University College London (UCL)
Political Analysis (Russia and Eastern Europe) MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
This MA in Political Analysis focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe offers a detailed look at the political systems, history, and current issues in the region. The program covers topics like governance, political institutions, social movements, and international relations. It aims to give students a clear understanding of the political landscape, helping them analyze developments and trends within these countries. The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, supporting students as they build expertise relevant to careers in research, policy, or international organizations.
The program emphasizes critical thinking and policy analysis, encouraging students to examine the complexities of the region with a balanced approach. It often includes opportunities for research and engagement with regional experts, providing real-world insights. Students develop skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods, enhancing their ability to analyze data and generate well-supported conclusions. Overall, the course prepares individuals to understand and interpret political changes in Russia and Eastern Europe, equipping them with knowledge valuable for both academic and professional paths in international politics.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Master's Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Master's Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or an ethnic or religious background, it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and private study. The third term is devoted to revision sessions and the dissertation project.
A 15-credit module is equivalent to 150 hours of study, and a 30-credit module is equivalent to 300 hours. This includes contact time, private study and the undertaking of coursework assignments.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, film viewings, tutorials and specialist language courses. You will be assessed through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework and the research dissertation.
For a full-time postgraduate course, we recommend around 20-25 hours of independent study per week. Contact hours may vary depending on module choices, but full-time students will have approximately 8-10 contact hours each week during term time, spent in lectures and seminars.
For a part-time postgraduate course, contact hours would usually be 4-6 hours per week across 2-3 days, and we recommend around 10-12 hours of independent study per week.
Those undertaking language modules may have additional contact hours. There is minimal teaching during Term 3, as students focus on the dissertation and assessments.
Modules
Full-time
Students take 180 credits of study. You will select from a number of modules to create a programme of study for the year.
Some taught modules will be centred around theoretical perspectives in political and social science and their application; you will take one 15 credit course on methods and/or analytical approaches chosen from a list of elective core courses; The remainder are selected from a wider list of elective modules.
All module choices focus on the societies and cultures of some or all regions of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, the Western Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. Courses deal with broad thematic issues related to these regions, such as ethnopolitical conflict, gender/sexuality or religion. You will also have the opportunity to opt to study a language of the region.
In addition, all students must undertake a free-standing dissertation, with an accompanying Dissertation Preparation module.
Further guidance on the structure and modules can be found in the Programme Handbook.
Part-time
Students take 180 credits of study in total, which are split over two years if taking the MA part-time.
In Year 1, you will take one 15 credit course on methods and/or analytical approaches chosen from a list of elective core courses; The remainder are selected from a wider list of elective modules.
All module choices focus on the societies and cultures of some or all regions of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, the Western Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. Courses deal with broad thematic issues related to these regions, such as ethnopolitical conflict, gender/sexuality or religion. You will also have the opportunity to opt to study a language of the region.
In Year 2, you will take further electives as well as undertake a free-standing dissertation, with an accompanying Dissertation Preparation module.
Further guidance on the structure and modules can be found in the Programme Handbook
Compulsory modules
- SSEES MA Dissertation Preparation
- M.A. Dissertation
Optional modules
- Quantitative Methods
- Comparative Analysis in Social and Political Research
- Understanding and Analysing Data
- Qualitative Methods
- The Making of Modern Ukraine
- Russian Foreign Policy
- Russian Politics
- Informal Practices in Post-Communist Societies
- Central Asian Politics and Society
- The European Union and its Eastern Neighbourhood
- Politics of the Caucasus
- Political Culture
- Political Art and Protest in Eurasia
- Romania and Moldova
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment, and module content and availability are subject to change.
You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Political Analysis (Russia and Eastern Europe).
What this course will give you
The UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies (SSEES) is one of the largest national centres in the UK, for the study of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Baltics, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Our MA allows you to study the political development of the region in unparalleled breadth and depth and to develop analytical and research capabilities, language skills and practical insights.
Our nationally unequalled specialist library and central London location provide an ideal environment for research, while our close contacts with employers, policy-makers and alumni afford excellent opportunities for networking and career development.
The foundation of your career
The range of modules offered allows students either to focus on one region or to study regions across the post-communist world. The MA opens up a range of opportunities, and previous graduates from this programme have gone on to work in think tanks, political parties, national, European and international private and public sector organisations, and in the media and in NGOs as political analysts. Other graduates have gone on to further academic study. Internship opportunities and excellent links with other universities in the region, as well as a suite of leading events and research seminars, complement your studies.
Employability
With their specialist knowledge and language skills, SSEES Master's graduates can be found in business, finance, the media, international agencies, charities, diplomacy, international security organisations, the law, and academia.
Some of our graduates have gone to advise the Russian, Polish, American, and other governments, and the European Commission.
Networking
The SSEES Employers Evening hosts a range of employers with relevant job opportunities for SSEES students, enabling networking with key organisations to help further your career. SSEES scholars have developed strong links with a range of institutions in London, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), Roubini Global Economics, NGOs such as Health Prom, Amnesty International and others through the BEARR Trust, Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs), as well as with the European Commission. SSEES also cultivates connections with the London embassies of the region, which regularly co-sponsor round-table events and lectures by leading international figures relevant to our area of interest.