SCHOOL OF SLAVONIC & EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES
MRes Supplement
to the Postgraduate Taught Student
Handbook 2014-2015
MRes East European Studies
MRes The Politics and Economics
of Eastern Europe
This booklet should be read in conjunction with the
Postgraduate Taught Student Handbook 2014-15 and
the MA/MRes Dissertation Preparation Programme
Booklet
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Welcome to the Masters of Research Programmes at SSEES!
This short induction pack is designed to provide an overview of our
Masters of Research (MRes) programmes. It summarises the
essential information on the two MRes programmes.
You must read this guide in conjunction with the SSEES Postgraduate
Student Handbook 2014-15, where you will find very important
general information about Masters-level studies, which can be found
on the website:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/current-students/postgraduate
Full details of the SSEES postgraduate modules running in 2014-15
are available on the SSEES website:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/masters-courses
You should also read the UCL Academic Regulations for Taught
Programmes, which can be found here:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ras/acd_regs
We wish you the greatest success in your studies and look forward to
meeting you during induction week.
Prof Martyn Rady (MRes Programme Coordinator and Head of
Postgraduate Research)
Anastasia Barsukova (MRes Programme Administrator)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
p.2
2. Overview and structure of the MRes programmes
p.3
2.1 MRes in East European Studies (2 years)
2.2 MRes in The Politics and Economics of Eastern Europe (1 year)
3. Supervision and the final dissertation
p.8
4. Scheme of Award
p.11
5. The Graduate School & Research Student Log
p.14
6. Support, advice and lines of communication
p.15
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1. Introduction: Masters of Research at
SSEES
Employers and recruiters to graduate doctoral programmes are increasingly looking for
students that have undertaken rigorous and innovative research-oriented training during
their Masters programmes. To meet this need, and specifically to provide a foundation
for students wishing to pursue doctoral studies, UCL SSEES offers two distinctive MRes
programmes. Additionally, the SSEES MRes programmes have been approved by the
ESRC as valid pathways through the UCL Doctoral Training Centre as part of either a
1+3 or 2+3 (MRes + PhD) programme of study and research.
MRes East European Studies (2 years)
This programme is our flagship postgraduate training programme in interdisciplinary
area studies. The programme was originally developed through the government-funded
Centre for East European Language-based Area Studies (CEELBAS) launched in 2006
and has since provided the starting point for a number of students to progress into
research oriented careers1.
The two-year MRes has two internal ‘pathways’ - one in social science and one in arts
and humanities. Common to both pathways is a core of beginners and intermediate
language (one of our East European languages) and courses in interdisciplinary area
studies. Around this core, each pathway incorporates a full suite of discipline-specific
research-methods training augmented with a choice of electives from SSEES’s rich
offering of content- based courses. Finally, of course, the second year of the programme
is defined by the extended research- based dissertation, benefiting from dual
supervision. For many students, this dissertation forms the basis of future doctoral
studies.
MRes The Politics and Economics of Eastern Europe (1 year)
This intense programme is specifically aimed at social science students with a
background/interest in economics and/or politics and a commitment to developing a
career (in academia or elsewhere) in empirically-oriented research work. The core of the
programme consists of a suite of social science research methods training (with some
flexibility included to allow for different levels of econometric interest), WHICH MAY
ALSO INCLUDE LANGUAGE TRAINING. This core, augmented with an elective course
of your choice from the Economics, Business, Politics and Sociology range of courses is
intended to prepare you for a genuinely innovative research based dissertation during
the second half of the 12-month programme. As with the two-year MRes, the dissertation
process benefits from dual supervision arrangements.
1
CEELBAS is a major collaboration of universities, led by UCL SSEES in partnership with the universities of Bath,
Birmingham, Cambridge, Kent, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield, Warwick, and SOAS University of London. CEELBAS was
initially funded by the AHRC, ESRC and HEFCE (£5.6 million), as part of the UK Funding Councils' LBAS Initiative 20062011. The Centre has since received development funding from the AHRC and British Academy for the period 2012-2015.
CEELBAS covers all the countries of Central, Eastern, South-Eastern Europe and the Baltics, Russia, as well as Turkey
and the Black Sea region, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Centre covers both the humanities and social sciences,
with a specific remit to demonstrate the strategic importance of deep knowledge and understanding developed through
historical, cultural and language-based research. For information about CEELBAS and the Centre’s support for
postgraduate training, please visit http://www.ceelbas.ac.uk/students.
