This one-year advanced master's programme deals with social security and social protection from a legal, economic, sociological, administrative and philosophical perspective. In addition to being multidisciplinary, the curriculum contains a strong comparative and multinational component focusing on the provision of social protection rights across Europe.

About the programme:

The Master of European Social Security gives you the opportunity to understand the many different approaches to social security that co-exist within the historic continent of Europe. At the same time, you will gain a better understanding of your own national system within the context of the wider continental picture. The programme also includes a careful, in-depth study of the role of international bodies such as the European Union.

As a student of the programme, you’ll become part of an international network of experts in the field of social security. Students come from various European countries and beyond and have different academic backgrounds and motives for participation. The teaching staff consists of renowned professors from KU Leuven and other European universities specialising in various disciplines related to social security.

Structure:

The programme comprises 60 ECTS, starting with a summer school in August and concluding in July the following academic year. This intensive course provides you with basic and mulidisciplinary knowledge of social security from a national, international and European perspective. Successful completion ensures 20 ECTS towards the Master of European Social Security Programme as well as a postgraduate diploma. The summer school is also available as a standalone programme.

During the Master of European Social Security, your academic skills will be developed and challenged through the experience of an internship in a social security institution or organisation. Through our partnerships you can take on an internship position in proportion to your own level of experience and field of expertise, focusing either on practice or research. 

The in-person classes and workshops, held in Leuven (Belgium), are condensed together into a limited number of weeks. The remaining coursework is completed via distance learning, making use of a digital learning platform. The platform connects you to Europe's best lecturers, who guide you through their specially designed course materials remotely. This way, you can combine the programme with your job or follow it from abroad.

Strengths:

• The unique teaching format offers you the best of both worlds: an authentic university experience at one of Europe's foremost universities and the flexibility to complete the majority of the programme from home.

• Throughout the programme, you will be connected to a unique international network of universities and be in contact with teaching staff and fellow participants from all over Europe.

• The multidisciplinary and multinational approach will broaden your perspective and will help you look at problems from a new angle. This alternative approach develops your ability to adapt to new situations and will be highly valuable throughout your professional career.

Internship:

During the Master of European Social Security your academic skills will be developed and challenged through an internship in a social security institution or organisation in proportion to your own level of experience, focused either on practice or research, and carried out in combination with a specially designed set of courses.

Student profile:

You may be a master’s graduate eager to specialise in social security, a social security researcher or teacher, or a professional involved in social security administration and/or policy development.

Ideally, you have:

• good knowledge of your own social security system and its functioning;

• an ability to formulate research questions and carry out corresponding research in the area of social security;

• high-level skills to critically evaluate national social security research within your own discipline;

• an appropriate degree in a social security-related discipline.

While all prospective students should have knowledge of social security acquired by study, those with practical experience, e.g. experience working in a social security administration, are particularly valued. Some previous exposure to European social affairs and/or foreign social security systems is also helpful.

Career perspectives:

Past graduates are often employed in European, international or national social security institutions or administrations, in insurance companies, in NGOs or academic research, and in institutions dealing with social security and social protection.