Your future
As an EPA graduate, you will be well-qualified for the professional world, having acquired a thorough understanding of the complex EU policy making processes and exceptional experience in identifying, analysing, tackling and communicating complex problems in an international environment.
Career prospects
You will be an academic professional who:
- Can understand and critically evaluate the complex system of European governance
- Is capable of understanding and analysing contemporary EU policy problems
- Is capable of researching and presenting solutions for such policy problems
- Has well developed know-how for strategically influencing the EU policy process to address such policy problems
Your practical skills will not be your only asset. Given that around 90% of EPA students and many staff members come from abroad, you will also be internationally orientated. In fact, about one third of our graduates are offered a job at their internship organisation before they've even graduated.
From all EPA graduates 98% is employed, 1% is working as a PhD Candidate and 1% is doing a second master elsewhere.
Most of our graduates go on to find work in:
- Governmental institutions (Information Officer, Policy Advisor)
- Private firms performing ‘privatised’ government functions (Project Manager, EU Affairs Officer)
- Public affairs divisions of commercial corporations (Communications Consultant)
- Organisations with European or transnational missions (Partnership manager, Political Administrator)
- Non-profit organisations (Association manager)
- Consulting and lobbying (International Consultant)
Many of our graduates work in high-level agencies and companies, such as:
- UM Campus Brussels
- Shell
- Council of the European Union
- United Nations
- European Parliament
- Harvard University
Alumni@work
Alumni blog
Our alumni created a blog in 2013 in which they share their experiences as EU public affairs professionals. The blog was declared the Digital/Social Media Champion in the 2014 European Public Affairs Awards. Find out what our alumni do first-hand:
Check out the blog
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Frederik Hafen
Environmental Democracy Policy Officer at European Environmental Bureau
Year of graduation: 2015
"Maastricht University has an incredible reputation in European political science and the fact that it was (to some degree still is) a relatively young university meant that I was likely to receive a fresh and forward-looking education."
Kim Graves
Accredited Parliamentary Assistant
European Parliament
Year of graduation: 2022
The EPA programme in Maastricht is unique in various ways. The most important aspect is the practical aspects of the course and the way it prepares you for working in and around the EU institutions in Brussels.
Rick Maijer
Public Affairs Adviser
Province of Limburg
Year of graduation: 2009
I’d recommend European Public Affairs to anyone. It’s a small-scale, very international programme, where you make friends for life. I have many special memories of that time, from my first take-home exam to the lobby presentations.
Jesper Daniek Saman
Second Secretary, Dutch Embassy, Rome, Italy
Year of graduation: 2015
In this video, Jesper Daniek Saman, alumnus MA European Public Affairs, explains the connections between his educational background and his current job position in the Dutch Embassy in Italy. Jesper maintains his vision to contribute to society as he believes that the European Public Affairs master’s taught him that “the European citizens should be given an important voice”.
Anka Lisa Schild (Dutch)
Senior Advisor for Business Development & Strategy, Siemens Mobility, München, Germany
Year of Graduation: 2008
I chose Maastricht University because of its international character, innovative ways of teaching, and the charming city in which it is located. After 5 years of studies, I had completed the Bachelor European Studies and Master European Public Affairs, and spent 2 exciting semesters living and studying in Edinburg and Vermont.
Nuno Malheiro do Carmo (Portuguese)
Social Sciences Instructor
Karen Refugee Committee
Year of graduation: 2006
I have always questioned the importance of the European Union, especially as I was born and brought up in a small European country. Still, no matter how sceptical one might be, the EU’s importance and emergence as a single actor cannot be denied, and the European Public Affairs masters programme appeared to offer a vast insight regarding all the processes of European integration; I was not wrong.
Maya Mircheva (Bulgarian)
European Parliament
Brussels, Belgium
Year of graduation: 2007
Having completed a Bachelor in European Studies at the University of Sofia, Bulgaria, the choice of a master related to EU affairs was the most logical one for me. I chose Maastricht because of its good reputation. The EPA programme appealed to me through its problem-based and practice-oriented approach.
Robert Francis
Director Political Affairs and Public Relations
Grayling, Brussels, Belgium
Year of graduation: 2005
In choosing the Masters in European Public Affairs, I was anticipating an international atmosphere, a good grounding for a career in EU affairs, and an opportunity to study in a beautiful city literally at the crossroads of Europe. From the first day, it was clear that I had not been mistaken.
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