European University Institute : a community of scholars.
Date: 2010-01-04
Institutions: European University Institute
Subjects: European University Institute, economics, higher education, history, legal science, political science, social sciences

European University Institute
A Community of Scholars

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EUI students are intensely sought after by policy institutes, such 

as the ECB, because of the excellent training as well as the Euro-

pean and international outlook of the EUI. The Institute offers not 

only one of the best Ph.D. programmes in Europe, but it competes 

with the best US universities for placement of its students in policy 

institutions and academia.

Marcel Fratzscher

Head of Division at the European Central Bank 

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European University Institute
A Community of Scholars

The European University Institute (EUI) offers one of the 

world’s largest and most distinguished graduate and post-

graduate programmes in the social sciences. A distinctly 

international institution, the EUI was founded in 1972 by 

the original member states of the European Communities 

to provide advanced academic training and to promote 

academic research at the highest level.  

Today it hosts a community of scholars – roughly 55 full-

time faculty, 550 doctoral candidates, 100 post-doctoral  

fellows, 100 visiting faculty and fellows and 150 

administrative staff – drawn from over 50 countries.  

These scholars conduct research at the institute’s historic 

campus in the hills above Florence in the areas of Political 

and Social Sciences, Economics, Law, and History 

and Civilization.  

www.eui.eu

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Organized for Success
The EUI’s efficient mix of coursework, seminars and 

regular student supervision enables 80% of our candidates 

to complete their degrees – most in less than four years.  

Our alumni hold leading academic and professional 

positions in Europe and beyond. Depending on the 

discipline, between 50% and 80% of our graduates find 

positions in academia. Others find excellent opportunities in 

European organizations (European Commission, European 

Central Bank) and International organizations such as the 

World Bank, the International Monetary Fund as well as in 

both public and private sectors in many countries.

Dedicated to Diversity  
The EUI has no national affiliation; there are no hosts and 

no guests. This includes the Institute’s faculty, which hails 

from some of the finest universities in Europe and beyond, 

and which covers a wide range of teaching and research 

topics. In addition, its extensive visitors’ programmes 

attract leading academics and policy makers who take part 

in conferences, symposia and workshops, all of which are 

open to members of the institute. These include a strong 

network of alumni, who are encouraged to continue their 

participation in EUI activities.  

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Unparalleled Resources
Research at the EUI is supported by a first-class library 

Linked to the Real World
The EUI is home to the Robert Schuman Centre for 

led by a team of experienced librarians and information 

Advanced Studies (RSCAS). This policy and research 

specialists. A “hybrid” library, both print and digital 

centre, founded in 1992 and funded by both EU, national 

collections are available, including 3000 current print 

and business sources, develops interdisciplinary research 

journals, approximately 10,000 full-text electronic journals 

and promotes work on the major issues facing European 

and over half a million volumes in law, economics, 

Union integration and society. The Centre hosts research 

history and civilization, and political and social sciences.  

projects, as well as a range of working groups and ad hoc 

In addition, the EUI hosts the Historical Archives of the 

initiatives. While the RSCAS offers well-regarded post-

European Union Institutions (1952-1978 ) according to the 

doctoral opportunities (through Jean Monnet Fellowships), 

thirty years’ rule. A unique collection, it shares the 

its resources are open to the EUI community as a whole, 

premises with the archives of the Organization for 

allowing all our scholars to gain practical insights into 

Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 

their particular fields of study. 

and European Space Agency (ESA), among others. 

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www.eui.eu

I spent many of my days in the EUI’s excellent library, 

arguably the best for European Studies.

Nuno Severiano Teixeira

New University of Lisbon

Unique Post-Doctoral Programme
In 2006 the EUI launched, in addition to the fellowships 

offered by the Robert Schuman Centre, an avant-garde one 

or two-year fellowship in the social sciences and humani-

ties. Instead of treating a post-doctoral programme as a 

Department of Political and Social Sciences
The Department is led by fifteen full-time professors 

transitional period to be spent in virtual isolation, the EUI 

covering four sub-disciplines: comparative politics, 

Max Weber Programme brings together 40+ diverse fellows 

sociology, international relations and social and political 

all of whom live, work and converse together.  Integrating 

theory. These sub-disciplines share a common emphasis on 

academic preparation and research practice activities, it is 

social and political change in Europe at all levels – national, 

oriented to reflect on and develop international standards 

subnational and transnational. 

of excellence in academic practice. With a strong emphasis 

The Department favours a multi-faceted approach to 

on academic communication, the programme also embraces 

research projects and theses, many of which cut across 

other professional aspects of an academic career, such as 

traditional boundaries. To increase the variety of perspec-

grant application, publishing, mentoring, refereeing and 

tives, short, intensive workshops on specific subjects are 

competing in the job market. The largest post-doctoral pro-

led by visiting speakers from other universities.

gramme in the social sciences in Europe, Max Weber Pro-

gramme fellowships are financed entirely by the 

European Union. 

