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Our International Master's in Economy, State and Society is a unique, innovative and dynamic postgraduate programme offered by a consortium of leading European universities, leading to the award of a highly prestigious double degree. You will spend your first year at UCL SSEES and your second year at a partner university of your choice.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Fees for this programme are set by agreement with IMESS Management Board. The IMESS programme is excluded from the Study Abroad 15% fee rules. The published fee is for the first year of study only and subsequent years of study may increase by up to 5% annually.
Entry requirements
Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
You will undertake rigorous research methods training, discipline-based and area studies training and intensive language tuition. You will develop cultural and linguistic knowledge of Eastern and Western Europe, and acquire the skills to identify and critically analyse key factors shaping the economies, states and societies of the SSEES region.
You will take modules to a total value of 120 ECTS, with 60 ECTS taken in year one at UCL and 60 ECTS taken in year two at your chosen institution.
Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a MA (International) in Economy, State and Society: Politics and Security.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Year one compulsory modules
- Two of the following modules: Understanding and Analysing Data (6 ECTS/15 UCL credits); Qualitative Methods (6 ECTS/15 UCL credits); or Introduction to Discourse Analysis (6 ECTS/15 UCL credits)
- Language*
- Dissertation Preparation (0 ECTS)
*If not taken in year one, a Language module is compulsory in year two.
Optional modules include
36 ECTS or 48 ECTS if no language taken in year one
- A selection of thematic SSEES modules from the relevant track which may include:
- Baltic Politics and Society
- Sexuality and Society in Russia and Eastern Europe
- Causes, Consequences and Control: Corruption and Governance
- Democracy and Authoritarianism in Post-communist Europe
- Informal Practices in Post-communist societies
- Interdisciplinary Area Studies
- The Making of Modern Ukraine
- Political Sociology
- Post-Soviet Politics
- Russian Foreign Policy
- Russian Politics
- Security, Identity, Polarity: The Contemporary Debates
- Understanding 'Transitional Justice'
- Migration in the European Union
- Nations, Identity and Power
Year 2 modules will vary depending on your second year destination choice. Please visit the IMESS website for further information.
- Further information about these modules is available on the department website.
Dissertation/report
You will undertake an independent research project in your second year, which culminates in a dissertation of approximately 20,000–25,000 words.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and research supervision. You will be assessed by written examination, coursework and dissertation; language courses involve an oral examination.
Additional costs
You will need to budget for living costs for both your first year at UCL and the second year abroad, which may vary depending on which country you study in. Visa costs should be factored if applicable. If you need any guidance please email ssees-imess@ucl.ac.uk.
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Detailed module information
Funding
We offer a number of attractive scholarships, available to Home, EU and International students. For funding opportunities please visit the IMESS website.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Our graduates progress to careers in governmental or international organisations, and many specialise in finance, commerce, analysis or consultancy. Others begin careers in diplomacy, journalism, or in non-governmental organisations. Others have continued to further study with many students undertaking PhDs.
Employability
Graduates of the programme have taken leadership positions in distinguished private and public sector organisations (including the IMF, EBRD, OSCE, NATO, United Nations, in risk control, banks and financial institutions, diplomacy and media, and the civil service) and many have also continued to doctoral studies. Scholarships, internship opportunities and excellent links with other universities in the region provide further benefits.
Why study this degree at UCL?
Our International Master's in Economy, State and Society offers you a unique opportunity to study the economies, states and societies of the wider European region in both London and the SSEES region.
You will benefit from an integrated study programme, with the first year spent at UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies (SSEES) and the second year at one of our partner universities in the Czech Republic (Prague), Estonia (Tartu), Finland (Helsinki), Hungary (Budapest), Poland (Kraków), Serbia (Belgrade) and Russia (Moscow).
You will have access to our specialist library, which is unrivalled in the UK, and our central London location provides an ideal environment for research. Our close contacts with employers, policymakers and alumni provides you with excellent opportunities for networking and career development.
Department: SSEES - School of Slavonic & East European Studies
What our students and staff say
"UCL is an energetic place that is clearly on an upward trajectory, bustling with original thinkers doing cutting-edge work and incredibly talented students from all over the world. Definitely the place to study and do research at the beginning of the 21st century."
Professor Jan Kubik
UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is no application fee for this programme.
Who can apply?
Our programme is designed to attract and challenge the brightest students, as well as professionals wishing to retrain to acquire European expertise, and meet the challenges of the changing global environment. Evidence of English language ability is essential but there are no other language pre-requisites.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 31 May 2021
You must complete the IMESS Supplementary Questionnaire which substitutes for the personal statement. Applicants in the final stages of an undergraduate degree are very welcome to apply but you must present your transcript of marks no later than 31 August for the year of entry.
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Economy, State and Society at graduate level
- why you want to study Economy, State and Society at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students. Charles University, Czech Republic is regulated by Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport; Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary is regulated by the Hungarian Ministry of Education; Helsinki University, Finland is regulated by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture; Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland is regulated by the Polish Ministry of Science & Higher Education; Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia is regulated by the Ministry of Science & Higher Education of the Russian Federation Moscow; University of Tartu, Estonia is regulated by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
