Frequently Asked Questions
for new students - general

This FAQ is divided into the following sections:

• General Questions
• Questions for first-year undergraduates
• Questions for taught course graduate students 
  (MSc International Relations (IR), MSc IR Research, MSc International Political Economy (IPE), MSc IPE Research and Sciences Po-LSE Double Degree in Affaires Internationales and IR/IPE (SPDD), MSc IR Theory)
• Questions for first-year research students (MPhil/PhD)

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General Questions:

1. What are the dates of the terms in 2008/9?
2. Where is the Department of International Relations located?
3. What is the difference between a Tutor and a Supervisor?
4. What is the difference between a 'course' and a 'programme'?
5. What is the difference between a 'class' and a 'seminar'?
6. When is the induction meeting?  Is it important to attend?
7. Is there a Departmental Common Room?
8. Is there any formal representation of students in the IR Department?
9. Do you have an IR student society?  What is the Grimshaw Club?
10. What is Millennium: Journal of International Studies?
11. When will I be given access to email? Can I access reading lists before the session begins?
12. What study skills support is provided by the School?
13. Does the Department award any student prizes?
14. How many hours per week are given over to lectures and classes/seminars? How is teaching distributed across the three terms?
15. Can I tape lectures and access lecture notes?
16. How often will I meet my tutor/supervisor?
17. Do students usually work to support themselves while studying, and what paid jobs are available within the School? Also, are internships arranged by the Department?
18. When will the examinations be held and when will the examination timetable be available?
19. What careers do most IR graduates move into?
20. Is there anything I should read before starting in late September?
21. Are there any social/study events in the IR Department?

Answers 1.  What are the dates of the terms in 2008/9?

Michaelmas Term: Thursday, 2 October 2008 to Friday, 12 December 2008 (Teaching begins on Monday 6 October 2008) 
Lent Term: Monday, 12 January 2009 to Friday, 20 March 2009
Summer Term: Monday, 27 April 2009 to Friday, 3 July 2009.
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2.  Where is the Department of International Relations located?

The IR Department is located in Clement House, 99 Aldwych (see Maps and Directions), a few minutes' walk away from the main LSE campus. (Please note that the postal address is LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE). Academic staff offices are located on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th floors and support staff offices are located on the 6th floor, as are noticeboards, academic and support staff postboxes and student pigeonholes. We also have an academic staff office and a Graduate Teaching Assistants' room in Columbia House, adjacent to Clement House, and two research student rooms in 'Q' building. [Back to top]

3.  What is the difference between a Tutor and a Supervisor?

A Tutor is a member of the academic staff who acts as personal advisor to undergraduate students, providing academic and pastoral support.  A Supervisor performs the same function for postgraduate students.
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We use the words 'course' and 'programme' interchangeably. In other words, the 'MSc International Relations degree programme' can also be referred to as the 'MSc International Relations course'. Individual papers such as 'IR410 International Politics' are also referred to as 'courses' or 'papers'. Therefore, a programme may be called a course, but a course will never be called a programme. It will all make sense when you arrive here! [back to top]

5.  What is the difference between a 'class' and a 'seminar'?

Classes are held for undergraduate students to provide an opportunity to discuss issues raised in lectures and as a result of private study.  Normally, classes have up to 14 students and meet for one hour a week.  Most classes involve student presentations as a way of starting discussion.

Seminars are similar to classes but are held for postgraduate students and may have up to 20 students (under review).  They are normally 1.5 hours in length.

The International Relations Department will be holding the following induction meetings for new IR students on Thursday 2 October 2008, where you will meet the Head of the International Relations Department and the Departmental Tutor (for undergraduates) and the Head of Department and Programme Directors (for postgraduates).

• BSc IR (first year undergraduates):
  Thursday 2 October, 12.00-13.00, Room D702
• General Course:
  Thursday 2 October, 11.30-12.30, Room E304
• MSc IR students:
  Thursday 2 October, 10.00-11.00, Room D502
• MSc IPE (International Political Economy):
  Thursday 2 October, 13.30-14.30, Room U8
• SPDD (Sciences Po-LSE Double Degree in Affaires Internationales and IR/IPE):
  Thursday 2 October, 9.00-9.30, Room D703
• MSc IR Theory (IRT):
  Thursday 2 October, 11.00-12.00, Room D002
• Research (new students only):
  Thursday 2 October, 15.30-17.00, Room S300

It is important to attend your induction meeting as the structure of your course and administrative arrangements - including arrangements for meeting your tutor/supervisor on the Thursday afternoon or Friday - will be explained at this time. We would therefore be grateful if you could keep your diary free of other engagements between 10am and 5pm on Thursday 2 October and Friday 3 October 2008.   

