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MA Politics (SSEES) Handbook

This handbook contains information for the Masters programmes in Political Analysis; Political Sociology and Russian and Post-Soviet Politics.

Welcome to UCL SSEES

We are very pleased to welcome you to UCL SSEES.

UCL SSEES, founded in 1915, is one of the world’s leading specialist institutions and the largest national centre in the UK for the study of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Over seventy academic staff work in the School, teaching and conducting research in economics, business, politics, history, sociology, anthropology, culture, literature and language.

As part of SSEES and UCL, you will now have unrivalled access to various resources, for example the excellent UCL and SSEES libraries. We also pride ourselves for what goes on outside the classroom – be it the rich programme of high-profile international speakers, conferences, and seminars or various extracurricular opportunities for UCL students. This document provides you with some of the most important information about your time at SSEES.  

Please take your time also to read the SSEES Student Handbook for more details and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Key Dates 

The UCL Calendar 2022/23

The UCL Calendar 2021/22

The UCL Calendar 2020/21

The UCL Calendar 2019/20

Degree Structure

Information about all the modules below can be found on the Module Catalogue. 

Political Analysis (Russia and Eastern Europe) MA Structure 

Students undertake and pass or be condoned in modules to the value of 180 credits. The pass mark for each course unit is 50%.

Full-time students must register for 180 credits including the 60-credit Dissertation.

Part-time students must register for 180 credits over the two years, in a balance agreed by the Programme Coordinator. The 60-credit Dissertation is taken in the second year.

The programme consists of:

Dissertation (60 credits)

  • A research dissertation (60 credits), an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000-12,000 words. Non-condonable 

Two modules from below (15 credits each)

Optional modules (90 credits) from the following:

Up to 30 credits can be taken from other SSEES MA modules, or other approved UCL departments, including languages.

Russian and Post Soviet Politics MA Structure

Students undertake and pass,or be condoned in modules to the value of 180 credits. The pass mark is 50.

Full-time students must register for 180 credits including the 60-credit Dissertation.

Part-time students must register for 180 credits over the two years, in a balance agreed by the Programme Coordinator. The 60-credit Dissertation is taken in the second year.

The programme consists of:

Dissertation (60 credits)

  • A research dissertation (60 credits), an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000-12,000 words. Non-condonable 

Core module (30 credits)

Plus ONE other core module from the following (15 or 30 credits):

Optional modules (up to 75 credits) from the following:

Up to 30 credits can be taken from other SSEES MA modules, or other approved UCL departments, including languages.

Political Sociology (Russia and Eastern Europe) MA Structure

Students undertake and pass, or be condoned in, modules to the value of 180 credits. The pass mark is 50. 

Full-time students must register for 180 credits including the 60-credit Dissertation.

Part-time students must register for 180 credits over the two years, in a balance agreed by the Programme Coordinator. The 60-credit Dissertation is taken in the second year.

The programme consists of: 

Dissertation (60 credits)

  • A research dissertation (60 credits); an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000-12,000 words. Non-condonable 
     

Core module (15 credits)

Plus ONE module from the following (15 credits):

Optional modules (90 credits) from the following:

Up to 30 credits can be taken from other SSEES MA modules, or other approved UCL departments, including language (Russian, Estonian or Ukrainian). 

 

Examination Procedures

The examinations period is provisionally scheduled from the start of Term 3 until the second week of June. Students must be available to attend examinations throughout this entire period. 

All modules registrations must be completed on Portico by the end of the second week of teaching. From this point students must not change the registration of Term 1 modules. The registration of Term 2-only modules may be changed until the end of Reading Week of Term 1.

All students are required to reply to any request, whether from their department or from UCL Registry (via Portico) to confirm their module registration as correct.

The SSEES MA (Umbrella) Board of Examiners decides on the class of degree you receive.

Plagiarism

Make sure you do not plagiarise anyone elses work, even accidentally, as the consequences can be severe. Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person's thoughts or words or artefacts or software as though they were your own. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and you should identify your sources as accurately and fully as possible.

You can find more about plagerim and how to avoid it on the Current Student pages.
 

