Politics, Sociology and East European Studies BA
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The strength of UCL lies particularly in its diverse, liberal and engaged student body, and its world class teaching and research departments, particularly within the medical field.
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The university classes were challenging and academic life was really lively! Amazing experience ever thanks!
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Bachelor's degree
In London
Description
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Type
Bachelor's degree
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Location
London
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Duration
3 Years
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
You will take compulsory modules in politics, sociology and international relations in years one and two, including on the political developments of Russia and other parts of the former USSR as well as Central and South-Eastern Europe.
In your final year you will write a dissertation based on an independent research project. You will choose additional optional modules in politics, sociology, international relations, economics, history and culture, to match your interests.
You are strongly encouraged to learn Russian or another East European language as part of your degree. As well as making use of our excellent language learning opportunities, you will also have access to the rich foreign language resources of the SSEES Library.
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
This is an exciting time to study this continually changing region. Many post-communist states are now part of the European Union but, instead of consolidating democracy, are witnessing the rise of right-wing populism. At the same time, Russia is re-emerging as an assertive power with major international consequences.
You will learn about major approaches in social and political science and how to use them to understand social and political change in Russia, the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe.
You will be taught by leading experts in the field, all of whom speak one or more of the languages of the region.
Our academics are regularly consulted by the media as well as organisations such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Uni
You will acquire a solid understanding of politics and sociology, specialist knowledge of a region whose changing politics, economics and international relations are rapidly reshaping our understanding of the world, as well as a raft of transferable skills.
Career destinations of previous graduates include government service, international agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consultancy (economic, political risk, security, marketing), banking, financial services, law, media, teaching and the leisure industry, as well as further study.
SSEES alumni regularly return to meet our current students to talk about their careers and offer advice. Employers seeking experts on our region often approach SSEES to publicise their vacancies.
English Language at grade B or 6, plus Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required.
Reviews
-
The strength of UCL lies particularly in its diverse, liberal and engaged student body, and its world class teaching and research departments, particularly within the medical field.
← | →
-
The university classes were challenging and academic life was really lively! Amazing experience ever thanks!
← | →
Course rating
Recommended
Centre rating
Lyndon James
Student
This centre's achievements
All courses are up to date
The average rating is higher than 3.7
More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months
This centre has featured on Emagister for 14 years
Subjects
- International Relations
- Sociology
- European Security
- Political analysis
- Researching Politics and Society
- Russian Politics
- European Politics and Society
- Migration and Health
- Microeconomics
- Political Sociology
Course programme
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Understanding Politics: The Big Questions in Contemporary Europe
- Understanding Politics: How Politics Works
- Understanding Society: Introduction to Political Sociology
- Understanding Society: Introduction to Social Theory
And at least one of:
- SESS1204 - Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
- SESS1207 - Communist Societies, 1945-1989
You will select 1.5 credits of optional modules which may include the following:
- Introduction to Macroeconomics
- Introduction to Microeconomics
- War, Trauma and Memory in East European Cinema
- Introduction to International Relations
- Frontiers of History
Other optional modules are available in east European languages and culture, history, or Russian. Language module options are available within SSEES or the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).
YEAR 2
Two compulsory core courses
- SESS2106 - Comparative Political Analysis
- SESS2107 - Researching Politics and Society
- and at least two compulsory courses chosen from the following (1.0 cu in total)
- SESS2108 - Post-Soviet Politics and Society
- SESS2103 - Russian Politics and Society
- SESS2109 - South-East European Politics and Society
- SESS2102 - Politics and Society in Central and Eastern Europe
You will select up to 2.0 credits from a range of additional modules. Options may include:
- Contemporary Polish Cinema
- Culture in Eastern Europe: Anthropological Approaches
- Democracy and Democratization
- History of European Political Ideas
- Language Module
- Migration and Health
- Political Economy of European Integration
- Topics in Microeconomics
Other optional modules will be available in east European languages and culture, history or Russian.
YEAR 3
- Dissertation
You will select 3.0 credits from a wide range of module options. Options may include:
- Corruption and Governance
- European Security
- History of European Political Ideas
- Baltic Politics and Society
- Parties and Elections in a Global Perspective
- Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy
Other optional modules will be available in Russian, history, east European languages and culture.
Your learningYou will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will be expected to prepare presentations and papers on selected topics for your seminars and tutorials, sometimes as an individual and sometimes as part of a group, followed by class discussion. You will also receive regular written work, including essays, exercises and case study analyses.
AssessmentYou will receive feedback from tutors on both your oral and written work and your presentation skills to help develop your analytical ability in these areas. Your assessment will be based on unseen written examinations, coursework and a supervised final-year dissertation.
Additional information
Politics, Sociology and East European Studies BA