About

The Departments of Sociology (coordinator), Political Science and Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, University of Crete, jointly offer an online Interdepartmental Postgraduate Studies Programme (IPSP) on «Employment, Labour Organisation and Industrial Relations».

This innovative programme combines theoretical insights and empirical research to explore the changing world of work, employment relations, and labour market dynamics. Drawing on a strong interdisciplinary foundation, the programme integrates: sociological perspectives on work and employment systems · political analysis of labour institutions and policies · economic interpretations of labour market developments · psychological insights into workplace welfare and well-being.

The programme welcomes two categories of students: a) graduates of Social Sciences, Economics, Law and Business Administration departments, and b) professionals and researchers from other academic backgrounds, with at least 12 months of proven experience in relevant fields (e.g. HR, public/local administration, trade unions, or employment-related research).

To be awarded the Master’s degree, students must complete a total of 90 ECTS credits. The 60 ECTS correspond to coursework completed during the first two semesters (30 ECTS per semester), while the remaining 30 ECTS are allocated to the Master’s thesis (or an internship, as provided for in specific Internal Regulations).

In the first semester, students will be able to acquire foundational knowledge in the fields of work organisation, employment, the labour market and industrial relations, as well as training in key methodological approaches. During the second semester, students will have the opportunity to refine their academic focus by specialising in one of two distinct streams: (1) Industrial Relations or (2) Human Resource Management. The first stream adopts an interdisciplinary approach to exploring various aspects of industrial relations, the labour market, and employment issues. It draws on perspectives from sociology, economics, political science, and psychology, and offers training in diverse methodological approaches to studying labour markets and industrial relations. The second stream is more applied and practice-oriented. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for managing human resources and addressing organisational challenges within enterprises and organisations.

Teaching methods include: (a) Synchronous learning, with regular teleconferences and virtual meetings held throughout each semester, and (b) Asynchronous learning, where students engage with online resources and are assessed using a range of diagnostic tools and continuous evaluation methods.

Tuition fees are €600 per semester, amounting to a total of €1,800 for the entire three-semester programme.

• DURATION: 1 ½ years (3 semesters)
• LANGUAGES: Greek
• ENROLLMENT OPTIONS: Full time, Part time
• TUITION FEES: 1,800 €
• STUDY FORMAT: Distance Learning