Teaching & modules
Modules
Track 1: King’s – Luiss
Year 1: Required Modules
Teaching will take place at King’s College London, England.
Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 210 credits (180 King’s credits, including 60 credits from the dissertation submitted at the end of Year 2; and 15 ECTS transferred from Luiss, amounting to an additional 30 King’s credits) .
You are required to take the below modules, for a total of 45 credits:
- European Union: History, Institutions and Politics (15 credits)
- Political Economy of Europe (15 credits)
- Research Design (15 credits)
In addition, you are required to take a range of modules totalling 75 credits over the two years offered by both European & International Studies and other departments from a range of modules, which may typically include:
- European Identities and the EU (15 credits)
- Democratic Legitimacy of International Cooperation (15 credits)
- Capitalism, liberalism and democracy (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of International Migration (15 credits)
- Global Politics: Transatlantic, Transpacific and Eurasia (15 credits)
- Lobbying and Policy Making in the EU (15 credits)
- International Political Economy of Energy Markets (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Platform Capitalism (15 credits)
- The State in Comparative Perspective (15 credits)
- The Middle East in the Global Political Economy (15 credits)
- Power and Poverty in Africa-EU Relations (15 credits)
- Foreign Policy Analysis (30 credits)
- Global Governance and International Organisations (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Development (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of the Financial Crisis (15 credits)
- The Politics of Economic Inequality (15 credits)
- Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)
- China’s Global Rise: “Great Power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics” (15 credits)
- Multinational Corporations and Global Supply Chains (15 credits)
- Energy Security and Energy Transition in Eurasia [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Russia’s War in Ukraine [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Clandestine Side of Globalisation: Organised Crime, Terrorism and Corruption (King’s Russia Institute) (15 credits)
- Displacement and Development in the Contemporary Era [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- Environment and Development: Crises, Power, and Transformations [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
Year 2 – Required Modules
Teaching will take place at Luiss University in Rome, Italy.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 72 credits (36 ECTS), while the dissertation will amount to 48 credits (24 ECTS).
You are required to take the below modules, totalling 84 credits (42 ECTS)
Dissertation (24 ECTS, including project work and a seminar on writing a Master’s Thesis)
b) Specialisation area in Cultural Heritage Policies and Management:
- Cultural Heritage Policies: Nations and Markets (6 ECTS)
- Law and Regulation of Cultural Heritage (6 ECTS)
c) Specialisation area in Economic Governance and Market Regulation
- Regulation by Independent Agencies (6 ECTS)
- Social and Labour Market Regulation (6 ECTS)
- Industrial Policy in Europe (6 ECTS)
Year 2 - Optional Modules
In addition, you are required to take 36 credits (18 ECTS) from a range of modules, which may typically include:
- Corruption as a Policy Problem
- Cultural Heritage Policies and Management for Art and Food
- Governance of Digital Markets and Technologies in Europe
- Managing and Developing Heritage
- Healthcare Policies in Europe
- EU Law and Regulation
- Policy Evaluation and Implementation
- Demography, Society and Policy in Europe and Beyond
- Tourism and Sustainable Development
- Regulation by Independent Agencies
- Social and Labour Market Regulation
- Analysing the European Public Policy-Process
The modules run in each academic year are subject to change in line with staff availability and student demand so there is no guarantee every module will run. Module descriptions and information may vary depending between years. Moreover, minor changes in course content or titles, teaching arrangements, before or after enrolment, might be made if required or desirable.
Track 2: Luiss-King’s
Year 1 – Required Modules
Teaching will take place at Luiss in Rome, Italy.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits (60 ECTS).
You are required to take the below modules, for a total of 108 credits (54 ECTS):
- Comparative Public Policy (6 ECTS)
- Analysing the European Public Policy Process (6 ECTS)
- EU Law and Regulation (6 ECTS)
- European Politics and Institutions since 1945 (6 ECTS)
- Policy Evaluation and Implementation (6 ECTS)
- The Economics of Europe in a Global Context (6 ECTS)
- Applied Research Methods (6 ECTS)
- Public Regulation and Economic Governance in Europe (6 ECTS)
- Social and Labour Market Regulation (6 ECTS)
- Demography, Society and Policy in Europe (6 ECTS)
The modules run in each academic year are subject to change in line with staff availability and student demand so there is no guarantee every module will run. Moreover, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary to make changes in course content and teaching arrangements, either before or after enrolment. Module descriptions and information may vary depending between years
Year 2 – Required Modules
Teaching will take place at King’s College London, England.
Courses are divided into modules. During your year at King’s, you will take modules totalling 180 credits (90 ECTS).
