FREN1205

This course is designed for the French stream of the European Studies Program. It introduces the French language and explores contemporary French-speaking societies through the target language medium. Through interactive methods and approaches, participants will learn how to express themselves in French and get progressively acquainted with French and Francophone cultures. It seeks to introduce the French language in the context of living, studying and working in the French speaking areas of Europe. At the end of this course students achieve the A1-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as laid down by the Council of Europe.

GERM1205

This course is designed for the German stream of the European Studies Program. It introduces the German language and explores contemporary German-speaking societies through the target language medium. Through interactive methods and approaches, participants will learn how to express themselves in German and get progressively acquainted with German-speaking cultures and communities within Germany. It seeks to introduce the German language in the context of living, studying and working in the German speaking areas of Europe. At the end of this course students achieve the A1-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as laid down by the Council of Europe.

FREN2027

Prerequisite: FREN1205 European Language in Context I (French) or A2 level in French

This course is the continuation of FREN1205 and aims to boost the language proficiency of students in French, further engage with French culture and promote intercultural awareness in reflecting on and discussing socio-cultural aspects of the target country comparatively. Students at the end of this course achieve the A2-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as laid down by the Council of Europe.

GERM2027

Prerequisite: GERM1205 European Language in Context I (German) or A2 level in German
 
This course is the continuation of GERM1205 and aims to equip students to pursue academic studies as well as internships in the German speaking areas of Europe during year III. To this end, the course will help the students to reach a sufficient and autonomous level in spoken and written German language; collect useful information about German civilization and contemporary society; and last but not the least, acquire the right attitudes that will enhance their learning and communication strategies. Students at the end of this course achieve the B1-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) laid down by the Council of Europe.

FREN2208-9

Prerequisite: FREN2027 Summer School on European Language and Culture (French)

This course is the continuation of FREN2027 and aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue academic studies as well as internships in France during year III. To this end, the course will help the students to: reach a sufficient and autonomous level in spoken/written French language; collect useful information about French civilization and contemporary society; and last but not least, acquire the right attitudes that will enhance their learning and communication strategies. Students at the end of this course achieve the B2-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as laid down by the Council of Europe.

GERM2208-9

Prerequisite: GERM2027 Summer School on European Language and Culture (German)

This course is the continuation of GERM2027 and aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue academic studies in Germany as well as internships in Germany or in Europe during their exchange year. To this end, the course will help the students reach a sufficient and autonomous level in spoken/written German; collect and analyze, in the target language, past and current issues involving the German-speaking countries to deepen students' understanding of contemporary German-speaking societies and raise global awareness; and last but not least, develop know-how skills that will enhance their learning and communication strategies, vital to prepare our students to adapt the best they can to a different country and an academic culture in Year III. Students at the end of this course achieve the B1-Level of Competence of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as laid down by the Council of Europe and are eligible to appear for the Goethe B1 Certificate, which is the language requirement for admission to German tertiary institutions of education.

EURO1205

This level 1 course is designed for, but not limited to, students who aim to be admitted to the BSocSc (Hons) in European Studies (either French or German) in Year I-Semester 2. Through an overview of different types of films and filmmaking practice of French & German cinema, students will familiarise themselves with cultural, socio-economic, political and historical trends in contemporary France and Germany. In-class analyses and discussions about the film content will enable students to gain an understanding of French and German societies.

This course does not require any knowledge in French or German.

EURO1206

Where and what is Europe? What is the idea of Europe and what ideas has Europe given birth to? This course seeks to equip students with the tools to answer these and other questions about the forces and factors that made contemporary Europe and, in turn, enabled Europeans to make – for better or worse – the modern world. Students will be introduced to various understandings of ‘Europe’ and the political, cultural and historical connotations it embodies. We begin with an examination of Europe’s roots in the ancient Mediterranean civilisations of Greece and Rome. We then continue with an examination of Christian Europe in the Middle Ages, before moving into the Modern period with an exploration of Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment. Students will come away from this course with a deep appreciation of Europe’s heritage, and the ways in which that heritage is contested, instrumentalised, and continuously reinvented in the present.

EURO2007

This course examines the causes and historical evolution of European integration and looks analytically at the main institutions and key policy areas of the European Union today. It provides a focused examination of the political economy of European integration, highlighting the dynamic relationship between economic and political integration and the respective roles of the Member States, the EU institutions, and the various stakeholders in the market and society at large. Moreover, it highlights the complexities and difficulties in constructing a European constitutional order and offers a critical examination of the process of institutional building. It provides a critical review of the main theoretical contributions to the debate on European integration and explores the prospects for the enlarged EU in world politics. This course will follow closely the ongoing reflections and debates in the EU about its future.

EURO2015

This course offers students an immersive, hands-on experience of the world of EU summit negotiations. It will draw on, and supplement, students’ previous studies of international politics and the EU, giving an opportunity to apply that knowledge to ‘real-life’ political issues and controversies. The highlight of the course is a simulation of a European Council summit, in which students will represent individual EU member states. In order to prepare for the simulation, students will study the political, economic and social backgrounds of EU member states, as well as the processes of negotiation that take place at different levels, and between different actors, within the EU. Students will come away from this course equipped with analytical, communication and bargaining skills that will prepare them well for their post-study careers.

POLS2007

This is a course designed to enhance students' ability to perceive, evaluate and understand political phenomena through a systematic introduction to a wide range of approaches, methods and theories of political science. Basic research procedures and academic writing are the other foci of the course. Students are encouraged to analyse and explain the current political development of Europe, China or Hong Kong with the help of particular perspectives and research methods. 

