Programme Specification: MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities
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Awarding Body
LSE
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N/A
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Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body,
e.g. ESRC; BPS etc
Name of final award
Programme Title
Duration of the course
Based in the Department/Institute:
Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements (See Subject Benchmark
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UCAS Code
First written/last amended
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The programme aims to:
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MSc
European Studies: Ideas and Identities
Full-time 12 months; part-time 24 months
European Institute
N/A
L2E2
March 2006 / November 2012
The degree aims to respond to the increasingly important public debate on the meaning and limits
of ‘Europe’; the domestic impact of the European Union for citizenship, and the relationship
between civil society and the state; the relevance of a transnational sociology; and the policy
implications of ethnic diversity and migration.
The programme specifically aims to
 teach courses at the forefront of research in the academic disciplines embraced within the
European Institute
 enable students critically to explore Europe and European identity in its philosophical,
political, social, legal, regional and economic dimensions
 allow students to engage in detail on an area of contemporary European studies of
special interest to them
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Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
The central objective of the programme is to offer students interested in philosophically informed
social analysis the opportunity to investigate a wide range of issues around the intersections of
European society and identity. Students will be encouraged to engage with and to develop
theoretical ideas and perspectives that relate to the various and often conflicting sources of
European identity.
On successful completion of the MSc students will have:
 gained a knowledge and understanding of philosophical, social, and political thought as it
bears on issues and debates surrounding Europe and European identity
 gained a deeper appreciation of particular issues at the forefront of research in different
areas of contemporary European studies through studying a range of courses informed by
the research interests and professional activities of staff
 acquired the ability to analyse and evaluate arguments in their written work and
demonstrate a capacity for independent research
 acquired skills of use in a wide variety of employment contexts, thus enhancing their
career opportunities
 developed the skills necessary to pursue academic research or further study
For further information relating to careers.
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Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
Teaching for all the courses is by weekly one-hour lectures combined with weekly one-and-a-half
hour seminars, or by weekly two-hour lecture-seminars. In all cases students are required to give
an oral presentation in class, or participate in an equivalent exercise as designed by the course
convenor.
Assessment strategies:
The primary mode of formative assessment is through compulsory written essays and seminar
presentations.
Full-unit courses are examined by a three-hour written examination in June.
Half-unit courses are examined by a two-hour written examination in June, or by an extended
essay, or by some combination of the two.
The dissertation component, which comprises a quarter of the overall assessment, allows the
student to make an in depth study of a topic of his or her own choice.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities programme regulations.
Additional information
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Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants for the MSc European Identities should have a good upper second or first class
degree, or a GPA of 3.5 or better in any of the arts, humanities or social sciences disciplines
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Indicators of quality
Clear demand for the programme and high qualifications required for admission.
The high fees paid by students taking the programme.
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates
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Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
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The Teaching and Learning Centre is available to monitor and observe teaching and
offers constructive advice on how to improve the standard of teaching and quality;
Departmental TLAC review once every five years;
The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of
teaching quality;
The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all graduate programmes and
ensures that significant changes to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of
formal stages, so that curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other
developments;
Departmental Teaching Committee;
SSLC meetings;
Course teaching surveys by TQARO;
The Institute’s system of periodic review for its programmes;
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Essays, Mock Exams, the exam, student evaluation forms, student questionnaires,
regular contact with colleagues to discuss student’s progress and improvements to the
course.
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