Admissions status:
Closed.| Course Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Degree | MA / Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) |
| Length | 6 terms (2 years) |
| Department | Department of Gender Studies |
| US degree credits | 60 |
| Austrian degree ECTS credits | 120 |
Program Description
Erasmus Mundus Master’s Degree in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA) is a two-year inter-university interdisciplinary study program that provides high-quality education and professional qualifications for students working or intending to work in the areas of women's studies, gender studies and equal opportunities across Europe and beyond.
CEU is one of seven participating European universities that have collectively guided over 900 students in completing their master’s degree through the GEMMA program. Alongside:
- University of Granada (Spain)
- University of Bologna (Italy)
- University of York (United Kingdom)
- University of Lodz (Poland)
- University of Oviedo (Spain)
- University of Utrecht (the Netherlands)
We cultivate the next generation of Women’s and Gender Studiesexperts with strong international competencies.
A Program of Excellence
GEMMA is the first and only Erasmus Mundus master in Women's and Gender Studies in Europe, repeatedly endorsed by the European Commission (2006, 2011, 2017 and 2019) for its impact and contribution to women’s empowerment. It’s a program of excellence distinguished from 150 project proposals submitted annually for funding by the Commission as “a pilot project and model in the field of Women´s Studies and Gender Studies from a European and global perspective.”
For the eighth consecutive year, the GEMMA master's degree has been recognized as the best Master's Degree in Spain in the "Family and Integration" category.
How the Erasmus Mundus GEMMA Master’s Degree Works
The GEMMA program is taught by two universities you select from the list of the seven consortium partners - they are referred to as your home university and host university (also referred to as “mobility university”). GEMMA provides a universal framework for all participating institutions and is divided into four semesters according to the following structure:
- First Semester
- Autumn/Winter Terms
- Core Component cluster: 30 ECTS/15 CEU credits (home university)
- Second Semester
- Winter/Spring Terms
- Elective cluster A: 30 ECTS/15 CEU credits (home university)
- Third Semester (Abroad)
- Autumn/Winter Terms
- Elective cluster B (Mobility): 30 ECTS/15 CEU credits (host university)
- Optional courses (specific to the host university)
- Fourth Semester
- Winter/Spring
- Master Thesis: 30 ECTS/15 CEU credits (either at the home or the host university)
You will apply to a home university, where you will spend the first year of your studies. During this time, you will attend courses from the Core Component cluster, which focuses on three main subjects: feminist history, feminist theory and feminist methodology. The content of the Core Component courses is coordinated across all seven consortium partners, equipping every GEMMA student with a comprehensive foundational knowledge of feminist studies.
You will select additional courses matching your academic and professional aspirations from the list of electives atyour home (cluster A) and host (cluster B) university. The choice of topics is specific to each institution, enabling students to explore contemporary gender concepts across European languages and cultures.
You will engage with different research methods used in the social sciences and humanities and apply them to yourfield of interest within gender studies. You will also explore the applications of gender concepts and theories in other fields, such as history, sociology and literature. The program emphasizes the importance of professional ethics and trains you to apply these principles to your research and practice.
The culmination of the GEMMA master’s degree is a written thesis, which should build on the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. You will decide whether to defend your thesis abroad or return to your home university.
You will obtain a double degree jointly issued by your home and host universities at the end of your studies. This degree will be fully recognized by all seven consortium members.
Expanding Your Expertise with Advanced Certificates at CEU
Advanced Certificates are student-only programs that enable you to dive deep into different subject areas through highly specialized training. This unique option offers you the possibility to tailor your learning experience at CEU according to your future academic and professional career.
The following certificates are offered as optional courses available for students of the GEMMA program:
Who Is This Program For
The Master’s Degree in Women’s and Gender Studies (GEMMA) is designed for individuals who are passionate about gender studies and seek to actively shape the field through their research or work. GEMMA is particularly well-suited for students who thrive in interdisciplinary environments and enjoy exploring the complexities of gender through a cross-cultural lens.
If you envision yourself contributing to European policy-making, advocacy or social change initiatives related to gender equality, GEMMA is the right choice for you.
Check If You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
To apply to GEMMA, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree of not less than three years of full-time studies with a minimum of 180 ECTS credits or equivalent. You must also meet the minimum language requirements of your chosen home and host university, see links below:
Admissions at CEU
GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
The funding of the GEMMA program by the Erasmus+ program is ending, and we will not receive the results of the EU funding renewal until the summer. Therefore, the program is currently open to self-financed students only (no EM Scholarships are available at this time).
Please visit the official GEMMA program website for more information about the funding opportunities.
What Awaits You
The GEMMA postgraduate program delves into the intersections of gender with other social factors such as race, class and global inequality, fostering a cross-national and interdisciplinary perspective.
In addition to attending the Core Component courses, you will choose subjects from the broad list of CEU electives taught by leading scholars in gender studies who are actively involved in cutting-edge research. You will specialize in a particular area of Women's and Gender Studies and translate your interest into original, independent research conducted for your thesis.
