[Jack3107]

Got an conditional offer. It doesn't sound a pure politics course and most of its courses seem incoporated with eastern european stuff. Of course I would like to know more about the region but will I be confined to the politics of eastern europe? I am a student from Asia so I do expect to study something that is more related to my home country.

And how the career prospect and postgraduate propect of this course like? Can I return to a pure politics/IR postgraduate degree? How would you compare this course with International Politics at KCL?(Career/ Learning width and depth/ Reputation...)

[shake_it]

East European Studies, not Eastern.

It's course with "and" between these two subjects, so theoretically proportion should be 50:50. Just take a sheet of paper and make simulation of your potential choices of elective modules and read about them on SSEES website.

I advise you to choose the course you're more interested it.

Good luck with making a right decision

Anyway it's definitely less "international" than IP at KCL

[Jack3107]

(Original post by shake_it)
East European Studies, not Eastern.

It's course with "and" between these two subjects, so theoretically proportion should be 50:50. Just take a sheet of paper and make simulation of your potential choices of elective modules and read about them on SSEES website.

I advise you to choose the course you're more interested it.

Good luck with making a right decision

Anyway it's definitely less "international" than IP at KCL

I have done the simulation.
Here is the course list, you might take a look.
http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/bapees.htm
1st year

■SESS1101 Introduction to Politics (1.0 cu) compulsory
■SEHI 0005 History of Eastern Europe since 1856 (1.0 cu)
■SESS1102 Introduction to International Relations (1.0 cu)
■SERS1008 Foundation Russian (1.0 cu)

2nd year
Two compulsory units:
■SESS2102 Politics and Society in Central and Eastern Europe (1.0 cu)
■SESS2103 Russian Politics and Society(1.0 cu)
Elective
■SESS2101 History of European Political Ideas (1.0 cu)
■SEHI2006 Successors to the Habsburgs (1.0 cu)

3RD year
2compulsory
■SEZZ4901 10,000 word Free-Standing Dissertation (1.0 cu)
■SESS3101 Comparative Politics (1.0 cu)
elective
■SESS3006 Political Economy of European Integration (1.0 cu)
P: Introduction to Economics or Introduction to Politics
■SESS3103 European Security (1.0 cu)
P: Inroduction to International Relations

but I don’t know whether I should learn the Russian language. If I take the Russian, I can’t take the ■SESS1001 Introduction to Economics (1.0 cu), which is the prerequisite of all economics module.
I would like to learn more about economics but this course “strongly recommend students take an east European language”, so they can use the material in the SSEES.

[Jack3107]

Another concern is: Is studying a region that I have never been to/will never live meaningful? Perhaps I am going to travel there once or twice, but I am highly unlikely to work/live in East europe. And I am going to study east europe in UK, not exactly in that region. As an Asian, the feeling is like a British coming to China to study American culture.

There is much contact time for the language course(5 hr a week). For a language that I might not use extensively in future, should I spend that much time on it?

[shake_it]

(Original post by Jack3107)
but I don’t know whether I should learn the Russian language. If I take the Russian, I can’t take the ■SESS1001 Introduction to Economics (1.0 cu), which is the prerequisite of all economics module.
I would like to learn more about economics but this course “strongly recommend students take an east European language”, so they can use the material in the SSEES.

I have an offer for Economics & Business with... and I intend to take no East European Language (I know one already, probably I will take German instead). If you dont want to study sth just don't choose it, it's not that important what they advise. I mean it is, but you don't have to be so strict

[lilys]

(Original post by Jack3107)
Another concern is: Is studying a region that I have never been to/will never live meaningful? Perhaps I am going to travel there once or twice, but I am highly unlikely to work/live in East europe. And I am going to study east europe in UK, not exactly in that region. As an Asian, the feeling is like a British coming to China to study American culture.

There is much contact time for the language course(5 hr a week). For a language that I might not use extensively in future, should I spend that much time on it?

If you're not interested in EE at all then I would strongly advise against doing this course, if you have another offer, that is. All the Politics, History and Culture and most Economics modules are highly focused on this region.

[Jack3107]

(Original post by shake_it)
I have an offer for Economics & Business with... and I intend to take no East European Language (I know one already, probably I will take German instead). If you dont want to study sth just don't choose it, it's not that important what they advise. I mean it is, but you don't have to be so strict

Is the German option available?

