Our programmes are designed to offer a teaching method which is academic and at the same time directed towards the professional world. We aim to give students the ability to enter into dialogue with decision-makers from both the economic and the political world, stakeholders, diplomats as well as officials from international and European organisations.
This broad outlook is made possible by the wide variety of our lecturers, the visits organised to different European countries and our relationship with our carefully selected international partners. Our in-house panel of experts contributes to the rich content of the modules.
On the move: Learning and living Europe
CIFE strongly supports the mobility of its students: The participants in six of its Master programmes rotate each term, moving their place of study from France (Nice) to Germany (Berlin), Italy (Rome), United Kingdom (Canterbury), Turkey (Istanbul) or Tunisia (Tunis).
Study trips to Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg offer additional insights into specific regional intricacies and challenges..
Research for the thesis at the end of the programme will enable students to delve into a specific subject in more detail and acquire important skills for the job market.
The individual research work is a highly important element of the Master's programme. Students should devote the time which is free of classes to their research. At the beginning of the year the students receive a list with topics proposed by the faculty from which they can choose their topic. The students can also propose a subject of their own choice to the teachers, who then decide whether they can advise the student on the topic or not. As soon as the subject is defined, every student gets assigned to a supervisor, who accompanies the work throughout the year and regularly, at least once a month, invites the student to meetings. The final version of the thesis must be submitted at the end of the academic year. The thesis must have a length of around 17,000 words (excluding the bibliography and the appendices). The working language allowed is English, French or German depending on the programme chosen. Furthermore, we ask you to observe some formal requirements
In our documentation centre, reviews, books and a great number of electronic resources are at the students’ disposal. These documents are accessible on a dedicated server via secure idetification.
The CIFE electronic library is available to all our students throughout the academic year, both in Nice and in your various study locations. You will also find a selection of research files on current themes related to our teaching.
Preparing your stay
In order to prepare for your arrival in Berlin, Nice, Tunis, Rome, Canterbury or Istanbul, here are a few tips to help you get acquainted with the life and culture of the country.
France diplomatie
Travel advice by destination (in French)
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION France
Your stay in...
Berlin
Located in the north-east of Germany, Berlin has a population of approximately 3.8 million. It is the largest city and the eighth most populous agglomeration in the European Union.
At the end of World War II Berlin was divided into four zones administered by each of the victorious powers. The Berlin Wall built in 1961 by the Soviets divided the city in two. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and a year later Germany was reunited with Berlin as its capital.
Berlin is a world-leading cultural and artistic city. The city has 166 museums, 142 libraries and 60 theatres.
The German capital has a semi-continental climate, with moderately cold and relatively dry winters and fairly hot and stormy summers.
Usually, students are housed at the Studentendorf Schlachtensee located about 10 km southwest of the city centre. The residence is situated in a quiet location in green surroundings near several lakes. Schlachtensee can be accessed by bus (118) and 2 S-Bahn lines (S1 and S7), which provide a connection to the city centre in about 45 minutes. Potsdam is half an hour away by S-Bahn.
A launderette, a gym and a bar are located on the campus of the residence. Two supermarkets and a pharmacy are within walking distance.
Sights in Berlin
Canterbury
Canterbury is a city in Kent, in south-east England, on the River Stour, 86 km from London.
By train, 2 stations connect Canterbury to London in about an hour. Several seaside towns are located a short distance away.
Canterbury, the former capital of the medieval Kingdom of Kent, is one of the oldest cities in the country, with a population of around 55,000.
Today, Canterbury is a university city and a popular tourist destination, famous particularly for its cathedral.
Canterbury has an oceanic climate similar to most of the UK, with mild temperatures all year round. There is relatively little rainfall throughout the year. Average temperatures range from 8°C (January) to 22°C (July). The wettest months are: May, October and July.
Our partner in Canterbury is the University of Kent.
Campus map and guide
The campus is located on a hill a few kilometres north of the city centre. It is served by several bus routes.
