EU, International Organizations:

15% of the MES-Alumni are currently working for the EU or other International Organizations, including e.g. the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Central Bank, the Court of First Instance to the EC, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Katharina von Schnurbein, class of 1999, is spokesperson of Commissioner Spidla:

“Being part of the first MES Class at ZEI we felt like pioneers. The most precious result is that the fourteen of us are still in regular contact. As to the Master degree itself, it appears that the MES Program was the perfect match for my Slavonic Studies.”

National Top-Administration:

MES prepares participants for a career in a national top-administration. 27% of the alumni are currently working for, among others, ministries of foreign affairs or embassies in Germany, Montenegro, Poland, Turkey, USA, Korea, ministries of Finance (Germany, Netherlands), the Department of Trade and Industry (Slovakia), the General Directorate for EU Affairs (Turkey).

Antonio Milososki, class of 2002, is Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia since 2006:

“Every knowledge you have acquired, especially if you have gained it at the prestigious Master of European Studies Program at ZEI, is an additional experience for every one of us, a piece of the mosaic called enlightenment. Guided by these thoughts, as I have done before and as I will do in the future, I heartily recommend to my associates and friends the center that has left an impression on me, that represents an institution that can complement to the education of intellectuals. The Master of European Studies in Bonn provides an opportunity to attain a high level of qualification for a career in national administrations, European institutions, international organizations as well as national or international companies.”

Private Sector, Media, Associations:

MES does not only provide you with the necessary knowledge for starting an international career in a political institution. In fact 41% of MES Alumni now work for the private sector including consultancies such as McKinsey or Pleon Public Affairs and multinational industry players like Montblanc International, Deutsche Telekom AG or Bombardier Transportation.

Tristan Suffys, class of 2003, is now working with Weber Shandwick Public Affairs:

“I joined ZEI in 2002 after graduating from a French Institute for Political Studies with a specialization in European affairs. I wanted to deepen my knowledge of the EU and ultimately land up in Brussels - which actually happened! I chose ZEI for the interesting mixture of an English speaking program in a German-speaking environment; but the best mix was the human one. The MES Program gave me the opportunity to meet very interesting people from different countries and backgrounds. Many of them have become close friends. A good indication of the Master’s reputation is that many of us landed up in Brussels a few months after the end of the program. I got an internship in a prestigious public affairs consultancy next to the European Parliament, which resulted in a real work position. I have now been working there for more than four years.”

Science and Research

After finishing MES 17% of the Alumni decided to stay at a University and to pursue an academic career. ZEI Alumni research at universities all over the world such as the University of British Columbia (Canada), the University of New York in Skopje, the St. Johns College at the University of Cambridge but also at institutions like the Center for Strategic Research (Russia) or the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Germany).

For detailed information please check the Alumni survey (last update August 2008).