POLS2205

The course examines the structure of successive political systems in France within their historical context. After a review of the legacy of the past (i.e. the absolute monarchy, the French Revolution and the various regimes that followed), the core of the course examines the evolution of the French political and government system in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will learn about the systemic features of the Fifth Republic, and to identify political ideologies and values, cultural predispositions, and social stratifications that shape France’s contemporary polity.

POLS2206

The course examines the structure and nature of successive political systems in Germany within their historical and geopolitical context. Focusing on the period from 1871 until the present, we will study the Kaiserreich, the Weimar Republic, and the Third Reich, assessing their origins, key features, and consequences. This provides the foundation for our analysis of post-war Germany, its division into East and West and the post-1989 (re)construction of a unified, democratic Federal Republic of Germany. Students should learn to identify the ideological and structural factors that have shaped contemporary German politics and society and, in turn, European politics and society. They should gain insight into the lasting significance of Germany’s political history for present-day politics, both on the national and European level.

EURO4005

This course aims at offering students a clear overview of the economic, political, social and diplomatic issues raised by recent institutional developments of the European Union. On the one hand, it consolidates knowledge of institutional structures and key policy-making processes in the recent years. On the other, it raises critical awareness of the deeper theoretical and practical questions these developments pose. One of the main components of the course is the growing importance of globalization and the opening of Europe to other regions of the world, in particular China and East-Asia. The course integrates theoretical perspectives and case studies.

EURO4205

The course critically analyses France’s external relations and foreign policy, their determinants, actors, processes, and means in the present time and the recent past. Emphasis will be given to the relevance of foreign policy scholarship to understanding real-world, contemporary world affairs, by looking at the specific case of France, a middle-power country with global geostrategic ambitions. Students will apply their French language skills to examine culture, gain cultural awareness, and explore politics and international relations in an integrated way.

EURO4206

Note : Course participants must demonstrate the ability to use German for academic purposes in speech, writing, and reading.

This course examines Germany’s external relations and foreign policy; their determinants, actors, processes, and means in the present time and the recent past. It analyses the structural factors that shape the national interests of Germany, and how these factors play out with regard to real-world events. In this aspect, the course will examine the impact of political leaders, Germany’s political system, the impact of lobby groups, public opinion and history. With regard to the latter, it particularly addresses the significant changes that German Foreign Policy has undergone since 1989.

Students will apply their German language skills to examine culture, gain cultural awareness, and explore politics and international relations in an integrated way.

EURO4215

Note : Students must demonstrate the ability to use French for academic purpose in speech, writing, and reading.

This course will enable students to acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of the main political, cultural and socio-economic features of the French-speaking countries and communities in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Having explored the diversity of the French-speaking world, students will be able to critically think and engage in discussion on post-colonialism, cultural diversity, and the struggle for identity in 21st century world affairs. 

EURO4216

Note : Students must demonstrate the ability to use German for academic purpose in speech, writing, and reading.

The course will be held entirely in German and follows the format of a "Seminar" common in German universities. It is based on the principle that knowledge is not taught by one person to a group of persons but is constructed collectively through discussion and exchange of information. The format will be used to discuss social, economic and political aspects of German history and contemporary German-speaking societies.

This course acquaints students with salient characteristics of the social, cultural, political and economic life of German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

EURO 4898-9 (6,*,*)

Prerequisite: Year IV Standing in the European Studies major
Medium of Instruction: French or German

The Honours Project is an independent academic research project about a topic chosen and produced individually by the student under the supervision of a member of staff. The topic should fall within the general area of social sciences, with an emphasis on Europe and/or the geographic areas covered in the European Studies programme.

EURO3008

Prerequisite: FREN2209 European Language in Context II (French) or GERM2209 European Language in Context II (German) and sufficient GPA in Year II

The European Academic / Internship Semester provides full linguistic and cultural immersion into the societies of French- or German-speaking countries through a combination of intensive language training, academic study and, whenever feasible, supervised working experience on location in Europe. Semester I is usually spent at a university. Semester II is spent at a university and/or a work placement (internship / traineeship) in a private company or public institution.

Students will be placed individually or in very small groups at selected partner institutions of the European Studies Course/the Department of GIS. The course of study will normally comprise intensive foreign language tuition (French or German) and selected academic courses, as they are available at the respective partner institutions. In case of internships, students will be placed individually with the assistance of the programme coordinators. Internships may vary in length but shall not extend six months of duration. Internship placements are subject to availability of places, suitability of the student and approval by host companies.

EURO3009

Prerequisite: FREN2209 European Language in Context II (French) or GERM2209 European Language in Context II (German) and sufficient GPA in Year II

The European Academic / Internship Semester provides full linguistic and cultural immersion into the societies of French- or German-speaking countries through a combination of intensive language training, academic study and, whenever feasible, supervised working experience on location in Europe. Semester I is usually spent at a university. Semester II is spent at a university and/or a work placement (internship / traineeship) in a private company or public institution.

Students will be placed individually or in very small groups at selected partner institutions of the European Studies Course/the Department of GIS. The course of study will normally comprise intensive foreign language tuition (French or German) and selected academic courses, as they are available at the respective partner institutions. In case of internships, students will be placed individually with the assistance of the programme coordinators. Internships may vary in length but shall not extend six months of duration. Internship placements are subject to availability of places, suitability of the student and approval by host companies.