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2. Overview and structure of the MRes
programmes
2.1 MRes in East European Studies
The Master of Research in East European Studies is a 2-year programme of area
specific, language oriented, advanced research training in the methodologies and
approaches of economics, politics, history, culture and literature. Graduates of the
programme will possess the attributes to complete a PhD within three years or to enter
the labour market directly with advanced analytical and research skills, regional
expertise and proficiency in a language of the area.
The MRes forms part of the Centre for East European Language Based Area Studies
(CEELBAS).
Students on the two year MRes must take 330 credits during the two years, comprising
of 60 language credits, 30 credits in Interdisciplinary Area Studies Research (IAS), 75
specialist research methods training, 60 subject electives and a free-standing
dissertation worth 105 credits. In addition, all MRes students are obliged to attend
regular Research Centre Seminars.
All MRes students are also encouraged to attend MA/MRes Dissertation Preparation
Programme. This programme is not compulsory for MRes students, but it will help to
review and update your library and information management skills (essential for
undertaking good research) and provide you with a detailed, subject-specific dissertation
briefing. Although attendance is not compulsory, all MRes students will be automatically
registered on the Programme in order to give access to Moodle resources and timetable
information for particular sessions.
First Year:
Credits
Social Sciences: year one
(150)
Arts and Humanities: year
one (150)
30 Language
(compulsory)
Beginners – various (full
year)
Beginners – various (full
year)
75 Methods (compulsory)
Theories of Social &
Political Research
(30, term 1)
Theories of Social &
Political Research
(30, term 1)
NB: This course is
compulsory for the Social
Science track
3
Quantitative Methods
(15, term 1)
Literary and Cultural Theory
(30, term 1)
Advanced Quantitative
Methods
(15, term 2)
Historical Methods and
Approaches
(30, term 2)
NB: Advanced Quantitative
Methods may only be taken
if Quantitative Methods
taken in term 1
Understanding and
Analysing Data
(15, term 1)
Understanding and
Analysing Data
(15, term 1)
Qualitative Methods
(15, term 2)
Qualitative Methods
(15, term 2)
Comparative Analysis in
Social and Political
Research
(15, term 2)
Comparative Analysis in
Social and Political
Research
(15, term 2)
45 Electives*
Various from social science
programmes
Various from arts and
humanities programmes
Summary
30 Language + 75
Methods + 45 Electives
30 Language + 75
Methods + 45 Electives
Credits
Social Sciences: year two
(180)
Arts and Humanities: year
two (180)
30 Language**
(compulsory)
Intermediate – various (full
year)
Intermediate – various (full
year)
15 IAS II (compulsory)
IAS II: Interdisciplinary Area
Studies II (term 1 and 2)
IAS II: Interdisciplinary Area
Studies II (term 1 and 2)
105 Dissertation
20,000 words
20,000 words
30 Electives*
Various from social science
programmes
Various from arts and
humanities programmes
Summary
30 Language + 15 IAS II +
105 Dissertation + 30
Electives
30 Language + 15 IAS II +
105 Dissertation + 30
Electives
Second Year:
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* On approval of the MRes Programme Coordinator one MA-level module (up to 30
credits) may be selected from another SSEES course or other UCL Departments.
** This should be the same language as on year one.
UCL SSEES is committed to providing our students with stimulating, high quality, research-led
courses, however please be aware that we are not always able to guarantee that all courses will
be available every year.
If you have queries about the programme or its courses please contact the MRes Programme
Administrator, Anastasia Barsukova (a.barsukova@ucl.ac.uk), for further information.
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2.2 MRes in The Politics and Economics of Eastern Europe
The MRes in the Politics and Economics of Eastern Europe is a one-year research
training degree in methods and approaches for studying politics, economics and society
in post-communist Europe (including Russia and other post-Soviet states). It is intended
primarily for applicants planning to do a PhD or MPhil or make a professional career in
research, who already have a good knowledge of one or more of the languages of the
region as well as some background in the social sciences.