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The EUI is a university without walls or barriers between 

different departments.  It is a place where study, work and 

social life go hand in hand.

Ling Li

Jean Monnet Fellow

Economics Department
The teaching in the doctoral programme is based on formal, 

high-level coursework in the areas of microeconomics, 

macroeconomics and econometrics, as well as in research 

methodology. On top of this foundation, the department 

offers advanced and specialized graduate courses, depending 

on the – quite broad – interests of the current staff. 

In addition, visiting speakers give weekly seminars on 

a diverse range of topics.

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www.eui.eu

If you want to work effectively internationally, it is vital to get 

over the cultural barriers.  It allows you to get a handle on the 

Department of History and Civilization
The Department places a strong emphasis on the develop-

individual, irrespective of nationality…  Once you have learnt that 

ment of a transnational and comparative approach to the 

skill, you can apply it in Asia, South America or anywhere.  I think 

history of Europe from the medieval period to the present. 

that’s one of the great lessons I learnt at the EUI.

While the Department celebrates Europe’s diversity, as 

Eli Leenaars

Executive Board, ING Group

represented by the many nationalities that participate in 

our programme, it is committed to moving beyond national 

perspectives on history.  

The Department focuses on integrating national historio-

graphies into a broader European perspective, in both 

methodo logical and thematic contexts. Research conducted 

under the auspices of this Department seeks to relate his-

tory to the concerns of contemporary Europeans.  To this 

end, inter disciplinary cooperation with other departments is 

encouraged.

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Department of Law
The Department takes a comparative and contextual 

approach to the study of European and International law. 

The Department’s professors hail from many countries and 

therefore constitute a large corpus of expertise on national 

legal systems. This facilitates comparative work, as it high-

lights the fact that different legal systems today cannot be 

treated as if they existed in a territorially delimited world.  

As regards context, law is not treated in a purely techni-

cal exercise, but is examined as it relates to social, cultural 

political and economic factors.

The department offers two distinct programmes, namely 

the four-year doctoral programme and the one year LL.M. 

programme. Unlike many other LL.M. programmes, the 

EUI programme requires participants to follow a number of 

advanced courses and seminars along with first-year Ph.D. 

researchers with the aim to develop a substantial piece of 

research. LL.M. participants may apply to continue on to 

the Ph.D. programme. 

www.eui.eu

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Max Weber Fellowships
Designed for junior post-docs who plan on pursuing an 

academic career, this programme focuses on improving 

teaching, research skills and other academic skills.  

The Programmes

A Four-Year Structured Doctoral Programme
The purpose of the programme is to prepare researchers to 

Jean Monnet Fellowships
Offered at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced 

develop and defend their theses. To this end, the first year 

Studies (RSCAS), these fellowships are for junior

is devoted to acquiring a solid background for the doctoral 

academics at an early stage in their careers.  

work and to the design of the proposed research. The second 

They are closely associated with the ongoing research 

and third years are dedicated to research, fieldwork, data 

programme of the RSCAS.

collection and writing of the thesis, under close supervision.  

The fourth year is dedicated to finishing and defending the 

thesis; part of the year may also be used for professional or 

Fernand Braudel Senior Fellowships
Open to established, internationally-recognized academics, 

university traineeships, and teaching opportunities.

these fellowships last up to ten months under the auspices 

of one of the Institute’s four departments.

Other Fellowships
The EUI also hosts several other fellowships financed by 

extra-university sources, such as the Marie Curie Fellow-

ships etc. 

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Applying
Information about admissions criteria, deadline, criteria and 

European University Institute
Badia Fiesolana

Via dei Roccettini 9 

grants for the EUI’s various programmes is available at: 

I-50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI)

www.eui.eu/About/InfoFor/ProspectiveResearchersFellows.aspx

Telephone +39 055 468 5373

Italy

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Colophon

Photos: European University Institute

Text: Ellen Gooch

Design: Roger van den Bergh BNO, Onoma, LLC

©2009 European University Institute

www.eui.eu

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European University Institute
Badia Fiesolana

Via dei Roccettini 9 

I-50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI)

Italy

www.eui.eu

The  European  Commission  supports  the  EUI  through  the  European  Union  budget. This 
publication refl ects the views only of the author(s), and the Commission cannot be held 
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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