You will practice your argumentation and critical analysis skills during Public Lectures - a series of mandatory events organized by the Department of Gender Studies at CEU. We invite scholars from topically related disciplines to present their current research and engage in dialogue with the audience. The goal of this activity is to encourage you to not only develop advanced academic research skills but also to participate in current debates on gender concepts and theories across diverse fields.
GEMMA Program at CEU Overview
GEMMA Program at CEU Overview
- Pre-Term:
- Zero Week Lectures and Workshops
- Fall Term:
- Academic Writing Part 1
- Foundations in Gender Studies 1
- Public Lecture Series
- Courses from the list of electives
- Optional: Advanced Certificate
- Winter Term:
- Academic Writing Part 2: Thesis Development
- Foundations in Gender Studies 2
- Courses from the list of electives
- Optional: Advanced Certificate
- Spring Term:
- MA Research Preparation Seminar
- Courses from the list of electives
- Optional: Advanced Certificate
These electives are offered to GEMMA students as part of Elective clusters A and B (Mobility).
- Audio Production
- Biopolitics, Reproduction, and Human Rights
- CIVICA Gendering Illiberalism
- Critical Approaches to Romani Studies
- Critical Theory on Policy and Practice
- Decolonial Aesthetics
- Discourse Analysis
- Discourses of Order I: Introduction to Pre Modern Political Thought
- Equality Policy in Comparative Approach
- Feminist Curating of Art Knowledge
- Feminist Qualitative Research Methods
- Feminist Research of Popular Culture and the Media
- Foundations of Visual Practice
- Fundamentals of Documentary Filmmaking
- Gender and Migration
- Gender and Public Policy
- Gender and Religion
- Gender and Sexuality in West Asia & North Africa
- Gender and Sound
- Gender History (LAMS)
- Gender, Sex and Sport
- Gender, Sexuality, and the Non/Human
- Images: Knowledge, History, Politics
- IR, Borders, and Security
- Multiple Inequalities, Multiple Struggles: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in State-Socialist Europe, 1945-1990
- Orders of Inequality: Race, Class, Gender, Sex
- Patterns of Exclusion, Dilemmas of Inclusion: Roma Policies and Politics in the 21st Century
- Popular Culture and World Politics
- Qualitative Methods in Social Science Research: Oral History
- Qualitative Research Methods: Ethnographic Approaches
- Queer Theory
- Race and Eastern Europe
- Race, Class, Gender, and Nationality: Political Economy of Identity
- Race, Justice, Solidarity: Addressing Anti-Roma Racism in Contemporary Europe
- Racial and National (In)Equalities
- Reimagining Social Movements
- The Climate of Violence: Coloniality, Capitalism and Gender
- The Human Body and the Law
- The Law and Politics of Gender-Based Violence
- Transfeminism
- Visual/Aural Knowledge Production
- Welfare State and Gender under Undemocratic Rule
- Women's and Gender History: A Critical Introduction to Theory, Methods, and Archives
- Writing Lives, Writing Otherness: Autobiographies and Auto Theories of Gender, Race, and Dislocation
This program overview is provided as an example based on previous years' curricula. It is for informational purposes only and subject to change. Course offerings, schedules and content may be updated or modified at any time without prior notice. Please refer to official sources or contact the relevant department for the most current program details.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA) at CEU is registered with the New York State Education Department in the United States and accredited by AQ Austria in Austria. CEU is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Find out more about accreditation at CEU.
Your Instructors
See the full list of professors that are currently teaching in the program.
After Graduation
The two-year Master’s Degree in Women’s and Gender Studies (GEMMA) enables you to become an interdisciplinary expert in gender studies with strong international competencies. This exciting program equips you with the knowledge of key theories, methodologies and current debates, making you aware of the many influences that must be considered when engaging in research, policy-making, activism and social work.
Your Career Prospects with a Master of Public Administration
After graduating from GEMMA, you may consider exploring roles in governments, charitable organizations, NGOs and international companies with the following job titles:
- Administrative Manager
- Advocacy Coordinator
- Business Consultant
- Communications Consultant
- Community Organizer
- Counselor
- Diversity and Inclusion Officer
- Diversity Officer
- Editor
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Grant Writer
- Human Rights Activist
- Journalist
- Lecturer
- Policy Analyst
- Policy Officer
- Program Officer
- Research Manager
- Social Justice Advocate
- Social Worker
- Teacher
- Writer
Continue Your Education at CEU
5 Reasons to Choose GEMMA at CEU
- Dual degree: Earn both an American and Austrian degree and expand your career and research prospects internationally.
- Interdisciplinary curriculum: The program offers a comprehensive understanding of gender studies by drawing on diverse disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology, political science, philosophy, literature and cultural studies.
- Critical thinking and analysis: You will learn to critically evaluate social and cultural phenomena, develop strong analytical abilities and effectively communicate your insights to any audience.
- Practical skills: Besides theoretical knowledge, the program equips you with practical skills for academic and professional success. You will develop strong research, writing and presentation skills, enabling you to conduct independent research, write scholarly papers and deliver engaging presentations.
- Study in Vienna: You will be based at CEU in Vienna, which was named the world's most livable city for the third consecutive year in the Global Liveability Ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
