Programme Specification - LSE Sciences Po Double Degree in European Studies
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. UCAS Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
N/A
Double Degree
LSE Sciences Po Double Degree in
European Studies
24 months
European Institute
N/A
N/A
Nov 2007
10. The programme aims to:
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Provide an innovative, unique and world-leading programme of study in European Union
politics;
To elaborate, and substantiate, a comparative perspective on the European Union
drawing from the expertise of two jurisdictions;
To explore the wider processes and effects of political economy and systems of belief
and identification that provide the context to the European Union;
Provide an academically challenging education, in a research-active environment, to
intellectually able students from a wide range of countries;
Provide access to the wider context of the social sciences and central social scientific
debates in both the United Kingdom and France;
Enable students intending to pursue higher degrees to develop the necessary analytical
and theoretical sophistication, and breadth and depth of understanding, within their field
of study;
Enable students who go directly into non-academic careers (e.g. government, the
voluntary sector, international organisations, business and media) to become articulate,
clear thinking individuals, able critically to analyse complex bodies of material.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
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An advanced, critical, understanding of the main theoretical and policy debates
surrounding EU politics, policy-making and law;
A detailed knowledge of the main findings and theories associated with the particular
focus of their degree, be it European politics and government, European political economy
or European ideas and identities;
The ability to work independently, employing empirical and analytical knowledge in the
planning and presentation of succinct, precise arguments, written and oral;
The ability to design and independently execute a dissertation on an approved subject of
their own choice;
The ability to engage with the central political and social theories surrounding the
European Union and apply them to research.
Information relating to careers can be accessed here
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Students acquire their detailed knowledge and understanding of the course through lectures,
seminars and guided independent study.
Many of those involved in programme delivery are international experts at the forefront of
research in the field – and as such, students have direct insight into current thinking in the
field. This aspect of provision is further enhanced through specialist Departmental visiting
lecturers that discuss on-going research, as well as the array of LSE public lectures, which
include senior national and international policy makers, politicians and researchers in this and
related fields.
Students are strongly encouraged to make extensive use of electronic information sources
available through the BLPES; in particular the extensive resources for international
bibliographical research and on-line publications.
All course reading lists include references to current research, and other primary sources
including official documents and web references, as well as original academic works.
Teaching and learning strategies
Skills are developed through guidance and feedback from lecturers in the context of:
regular lectures, seminars, one to one feedback from lecturers and the preparation of course
essays and the dissertation.
Key integrative courses set out a robust core, theoretical underpinnings and set out the
threads to be developed in options. In the first year, students are required therefore to take
general courses on law, political science and sociology, game theory and organisational
theory to give them the disciplinary tools for the remainder of the programme. In the second
year, the core courses of the three programmes each set out a conceptual framework –
integration and comparative politics of Europe, European political economy and the idea of
Europe respectively – which frames and informs the optional courses subsequently taken.
Assessment
Most courses are assessed by 2 hour unseen written examinations (3 hours in the case of full
units).
Formative assessment takes the form of feedback from tutors on course work and within
classes and is central to student development.
Students are required to write a dissertation that draws together a number of their intellectual
skills as well as their understanding of fundamental issues. This piece of work may be based
on one or all of the following: original data collection analysis, original fieldwork, or novel
conceptual and theoretical critique. It is also an opportunity for students to practically
demonstrate their research skills as applied to a specific topic (see course regulations for
details).
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree European Studies programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Students should have obtained a 2:1 degree in any discipline. There is also a French language
requirement, equivalent to TCF or TEF level 5.
15. Indicators of quality
 Steady demand for the programme and high qualifications required for admission.
 The high fees paid by students taking the programme.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
Essays, mock exams, the exam, student evaluation forms, student questionnaires, regular
contact with colleagues to discuss student’s progress and improvements to the course.
The School’s quality assurance processes include:
- student survey conducted by TQARO
- external examiner check-up system by TLAC
- review of all new courses and programmes and major modifications, by GSSC
- full departmental TLAC review every 5 years