Students of the MATA programme who choose to join the “European Interdisciplinary Studies” study track (MATA-EIS) at the College of Europe will be trained to think beyond disciplinary boundaries and to understand the broader historical, regional and global context of the EU integration process and transatlantic affairs. 

In the second semester, MATA-EIS students can choose from 2 majors to gain in-depth knowledge: the EU and the World; and the EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours. These studies will then be complemented by coursework on international affairs at The Fletcher School.

Semester 1 (23 ECTS)

MATA-EIS students follow 15 courses during the first semester. All MATA (Y1) students at the College of Europe Bruges and Natolin campuses and The Fletcher School take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21^st Century: Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs” (5 ECTS). This course is based at The Fletcher School. 

MATA-EIS students must take all 8 EIS Introductory courses (no ECTS) and an EIS compulsory course (4 ECTS): Students will then follow 3 core courses (12 ECTS). MATA-EIS students take the Pluridisciplinary Track courses but may replace 1, 2, or all 3 courses from this track with a choice of 1, 2 or 3 courses from the Interdisciplinary Track only if they pass entry tests in the disciplines covered by the Pluridisciplinary Track. All MATA students must participate in the first-semester study trip (2 ECTS).

Students must follow some non-assessed courses: 1 (or 2) contextual courses; and at least 1 masterclass.  

The “Research Strategies and Tools” seminar and simulation games are voluntary.

During this semester, students will also start preparing their thesis proposal on transatlantic affairs as well as their internship. The primary thesis supervisor will be allocated by the EIS programme.

Compulsory MATA courses

Introductory Courses

Compulsory EIS course

Assessed core courses:

Pluridisciplinary Option

Interdisciplinary Option

Study Trip:

Non-assessed contextual courses (up to 2 may be selected):

Non-assessed seminar:

Non-assessed masterclass :

Simulation game:

Semester 2 (23 ECTS)

In their second semester at the College of Europe, MATA-EIS students follow 6 courses. All MATA (Y1) students take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Security and Trade in Practice” (5 ECTS). 

MATA-EIS have the opportunity of specializing in 1 of 2 majors (The EU and the World or The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours). They follow 4 specialist courses (16 ECTS) in their chosen major. 

Students must follow 1 (or 2) non-assessed compact seminars within their chosen major. The simulation games and activities linked Cooperation with external partners are optional.

Students also must participate in 1 of the study trips organized in the second semester (2 ECTS). In addition, all MATA students at the College of Europe participate (Bruges and Natolin) in the MATA study trip to Brussels.

Students continue to work on their thesis in transatlantic affairs and prepare their internship. At the end of their first year, students submit their thesis proposal.

Compulsory MATA courses:

Specialist courses for the Major, The EU and the World:

Compact seminars for the Major, The EU and the World:

Simulation games for the Major, The EU and the World:

Specialist courses for the Major, The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Compact seminars for the Major, The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Simulation game for the Major, The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Study Trip:

Voluntary courses for all majors : Cooperation with external partners

Option 1:

Semester 3 (24 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), primarily from the Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP) and International Law and Organization (ILO) and Economics and International Business (EIB) divisions. They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned.

Semester 4 (50 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at least 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at the College of Europe are encouraged to do their internship in the United States.

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

Option 2:

Semester 3 (25 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at least 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at the College of Europe are encouraged to do their internship in the United States.

If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned.

Semester 4 (49 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. 

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

Option 3:

Semester 3 (24.5 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS and between 26.5h and 32.5h each) from any of the 3 divisions: International Law and Organizations (ILO); Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP); and Economics and International Business (EIB). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. In addition, MATA students must take a half-credit course (0.5 ECTS).

If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned during the third semester. During this semester, students will continue to work on their thesis, with 1 mandatory exchange with their primary thesis supervisor at the College of Europe

Semester 4 (49.5 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. In addition, MATA students must take a half-credit course (0.5 ECTS).

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

MATA-EIS Students starting at the Fletcher School

Students of the MATA programme who choose to spend their first year of studies at The Fletcher School will focus to a larger extent on international relations and slightly less on the European dimension of interdisciplinary studies than those students who begin their studies at the College of Europe.

