Master in Advanced European & International Studies (MAEIS) - Mediterranean Studies

Studying in France helps students to analyse the Mediterranean region and Euro-Mediterranean relations from an EU perspective. Courses will introduce students to the institutional architecture of the EU and its neighbourhood policy. They will also dicuss the shared risks of populism, terrorism and climate change. The trimester will conclude with a simulation exercise.

In Tunis, students study on the campus of our partner, the Mahmoud El Materi University. Researchers from the region will analyse transformation processes in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean in times of globalisation. A special emphasis will be put on the Maghreb. Studying in Tunisia will provide the students with a unique experience of a historic democratisation process that turns the Nobel Peace Prize-winning country into a role model throughout the MENA region.
At the end of this trimester, students will travel to Dakar, Senegal for a three-week study trip with our partner Groupe Supdeco Dakar.

In Istanbul students study on the campus of our long-term partner, Istanbul Bilgi University. Courses tackle the changing EU-Turkey relations. Students will have the opportunity to advance in their research work, as they are free of obligations from mid-May to mid-June to work on their thesis. The programme concludes with the defence of the thesis and oral exams. With their graduation on the shores of the Bosphorus, students become part of CIFE’s worldwide Alumni network.

The Mediterranean is a case study par excellence for Peace and Conflict Studies. In the last two decades, Mediterranean societies have been significantly affected by inter-group violence and inter-state conflicts: from the Western Balkans to Cyprus, from Israel to Palestine, from Libya to Syria.

The economy in the 21st century is globalised and there are many players. Together with the United States and China, the European Union is one of the three economic poles of globalisation. In addition to this triad, since the 1990s we have seen the rise of emerging countries. The centre of the world is shifting to Asia. All in all, the global economy is dynamic and faces several challenges, including sustainable development and human development. Although it has enabled many countries to escape poverty, it is also a source of deep inequality.

The EU has become a role model of regional integration. How does the dynamic architecture of European institutions, including European Neighbourhood Policy function? To what extent do the Arab League or the Union for the Mediterranean follow a similar logic of regional integration? How can we explain transitions and differences in the Southern Mediterranean since the Arab Spring?

Migration, gender and media are policy fields that all Mediterranean societies have in common, but approach differently. At the crossroads of theory and practice, this policy-oriented module proposes solutions to the historical, social and cultural challenges Mediterranean societies face today.

This module equips the participants with professional skills and competences that will enable them to work in European and international cooperation. Seminars and workshops on:
- Project cycle management
- Intercultural communication
- International negotiation
- Risk management
- Drafting of position papers and policy recommendations

Our programmes are designed to offer a teaching method which is academic and at the same time directed towards the professional world. We aim to give students the ability to enter into dialogue with decision-makers from both the economic and the political world, stakeholders, diplomats as well as officials from international and European organisations. This broad outlook is made possible by the wide variety of our lecturers, the visits organised to different European countries and our relationship with our carefully selected international partners. Our in-house panel of experts contributes to the rich content of the modules.
The international composition of our groups enables our students to gain maximum advantage from participating each year in various role games to enhance their understanding of problems of collective action and the art of negotiation in different environments such as the EU, the UN and federal states. Research for the thesis at the end of the programme will enable students to delve into a specific subject in more detail and acquire important skills for the job market. In our documentation centre, reviews, books and a great number of electronic resources are at the students’ disposal. Our lectures are accompanied by an online learning management system, facilitating communication between students, lecturers and staff.