[Jack3107]

(Original post by lilys)
If you're not interested in EE at all then I would strongly advise against doing this course, if you have another offer, that is. All the Politics, History and Culture and most Economics modules are highly focused on this region.

The other offer might be KCL international politics. But the KCL reputation and career prospect seems a little bit dimmer than UCL. And the politics department there is quite new. Don't know how to choose.

[shake_it]

(Original post by Jack3107)
Is the German option available?

* Language courses are normally offered at two levels in Bulgarian, Czech, Finnish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian/Croatian, Slovak, Ukrainian. German and French courses may be taken from the UCL Language Centre. We cannot guarantee that all languages and levels will be available every year.

source: http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/bapees.htm

[lilys]

(Original post by Jack3107)
The other offer might be KCL international politics. But the KCL reputation and career prospect seems a little bit dimmer than UCL. And the politics department there is quite new. Don't know how to choose.

You may have a point with the reputation but bear in mind that SSEES became a part of UCL only in 2005 I think so the course is very... specific, as I said, you are not likely to get many examples from Western politics there. I think you should decide if you are going to uni for its prestige (good if you want to do something unrelated to your studies after graduation) or to develop your interest? Eg if you'd like to stay on for MA or even PhD I think KCL would be a better option.

[Jack3107]

(Original post by lilys)
You may have a point with the reputation but bear in mind that SSEES became a part of UCL only in 2005 I think so the course is very... specific, as I said, you are not likely to get many examples from Western politics there. I think you should decide if you are going to uni for its prestige (good if you want to do something unrelated to your studies after graduation) or to develop your interest? Eg if you'd like to stay on for MA or even PhD I think KCL would be a better option.

So that is the content problem. If I hold the UCL degree, can I still proceed to pure Political Science/IR MA/PhD? It is a dilemma...

[lilys]

(Original post by Jack3107)
So that is the content problem. If I hold the UCL degree, can I still proceed to pure Political Science/IR MA/PhD? It is a dilemma...

It's best to email people from postgrad administration of departments you'd like to do your MA at and ask. It might seem a bit early too think about it but you don't want to make a potentially massive mistake with a course choice now.

[ukr-nffc]

(Original post by Jack3107)
Got an conditional offer. It doesn't sound a pure politics course and most of its courses seem incoporated with eastern european stuff. Of course I would like to know more about the region but will I be confined to the politics of eastern europe? I am a student from Asia so I do expect to study something that is more related to my home country.

And how the career prospect and postgraduate propect of this course like? Can I return to a pure politics/IR postgraduate degree? How would you compare this course with International Politics at KCL?(Career/ Learning width and depth/ Reputation...)

First of all, it isn't a pure politics course - though the degree to which the course is focussed on politics is up to yourself. Aside from compulsory modules - you have the option of choosing courses from a wide range of fields: history, languages etc. Similarly, there are ways in which you can broaden the focus on Eastern Europe and, indeed, take courses from other UCL departments that perhaps are focussed elsewhere.

All due respect, the course title is "politics and East European studies" and to expect a focus on Asia is somewhat unrealistic.

As for the prospects, i can't go into too much detail - though a degree from UCL is certainly a valuable commodity.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask

[Matko]

hi ,

I'm coming to SSEES Politics and East European Studies (as an Erasmus student from Croatia) in January 2013.

Any experiences with some of these courses:

History of European Political Ideas
Politics and Society in Central and Eastern Europe
Understanding Society: Introduction to Political Sociology
Foundation Russian (beginners)

[ukr-nffc]

(Original post by Matko)
hi ,

I'm coming to SSEES Politics and East European Studies (as an Erasmus student from Croatia) in January 2013.

Any experiences with some of these courses:

History of European Political Ideas
Politics and Society in Central and Eastern Europe
Understanding Society: Introduction to Political Sociology
Foundation Russian (beginners)

I've done both of the highlighted course. HEPI is great - a lot of work/reading, but worthwhile. PSEEE - is ok, not my favourite but fairly interesting. It is a basic 2nd year overview course so i would advise you to choose something else.