During the 2 semesters at The Fletcher School, students must choose at least 1 course from each of the 3 divisions (‘breadth requirement’): International Law and Organizations (ILO); Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP); and Economics and International Business (EIB). 

Semester 1 (23 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will follow 4 courses during the first semester. 

All MATA (Y1) students at the College of Europe Bruges and Natolin campuses and The Fletcher School take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21^st Century: Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs” (5 ECTS). This course is based at The Fletcher School. 

Additionally, students choose 3 courses offered at The Fletcher School (18 ECTS). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of them by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University.

Compulsory MATA course

Elective courses at The Fletcher School:

Students choose 3 other courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), taking into account the ‘breadth requirement’.

During this semester, students will also start preparing their thesis proposal on transatlantic affairs and their internship with a primary thesis supervisor assigned by The Fletcher School. 

Semester 2 (29 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-EIS students will follow 5 courses during the second semester. 

In their second semester, all MATA (Y1) students take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Security and Trade in Practice” (5 ECTS)” (5 ECTS). 

Additionally, they choose 4 courses offered at The Fletcher School (24 ECTS). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of them by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University.

MATA Compulsory course:

Elective courses:

Students choose to follow 4 other courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), taking into account the ‘breadth requirement’.

Students will continue to work on their thesis in transatlantic affairs and prepare their internship. At the end of their first year, students submit their thesis proposal.

Semester 3 (25 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at minimum 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at The Fletcher School are strongly encouraged to do their internship in Europe.

Semester 4 (43 ECTS)

MATA-EIS students take 5 courses during the 4^th semester. 

MATA-EIS students also follow 4 specialist courses (16 ECTS) within the major of The EU in the World or The EU in Wider Europe and its Neighbours. 

Students must follow 1 (or 2) non-assessed compact seminars within their chosen major. Simulation games and activities linked with Cooperation with external partners are optional.

Students participate in 1 of the study trips organized during this semester (2 ECTS, 30h). In addition, all MATA students at the College of Europe participate in the MATA study trip to Brussels.

In late March, students submit their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs with a defence in April. 

Specialist courses for the Major, The EU and the World:

Compact seminars for the Major, The EU and the World:

Simulation games for the Major, The EU and the World:

Specialist courses for the Major, The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Compact seminars for the Major, The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Simulation game for the Major The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours:

Study Trip:

Voluntary courses for all majors : Cooperation with external partners

“European Security and Strategy Study Track"

MATA-ESSST Students starting at the College of Europe 

Students of the MATA programme who choose to join the “European Security and Strategy Study Track (MATA-ESSST) at the College of Europe will focus on security elements of the transatlantic relationship in addition to broader security concerns for Europe.

Semester 1 (23 ECTS)

MATA-ESST students follow 15 courses during the first semester. All MATA (Y1) students at the College of Europe Bruges and Natolin campuses and The Fletcher School take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21^st Century: Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs” (5 ECTS). This course is based at The Fletcher School. 

MATA-ESSST students must take all 8 Introductory courses (no ECTS) and an ESSST compulsory course (4 ECTS): Students will then follow 3 core courses (12 ECTS). All MATA students must participate in the first-semester study trip (2 ECTS).

Students must follow 1 (or 2) contextual courses, and at least 1 masterclass. 

The “Research Strategies and Tools” seminar and simulation games are voluntary.

During this semester, students will also start preparing their thesis proposal on transatlantic affairs as well as their internship. The primary thesis supervisor will be allocated by the ESSST programme.

Compulsory MATA courses

Introductory Courses

Compulsory course

Assessed core courses:

Non-assessed (up to 2 may be selected):

Non-assessed masterclass:

Non-assessed seminar:

Simulation game:

Study Trip:

Semester 2 (23 ECTS)

In their second semester at the College of Europe, MATA-ESSST students follow 6 courses. All MATA (Y1) students take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Security and Trade in Practice” (5 ECTS). 

MATA-ESSST follow 4 specialist courses (16 ECTS) and 1 (or 2) non-assessed compact seminars. The simulation games and activities linked Cooperation with external partners are optional.

Students also must participate in 1 of the study trips organized in the second semester (2 ECTS). In addition, all MATA students at the College of Europe participate (Bruges and Natolin) in the MATA study trip to Brussels.