You are required to take the below modules, totalling 105 credits:
- The Political Economy of Europe (15 credits)
- Research Design (15 credits)
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Students should choose from one of the below specialisations:
a) Specialisation in European external relations
- Foreign Policies of the European Union (15 credits)
b) Specialisation in Finance in Europe
- The Political Economy of Financial Crises (15 credits)
Year 2 – Optional Modules
In addition, you are required to take a range of modules totalling 75 credits over the two years offered by both European & International Studies and other departments from a range of modules, which may typically include:
- European Identities and the EU (15 credits)
- Democratic Legitimacy of International Cooperation (15 credits)
- Capitalism, liberalism and democracy (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of International Migration (15 credits)
- Global Politics: Transatlantic, Transpacific and Eurasia (15 credits)
- Lobbying and Policy Making in the EU (15 credits)
- International Political Economy of Energy Markets (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Platform Capitalism (15 credits)
- The State in Comparative Perspective (15 credits)
- The Middle East in the Global Political Economy (15 credits)
- Power and Poverty in Africa-EU Relations (15 credits)
- Foreign Policy Analysis (30 credits)
- Global Governance and International Organisations (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Development (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of the Financial Crisis (15 credits)
- The Politics of Economic Inequality (15 credits)
- Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)
- China’s Global Rise: “Great Power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics” (15 credits)
- Multinational Corporations and Global Supply Chains (15 credits)
- Energy Security and Energy Transition in Eurasia [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Russia’s War in Ukraine [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Clandestine Side of Globalisation: Organised Crime, Terrorism and Corruption (King’s Russia Institute) (15 credits)
- Displacement and Development in the Contemporary Era [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- Environment and Development: Crises, Power, and Transformations [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
Teaching methods - what to expect
We use lectures, seminars, and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress, and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King’s student.
You will have regular contact with our staff, who are world-leading experts in their fields, through lectures, seminars and supervision.
Track 1: Kings-Luiss
|
Year |
Lectures, seminars and feedback |
Self-study |
|
1 |
6-8 hours per week |
32-34 hours per week |
|
2 |
Students are expected to successfully complete 60 ECTS at Luiss |
As required by Luiss |
Track 2: Luiss-King’s
|
Year |
Lectures, seminars and feedback |
Self-study |
|
1 |
Students are expected to successfully complete 60 ECTS at Luiss |
As required by Luiss |
|
2 |
6-8 hours per week |
32-34 hours per week |
Assessment
- Coursework
- Examinations
The study time and assessment methods detailed below are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect, but may vary from year to year: Track 1: King’s-Luiss Year 1 at King’s: the majority of European & International Studies modules are assessed via coursework, although some optional modules may differ from this general pattern. Year 2 at Luiss: combination of coursework (a minimum 70% of the overall final grade of each module) and final examination (a maximum 30% of the overall final grade of each module). Track 2: Luiss-King’s Year 1 at Luiss: Assessed by a combination of coursework (a minimum 70% of the overall final grade of each module) and final examination (a maximum 30% of the overall final grade of each module). Year 2 at King’s: the majority of European & International Studies modules are assessed by coursework, rather than a final unseen written examination, although some optional modules may differ from this general pattern; the dissertation module is assessed by a research essay. At the end of the second academic year and during the Autumn graduation session, or exceptionally during the Spring graduation session, students will be required to defend their thesis in-person in Rome.
Course structure
Track 1: Kings-Luiss Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 210 credits (180 King’s credits, including 60 credits from the dissertation submitted at the end of Year 2; and 15 ECTS transferred from Luiss, amounting to an additional 30 King’s credits) Track 2: Luiss-King’s Teaching will take place at Luiss in Rome, Italy. Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits (60 ECTS).
Application closing date guidance
Track 1: First Year at King’s
Our first application deadline is on 9 March 2026 (23:59 UK time). However, applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Luiss or from another Italian university are encouraged to apply before 1 March 2026. Please note for Track 1 and 2, applicants graduating from an Italian university other than Luiss will be required to pass the Luiss admission test to be held in April 2026.
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
- Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2026 (23:59 UK time)
- Home fee status: 25 August 2026 (23:59 UK time)
After the first application deadline, if the programme becomes full before the final deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications.
Track 2: First Year at LUISS
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
- 1 March 2026 (23:59 UK time) for applicants who will require a visa to study in Italy
- 9 April 2026 (23:59 UK time) for applicants who will not require a visa to study in Italy
Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Luiss or from another Italian university are encouraged to apply before 1 March 2026. Please note for Track 1 and 2, applicants graduating from an Italian university other than Luiss will be required to pass the Luiss admission test to be held in April 2026.
For details on who will require a visa to study in the Italy and therefore when to apply by, please visit: https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en.
It will not be possible to be considered for this programme after these dates.
Further details for the year of study at LUISS can be found here.
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
Full-time: two years (one year at Luiss, one year at King’s College London)
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026