The aim of the European General Studies programme is threefold. It perpetuates the College's original tradition of a humanistic and generalist courses in complementing the departmental curriculum by covering subjects that are not (or only to a limited extent) covered by specialised Masters programmes, and by giving a broad place to the humanities and social sciences (sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology) as a whole. The European General Studies programme also allows students to experience interdisciplinarity. Since EG courses are the only one to  bring together students from three different specialised study programmes, students discover new approaches and methods, the ways of thinking of disciplines other than their own, and acquire a more complete understanding of Europe in all its complexity. Finally, the EG programme contributes to the College's new mission, which is to be a laboratory for the European renaissance by providing tools for critical and self-reflexive thinking and for reflecting on the future of societies impacted by the construction of Europe.

Like the Master’s programmes, which it completes, European General Studies include 1st semester courses taught during the first semester and more specialised courses taking place in the second semester. Students have to take one course and one seminar.

The programme also seeks to develop students' leadership skills via compact seminars (non-assessed optional courses), as well as special events, a regular conferences series, and an annual colloquium.