Module manager: Dr. Charles Dannreuther
Email: ipicd@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
The media in the UK often portray the European Union (EU) as a huge super state forcing through legislation against the will of national governments. National governments often claim that "Brussels made me do it". This module explores the truth behind these and many other Euromyths by examining how the EU actually works, the roles of the various institution.
By the end of this module students will:
Understand the significance of milestones in the history of the EU, from the origins of the Union to the Lisbon Treaty, designed to look to the future of the European Union whille examining how policies have been formed in a variety of areas. Student will be able to Explore the future of the EU project by drawing on recent critical literature on European integration. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to integrate these ideas with the full range of sources available on the EU. The overall aim of this course is to improve skills in analysis, presentation, argument and research both in the library and especially through the internet. After completing the module students will be able to use empirical information (for example from the EU, news media, national governments and other associated websites) to draft a report on a practical policy related topic. Where possible the topic will be defined in conjunction with policy practitioners.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Identify the main theories of European integration, their principal propositions and the ways in which they differ from one another.
2. Apply the main theories of European integration to an analysis of the process of Treaty formation in the European Union.
3. Outline the main roles of the various institutions and how these institutions interact with each other in the policy process;
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated
the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Communicate ideas more accurately, using academic styles and
conventions as well as for policy audiences
5. Retrieve and use empirical information and digital resources to produce
complex summaries and practical evaluations
6. Understand how to use a range of conceptual tools to make sense of and discuss the wide range of material available on the EU.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 12 | 1 | 12 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Independent online learning hours | 11 | ||
| Private study hours | 166 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 30 |
| Coursework | . | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 02/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team