There is a supermarket, a launderette, a sports complex, a large library as well as bars, cafés and restaurants..
Canterbury guides and maps
Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It spans the Asian and European shores of the Bosphorus, which separates Asia from Europe, and connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
Although Istanbul lost its status as the political capital of Turkey to Ankara in 1923, it remains Turkey's major economic city.
The population is estimated at 15 million, making it one of the largest urban areas in the world.
With a strong cultural and historical heritage, the cosmopolitan city is a major tourist destination.
Istanbul enjoys a temperate climate. It varies greatly with the seasons and sometimes even from one part of the city to another.
As the city is 95 km long, it is not unusual for the European part to be sunny while the Asian part is rainy, and vice versa. Our favourite months to visit Istanbul are May, June, September and October. These mid-season months have very pleasant temperatures and low rainfall.
Our partner in Istanbul is the Istanbul Bilgi University.
Istanbul Bilgi University has three campuses that are centrally located and offer a vivid and colourful student life with almost 1,000 different social and cultural events a year.
Things to do in Istanbul
Nice
Nice is a city in south-eastern France. It is located about 30 km from the French-Italian border and is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, along the Bay of Angels and at the mouth of the Paillon River.
With approximately 350,000 inhabitants, it is the fifth largest city in France. Situated between the sea and the mountains, Nice is the economic and cultural capital of the French Riviera and benefits from important natural assets. On 27 July 2021, "Nice, winter resort town of the Riviera" was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city's climate corresponds to a Mediterranean climate. Nice has an average temperature of 14.8°C throughout the year, which is one of the highest in continental France.
Even if the image of Nice as a mainly tourist city remains, it is also a student city. More than 30,000 young people study here each year, 20% of whom come from abroad.
The CIFE office in Nice is located close to the Promenade des Anglais, next to the Negresco Hotel. The nearest tram stop is Alsace-Lorraine on line 2 (which links the port to the airport via the city centre).
Getting around Nice is very easy and cheap. You can buy a 10-trip card for 17 euros (+ 2 eruos for the card) for your bus or tram journeys in the city and in the Nice agglomeration. You can use it for journeys to and from the airport. The regional TER ZOU trains serve Monaco and the whole of the French Riviera, as far as Ventimiglia (Italy), at low prices.
Students are housed either in private accommodation or in university residences.
Nice maps and tourist brochures
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy. It is located in the centre-west of the Italian peninsula, near the Tyrrhenian Sea, and is also the capital of the Lazio region. It has a population of approximately 2.9 million inhabitants living in an area of 1,285 square kilometres, making it the most populous municipality in Italy. A world city, Rome is one of Europe's major tourist destinations. It is also one of the world's greatest archaeological sites. Rome enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which is typical of the Mediterranean coast of Italy. Winters are mild and cold snaps from the Apennines are frequent. Snow is very rare. Summers are hot and dry.
Our partner in Rome is the LUISS School of Government.
Located in the heart of Rome, LUISS offers its students a wide variety of services, such as cafeterias and sports teams. But there are also many cultural activities, such as a theatre, music and concerts on campus. International students can also make use of the language café, which is an innovative space where students can practise their language skills in an informal setting.
The LUISS School of Government offers students assistance in finding accommodation near the campus through different services.
Rome travel guide
Tunis
Tunis is the most populous city and the capital of Tunisia. It is also the capital of the governorate of the same name since its creation in 1956. Located in the north of the country, near the Gulf of Tunis, from which it is separated by the Lake of Tunis, the city extends over the coastal plain and the surrounding hills. Its historic heart is the medina, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains many shops, cafés and about 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains.
The population of the city of Tunis is about 650,000.
The climate of Tunis is Mediterranean, with a cool, rainy season and a hot, dry season.
In Tunis, there are many taxis. Compared to Europe, they are not very expensive, they are safe and the best way to get around the city.
Sights in Tunis
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