Students on the one year MRes must take 180 credits during the year, comprising 60
methods and/or language credits, 15 specialist electives and a free-standing dissertation
worth 105 credits. In addition, all MRes students are obliged to attend regular Research
Centre Seminars.
All MRes students are also encouraged to attend MA/MRes Dissertation Preparation
Programme. This programme is not compulsory for MRes students, but it will help to
review and update your library and information management skills (essential for
undertaking good research) and provide you with a detailed, subject-specific dissertation
briefing. Although attendance is not compulsory, all MRes students will be automatically
registered on the Programme in order to give access to Moodle resources and timetable
information for particular sessions.
Credits
105 Dissertation (compulsory)
20,000 words
60 Methods and/or Language
(compulsory)
SSEES Language
(30, terms 1 & 2)
Quantitative Methods or Understanding
and Analysing Data
(15, term 1)
Advanced Quantitative Methods or
Qualitative Methods
(15, term 2)
NB: Advanced Quantitative Methods may
only be taken if Quantitative Methods
taken in term 1
Theories of Social & Political Research
(30, term 1)
15 Electives*
Summary
Various from social science programmes
(Economics or Politics)
105 Dissertation + 60 Methods and/or
Language + 15 Electives
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* On approval of the MRes Programme Coordinator one MA-level module (up to 15
credits) may be selected from another SSEES course or other UCL Departments.
UCL SSEES is committed to providing our students with stimulating, high quality, research-led
courses, however please be aware that we are not always able to guarantee that all courses will
be available every year.
If you have queries about the programme or its courses please contact the MRes Programme
Administrator, Anastasia Barsukova (a.barsukova@ucl.ac.uk), for further information.
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3. Supervision and the final dissertation
Aims and objectives of the dissertation
The aims of the Dissertation are:
 To provide an opportunity to pursue independent research on a subject of your
choice
 To provide experience in identifying a clearly focused research question and
developing a thesis around it, over an extended period.
 To enable students to test their skills in producing a substantial piece of written
work of potentially publishable quality (high level of analysis, judgment and
clarity of expression);
 To develop and showcase your academic development achieved during the
MRes programme;
 To prepare you for MPhil, PhD or any other research project you might do in your
future career.
The objectives of the Dissertation are:
 To choose an original topic for your research and to identify a relevant and
appropriate research question within that topic;
 To search for and understand existing literature on the subject (including classic
works, up-to-date publications, periodical and internet sources);
 To demonstrate knowledge of secondary sources on the chosen subject as well
as your ability to assess critically other authors' views and to structure your own
argument;
 To take into account, as appropriate, relevant historical background and
theoretical frameworks;
 To develop your organizational, analytical and stylistic skills;
 To work towards making an independent contribution on a particular subject.
Supervision
It is essential for you to begin planning for the dissertation in the first term, in order to
locate appropriate literature, data and other documentary materials and to hold an
informed discussion of your proposed topic with the MRes Programme Coordinator and
any members of staff you approach regarding supervision.
You will be taught by some of the staff working in your area in the first term, but you
might not necessarily come into contact with all of them immediately. So you should
consult the staff research profiles on the SSEES website
(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/people) in order to identify any members of academic staff
whom you might wish to consult in their office hours for additional advice. More details
on SSEES academic environment, research centres and seminars can be found in the
SSEES Postgraduate Student Handbook.
Because of the enhanced role that the dissertation plays in the MRes programme, MRes
students benefit from dual supervision and have the opportunity to approach potential
supervisors directly. During the first term, all MRes students should start writing a draft
dissertation proposal and approaching members of staff to discuss the possibility of
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supervision. Students only need to find a principal supervisor – an appropriate
secondary supervisor will be chosen by the principal supervisor and the MRes
Coordinator. All MRes students need to complete the MRes Dissertation Provisional
Proposal Form (available on Moodle) and get this signed by their principal supervisor to
confirm the supervision arrangement. The completed form must be submitted via
Moodle by Tuesday, 11 November 2014 (for 1-year MRes students) and Thursday,
11 December 2014 (for 2-year MRes students). If a supervisor has not been found by
the stated deadlines, the student must contact the MRes Programme Coordinator
immediately.