Students continue to work on their thesis in transatlantic affairs and prepare their internship. At the end of their first year, students submit their thesis proposal.

Compulsory MATA courses:

Specialist courses:

Compact seminars:

Simulation game for the ESSST :

Study Trip:

Voluntary courses : Cooperation with external partners

Option 1:

Semester 3 (24 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), primarily from the Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP) and International Law and Organization (ILO) and Economics and International Business (EIB) divisions. They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned.

Semester 4 (50 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at least 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at the College of Europe are encouraged to do their internship in the United States.

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

Option 2:

Semester 3 (25 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at least 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at the College of Europe are encouraged to do their internship in the United States.

If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned.

Semester 4 (49 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. 

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

Option 3:

Semesters 3 and 4 (74 ECTS)

Option 3:

Semester 3 (24.5 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS and between 26.5h and 32.5h each) from any of the 3 divisions: International Law and Organizations (ILO); Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP); and Economics and International Business (EIB). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. In addition, MATA students must take a half-credit course (0.5 ECTS).

If a student has not already made arrangements with a member of the Fletcher faculty to be their second thesis supervisor, one will be assigned during the third semester. During this semester, students will continue to work on their thesis, with 1 mandatory exchange with their primary thesis supervisor at the College of Europe

Semester 4 (49.5 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will select 4 courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of these 4 courses by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University. In addition, MATA students must take a half-credit course (0.5 ECTS).

In late March, MATA students will hand in their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs and the thesis defense will be in April. 

MATA-ESSST Students starting at the Fletcher School

Students of the MATA programme who choose to spend their first year of studies at The Fletcher School will focus to a larger extent on international relations and slightly less on the European dimension of interdisciplinary studies than those students who begin their studies at the College of Europe.

During the 2 semesters at The Fletcher School, students must choose at least 1 course from each of the 3 divisions (‘breadth requirement’): International Law and Organizations (ILO); Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP); and Economics and International Business (EIB). 

Semester 1 (23 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will follow 4 courses during the first semester. 

All MATA (Y1) students at the College of Europe Bruges and Natolin campuses and The Fletcher School take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21^st Century: Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs” (5 ECTS). This course is based at The Fletcher School. 

Additionally, students choose 3 courses offered at The Fletcher School (18 ECTS). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of them by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University.

Compulsory MATA course

Elective courses at The Fletcher School:

Students choose 3 other courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), taking into account the ‘breadth requirement’.

During this semester, students will also start preparing their thesis proposal on transatlantic affairs and their internship with a primary thesis supervisor assigned by The Fletcher School. 

Semester 2 (29 ECTS)

At The Fletcher School, MATA-ESSST students will follow 5 courses during the second semester. 

In their second semester, all MATA (Y1) students take the course, “US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Security and Trade in Practice” (5 ECTS)” (5 ECTS). 

Additionally, they choose 4 courses offered at The Fletcher School (24 ECTS). They may also cross-register and substitute 1 of them by a relevant course from Tufts University or Harvard University.

MATA Compulsory course:

Elective courses:

Students choose to follow 4 other courses (6 ECTS each and between 26.5h and 32.5h each), taking into account the ‘breadth requirement’.

Students will continue to work on their thesis in transatlantic affairs and prepare their internship. At the end of their first year, students submit their thesis proposal.

Semester 3 (25 ECTS)

Students will carry out a high-level internship (25 ECTS) related to transatlantic affairs of ideally 4 months, but at minimum 3 months. Students who start the MATA programme at The Fletcher School are strongly encouraged to do their internship in Europe.

Semester 4 (43 ECTS)

MATA-ESSST students take 5 courses during the 4^th semester. 

Students follow 4 specialist courses and 1 (or 2) non-assessed compact seminars. Simulation games and activities linked with Cooperation with external partners are optional.

Students participate in 1 of the study trips organized during this semester (2 ECTS, 30h). In addition, all MATA students at the College of Europe participate in the MATA study trip to Brussels.

In late March, students submit their Master’s thesis (25 ECTS) on a topic of transatlantic affairs with a defence in April. 

Specialist courses:

Compact seminars:

Simulation game for the ESSST :

Study Trip:

Voluntary courses : Cooperation with external partners