International Masters in Economy, State and Society

 

The International Masters in Economy, State and Society (IMESS), recognised for its excellence by the European Union's Erasmus Mundus Programme, is a two-year double degree Masters programme, taught in English and offered by a consortium of leading European universities headed by the University College London - London's research and teaching powerhouse and one of the top five universities worldwide. This is a full-time programme established in 2007, with the first year spent at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, and the second either at Centre for European Studies, Jagiellonian University (the best university in Poland according to national ranking) or at another partner university. Students choose from a range of courses focusing on the economies, states and societies of Central and Eastern Europe. The consortium also includes Associate Partners from the corporate sector (banks, businesses, libraries, NGOs etc), and in addition to academic excellence we emphasize the value of internship experience for our students.


IMESS incorporates advanced training in methodology and research with specialized study tracks:
• Politics and Security
• Economics and Business
• Nation, History and Society
• Politics and International Economy

Each track combines specialist electives (economics, politics, society or history), research methods training (social sciences or humanities), and language tuition with an advanced research dissertation conducted during the latter part of the degree. The central objective of the programme is to enhance global understanding and awareness of the wider European region. As well as developing cultural and linguistic knowledge of both Eastern and Western Europe, participants acquire the skills to identify and critically analyse key factors shaping the economies, states and societies of the expanding European region.
All IMESS students will benefit from: the world-leading expertise of the staff delivering the course; innovation in syllabus and teaching; integrated dissertation supervision; the dynamism of the research environment; the opportunity to participate in conferences, seminars and workshops; an IMESS oriented careers development programme; training in Academic English as well as in a CEE language; the excellence of the consortium's institutional support structures; the programme's interactive virtual learning environment; and the IMESS Alumni Association.
The IMESS programme will thus provide an essential flow of European expertise necessary for responding to the diverse research and policy challenges of the twenty-first century.

» PROGRAMME DETAILS

 

Programme Duration: two years (four semesters)
 
Study Mode: full time
 
Diploma: International Masters in Economy, State and Society (University College London) and MA in European Studies (Jagiellonian University)
 
Suitable For: The Masters programme is designed to attract and challenge the brightest EU and international students (final year undergraduates may apply) as well as professionals wishing to retrain to acquire European expertise and meet the challenges of the changing global environment. Evidence of English language ability is essential but there are no other language pre-requisites. Students from all states may apply to the programme and there are IMESS Scholarships for both EU and non-EU students.
 

 

» ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) an upper second class honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject area. Where the Bachelors degree is in an unrelated subject, candidates must demonstrate their interest in IMESS through the supplementary questionnaire.

All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programme. For IMESS admissions students must provide evidence of English proficiency - 'good' level in accordance with UCL English Language Policy.
 
All applicants must complete the UCL Application for Admission as a Graduate Student and the IMESS Supplementary Questionnaire as well as include all the required documentation (please check the IMESS Application website for the list of required documents).
 
Programme Fee: Details of the applicable fees and relevant scholarships are available on the IMESS website.
 

 

» STUDYING IN KRAKOW (SECOND YEAR)

The Centre for European Studies at the Jagiellonian University provides IMESS students with a stimulating academic experience, allowing them to take advantage of the unique vantage point Poland possesses on the wider European context.

 

» CURRICULUM

During the second year of the IMESS programme, students must complete the following requirements:

  • One semester of Polish-language tuition (teaching hours, 12 ECTS points)
  • Elective courses of a total of 18 ECTS points (including required courses)
  • The MA seminar and MA thesis (a total of 30 ECTS points)

The required courses are as follows:

  • European Civilisation – obligatory for all MA candidates in European Studies
  • Three courses out of the following six: EU Foreign and Security Policy, Democracy, Collective Identities, EU Finances, Foreign and International Relations in CEE. A full list of courses (and syllabi) is available here.

The academic year (for IMESS students in Krakow) begins on 1 October and ends with their MA exam and thesis defence. The final date for submission of the MA thesis is 31 May for students not taking any elective courses in the spring semester, and 30 June for students taking one or more elective courses during the spring semester. The MA exam and thesis defence should take place no later than one calendar month after submission (usually not later than 30 July).

Upon completion of the MA exam and defence, students will be provided with a diploma and diploma supplement, detailing all completed courses. The IMESS diploma supplement may exclude additional courses that were not counted towards the degree; although any such courses will be shown on the CES transcript.

curriculum guide for IMESS specialization track : 

 

» GRADUATE PROFILE

On completion of the programme students can expect to have met the following learning objectives that support the overall IMESS goals:

• Expertise in applying the research methods specific to their study track, allied with the ability to work in a multi/inter-disciplinary research environment;
• Knowledge and understanding of the economies, states and societies of CEE and of their relationship with the wider European and international community;
• Intercultural competence and an awareness of the European space, its commonalities, diversity and dynamics; Proficiency in a CEE language, including the ability to use original language source;
• Experience of conducting an advanced research project in the European environment;
• Familiarity with the intellectual diversity within and across disciplines, both in Europe and, through the participation of third-country scholars and students, internationally;
• Comprehension of the relationship between empirical research and theory generation and testing, and skills of analysis, critical reflection and argumentation;
• Awareness of, and compliance with, ethical and legal issues;
• The capacity to communicate effectively research findings, rationale and methods, to diverse audiences, in both written and oral English.
IMESS graduates are qualified to progress to PhD research or to careers in governmental or international organisations and may specialise in finance, commerce, analysis or consultancy. Others may seek a career in diplomacy, journalism or in non-governmental organisations.
Indeed, the post-IMESS possibilities are as broad as the scope of the IMESS degree itself. IMESS graduates are working in banking and finance, international trade, political risk assessment, business analysis, e-commerce, international development, for energy companies, national governments, NGOs and international organisations, while a number are continuing their studies and are enrolled on MBA or PhD programmes.
The involvement of the cross-sector Associate Partners ensures that IMESS graduates are equipped with the transferrable employment-related and discipline-specific skills and competences necessary to succeed in a globalised, knowledge-based economy.

 

» IMESS UNIVERSITY PARTNERS

Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

IMESS at University College London, UK

IMESS at the University of Belgrade, Serbia

IMESS at Charles University, Czech Republic

IMESS at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

IMESS at Helsinki University, Finland

IMESS at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

IMESS at University of Tartu, Estonia