Since the dissertation has to be the result of independent effort, supervision is available
for guidance only. Advice will consist of consultation in respect of research questions,
design, research methods, the plan, structure and focus, and bibliography. Supervision
will consist of a maximum of 5 meetings for students on the 1-year MRes programme
and 7 meetings (3 in the first year, 4 in the second year) for students on the 2-year
MRes programme, so please ensure that you are well prepared for the meetings and
use this time wisely. It is your responsibility to email your supervisor and arrange these
meetings, which should take place during term-time over the second and third terms.
Supervisors cannot be asked to comment on drafts of chapters, only on a detailed
outline and the preliminary bibliography. Students should not have expectations of
unrestricted email access to academic staff during the long vacation. Staff availability at
that time will depend on their commitments to research activity. All students are
therefore strongly encouraged to provide a detailed research plan BEFORE the end of
the third term.
All MRes students will be registered for the MA/MRes Dissertation Preparation
Programme (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/current-students/postgraduate). This
programme is not compulsory, but all MRes students are strongly encouraged to attend.
Finally, make sure you familiarise yourself in good time – before you start writing – with
the relevant guidance on style, referencing and presentation as described in the MA
Dissertation Style Guidelines, available on the Moodle page for SEESGS40.
Length of the Dissertation
The length of the dissertation is 16,000-20,000 words for MRes dissertations
(including all notes and appendices, but excluding the bibliography).
Any word count within these ranges is permissible. All text in the dissertation, including
captions, footnotes and appendices, is considered part of the word count.
EXCEPTION: Students writing dissertations on Economics or Business who wish to
include tables with descriptive statistics etc. may include these in appendices which will
not count towards the word count.
For information on the format of the dissertation, submission (including penalties for late
submission) and extenuating circumstances, please refer to the MA/MRes Dissertation
Preparation Programme booklet.
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4. Scheme of Award
Taught Masters Programmes: MRes 1 Year & 2 Year
In order to be considered for an award from UCL, students must satisfy the Board of
Examiners that they have met the academic requirements set out in the UCL Academic
Regulations for Taught Programmes: Postgraduate Students (Masters and MRes
Programmes), together with any other requirements associated with the programme as
set out in the programme literature. Academic Regulations are available at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ras/acd_regs and in the event of a discrepancy, remain the official
point of reference.
The Scheme of Award provides for Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction. The class of degree
awarded will be based on the performance in each of the required component elements
of assessment. The final classification will be arrived at by taking the median of the
component marks, accounting for the relative credit weighting of each component. The
mean will also be calculated and looked at after the median where the Examination
Board has discretion.
The median defines the classification (e.g. a median mark of 57 indicates that the
degree awarded is classified as a pass).
Criteria for the Award of a Masters Degree (2.10.6 – Academic
Regulations for Students: (Masters Level)
I.
For the award of a Masters degree students must have completed* 180 UCL (1
Year MRes) or 330 credits (2 Year MRes) credits or the equivalent 1800 learning
hours and obtained an overall average mark of 50% or greater which must
include a mark of 50% or greater for the dissertation.
II.
A maximum of 25% of the programme’s taught element (i.e. excluding the
dissertation) may be condoned if falling in the range 40-49%.
*Completion of Assessments – for students on postgraduate taught courses, a module is
complete when a student has been declared complete on all components for that
module according to the criteria listed in UCL Academic Regulations for Students:
Postgraduate (Masters Level) Taught Programmes 2.10.2.
Classification of Masters Degrees (2.10.6 Academic Regulations for
Students: (Masters Level)
Students are eligible for the following, if they have satisfied ALL of the relevant criteria
for the classification (Rounding should be applied to obtain the integer marks given
below: for example, 64.4 is rounded to 64% but 64.5 is rounded to 65%).
To obtain a PASS:
I.
students must pass and achieve a mark of at least 50% in all component
elements (modules) of assessment
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Condoned Modules
I.
A maximum of 25% of the programme’s taught element (i.e. excluding the
dissertation) may be condoned if falling in the range 40-49%.
II.
