European civilization is among the most influential in the world. To understand Europe is to understand one of the main sources of modernity. The European Union has emerged as a major actor in world politics and economics; its growth and development are of vital global importance.

Within the BSocSc (Hons) in European Studies, Political Science provides the disciplinary core, underpinned by history and (cultural) area studies, business/economics or communication courses. Students also undergo rigorous training in either German or French up to levels of academic and professional fluency. The aim is to give students a firm knowledge of the basic features of the European world and the communicative skills necessary for a future professional or academic career in the field of European-Asian relations. Knowledge of Europe is deepened by the Honours Project in the final year, based on first-hand research into a particular subject related to Europe. Successful graduates also possess the skills requisite for immediate entry to postgraduate programmes both locally and in Europe.

The objectives of the programme are:

• To provide students with a general and up-to-date knowledge of contemporary Europe, firmly grounded in the social sciences, with an emphasis on the European Union and its member states;
• To enable students to grasp the significance of Europe to world history, politics and economics and to train them to become skilled and knowledgeable communicators between Hong Kong/mainland China and Europe;
• To assist students in acquiring high, professionally relevant proficiency in one major European language (other than English);
• To provide orientation and intellectual stimulus for students to understand and appreciate their own and other cultures/societies in an increasingly multi-polar and multi-cultural world; and
• In these ways to contribute to Hong Kong's role as a major international commercial and cultural crossroads.

The Structure:

European Studies consists of two years of full-time study in Hong Kong, a third year spent in Europe, followed by a fourth year in Hong Kong. The third year is designed as an integral part of the overall programme. It consists of academic study at a European university and possibly a placement with European companies/institutions. Students should gain the benefits of on-the-spot academic training and linguistic immersion as well as first-hand experience of work in a European environment.

The Curriculum:

# Students may take additional Healthy Lifestyle courses and/or General Education (Level 1 or 2) courses in any categories, subject to a maximum of 6 units, to fulfil the Free Electives requirement.

# Students may take additional GE courses (of Level 1 or 2) in any categories to fulfil the "Free Electives" requirement but only a maximum of 6 units will be counted towards the fulfilment of the "Free Electives" requirement.