Programme Specification – LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in Affaires Internationales and either
International Relations or International Political Economy
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
Sciences Po-LSE Double Degree in Affaires
Internationales and International Relations/
International Political Economy
23 months
International Relations
N/A
N/A
November 2007 / December 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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provide an academically challenging education, in two different research-active
environments, to intellectually-able students from a wide range of countries;
provide access to the wider context of the social sciences in France and the UK
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 to analyse critically complex bodies of material
provide advanced post-graduate education of the highest standards;
provide specialist study opportunities to students with a first degree in a cognate area.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Students completing the double degree programme should possess:
 an advanced, critical understanding of the main theoretical and policy debates within the field
of International Security, International Economic Policy or International Public Management
(SciPo) and either International Relations or International Political Economy (LSE),;
 specialist knowledge of at least one sub-field of International Security, International
Economic Policy, International Public Management (SciPo), International Relations or
International Political Economy (LSE);
 the ability to work independently, employing an empirical and analytical knowledge of their
chosen field of study, 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 within the field of International Relations or International Political Economy (LSE);
 A detailed knowledge of the main findings and theories associated with the particular focus of
their degree.
For further information relating to careers.
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Teaching is a mix of lectures, , seminars and individual tuition. Courses at Sciences Po include a
core course (56 contact hours), a joint seminar (28 contact hours), language courses (56 contact
hours) and electives (140 contact hours in total). All courses at LSE work to a notional norm of a
minimum of 40 contact hours per course. In addition, students are expected to undertake guided and
independent study.
Lectures play an important role in teaching, providing an overview of the syllabus and
supplementing/updating the literature on the subject. Most lecture series are associated with
examination courses. Attendance is not compulsory, although students are strongly advised to attend
lectures associated with their courses.
Seminars are a key feature of teaching. Normally, seminars have up to 15 students and meet for
between 1.5 or 2 hours. Most seminars involve student presentations as a way of starting discussion
and teaching students the art of presenting succinctly a body of complex material. Seminars are
compulsory; attendance and participation are noted.
During their year at the LSE, MSc students have an academic adviser in the Department, who
maintains an overview of their progress and offers advice on dissertations.
Students are expected to supplement formal contact hours by extensive unsupervised reading,
preparation for seminars and essay-writing. Reading lists and course guides, and in many cases,
lecture handouts, are provided in hard copy and on Moodle.
Assessment Strategies
At Sciences Po students are assessed via a mix of continuous assessment and unseen
examinations. Students are asked to choose among a list of courses for an equivalent of 60 ECTS
credits; the year is split into two 14-week semesters. In order to validate their year, they must get 52,
5 ECTS credits over the year.
At LSE, students are mainly assessed via conventional three-hour unseen examinations, which are
seen as the most appropriate way of determining whether the objective of producing students
capable of writing succinct, precise, lucid and analytical essays is being met. However, a small
number of MSc International Relations optional courses now offer a mixture of unseen examinations
and assessed coursework. In two cases, MSc International Relations options are assessed wholly
through formative and summative coursework assessment. The fourth element of assessment is a
10,000 word unsupervised, independently-written dissertation on a topic approved by the student’s
academic adviser.
Each full unit postgraduate course involves as a procedural requirement the writing of three formative
2,000 word essays. For MSc International Relations half unit courses, essay requirements vary from
two 2,000 word essays; a combination of ‘book reports’ and essay; one textual analysis exercise and
one essay; and one 2,000 word essay. This is designed to develop the capacity to write the succinct
summaries of complex bodies of material much of which will be tested in the final assessment.
In both institutions students are required to make presentations to seminars as a way of developing
the oral skills they should possess.
Other formative assessments are conducted, e.g. MSc International Relations and MSc International
Political Economy students take a written, diagnostic test in early October.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in Affaires Internationales programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
A good 2:1 Honours or equivalent is required.
GPA of 3.5
English (263 TOEFL or IELTS 7) while knowledge of French is an advantage.
15. Indicators of quality
1. Buoyant demand by well-qualified applicants for the programme and high qualifications
required for admission.
2. The high fees paid by students taking the programme.
3. Consistently good examination results and favourable remarks by External Examiners.
4. Student questionnaires and feedback via Staff/Student Liaison Committee.
5. The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and learning
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Taught Courses Sub-Committee looks at teaching and assessment issues twice or three
times a year and, when necessary, consults by e-mail. It reports to the Departmental
Meeting;
Staff/Student Liaison Committee for all students meets normally once per term. This
operates as a forum for discussion of any issues to do with teaching quality from the
students’ point of view. Representatives for the double degree are elected annually either
online or at the second or third lecture of the compulsory course in Michaelmas term. SSLC
items are raised at the Departmental Meeting as required;
Taught Courses Sub-Committee considers proposals to change the degree and any
proposals for new courses. It reports to the Department Meeting;
TQARO student surveys. The Head of Department analyses the scores and, when
necessary, takes the advice of the Director of Teaching and Learning on the appropriate
action where the surveys indicate a problem;
Peer appraisal of academic staff takes place on a regular basis;
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;
Internal IR programme reviews every 5 years;
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;
LSE-Sciences Po DD Joint Management Committee which meets annually to discuss the
degree programme, including teaching, admissions and logistical matters pertaining to the
programme.