The Master of Arts by Research degree program involves the completion of a thesis proposal and a research thesis. It is designed for students wishing to engage in serious research but not able to devote the three years required to complete a PhD or with a research project which does not lend itself to that level of extended treatment. European Studies is an interdisciplinary area of study and research focusing on modern European politics, societies and cultures, past and present. European Studies brings together the perspectives and approaches of disciplines such as History, Philosophy, Cultural, Literary and Film Studies, Politics and International Relations, to explore modern Europe. European Studies staff are experts on a range of European countries and regions spanning the entire continent – from Ireland to Russia, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia – and work in a number of interdisciplinary fields such as intellectual history, memory studies, and transnational issues such as religion, minorities, and governance. European Studies students are encouraged to learn a European language, and UNSW offers courses at various levels in French, German, Greek, Italian and Spanish. European Studies prepares students not only for globalized intellectual engagement but also for the global market. Graduates have pursued careers in politics and diplomacy, EU institutions, Australian Federal Government, international business, NGOs, media, trade, teaching and research.