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Europe and the World Winter School 2026



Open to all Una Europa students pursuing a degree in European Studies, the Una Europa Europe and the World Winter School will take place from 9–13 February 2026 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), providing an excellent opportunity to bring together students and professors from various backgrounds and universities.


Under the guidance of academics and practitioners, students will analyse the outcomes of current policies and develop recommendations to address pressing challenges, such as the complexities of implementing a new European defence policy, the debate on the relationship between security and migration, and concerns about how to address critical dependencies and improve energy security. The programme consists of lectures, workshops and field trips.


The school is designed to be a dynamic and reflective space in which to explore crucial issues concerning the different dimensions and challenges facing Europe in the field of security. Through a five-day intensive problem-solving exercise and with a multidisciplinary approach, the Winter School programme aims to raise awareness and promote dialogue on these global challenges. 

After an opening session, the students will attend lectures and panel discussions on the key issues addressed. The analysis will be carried out both through the formation of working groups with the participating students, and through roundtable discussions with leading experts. In particular, there will be three roundtable discussions with panels of experts, one for each of the three main themes of the WS. This activity will significantly enhance the quality of our education, research and outreach through interdisciplinary and multicultural collaboration.

By bringing together students and academics from different European universities, the school will promote collaborative work and peer learning, facilitating the exchange of best practice and pedagogical innovation. The combination of theoretical and practical approaches to critical issues relating to migration flows, European defence challenges and strategic dependencies will enrich both teaching and research. Moreover, the focus on relevant contemporary problems will strengthen our social impact and promote active engagement in addressing global and European challenges. This collaborative environment will also set new standards of quality and create opportunities for future projects and strategic alliances.

The Winter School offers an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to explore complex issues from different perspectives (political, economic, social, environmental). Students will combine plenary lectures and group work with a variety of social events and excursions in Madrid, such as cultural visits and guided tours of emblematic areas of the city.


The UCM Faculty of Law (Menendez Pelayo sq, 4. 28040 Madrid, Campus Ciudad Universitaria), will be the main venue for the Winter School (See location on Google Maps)



 

  • When and where: 

    - Online: Introductory session on 6 February 2026.

     



    - In person: Faculty of Law, UCM, Madrid- 9-13 February 2026.

  • UCM will provide 3 ECTS and a Certificate of Attendance.

  • There is no registration fee, but participants must arrange and cover their own travel and acommodation expenses. Una Europa students travelling from Unibo, KUL and JU are eligible for a grant by applying to be included in the Erasmus+ BIP programme. 

 

  • Eligible students:

    This winter school is open to all Una Europa undergraduate students pursuing a degree in European Studies, preferably in their second or third year of studies. Please note that Master’s and PhD students are not eligible. The organising universities may invite other students who meet the appropriate academic criteria to enrol in the programme, should there be places available.



  • Applying / enrolment process: Registration is open!

  • If you are a student at the host university, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, contact your local Winter School coordinator, professor Diego Rodríguez (drodrigu@ucm.es). He will inform you of the steps and deadlines to apply.

  • If you are a student at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 

    KU Leuven or Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, you are elegible for a Erasmus+ BIP mobility grant that will help cover your expenses. Your local Winter School coordinator will inform you of the steps and deadlines to apply both to the Winter School (1st step) and the mobility grant (2nd step):

    - Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie: Joanna Orzechowska-Waclawska (joanna.orzechowska-waclawska@uj.edu.pl)
    - KU Leuven: Olha Skrypal (olha.skrypal@kuleuven.be)
    - Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna: Carmelo Danisi (carmelo.danisi2@unibo.it)

  • Students at other Una Europa universities: Registration is free, but those admitted are not elegible for the Erasmus+ BIP mobility grant, and will be responsible for covering all their travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses. However, it is recommended to contact your university’s mobility office to check whether there might be any local opportunities to apply for additional funding or bursaries. 

    To apply, please complete this online form by December 20 2025. You will be asked to provide some personal details, a short CV and a motivation letter.
    All applications will be reviewed by the Europe and the World Winter School coordinators from the organising universities. You will receive a response to your application by email no later than January 10, 2026.

     


Access information about this Winter School on Una Europa’s official website


This initiative was created within the framework of one of Una Europa’s six focus areas (Europe and the World) and is part of the set of joint education and research programs developed under Una Europa’s project Una.Futura.