Practical EU-knowledge

The course is a core course in European Studies in the first cycle and given as a single subject course. The course is also given as a single subject course for exchange students.

The requirement for admission is a minimum of 60 credits or equivalent knowledge. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6 or English level 2 from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

TIn this practically oriented course, you will learn how to find and use official documents from the EU and how the EU decision-making process works in practice. You will also train how to write a professional report suitable for working-life and to give an oral presentation. The course provides knowledge about EU institutions and how EU documentation is organised. You will conduct an independent search for information of a real case by following the different steps of the EU decision-making process until national transposition. This course is based on a cooperation between the Centre for European Studies and the European Documentation Centre (EDC), at the University Library.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate basic knowledge about the EU, particularly about the EU institutions and decision-making procedures.
• Account for different sources for EU information, with a particular focus on various EU documents, their designations and in which data bases they can be found.

Competence and skills

• Carry out an independent investigation of information by tracing the decision-making process of an EU directive from start to national transposition.
• Develop an academic report from idea to completion.
• Explain, both orally and in writing, how EU institutions and policy-making procedures can be related to official documents and sources of information
• Independently produce text in accordance with good academic practice, including proper citation technique and use of references.
• Communicate clearly and proficiently in English both orally and in writing.

Judgement and approach

• Critically reflect upon EU documentation and data bases, as well as one’s own process of searching information.

Teaching is conducted through lectures, workshops with written and oral components and a concluding final seminar.

Language of instruction: English

Students will be evaluated based on their performance in both written and oral assignments. The course consists of 15 credits and to get the credits the student must complete three assignments:

1. Exam 1 (3 credits)
2. Exam 2 (4,5 credits)
3. Report and oral presentation (7,5 credits)

Students can be asked to re-work graded assignments and re-submit them, albeit not exams. If the student does not re-submit the reworked assignment on time, the student will be failed on the assignment. A student who is not able to attend a compulsory part of the course can do an alternative assignment. The assignment will be described in the course guide.

Restrictions on the use of generative AI are stated in the course guide. Students are obliged to inform themselves about the current rules for examining elements such as assignments, seminar papers and other forms of exams in the course in question.

A student who has taken two exams in a course or part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to the nomination of another examiner. The student needs to contact the department for a new examiner, preferably in writing, and this should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for special educational support, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, the examiner may decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years, after the course has ceased/been changed.

The grading scale comprises: High Pass (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To obtain the Pass grade, the student must receive a Pass on all the three forms of assessment. To obtain High Pass for the entire course, a student must receive a High Pass (VG) for the report (7,5 credits) and at least one of the two exams.

To obtain the Pass grade the student must fulfill all the learning outcomes. To obtain High pass, the work of the student should show a very good knowledge on the main themes covered by the course, and also demonstrate very good skills to carry out an independent investigation and to fulfil high academic standards in terms of structure and language, as well as demonstrate the ability to undertake the task within a predetermined time frame.

The student will be given the opportunity to do a course evaluation. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.