[coffee-spoons]

heya,

I'm currently studying Politics at SSEES.
Although I do love UCL, and it is obviously a brilliant and prestigious university, the course leaves much to be desired.
Personally, you don't learn ENOUGH politics at SSEES. In your first year only ONE of the modules is actually Politics.
My boyfriend was originally at SSEES but dropped out, for various reasons, and is going to KCL in September to study politics. I went to the open day with him and the lecturers seemed so much more engaged and interested in the students and the course was a lot better. It was completely focused on politics and I spoke to one of the lectures afterwards and they were telling me about there intern scheme.
KCL seems like an overall better politics course. Personally, I don't feel the SSEES course is particularly good as you don't do enough politics, instead i'm taking a History module and a literature module etc etc.

KCL 1st year
Studying Politics
World Politics since 1945
Comparing Political Systems
Introduction to Political Theory

vs.

UCL first year
Introduction to Politics
Introduction to International Relation
History of Eastern Europe since 1856
and floating option

depends what you're after, I imagine.

Hope i've been of some help.

[Roses*]

(Original post by coffee-spoons)
heya,

I'm currently studying Politics at SSEES.
Although I do love UCL, and it is obviously a brilliant and prestigious university, the course leaves much to be desired.
Personally, you don't learn ENOUGH politics at SSEES. In your first year only ONE of the modules is actually Politics.
My boyfriend was originally at SSEES but dropped out, for various reasons, and is going to KCL in September to study politics. I went to the open day with him and the lecturers seemed so much more engaged and interested in the students and the course was a lot better. It was completely focused on politics and I spoke to one of the lectures afterwards and they were telling me about there intern scheme.
KCL seems like an overall better politics course. Personally, I don't feel the SSEES course is particularly good as you don't do enough politics, instead i'm taking a History module and a literature module etc etc.

KCL 1st year
Studying Politics
World Politics since 1945
Comparing Political Systems
Introduction to Political Theory

vs.

UCL first year
Introduction to Politics
Introduction to International Relation
History of Eastern Europe since 1856
and floating option

depends what you're after, I imagine.

Hope i've been of some help.

May I ask you whether you had ever considered ESPS at UCL? It should be more centered on politics as a course, as far as I know...

[coffee-spoons]

(Original post by Roses*)
May I ask you whether you had ever considered ESPS at UCL? It should be more centered on politics as a course, as far as I know...

Esps, to me, seemed to widespread and all encompassing. It ranges from a compulsory language, to law, history, sociology modules. Personally, I thought Esps offered too much so would result in not having a focused degree. As I've said, thats what I've found a problem with the politics course at ssees is that, in comparrison to politics courses at other units, you just don't learn enough politics. As I've said, you only do one politics module in your first year! Compared to other unis where the majority are purely focused politics.

[coffee-spoons]

(Original post by Roses*)
May I ask you whether you had ever considered ESPS at UCL? It should be more centered on politics as a course, as far as I know...

Having said that Esps is a very established course which is well regarded. Its higher regarded an politics at ssees. I suppose it's what you're after from a social science degree.

[Jack3107]

(Original post by coffee-spoons)
heya,

I'm currently studying Politics at SSEES.
Although I do love UCL, and it is obviously a brilliant and prestigious university, the course leaves much to be desired.
Personally, you don't learn ENOUGH politics at SSEES. In your first year only ONE of the modules is actually Politics.
My boyfriend was originally at SSEES but dropped out, for various reasons, and is going to KCL in September to study politics. I went to the open day with him and the lecturers seemed so much more engaged and interested in the students and the course was a lot better. It was completely focused on politics and I spoke to one of the lectures afterwards and they were telling me about there intern scheme.
KCL seems like an overall better politics course. Personally, I don't feel the SSEES course is particularly good as you don't do enough politics, instead i'm taking a History module and a literature module etc etc.

KCL 1st year
Studying Politics
World Politics since 1945
Comparing Political Systems
Introduction to Political Theory

vs.

UCL first year
Introduction to Politics
Introduction to International Relation
History of Eastern Europe since 1856
and floating option

depends what you're after, I imagine.

Hope i've been of some help.

Hello. I have a situation. I got only one offer(the UCL SSEES one, KCL IP rejected me). As you have commented the SSEES course, should I decline this sole offer and go for UCAS extra? I am an international applicant and there are vacancies in Durham, Warwick, York, Nottingham and Edinburgh(for Politics/IR). They look really similar to me. Which one should I select then?

And I found something which saddens me. The KCL IP shows vacancies in the Extra, but it didn't take me in the first round. Should I reapply it in extra?