Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2084: European Union Foreign Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to:

  • Introduce you to the unique nature of the EU in international relations and the academic debates on its international actorness and roles
  • Familiarise you with the key institutional actors and instruments of the EU’s foreign policy and external action

Provide you with an overview of the main areas of EU foreign policy, including a critical assessment of the objectives, performance and inherent contradictions of various policies

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Critically analyse the role of the EU in international relations and situate this discussion within the academic literature
2. Distinguish among the key institutional actors and instruments of the EU’s foreign policy and external action
3. Map the main geographical and issue areas of EU foreign policy, understanding the respective backgrounds and challenges
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Demonstrate a good understanding of theoretical concepts/approaches and connect them to empirical case studies
5. Critically analyse secondary source material from both academic literature and policy-oriented papers, as well as press articles
6. Deploy logical and critical arguments in analysing political issues
Personal and Key Skills7. Demonstrate analytical skills and the ability to digest, select and organise material according to suggested guidelines
8. Demonstrate the ability to organise one’s work and produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline
9. Demonstrate oral communication and presentational skills in group discussions and presentations
10. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.