European Studies Summer School 2025 connects Arqus students in Bad Hersfeld, Germany

From 3 to 7 July, Leipzig University hosted the Arqus European Studies Summer School 2025 in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. The event brought together 23 Master’s students from four Arqus partner universities (University of Granada, University of Graz, Vilnius University and Leipzig University).

The summer school was open to students of the Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies as well as to Arqus students from other fields. Participants had the opportunity to strengthen their methodological and conceptual skills in European Studies, particularly with a view to applying them in future research projects and the preparation of their Master’s theses.

The five-day programme opened with a one-day excursion to the Point Alpha Memorial, a historic Cold War site where NATO and the Warsaw Pact confronted each other until 1990. In there, students received a guided tour of the memorial and its exhibitions, engaging in lively discussions on the parallels between that historical moment and present-day challenges. 

During the visit, special attention was given to how borders and border practices are represented in the memorial’s historical narrative, and how the emphasis on specific perspectives can shape broader understandings of security and border control.

Following this insightful beginning, the programme continued with a methodological workshop to study the challenges of research design, international relations and European integration theories, as well as specific methods and approaches, to prepare them to accomplish the master’s thesis of the Arqus Master programme in European Studies successfully. 

Beyond the academic programme, the summer school also provided networking opportunities where students met peers from across the Arqus Alliance and learned more about the universities where they will spend their upcoming mobility term. Lecturers from all partner universities also took part in the summer school to provide guidance and information.