PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Politics and East European Studies with a Year Abroad
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:
LRF7
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2013
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
SHS
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
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
See:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/degrees/politics-east-european-studies-yearabroad-ba
Length of the programme:
Four years including a year of study abroad
(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)
Advanced Level (Level 6)
(see Guidance notes)
Area Studies
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Subjectbenchmark-statement-Area-studies.pdf
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/politics-and-east-european-studies-yearabroad-ba
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Politics and Sociology Undergraduate Board of Examiners SSEES
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The programme aims to develop the student’s interest and understanding of the region bounded by central and
south east Europe, the Baltic States and the European states of the former Soviet Union through a social science
framework, with specialisms in politics and international relations. Students acquire an understanding of the
influence of the historical, social and economic factors on political processes and development in the region in a
comparative context. Students’ knowledge and understanding of the region is reinforced and enhanced by a period
of study abroad in the third year. Students acquire discipline and region-based skills, and an opportunity to learn a
language of the region, which allows them to enter employment in governmental and non governmental
organisations, business, the financial sector, teaching, the media, journalism and to undertake more advanced
academic work.
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
A knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. The political, social and economic
structures of the region in a
contemporary and historic framework
and their interaction
2. Social science disciplines at an
introductory level
3. The discipline of Politics to an
intermediate level and a political
analysis of the region at an advanced
level.
4. The influence of historical, social and
economic factors on political
processes
5. An opportunity to learn a language of
the region and/or international
relations relating to the region
Acquisition of 1, 3 and 4) is through lectures and classes
involving group presentation, discussions and assessed
and non-assessed coursework
Acquisition of 2) is through introductory lectures and
classes incorporating (non-assessed) coursework,
normally in the form of essays. Classes involve group
presentations and discussion.
Language teaching 5) is provided in small-group classes
and regular non-assessed course work and international
relations by lectures and classes
Assessment:
Testing of the knowledge base (1-5) is through a
combination of unseen written examinations, assessed
coursework in the form of essays and a 10,000 word
dissertation
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intellectual skills of reasoning and analysis are
developed through the combination of lectures, classes
and essay-writing. Classes, which involve presentations
and discussion and which develop oral and writing skills,
are provided for each course. These enable students to
identify critical issues and to discuss and resolve
problems. Class presentations are written up in essay
form after discussion. Students receive written feedback
on work produced. Region-specific courses encourage
students to analyse qualitative and quantitative material
from the region and to compare these with external
analyses of the region. This enables students to
integrate and synthesise materials from a range of
sources. Skill 6) is developed by regular exposure to
teacher-fellows from the region and interaction with a
highly cosmopolitan student body. A multidisciplinary
approach enables students to analyse political
phenomena (e.g. governance) from a range of social
science perspectives .
Reason critically
Integrate and synthesise materials
Identify and resolve problems
Analyse issues in the light of the
available evidence
5. Select and apply appropriate
methodologies
6. Develop an understanding and
appreciation of different cultures
Assessment:
Assessment methods based on written examinations
and assessed essay-work emphasise the learner's
ability to demonstrate skills 1-5. Students are required to
write a 10,000 word dissertation in their final year which
involves the use of primary sources from the region.
This involves the application of the skills 1-6 in a
practical setting
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Find, select and analyse information
2. Use qualitative methods of analysis
3. Demonstrate bibliographical skills and
referencing
4. Prepare , plan and write a
dissertation using primary sources
derived from the region and
demonstrating the use of quantitative
materials
5. Acquire a reading knowledge of a
language of the region.
Learners are provided with introductory courses on how
to locate library sources and the use of information
technology. The use of information technology is a vital
component for essay writing, class presentations and
writing the dissertation. Learners are provided with
bibliographies for all courses which require them to seek
information from the specialist library at SSEES in
addition to more conventional library sources. Course
bibliographies indicate relevant web site sources.
Coursework essays and dissertations require
referencing skills. Guides to writing and referencing are
provided in the study skills handbook which is issued to
all learners and is available on the intranet. Students are
provided with a schedule for planning and writing
dissertations and are allocated a supervisor for
consultation. Students on language courses are taught
in small groups.
Assessment:
The demonstration of skills 1-2 and 5) are primarily
assessed through unseen examinations and assessed
coursework . 3- 4) are assessed through the provision of
a 10,000 dissertation.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1
The majority of courses involve class presentations,
either singly or in groups, followed by class discussion,
which require the application of each of the skills 1-7. All
courses involve regular written work in the form of
essays. Feedback is provided to the learner to develop
oral and written presentation skills (1-2). Time
management and the ability to meet deadlines (3) are
acquired through the need to present assessed and nonassessed work according to schedule. Students receive
a schedule for the preparation of dissertations which is
monitored by their supervisor. Essays, the study abroad
project and the dissertation require the use of
information technology involving regional sources (7).
Skill 6 is encouraged throughout and is particularly
developed during the year-abroad, for which students
are prepared in advance.
2
3
4
5
6
7
Present materials in written form with
appropriate and effective layout
Present materials orally with clarity
Manage time and meet deadlines
Participate constructively in groups
Listen effectively and assess the
relevance and importance of the
ideas of others.
Work independently
Use information technology
Assessment:
Skills 1, 6 and 7) are assessed by unseen written
examinations, assessed coursework, the study-abroad
project and a dissertation, the production of which
involves the interaction of these skills. Regulations on
supervision ensure that the dissertation is the student’s
independent work (skill 6). Skill 3 is reinforced by
penalties for late submission of assessed work and
dissertations and sanctions for late submission of nonassessed work, while progress on the dissertation is
monitored by the supervisor and by submission of
progress reports. Oral skills and participation in groups
are not formally assessed.
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 Felix Ciuta
Date of Production:
10 June 2008
Date of Review:
17 August 2015
Date approved by Head of
Department:
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