EUNICAS, European University Central Application Support Service

The University of Groningen has now announced details of its much anticipated Liberal Arts & Sciences [LAS] degree, taught through English.  Details here. The university is one of several Dutch universities, ranked in the world's top 100 universities, to offer this degree option. The LAS programmes are proving very popular with UK and Irish students, who are applying to join them in increasing numbers, drawn by the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects in the first year before taking a major [specialising] in one subject, from the second year onwards.

In the Groningen LAS programme [run at University College Groningen], students will be able to specialise in one of the following areas:

Health and Life Sciences, which provides a comprehensive understanding of mechanisms underlying the normal development and function of humans, and of mechanisms causing disease.

Philosophy, Politics and Economics: modules include History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Ethics, Logic, Political Science, International Relations, Microeconomics, Markets & Regulation and International Macroeconomic Theory & Policy.

Cognition and Behaviour: modules include Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, Social Environment & Behaviour, History and Philosophy of the Mind and Society,, Social Cognition, Neuropsychology, Cognition and Attention, Gerontology and Perception. The topics can be explored further in relation to the three research themes.

Reflecting on Culture: modules include Cultural History, Cultural Analysis, a chosen art medium (film, television, literature, theatre and music), a chosen historical period, the methods and methodology of the Humanities.

Physics and Energy: this major includes a broad spectrum of physics modules in topical fields, including magnetism, electricity, mechanics and relativity, thermodynamics and the structure of matter. Electives are offered in the fields of energy and sustainability.

As in all of the Liberal Arts & Sciences programmes, at Groningen there is a competitive selection procedure. After checking that your High School Diploma grades [A-Level/Leaving Cert/IB etc] meet their requirements, the university will require students to complete four tasks: an interpretative essay; analytical and logical reasoning tests; group dynamics reflection task; video letter. Students who score well in these tasks will be invited to an interview.

Applications open on 6th January and close on 1st June 2014