Master in Advanced European and International Studies – Mediterranean Studies – Nice-Tunis-Istanbul

"Learning and living in the Mediterranean"

The "Mediterranean Studies" branch of the Master in Advanced European and International Studies (MAEIS) is targeted at students who have completed their undergraduate studies. Its objective is to give students an overarching vision of the political, social, economic, and cultural challenges of today’s world and the Mediterranean landscape.

The MAEIS is a one-year ­programme, subdivided into three terms plus an optional internship (maximum 3 months).

The Master’s programme follows an original approach that distinguishes it from other Master’s courses in Euro­Mediterranean Studies and International Relations. The MAEIS is an international, interdisciplinary and itinerant programme that aims to educate the next generation of Euro­-Mediterranean decision­makers. Following the slogan “Learning and living the Mediterranean,” the participants rotate each trimester, moving their place of studies from Nice to Tunis and then to Istanbul.

Degree and recognition

Students who successfully complete the programme are awarded two certifications at the end of the academic year:

• Master in Advanced European and International Studies: This is the diploma of CIFE, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS credits at Master level (or 90 ECTS including the optional internship).
• The degree qualification Chargé de Mission en Organisations Européennes et Internationales (Policy Officer in European and International Organisations): This qualification is recognised by the French state as a degree at Master level (level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework EQF).

Teaching modules

• Conflict Management and Peacemaking

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 inter­group violence and inter­state conflicts: from the Western Balkans to Cyprus, from Israel to Palestine, from Libya to Syria.

• Sustainable Development and Globalisation

The 21st century and especially the Mediterranean face unprecedented economic, environmental and social challenges, as the globalised economic development exerts increased pressure on limited resources, deteriorates the environment and creates growing inequalities.

• Regional Integration Policies

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

• Mediterranean Politics and Societies

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.

• Professional Skills Workshops

This module equips the participants with professional skills and competencies that will enable them to work in Euro­pean and international cooperation. They will participate in negotiation and mediation training, simulation games and workshops on project cycle management and intercultural communication.

Overview of the academic year

The first term (October to December) starts in the European Union, in Nice, France. It encompasses classes on the basics of the five teaching modules. Studying in France helps students to analyse the Mediterranean region and Euro-Mediterranean relations from an EU perspective. Courses will introduce the institutional architecture of the EU and its neighbourhood policy. They will also discuss the shared risks of populism, terrorism and climate change. Mid-term exams will take place in December. The trimester concludes with a simulation exercise.

The second term (January to March) starts off in Tunis, Tunisia. Our cooperation partner, the Université Internationale de Tunis (UIT), is famous for its integration of international students in Tunisia. Thanks to our partner, the Institut de Recherche sur le Maghreb Contemporain (IRMC), students will have access to the expertise and the library of one of the most renowned think tanks in the Maghreb. Researchers from the region will analyse transformation processes in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean in times of globalisation. Studying in Tunisia provides students with a unique experience of a historic democratisation process that turned the Nobel peace-prize winning country into a role model throughout the MENA region. For non-Arab speakers, an Arab language course is compulsory.

The programme concludes (April to July) in Istanbul where 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 allow them to work on their theses. 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.

A three-week study trip to Dakar will also take place between the 2nd and 3rd terms.

After graduation, students who have chosen the internship option will do a professional internship (max. three months). The internship can be completed in a European institution, an international organisation, national diplomacy, consultancies, non-governmental organisations or research institutes. At the end of the internship, students submit a substantial internship report, which is assessed by a board of examiners. The Master, the internship and the validated internship report will lead to a degree equivalent to 90 ECTS.

Have a look at our video to learn more about the experience of our participants!

Graduates receive two certifications:

• The Master in Advanced European and International Studies - Mediterranean Studies. This is the diploma of CIFE as a private institute of higher education, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS at Master level.
• The degree qualification "Policy Officer in European and International organisations" (level 7 EQF), recognised by the French state.

Professional Fields of Recent CIFE Graduates

• International and EU Organisations
• Companies and Banks
• National Governments and Administration
• Research and Teaching
• Consultancy and Advocacy
• International Humanitarian Sector/NGOs
• International Media

A one-year programme + optional professional internship (max. 3 months to be completed by 30 September)

• October to December: Nice
• January to March: Tunis
• March: 3-week study trip to Dakar
• April to June: Istanbul