Program Overview

Introduction to the Economy, State and Society: Politics and Security MA (International)

The International Master's in Economy, State and Society (IMESS) is a two-year postgraduate programme offered by a consortium of leading European universities, leading to the award of a highly prestigious double degree. Students will spend their first year at UCL's School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) and their second year at a partner university in the Central and East European region.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of 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: The English language level for this course is Level 2.
• UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are available for international students who need to improve their academic English and academic skills.

Course Overview

The 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. It offers a unique opportunity to study the economies, states and societies of the wider European region in both London and the SSEES region.

Careers and Employability

Graduates of the programme have taken leadership positions in distinguished private and public sector organisations and many have also continued to doctoral studies. The programme provides excellent opportunities for networking and career development, with close contacts with employers, policymakers, and alumni.

Teaching and Learning

Students will be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and research supervision. Assessment will be by written examination, coursework, and dissertation; language courses involve an oral examination. For a full-time postgraduate course at UCL, around 20-25 hours of independent study per week is recommended.

Modules

• Full-time students will undertake modules to a total value of 300 UCL credits/120 ECTS, with 150 UCL credits/60 ECTS taken in year one at UCL and 60 ECTS taken in year two at the chosen institution.
• Year one comprises compulsory modules (60 UCL credits/24 ECTS) and optional modules (90 UCL credits/36 ECTS).
• Year two includes a dissertation (30 or 40 ECTS) and optional modules (20 or 30 ECTS).
• Examples of modules include:
  • SSEES MA Dissertation Preparation
  • Introduction to Discourse Analysis
  • Understanding and Analysing Data
  • Qualitative Methods
  • IMESS: Language Centre Module
  • The Making of Modern Ukraine
  • Russian Foreign Policy
  • Security, Identity, Polarity: The Contemporary Debates
  • Nations, Identity and Power
  • Informal Practices in Post-Communist Societies
  • Interdisciplinary Area Studies
  • Governance and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe
  • Comparative Analysis in Social and Political Research
  • Post-Soviet Politics
  • Political Sociology
  • Understanding Transitional Justice: Crime, Punishment and Process
  • Poland: Plural Perspectives
  • Governance in the Era of Global Complexity: Eurasia and Beyond
  • Russian Politics
  • Popular Culture and International Politics
  • Baltic Politics and Society

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fees (2026/27): ｣15,400
• Overseas tuition fees (2026/27): ｣27,400
• Fees set by agreement with IMESS Management Board and excluded from being fixed at the point of entry.
• Additional costs include living costs for both years, which may vary depending on the country of study, and visa costs if applicable.
• The programme offers a number of IMESS scholarships, available to Home and International students, with applications received by the end of March automatically considered.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities. Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble, and further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.