The course in question is NOT a compulsory course or the Dissertation
The mark of the overall module is at least 40%
To obtain a MERIT:
I.
the overall median, based on 180 credits/330 credits, is 60% or greater
II.
the mark for the dissertation is 65% or greater
III.
there are no marks below 50%, no condoned marks, no resit marks, and all
marks are first attempts
To obtain a DISTINCTION:
I.
the overall median, based on 180 credits/330 credits, is 70% or greater
II.
the mark for the dissertation is 70% or greater
III.
there are no marks below 50%, no condoned marks, no resit marks, and all
marks are first attempts
Borderline Criteria for Classification (Appendix 47 Academic
Regulations for Students: (Masters Level)
If the overall mark is 59%, an award of merit will be made when all of the following
criteria are met:
I.
where, after rounding to the nearest integer, the mark in the dissertation is 65%
or above; and
II.
where at least half of the taught credits are at or above 60%, after rounding; and
III.
where there is no mark below 50%, after rounding, and
IV.
where there are no re-sit marks and all the marks for the modules are first
attempts.
No failure marks can be condoned.
If the overall mark is 69% a candidate is in the borderline zone, an award of a
Distinction can be made
I.
where the mark in the dissertation is 70% or above; and
II.
where at least half of the taught credits are at or above 70%, after rounding; and
III.
where there is no mark below 50%, after rounding; and
IV.
where there no re-sit marks and all marks for the modules are first attempts
No failure marks can be condoned.
Re-sit and Substitute Modules (2.10.3 Academic Regulations for Students:
Masters Level)
Failure in any course, which is not condoned, will require a successful re-sit at the next
available opportunity before the MA degree can be awarded.
Only ONE re-sit attempt is permitted for each course. In some cases an alternative
course may be used in substitution. If a substitute course is taken, this is still regarded
as a second attempt.
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Marks for all re-sit attempts and substitutions will be recorded. The highest mark
obtained from the first attempt and the re-sit attempt or substitution will be used in the
calculation of the overall mark.
Students who re-sit a failed course, or take an alternative course in substitution for the
re-sit, will not be eligible for the award of Merit or Distinction.
Progression (for the 2-year MRes only)
In order to progress to the second year of the degree students must normally have
passed modules worth 120 credits. Students failing modules that do not total more than
30 credits may be allowed to progress into Year 2. Students will then be required to resit the modules in the following session. Students failing more than 30 credits by the
end of the session will not normally be able to progress into Year 2. In exceptional
cases, students who have failed more than 30 credits, but who have failed only by a
narrow margin and have otherwise attained a satisfactory median grade overall, may be
permitted, on the recommendation of the MRes Progression Board, to progress to Year
2. All failed modules must ultimately be successfully passed in order to complete the
MRes degree.
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5. The Doctoral School & Research Student
Log
The Doctoral School Research Student Log provides a framework for recording the
stages of progress of all research students and is a mandatory element of graduate
research at UCL. Completion of the Log will be checked at various stages of your
programme, including the Upgrade and Submission. The Log allows you to chart your
progress through the degree programme, including key supervisions, self-assessments,
and the development of academic and transferable skills during your time at UCL. You
are strongly advised to make maximum use of the Log throughout your time as a UCL
research student.
To access the Research Student Log: https://researchlog.grad.ucl.ac.uk
Skills and Research Log Induction
The aim of the Induction is to show how the Skills Development Programme and the
Research Student Log can be used as powerful tools to enhance the quality of students'
research work from the very beginning of their degrees and benefit their future careers.
The programme aims to provide an outline of UCL policy on skills training and the
national Researcher Development Framework that informs our programme. The
Induction demonstrates how the web-based Research Student Log and the Skills
System function and work together, and how students may record their academic
progress and the skills activities in which they have participated.
For more information on the programme and to register please see:
http://www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/events/
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6. Support, advice and lines of
communication
MRes Progamme Coordinator & Head of Postgraduate Research
Prof Martyn Rady
Room 506, 16 Taviton Street
m.rady@ucl.ac.uk
MRes Programme Administrator
Anastasia Barsukova
Room 341, 16 Taviton Street
a.barsukova@ucl.ac.uk
You should contact the MRes Programme Administrator with all general enquiries
in the first instance.
If you encounter any problems that may affect your studies, whether personal or study
related, please contact Anastasia, Martyn or your personal tutor as soon as possible. We
are here to help you.
Always use your UCL email to contact us and other UCL academic or administrative
staff. We will always contact you using your UCL email address and it is imperative that
you check this on a daily basis.
It is your responsibility to update PORTICO if you change your address or telephone
number. This is essential if all correspondence is to reach you on time.
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