the Asia Pacific.

During your study meet and network with European Ambassadors and diplomats to NZ, policy makers, and like-minded staff and students.

The Master of European Union Studies (taught)  is completed by coursework and is the only programme of its kind in this discipline in Australasia. Complete the Master of Arts in European Studies (by thesis) at NZ’s only research centre devoted to the study and research on Europe and the EU.  If you are considering a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in European Union studies contact Martin Holland (PG course coordinator) to discuss.

Enjoy exceptional academic support and professional development from internships, scholarships, research placements, exchanges and travel opportunities to conferences, Model EU’s and workshops both domestically and internationally.

More info

The NCRE is part of the NZ European Union Centres Network which each year offers partial Postgraduate Domestic Fee Scholarships and Research Awards for Research and Travel to many Honours, Masters and PhD students at the Network's Partner Institutions. Academic merit is the sole criterion for eligibility.

EUCN and NCRE Scholarships

Each year, the NCRE and the EUCN provide students with Course Fee Scholarships and Research Awards for postgraduate students. Applications for scholarships for the 2018 academic year are now closed.

• Get more information about EUCN and NCRE Scholarships

Other sources of funding

For information on possible research grants for Europe-focused research, search the University of Canterbury Research Office Online Grants Database (Staff only). The Database can be searched for grants available within New Zealand and Internationally. The Database can be searched by a specific grant or organisation name, date or by "key words". The keyword that can be used to search is European and is under 'subject area'. The Database is available to UoC users only.

Within UC

• Research Office
• Scholarships Office

International funding opportunities through NCRE partners

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship
• Erasmus Mundus

Every year, the EUCN sends post-graduate students to intern at the European Parliament in Brussels and at the Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore. These programmes form part of the EUCN's wider objective to increase New Zealanders' awareness and understanding of the European Union. The internships are designed to provide post-graduates with an opportunity to experience working in a real-life setting, as well as to assist their own research.

MEP Internship

Every year up to two postgraduate students from EUCN partner universities are funded to work as interns at the European Parliament.

To be eligible for the internship you must be a post-graduate student enrolled at an EUCN partner university for study (Hons, Masters or Doctoral level) and a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

The internships are normally for 3 months. MEP interns are expected to be available from September on each year. Exact timing will be negotiated with the New Zealand Embassy in Brussels and the MEP. Interns will be asked to work on a variety of projects including but not exclusively: helping to prepare documents, undertaking small research papers, helping with administrative tasks, and helping to arrange events.

The MEP Internship provides €5,000 to support you during your internship period. This can cover airfares to Brussels, accommodation, local transport and daily living costs. All expenditure must be in line with University of Canterbury and EUCN grant rules.

For more information on how to apply see MEP internships.

ASEF Internship

Students from EUCN partner universities also have the opportunity to intern for up to three months at the Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore.

The ASEF Internship is more flexible in timeframe to work around a students academic programme. Interns will be asked to work on a variety of projects including but not exclusively: helping to prepare documents, undertaking small research papers, helping with administrative tasks, and helping to arrange events.

The ASEF Internship provides $5000 to support you during your internship period. This can cover airfares to Singapore, accommodation, local transport and daily living costs. All expenditure must be in line with University of Canterbury and EUCN grant rules.

For more information on how to apply see ASEF internships.

Domestic Internships

Additionally, funded domestic internships are available for students to work at the EU Delegation to New Zealand in Wellington and other places such as the NZIIA.

The National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) is partnered with a number of universities in Europe and Asia which offer exchange opprtunities for postgraduate students.

Partners in Europe

• Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
• Lund University, Lung, Sweden
• University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
• TUT Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
• Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
• University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
• KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Partners in Asia

• Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
• Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
• Fudan University, Shanghai, China
• Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
• Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
• University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• University of Macau, Macau, China
• Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Please contact Sabine Chartschenko for more details.

NCRE-MAEUS Mobility Awards

Since 2002, the NCRE and the Master of Arts in EU Studies programme at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, have organised an annual exchange of graduate students between University of Canterbury EURO Honours students and MA students from Chulalongkorn.

The MAEUS programme is a taught degree involving the study of the EU across four disciplines - Politics, Law, Economics and History. The MAEUS course consists of intensive 2-week modules (of 24 class hours); UC students may take one module during the June/July mid-year break and the assessment for this module can substitute for an item of work in the EURO Honours degree (with the approval of the course coordinator).

Students from Chulalongkorn visit the NCRE annually for 2-4 weeks in March/April where they undertake supervised research towards their final dissertation projects for their degree.

Travel and subsistence costs are available annually for a limited number of students. Students who can cover their own costs may also participate in the exchange.

Application procedure

This exchange is provided solely for European Studies Honours students at Canterbury and students in the Master of Arts in EU Studies programme at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Eligible students who would like more information should contact their respective programme directors.