Marta Lorimer, Florence, Italy
(Class of 2012-14)
As a final year undergraduate student applying for the double degree programme, I feared that there would be too much overlap between the two programmes. Luckily enough, I found that the two degrees proved to be nicely complementary, and this complementarity was the most enriching part of the double degree programme.
Studying at Sciences Po was an opportunity to spend quality time with the EU, understanding the political, economic and legal processes that lie behind decision-making in Brussels. On the other side, my year in London as a student on the MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities focused on the ideas behind the European construction. Thus, in my first year, I could find out more about how the EU works concretely; in the second year, I could ask questions about why ‘Europe’ exists at all.
If I had to resume the double degree in one sentence, I would say that it is about knowing how things work, being able to look at issues from all sides, and learning that ‘why’ and ‘so what?’ are really the most important questions you can ask. I think that this truly comprehensive education, based on a good understanding of how things work and a healthy culture of doubt, had a crucial role in helping me secure a place on the European Institute’s MPhil/PhD programme. Hopefully, what I have learnt as a postgraduate student at Sciences Po and LSE will help me through the next four years and keep my mind active for the rest of my life.
Bob Feidt, Walfer, Luxembourg
(Class of 2012-14)
“After having read Economics during my undergraduate I felt the urge to do a master’s degree that offered me a wider range of subjects, which I could still link to my economic background. When I found out about the double degree in European Studies at Sciences Po and LSE and its appealing curriculum, I knew that this was my first choice. As a Luxembourger the EU had always interested me. Not only did I get to study at two of the world’s most renowned institutions but I was also able to turn my genuine interest into my passion.
When I first met my double degree colleagues in Paris I was amazed both by their diverse academic and cultural backgrounds and the variety of their professional experiences. Though at the beginning of the year we all had different fields of expertise, we all left Paris with a solid knowledge of the functioning and internal dynamics of the EU, thanks to a wide range of modules ranging from EU Law and the EU’s political system to the Union’s economic integration. Besides my academic classes, I was able to attend conferences with high-profile speakers and I got to choose Russian as a new language to learn, which I was able to pursue at the LSE.
Once in London, the double degree students were split into their respective master choices. Among the three options, I picked the political economy of Europe track, which enabled me to build on the knowledge I acquired during my undergraduate degree and my first year in Paris. Although LSE and Sciences Po have a lot in common, they complement each other on many other levels. Not only were we confronted with two different teaching styles but we were also able to pick different modules that best suited our interests and career goals. In the end, I can only highly recommend this double degree to anyone who wants to be exposed to two challenging environments.”
Maricia Fischer-Souan, Waterloo, Canada
(Class of 2008-10)
"When I learned that there was a double degree programme in European studies between Sciences-Po, Paris and the LSE, I couldn't imagine better settings for my Masters studies. Not only was I set on studying in Europe, but I was also drawn to the renown of both institutions. Coming from North America, the subject of European integration was both fascinating and singular to me. I had taken a few courses in European politics and EU integration prior to entering the Masters programme, but what I wanted was a truly European perspective on such a uniquely European subject.
Paris and London proved to be different yet complementary settings in which to become immersed in the world of European affairs. The first year in Affaires Européennes at Sciences-Po required a certain adjustment on my part in terms of the academic style and pedagogic methods. Though we all faced challenges, the sheer number of us in the programme with diverse academic and cultural backgrounds meant that the process of adaptation was the norm, rather than the exception. As students of EU institutions, policy-making and law, we became highly proficient in the internal dynamics and technicalities that drive the process of European integration. The number of courses that we had in common allowed us to forge a great sense of solidarity. Put simply, throughout the year in Paris, we, the double-degree students from different parts of Europe and the world, converged around a range of interests in the European project and the vibrancy of life in the French capital.
Then came London, where we had the opportunity to specialise in a specific field of European studies. For me, this meant becoming slightly less focused on the actual European Union, and more on the political and philosophical underpinnings of Europe as an evolutionary concept through the Ideas and Identities programme. For others, it meant engaging in the policy-focused areas or the political economy aspects of European integration. The diversity of course choices allowed me to develop my interests in political philosophy, European history, contemporary migration and even Turkish political economy. Though the students of the double-degree became more fragmented at the LSE due to the three specialisations, I don't think we ever lost sight of our common experience and the friendships we cultivated. Reflecting on the two years I spent in this Masters programme, I feel I achieved a great deal academically and in terms of personal growth as a result of my engagement with such a wide array of dedicated and interesting students, professors and EU-practitioners."