    Extenuating Circumstances and Reasonable Adjustments

    UCL recognises that some students can experience serious difficulties and personal problems which affect their ability to complete an assessment such as a sudden, serious illness or the death of a close relative. Students need to make sure that they notify UCL of any circumstances which are unexpected, significantly disruptive and beyond their control, and which might have a significant impact on their performance at assessment. UCL can then put in place alternative arrangements, such as an extension or a deferral of assessment to a later date. The Extenuating Circumstances Panel will determine the nature and timing of the deferral, which may be offered with or without tuition/ attendance. 

    You can find further information about Extenuating Circumstances in the Academic Manual.  

    How to submit an Extenuating Circumstances request, including extension requests

    You must notify SSEES, no matter which department teaches the module(s) concerned, You can make an EC claim through Portico. For intial enquiries regarding your EC requests should go to the Student Support Officer and sent to the email address ssees-extenuating-circumstances@ucl.ac.uk

    You should attach appropriate supporting evidence. Forms of appropriate evidence are set out in the SSEES Documentary Evidence Requirements available on the Current Students website.

    You can find the Grounds for Extenuating Circumstances and the Extenuating Circumstances Form on the SSEES website. If you wish to be considered for extenuating circumstances, then you should submit a completed extenuating circumstances form supported by medical certificate or other evidence to ssees-extenuating-circumstances@ucl.ac.uk. This information will be treated in confidence and the results will be decided by the Extenuating Circumstance panel.

    Reasonable Adjustments and Special Exam Arrangements. 

    UCL will make Reasonable Adjustments to learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that students with a disability are not put at a disadvantage. UCL also provides Reasonable Adjustments for students who might not consider themselves to have a ‘disability’ but who nevertheless would benefit from additional support due to an ongoing medical or mental health condition. It is the responsibility of the student to request Reasonable Adjustments, and students are encouraged to make a request as early as possible. please see link above for more details. 

    You can find further information about Reasonable Adjustments in the Academic Manual.

    You should request Reasonable Adjustments via Disability Services. You can find futher information on Disability Services' website. 

    Student Support 

    Starting a course at a new university, possibly in a new city or even country can be a daunting experience for anyone, regardless of age or background. The most important thing to remember is that there are many sources of advice and support available for every aspect of your life at UCL from the moment you arrive until you graduate and beyond.

    Full details of the support available to you can be found on the Support & Wellbeing pages.

    You’ll also find some key links below. Your Personal Tutor will also be a key point of contact for you if you are experiencing any difficulties.

    Students with physical or mental health concerns are encouraged to make contact with the available support services as early as possible so that UCL can put in place reasonable adjustments to support them throughout their studies. However there may be occasions when a student’s physical or mental health, wellbeing or behaviour is having a detrimental effect on their ability to meet the requirements of their programme, or is impacting on the wellbeing, rights, safety and security of other students and staff. In such cases UCL may need to take action under the Fitness to Study Procedure.

    Further Information

    Calculation of the Postgraduate Masters Degree

    For all the above Masters Programmes the final Award is calculated using an Overall Average Mark.  Individual Modules are weighted according to their credited value and the overall mark represents the mean average of the 180 credits undertaken. (Credit-weighted mean average rounded to two decimals.)

    Numerical Marking SchemeLetter Grade Marking Scheme 
    Distinction

    A weighted mark greater or equal to 69.5% 

    OR

    A weighted mark greater or equal to 68.5% AND Modules of at least 70.00% in at least 50% of the credits. 

    Merit

    A weighted mark greater or equal to 59.5% 

    OR

    A weighted mark greater or equal to 58.5% AND Modules of at least 60.00% in at least 50% of the credits. 

    PassMeets Award Requirements. 

    In a Student does not meet the above requirements they will be considered for an interim Qualification if they meet the required learning outcomes and credits. Please see the Academic Manual for more details. 

    Consequences of Failure of a Module

    Students who obtain a mark below the condoned mark range will be required to re-enter that examination at the next normal occasion. Students with no (EC) Extenuating Circumstances will be permitted one re-assessment oppurtunity.

    Students awarded the degree or who have passed a module will not be permitted to repeat assessment of that module.

     

    Programmes Administrator 

    Angela Nnamchi
    Tel: 020 7679 8598
    Email (P&S): ssees-ps@ucl.ac.uk