Academic programme

Students in the MATA programme will spend one year on each side of the Atlantic. The first year will be dedicated to coursework. The second year comprises one semester of coursework at the partner institutions and a high-level internship.  Eligible internships include working in an international or national institution, or within the private sector with civil society actors.  Students starting the programme at the College of Europe have the option to spend their entire second year as students at the Fletcher School. During the spring semester, MATA students travel to Brussels for a study trip to meet key transatlantic stakeholders.

Within this overarching framework common to all MATA students, the precise study programme varies in line with the study track chosen. All students will follow the year-long joint course on US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs (first semester) and US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Transatlantic Project. The following three study tracks are offered within the MATA programme:

Each study track leads to a Master of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs (120 ECTS).

At The Fletcher School, students will gain breadth of knowledge through coursework across the School’s three divisions:

  • International Law and Organizations;
  • Diplomacy, History and Politics; and
  • Economics and International Business.

Both institutions integrate students into a close-knit, multinational and intercultural learning environment.

The programme has been accredited in the US and in Europe.

"MATA fosters a uniquely tight-knit community of students, alumni, and staff, who consistently support each other. Second, the flexibility of the program means your experience can be tailored exactly to your interests and your professional aspirations, providing ample space for learning and inspiration and bringing immense potential for personal and professional development on the path towards a career in transatlantic affairs. "

-Anton Sauder, class of 2025