First semester

Preparatory courses

As the backgrounds and profiles of students at Natolin are very diverse, prior to following compulsory core courses, students with improvable backgrounds in political science, international relations, history, economics and law, follow a set of preparatory courses.

• BOBROWICZ, B. – Introduction to Economics (10h, 0 ECTS)
• SCHIRMANN, S. – L'Histoire de la construction européenne (10h, 0 ECTS)
• SCHUMACHER, T. – Introduction to International Relations (10h, 0 ECTS)
• VAN ELSUWEGE, P. – Introduction to Law (10h, 0 ECTS)
• ZIÓŁKOWSKA, J. – Introduction to Political Science (10h, 0 ECTS)

Introductory courses 

Students need to select at least 2 introductory courses.

• BIALASIEWICZ, L. – Introduction to Geopolitics (10h, 0 ECTS)
• BONZANNI, A. – Introduction to International Energy Studies (10h, 0 ECTS)
• BUTTERWICK-PAWLIKOWSKI, R. – Introduction to History of European Civilization (20h, 0 ECTS)
• GAETA, P. – Introduction to Public International Law (10h, 0 ECTS)
• PEDERSEN, R.B. – Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis (10h, 0 ECTS)

Compulsory core courses

All students follow compulsory core courses, which provide them with a common base of knowledge on the system of EU governance, the EU legal order, European economic integration, and European history. They also study EU external relations as well as the specificities of Central and Eastern Europe.

Out of the 5 compulsory core courses, students can swap up to three courses of the pluridisciplinary track with courses of the interdisciplinary track, under the condition that they pass the entry tests of the swapped courses of the pluridisciplinary track.

Obligatory courses for all:

• MINK, G. – L’Europe centrale aux XXe et XXIe siècles: histoire, politique, sociétés (1945-2004) (10h, 2 ECTS)
• PUDŁOCKI, T. – History of Central and Eastern Europe (20h, 4 ECTS)

Optional contextual courses

The study programme is also animated by the idea that the EU cannot be understood or properly studied in abstraction from the context – historical, geographical, conceptual, and cultural – in which it has been developing. The core courses are therefore complemented by contextual courses, which allow the students to situate the issues addressed within the broader context of relations between the state and the economy, respective political systems, national identities in Europe and history of (geo-)political thought.

Students need to select 3 optional contextual courses.

• ANDERSON, J. – Religion and Politics (10h, 0 ECTS)
• BRAGUE, R. – L'Islam et l'Europe (10h, 0 ECTS)
• CASSARINO, J.-P. – Approches de la gouvernance migratoire (10h, 0 ECTS)
• MATHIEU, L. – Révoltes et révolutions (10h, 0 ECTS)
• MHANNA, A. – Les nouveaux enjeux de la liberté de la presse (10h, 0 ECTS)
• NASSEF, Y. – Politics of Climate Change (10h, 0 ECTS)
• THIESSE, A.-M. – La construction d’identités nationales en Europe, XIXe-XXe siècle (10h, 0 ECTS)

Masterclasses

Participation in masterclasses is optional.

• CIHOCKI, M. – From the Greek Agora to the Ukrainian Euromaidan: the History of Ideas of Democracy in Europe (8h, 0 ECTS)
• ESPADA, J. – Liberalisms (8h, 0 ECTS)
• MINK, G. – Histoire et mémoire (8h, 0 ECTS)

Workshops

Students need to select at least 1 workshop.

• KALFADELLIS, P. – Communicating Cross Culturally (8h, 0 ECTS)
• KIMBER LINDWALL, A. – Strategic Communication in a Digital Age (8h, 0 ECTS)
• KRUKOWSKA, E. – Media and Climate: Communicating the Green Transition (8h, 0 ECTS)
• MINK, G. (in cooperation with Warsaw Museums) – Les politiques historiques et mémorielles (8h, 0 ECTS)
• RADAELLI, P. – Policy Analysis: Concepts and Techniques (8h, 0 ECTS)

Simulation game

Participation in the simulation game is optional.

• BUTTERWICK-PAWLIKOWSKI, R. – The Paris Peace Conference of 1919-20 (4h, 0 ECTS)

Master’s thesis and Research methodology

In addition to the courses they take during the first and second semesters, students must write a Master’s thesis in English or French, counting for 16 ECTS. The research methodology seminar (4 ECTS) is an integral part of the preparation of the Master’s thesis and is compulsory for all students.

• LEWIS, O. (coord.); BOBROWICZ, B.; EXADAKTYLOS, T.; LONGHURST, K.; MINK, G.; MOORHOUSE, R.; SCHUMACHER, T.; SZOSTAK, R.; VAN ELSUWEGE, P.; WINAND, P. – Research Methods / Méthodes de recherche (20h, 4 ECTS)

Career development

Besides the academic courses, the Natolin Careers and Professional Development Office offers to the students a series of career development activities during the first and second semester.

• One-to-one career tutorials
• Professional skills workshops in areas such as: 
  • Project management
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Teamwork and leadership
  • Debating and argumentation skills
  • EPSO competition training
• "Meet the Professionals" series of events
• Alumni reunions

Language courses

In addition to benefitting from a bilingual study programme, students can take advantage of language courses on offer implemented by the Languages and Intercultural Dialogue Office. The following languages are on offer: English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Arabic. The courses are tailored to the individual students' needs, and are also focused on transversal skills required by employers.