Master Border Studies

Our Master's in Border Studies is a two-year joint international study programme that addresses the complex economic, political, social and cultural issues of borders and of border regions in Europe and beyond. The study programme is designed for students with different disciplinary backgrounds who wish to develop the necessary skills and competencies to work in intercultural and cross-border settings.  The multilingual study programme is located in three countries at four different universities:  University of Luxembourg (LUX)  University of Lorraine (FR) Saarland University (DE) University of Kaiserslautern (DE) Courses in this Master's in Border Studies are taught in German, French and English. Border Studies: Addressing the challenges of the 21st century In the wake of the abolition of regular border controls in Europe and the fall of the iron curtain, the field of Border Studies has opened up new objects of research and has experienced significant growth. At the same time, European societies experience the challenges of new border closures. The Master's programme in Border Studies provides students with the major concepts and analytical tools to understand the social, cultural, political and economic challenges of border regions and cross-border cooperation. Students gain theoretical knowledge of border problems, border cultures, border literatures and constructions of “otherness”. Students acquire the needed skills to play a crucial part in the increasing discussions on national and European identities, worldwide mobilities, migration, cultural diversity, citizenship and cross-border cooperation – especially in the Greater Region. Students may specialise in one of the two tracks: spatial track, including geography and spatial planning language and cultural track, including cultural studies, literature, linguistics, intercultural communication The Master's programme in Border Studies prepares for a career in cross-border and intercultural working settings, especially in border regions in Europe (such as the Greater Region) and beyond. The careers of our graduates show that they find attractive positions very quickly. Some examples from the Greater Region, the home countries of students and throughout Europe include: cross-border cooperation projects cross-border administration higher education institutions national and regional ministries diplomatic service migration services political education international companies journalism academia and research The curriculum covers a full-time two-year programme (120 ECTS) Semester 1 Students spend the first semester at the University of Luxembourg and at the University of Lorraine. They gain knowledge of central concepts and research methods in the study of border regions and are introduced to current debates on border issues from a spatial/geographical and a linguistic, cultural, and sociological perspective. Semester 2 Students spend the second semester mainly at the University of Lorraine as well as at the University of Luxembourg. They further specialise their studies by choosing between one of the two tracks of the programme: spatial studies language and cultural studies Each track consists of one module (12 ECTS) and an elective module selected from the other track (6 ECTS). Students have to accomplish a mandatory internship during the second semester. Semester 3 Students spend the third semester at Saarland University and the University of Kaiserslautern. Students participate in a seven-day excursion, and they work on a case study in cross-border relationships and cooperation. Students deepen their knowledge according to the chosen specialisation in the second semester. Semester 4 The last semester is dedicated to the final Master’s thesis. At the beginning and the end of the fourth semester, a workshop takes place in which students present and discuss their Master’s theses. PDF Download