A. Student Participation in the European Union's ERASMUS Program. Since the 1994-95 academic year, the Department has been participating in the Socrates-Erasmus Program in the framework of which there are student exchanges for one or two semesters with the following Universities: University of Phillips - Marburg, Germany, Université de Nice and Université de Pau in France, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Université de Liège and Ghent University in Belgium, University of Camerino in Italy, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona in Spain, UniwersytetLodzki in Poland and University of Miskolc in Hungary.
 
B. Student Participation in the United Nations Models (UN). The United Nations Models constitute an interesting and useful institution for political science students as well as for students of different disciplines, which has been established for many years and functions under the auspices of the United Nations. It takes place in different cities around the world, such as New York and Chicago, USA, Toronto and Montreal, Canada, The Hague, The Netherlands, Munich and Bonn, Germany, Cairo, Egypt, Mexico City, Seoul in Korea, in Vienna, Austria, in Sofia, Bulgaria, in Istanbul, Turkey etc.
Students from different Universities meet witheachother, representing a country of their choice, usually different from their nationality; based on the information they have already gathered and their existing knowledge of how the UN operates, they try to represent that country, aiming to be the first to submit the Resolution, which, if accepted by other representatives, will be adopted as a decision of the UN body they represent. In order to better express the country's position in the International Organization, they communicate with the local Embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - if necessary - so that the views they support on this issue coincide with those of the country they represent. In some U.N. Models, like the one in New York, participants are also informed by UN Permanent Representations of the states.
Through this simulation process, students acquire knowledge at multiple levels. In relation to the UN, they learn how the organization operates and which are the rules of procedure of its bodies; they also learn the views of the country they represent by gathering information on the general situation of the country - political, economic, diplomatic - and its positions on the most important international issues. They also gain information on diplomacy as they learn how to negotiate, assert, insist, make concessions, manoeuvre and compromise.
There is also another dimension to these student meetings: Competition. At the end of the simulation many UN Models award prizes and distinctions to the best representatives, excellent speakers, even to the most dignified appearance, thus giving students an incentive to play the role of an actual diplomat, by even paying attention to their appearance. Representatives of our departmenthave been repeatedly awarded prizes in many UN Models.
Within this context, students create and make their first “international” friendships with young people with similar interests, who are likely to meet again in the future, maybe in other positions, as diplomats, politicians, university professors etc.
During recent years, several UN Models provide the opportunity of student representation  in other bodies of International Organizations in addition to the UN. Therefore, in addition to Specialised Agencies (IOC, UNESCO, World Bank etc.), other organisations such as the NATO, the OAS, the OAU and the EU are also included in the list of organizations which can offer student representation of member-states, thus providing them the opportunity to observe up close the operation of other International Organizations both at international and regional level.
The selection process of student participation in UN Models, is based on two criteria: a) students must have successfully completed the examinations of the course International Organizations Law and (b) students must be fluent in English. The selection process also includes an interview in order to ascertain the proficiency of speaking skills required primarily in the UN Models. Afterwards, students attend several meetings and discussion events on the material collected by the students themselves or sent to us by the UN Office in Athens. The final stage includes practical exercises on how to write appropriate Resolutions. Student information meetings are often assisted by students who have participated in previous UN Models, who are also provided the opportunity to accompany new student groups as mission leaders.
Since 2002 onwards, the University of Macedonia, at the initiative of our Department, has been organizing the Greek UN Model, which since 2003 has been renamed Thess-IS-MUN, with the participation of foreign university students.
 
C. Student Participation in Field Trips
Every year students participate in field trips taking pace in countries of the European Union, the Balkans and Cyprus aiming at gaining better understanding of the International Environment.
 
D. Internships
Graduates of the Study Program of the Department of International and European Studies, irrespective of their specialization and upon their wish, may complete one or two months' internships during the summer months or later in the year, provided that they have successfully fulfilled their attendance obligations, in Ministries, representative offices of International Organizations, NGOs and other bodies.  Submission of a CV as well as the desire to undertake an internship in the cities of Thessaloniki, Athens or elsewhere act as prerequisites.  The Internship is not subsidized, and upon its completion students receive a certificate by the competent organization.

E. Student Participation in the Summer School on Contemporary European Politics
The aim of the program is to provide a discussion forum on the research of issues and developments in European policy e.g. European Union governance, public policy planning, the functioning of political parties, and democratic deficit among political science or international relations students and specialized scientific staff coming from different universities in Europe.

The program provides to young researchers the unique opportunity of presenting their own ongoing research to an informal colleague audience and the opportunity to establish their first scientific collaborations with new researchers from counties abroad.

For further information on the 1st Thessaloniki Summer School on Contemporary European Politics please click on the following link: http://www.uom.gr/summerschool/

F. Aristotle International Summer Program in International Relations
The laboratory for the study and research of  International Relations and European Integration launches a Summer Program in International Relations, Aristotle International Program, in the School of Aristotle in the city of Naoussa in collaboration with Film Festival of Naoussa.

With the participation of distinguished academics of Greece and abroad and the attendance of selected students from Greece and abroad, this program aims at discussing modern issues on the science and practice of International Relations. Constituting the meeting point of two leading figures, the program venue is also of great significance.

The Aristotle International Summer Program in International Relations is a great initiative that highlights the meeting point of two world figures, Aristotle, the great philosopher,and Alexander the Great.

For further information click here Watch an informative video of the program here.