Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia)

The Double Diploma Master programme between two universities was initiated by Nino Lapiashvili, the Director of the TSU Institute for European Studies in 2019. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and its Faculty of Social Sciences extensively supported the initiative. The main driving force of the programme and the greatest supporters from the VIA were the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Acting Rector Dr. Agnese Dāvidsone and Director of Communication and Media Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences - Māra Arāja. The double diploma programme implementation process was halted for a while due to COVID-19 pandemic related situation however on 14th of June 2022 the cooperation agreement between the TSU Institute for European Studies and the Faculty of Social Sciences of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences was officially signed by the rectors of the two Universities.

Starting from the academic year of 2022-2023 the students of Master’s Programme in European Studies of the TSU Institute for European Studies have a unique opportunity to get enrolled in a parallel study at the Vidzene University of Applied Sciences Master’s Programme (Master’s Study Programme in Strategic Communication and Governance), which will result in obtaining the Double Degree diplomas. The students who successfully complete each University’s Study Programme requirements and defend their Master Thesis will be awarded two diplomas – VIA diploma (Master of Social Science) and TSU diploma (Master of European Studies).

Only the students of MA programme in European Studies of TSU who have Bachelor diploma in Social Sciences (or an equivalent qualification from institutions of higher education conforming to the admission rules and requirements of VIA) are eligible for enrollment in the Double Diploma programme with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

A general deadline for the document submission to the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences is the 1st of June (if not announced by VIA otherwise in a particular year) and the list of the documents is as follows:

Application form (template provided by VIA);
Official certified copy of the documents confirming previous education in Social sciences (Bachelor’s Diploma) including grades (an academic transcript) and English knowledge confirmed by the governmental authorities with a translation into English;
Copy of a passport with a translation into English;
Official confirmation of TSU about acceptance to the Master Study Programme European Studies at TSU;
2 (two) recent passport-size photos (3x4 cm).

The students must meet the following English language requirements: the level not lower than B2 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) that shall be supported by evidence such as standardized proficiency tests (IELTS, etc.), previous studies in English language, studies of English language, articles written in English language, etc. If necessary, an on-line interview may be arranged.

In order to be awarded diploma of the VIA, the students of TSU start their education at the TSU Institute for European Studies (The first and the second semester), while they shall spend 2 (two) semesters at VIA (i.e. the third and fourth semesters of the integrated study plan), pass the study courses listed in the Integrated Study Plan and defend the Master Thesis before a joint commission.

The students of TSU shall pay to VIA the tuition fee as defined under the Integrated Study Plan of the Cooperation Agreement:

400 EUR (four hundred Euros) for one semester at VIA, i.e. 800 EUR total for the third and fourth semester under the Integrated Study Plan;
200 EUR (two hundred Euros) for the semester of preparation and defense of Master’s thesis, the fourth semester under the Integrated Study Plan.

Tuition fee for VIA is applied separately from the standard tuition fee for TSU.

Integrated Study Plan

FOR THE STUDENTS OF Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

1 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – TSU

Automatic recognition by VIA

Mandatory

History of Europe (5 ECTS)
EU Law (5 ECTS)
Economics of EU Integration (5 ECTS)
EU Governance and the Policy Making Process (5 ECTS)
Academic Writing (5 ECTS)
Research Design and Methods of Social Inquiry (5 ECTS)

Electives

Negotiation Skills (5 ECTS)
Theories of Law (5 ECTS)

2 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – TSU

Automatic recognition by VIA

Mandatory

Theories of European Integration (5 ECTS)

Elective

European Cultural Mosaic (5 ECTS)

Population and European Development (5 ECTS)

EU Law and Investments (5 ECTS)

International Law (5 ECTS)

International Investment Law and Human Rights (5 ECTS)

Social, Economic and Cultural Rights - Universal, Regional (CoE, EU) and Constitutional (of selected jurisdictions) Protection (5 ECTS)

International Human Rights Law and Minorities (5 ECTS )

EU Consumer Law (5 ECTS)

International Dispute Resolution (5 ECTS)

3 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – VIA

Automatic recognition by TSU

Democratic theories and security (3 ECTS)
Euro-Atlantic values in contemporary geopolitics (3 ECTS)
Communication theories (6 ECTS)
Strategical Communication theories (3 ECTS)
Interest representation and lobbying (3 ECTS)
Governance and innovation (6 ECTS)
EU institutions and administration (3 ECTS)
Media and communication rights (3 ECTS)

4 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – VIA

Automatic recognition by TSU

Master Thesis (including Master Seminar) (30 ECTS) - mutual implementation