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The Europaeum Ideas Programme provides a range of residential opportunities for postgraduate students from member universities to explore issues at the intersection of scholarship and policy-making. These include inter- and multi-disciplinary workshops, seminars, conferences, and debates organised in cooperation with the members of the network.

 

Around ten Ideas Programme events are organised by the Europaeum each year, rotating among the network’s member universities. These include Winter, Spring, and Summer Schools in different cities, as well as an annual Brussels Policy Seminar designed to help students understand the EU political system in depth.

Events are usually offered at no cost to participants* and aim to involve students actively in proceedings by, for example, presenting papers or chairing sessions. Participants also hear from a range of keynote speakers and panellists, as they share perspectives and gain insights into intellectual and policy issues.

Ideas Programme events are usually two or three days in length, with between 12 and 40 student participants. Master’s and PhD students from a member university or a participating department of the Europaeum may apply. Calls for applications are posted on the Europaeum website and advertised within member universities. Selection is by a rigorous competitive process.

  • The 2026 Ideas Programme included events on Media & Courage (Lisbon), Scandal & Corruption (CEU, Vienna), Transatlantic Futures (Oxford), Space Technology (Helsinki), Creativity & Innovation (Jagiellonian, Kraków),  Leadership (Berlin), and Decolonising Europe’s Past (Munich).
  • The 2027 Ideas Programme includes events on Media & Dignity (Lisbon), The Individual in the Age of AI (Barcelona), The Politics of Play (Geneva), Leadership (Leiden), and Europe’s Innovation Gap (Brussels) — with more events to be announced soon!

* The Europaeum provides accommodation for students, and most refreshments and meals. It funds travel from a student’s home university up to a set limit.

The Europaeum Law Review: Equality and Rights in Europe

Deadline for applications: 14 December 2026

The Europaeum Spring School 2027: Peripheries of Power

Deadline for applications: 12 January 2027

The Europaeum Winter School 2027: The Individual in the Age of AI

Deadline for applications: 19 October 2026

Lisbon Winter School in Media and Communication Studies

Deadline for applications: 10 September 2026

Events & Activities Archive (1993–2026)
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Apply for the next Europaeum eventSee our 2027 Calendar of Events

Testimonials

What students said in their travel diaries

Spring School on Transatlantic Futures, University of Oxford, 13-15 April 2026

“What I will take back from this journey is the quality of conversations hosted inside and outside of formal sessions, the deeply personal stories shared over coffee breaks, and a positive perspective on the future of transatlantic cooperation! Thank you to the Europaeum team, and the Graduate Institute for making this enriching experience possible.”

Olivia K. Bornyi, a Master’s student in International & Development Studies, (Conflict, Peace Security) at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Read full diary here.

Spring School on Transatlantic Futures, University of Oxford, 13-15 April 2026

“Engaging with such thoughtful people from across Europe was a reminder of why these conversations matter, especially at a moment when the transatlantic relationship is being tested and redefined. Thank you to The Europaeum for bringing us together — and for creating the kind of space where both ideas and friendships can take root.”

Catarina Abreu de Pinho, a PhD student in Political Science and International Relations: Security and Defence at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP). See full diary here.

Europaeum History Seminar, The Future of the European Past, 27-28 November 2025

“Science has always crossed borders and returning to Oxford as a Europaeum alumnus feels like stepping back into that long scholarly tradition. The Europaeum brings the sharpest minds from all over Europe together to think, question, and challenge each other, and I’m excited to meet those minds tomorrow.”

Nuri Kurnaz, a Europaeum MA alumnus and a current Doctorate student at University of Amsterdam. Read full diary here.

Brussels Policy Seminar, 13-17 October 2025

“During these days, travelling and sharing the experience with a group of 20 participants from different European universities and countries made it even more memorable. We exchanged ideas from our various academic fields and talked about our personal beliefs, cultures, and perspectives, which made the trip feel truly enriching and enjoyable.”

Anudini Wijayarathna, a Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes at University of Helsinki. Read full diary here.

Summer School on AI and the Digital Future, University of Luxembourg, 7-9 July 2025

“Although the trip back was quite tiring, I felt incredibly grateful for the amazing and fun opportunity to take part in the summer school. I got to learn so much by exchanging ideas with students from all over Europe, and truly benefited from the programme, both academically and personally. I really enjoyed my time in Luxembourg and can only recommend this enrichening experience to any students considering applying.”

Lara Kauter, an MSc student in Geographical Development Studies, Freie Universität Berlin. Read full diary here.

Our Events

The Europaeum Ideas Programme aims to hold ten events per year. In most years, these will be compromised of the Spring, Summer, and Winter Schools, the Brussels Policy Seminar, and a rotating selection from the other formats.

The Spring School

The Europaeum Spring School usually takes place in Oxford in April and brings together inspiring speakers and students from the network to discuss topical issues in History, International Relations, and Geopolitical Affairs. It is typically three or four days in length. 2026’s focus was on ‘Transatlantic Futures‘ and 2027’s is on ‘Peripheries of Power‘.

The Summer School

The Europaeum Summer School is a three-day annual flagship event for graduates to debate current issues in the broad field of Policy, Heritage, and Culture. It usually takes place at one of the member universities, with a theme initiated by a particular local expertise or academic strength. 2026’s Summer School on “Creativity & Innovation” tales place at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

The Winter School

The Winter School takes place at the end of January based around a theme in Political Economy, Economics, and Institutions. The 2026 Winter School on ‘Scandal & Corruption‘ took place at the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna. 2027’s on ‘The Individual in the Age of AI‘ will take place at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.

The Brussels Policy Seminar

The Europaeum’s annual Policy Seminar in Brussels, takes place each autumn and gives students an important chance to get to know the  EU institutions. Recent themes have included “The Impact of Elections” (2024), “Strategic Autonomy” (2025), and “Europe under Pressure” (2026).

The Technology Forum

The Europaeum’s Technology Forum engages questions about how new developments in science and engineering are changing society. 2026’s Technology Forum at the University of Helsinki explores ‘Space Governance’.

The History Seminar

The Europaeum’s History Seminar looks at the role that the past plays in contemporary European culture and European policy debates. Recent themes have included ‘The Future of the European Past’ (2025) and ‘Decolonising Europe’s Past’ (2026).

The Classics Colloquium

The Classics Colloquium is one of the Europaeum’s longest-standing events. It explores the ongoing role of the ancient world in contemporary European society. Recent themes have included ‘Critical Thinking in Classics’ (2024) and ‘Multipolar Antiquity’ (2025).

The Leadership Challenge

The Leadership Challenge is a special two-day seminar in which students are trained in active leadership by professors at a member university.

The Law Review

The Law Review is a new event for 2027 which will scrutinise a key debate in European lawmaking from the perspective of academics and practitioners.

Group of Brussels Policy Seminar students in Brussels

The Defence Strategy Seminar

The Defence Strategy Seminar is a new event for 2027. It considers specific geopolitical and international questions from the perspective of European defence policy.

The Lisbon Media School

The Lisbon Winter School in Media & Communication Studies is a long-running multi-university event hosted each January by the Catholic University of Portugal. The Europaeum is pleased to provide bursaries for students from member universities to attend .

Group of students and staff standing together for a photo at Estoril

The Estoril Political Forum

The Estoril Political Forum is a long-running event in geopolitical strategy hosted each June by the Catholic University of Portugal. The Europaeum is pleased to invite students from member universities to attend and to participate in a ‘Europaeum Special Debate’ in the ‘Oxford Union’ debating format.