PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Bulgarian and East European Studies
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BA (Hons)
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
R781
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
Intakes from 2008
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Arts and Humanities
Parent Department:
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/degrees/bulgarian-east-european-studies-ba
Four years full-time. All students spend the third year abroad in the
country or countries where Bulgarian is spoken on an approved
course of study or an approved work placement (which may be in
teaching or another approved placement).
Advanced Level (Level 6)
(see Guidance notes)
Language, Culture & Societies
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-LanguagesCultures-and-Societies-15.pdf
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/bulgarian-east-european-studies-ba
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Languages and Culture Undergraduate Board of Examiners
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A



Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
to develop the student's interest in—and knowledge and understanding of—the language, literature, and
culture of Bulgaria, with the option of studying its history, politics, and economics, in a multidisciplinary
framework that allows both range of study and specialisation in one or more of these discipline areas
to promote an understanding of cultural differences and to offer society the resource of intellectually trained
individuals capable of acting as bridges of understanding and conduits of knowledge between EastEuropean and British cultures
to enable students to enter employment in a wide range of contexts and to undertake more advanced
academic work, and to become life-long learners with an appreciation of the value to society of the
language, critical and other skills provided by an education in the humanities and social sciences
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1 the Bulgarian language (spoken and
written);
2 the literature, past and present, of the
society using the language;
3 The history, culture, society, politics,
and economics of people(s) using the
language, according to specialization;
4 The structure of the language;
5 The position of 2, 3, and 4 above in a
wider European and world context;
6 Key methods of analysis and concepts
of discipline(s) of specialization.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 is through classes, tutorials and regular
coursework, with emphasis on group discussions;
additional support is provided through the self-access
facilities for language learning in the SSEES Language
Unit and the UCL Language Centre. The year spent
abroad provides total immersion in Bulgarian language
and culture. Acquisition of 2-5 is through a combination
of lectures, classes and tutorials; the basic knowledge of
6 is initially provided through a series of lectures/classes
in Year 1, and subsequently developed through smallgroup teaching and tutorials in later years. Throughout,
students are encouraged to undertake independent
reading both to supplement and consolidate what is
being taught and learnt and to broaden their individual
knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Assessment:
Skills (1) and (2) are primarily assessed through the
study abroad project and the free-standing dissertation
which many students will opt to write in year four.
Language skills (3) are evaluated throughout by orals
and aurals, coursework and unseen written examination.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1 reason critically;
2 understand and apply linguistic, literary
and cultural concepts, and understand
and apply concepts relating to the
discipline(s) of specialisation;
3 identify and solve problems;
4 analyse and interpret;
5 demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching
and learning programme outlined above. Each course,
whatever the format of the teaching, involves discussion
of key issues, practice in applying concepts both orally
and in writing, analysis and interpretation of material,
and individual feedback sessions for students on work
produced.
Assessment:
The assessment methods employed all place great
emphasis (as shown in their assessment criteria) on
students' ability to demonstrate skills 1-5 through the
production of coherent written and oral responses either
to problems or tasks set. Additionally, skill 2 is assessed
in unseen written examinations in these areas. The
Year-Abroad essays allow further scope for assessment
in this domain. Although not a course requirement, many
students will also produce a final-year extended essay,
which provides a perfect vehicle for the demonstration of
these skills, and those who do not will demonstrate them
all severally if not collectively.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1 mine, glean and evaluate information
from a variety of sources;
2 plan, execute and report
bibliographically-based research;
3 understand, speak, write and read
Bulgarian at high levels of proficiency;
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All learners receive initial guidance on how to locate,
evaluate and use material available in libraries and
elsewhere, including the internet. Bibliographies are
provided for each course at the outset, as are guidelines
for the production of coursework essays and extended
essays. Classes and tutorials are given on the theory
and practice of translation. Throughout their studies,
students take classes in Bulgarian, and much of the
assigned reading is in the language of their degree. The
Year Abroad further promotes the active learning of the
language to a high level.
Assessment:
Skills (1) and (2) are primarily assessed through the
study abroad project and the free-standing dissertation
which many students will opt to write in year four.
Language skills (3) are evaluated throughout by orals
and aurals, coursework and unseen written examination.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1 structure and communicate ideas
effectively both orally and in writing;
2 manage time and work to deadlines;
3 participate constructively in groups;
4 work independently;
5 find information and use information
technology;
6 be self-reliant;
7 assess the relevance and importance
of the ideas of others;
8 mediate across cultures.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All courses require regular written work, usually in the
form of essays, and regular feedback on this is given to
students to develop not only their understanding but also
their powers of expression (skill 1). Skill 2 is learnt
(rather than taught) through the management of time to
meet the various and sometimes coinciding deadlines
(all announced at the outset of each course) for
submission of coursework. Skills 3, 7 and 8 are
developed in classes, seminars and tutorials, which rely
on discussion and interaction, as well as presentations
given by individuals or groups of students. Skills 4 and 6
are particularly developed during the Year Abroad, for
which learners are prepared in advance. IT skills are
largely developed through individual learning.
Assessment:
Effective communication of ideas is an important
criterion in assessing all areas of a learner's work, and
the regular feedback as well as the final mark reflect
this. Skills 4, 6 and 7 are assessed by both the
coursework and year-abroad and extended essays
produced, which, although supervised, are nevertheless
the results of independent thought and work/research by
the learner. Skill 5 is assessed through the assembly of
necessary information for essays, etc., and their
production on PCs. Skills 2 and 3 are not formally
assessed, but along with skills 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 they
contribute, directly or indirectly, to performance in all
forms of assessment, including written examinations.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Name(s):
Dr Tim Beasely-Murray
Date of Production:
June 2008
Date of Review:
Date approved by Head of
Department:
2 September 2015
Jan Kubik, 23 September 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
Anne White, 14 September 2015
October 2015