Please note that names of tutors/supervisors and appointment times cannot be given out in advance and that it is not possible to request a particular tutor/supervisor.    

Occasionally some graduate students accept a place on a programme in the hope of changing their course of study on arrival. If you fall into this category, please note that this is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and the matter should be discussed with your supervisor. You are therefore expected to attend only the induction meeting for the course for which you have been accepted.

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7.  Is there a Departmental Common Room?

Yes.  There is a large IR student common room with study carrels and a large, open-plan area with soft seating on the 7th floor of Clement House. There is also a student photocopying room at the end of the Common Room, run by the Students' Union. [Back to top]

8.  Is there any formal representation of students in the IR Department?

Yes.  There are two International Relations Department Staff-Student Liaison Committees. An IR departmental Staff-Student Liaison Committee for Taught Courses (SSLCTC) and a Staff-Research Student Liaison Committee (SRSLC) both meet normally once a term to discuss matters of common interest. These are consultative, not executive bodies. The SSLCTC consists of the Undergraduate Departmental Tutor, MSc Programme Directors, and Departmental Manager, as well as an academic staff member in the Chair and student representatives from each programme covered by the Committee. The SRSLC consists of the Director of Doctoral Programmes as Chair, the Departmental Manager, the Research Programme Adminstrator, and students representing both new and continuing research students. Further details about elections for the Committee and dates of meetings will be provided at the beginning of the session.  [Back to top]

The Grimshaw Club is the student society of the International Relations Department and the oldest LSE society. It is organised by a group of around ten IR students who are elected to positions on the Executive Committee by the Club's members at the beginning of each session. The Club welcomes all students interested in current affairs but also provides an important social forum for student and staff members of the Department.   Unlike many other LSE student societies, which are purely social affairs, the Grimshaw Club regularly hosts speaker and panel discussions through the year as it aims to stimulate debate on a wide range of subjects relating to international relations. The Club also organises study trips abroad during the Easter vacation and holds a number of parties. Further information about how to get involved in the Grimshaw Club will be provided at the beginning of the session.  You can also read some more about it on the Grimshaw Club webpage.  [Back to top]

10.  What is Millennium: Journal of International Studies?

Millennium has a world-wide circulation and is not only one of the pre-eminent British journals in the field of International Relations, but also enjoys wide recognition abroad. One of the few academic journals edited and published completely by postgraduate students, it maintains a high professional standard and a reputation for publishing innovative work by young scholars as well as by established figures in the field. Weekly Editorial Board meetings involve students in lively discussion and debate.  Furthermore, a number of Management Team positions will be filled in November, normally by graduate students. Further information about how to get involved in Millennium will be provided at the beginning of the session. You can also read more about Millennium on the Millennium webpage.   [Back to top]

11.  When will I be given access to email? Can I access reading lists before the session begins?

If you are coming to the IR Department as a BSc IR or General Course student, you will be sent information from the School's Undergraduate Admissions Office in due course regarding the date from which you can access your network log-in and email account. Please note that this information will only be sent to you once any conditions attached to your offer have been met. Such access is likely to be prior to registration but after 31 August. At this point you will also be able to make your course selection via LSE For You (see also FAQs for New Students - first year undergraduates Qn 5).

If you are coming to the IR Department as a post-graduate student, you should check the Graduate Admissions website during the summer for a link to information regarding your network log-in and email access which will be via the School's LSE For You.

Once you have a School email account, you will also have access to IR reading lists for 2007/8 and (as they become available) for 2008/9 via the Public Folders in Outlook > All Public Folders > Admin > Departments > International Relations > Reading Lists.

For courses that use the virtual learning environment, Moodle, you will be able to register for Moodle and gain access to the readings and other information, even if you decide not to take the subject as an examination option.

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12.  What study skills support is provided by the School?

The School offers a range of study support facilities, via the Library, IT Services, LSE Learning World (run by the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC)), LSE Language Centre, and Student Services Centre.  TLC support includes study skills lectures and workshops as well as one-to-one 'tutorials' for students requiring more detailed support. Easy access to the various events and support activities are available via LSE Learning World website set up by TLC.[Back to top]

13.  Does the Department award any student prizes?

Yes.  Prizes (size of prizes is under review) are awarded annually as follows:

• BSc IR Year 1 (The Geoffrey Stern Prize) : for the best IR100 Structure of International Society examination performance by an IR student.
• BSc IR Year 2 (The Goodwin Prize): for the best examination performance by a second year BSc IR student.
• BSc IR Year 3: for the best degree performance overall by a third year BSc IR student.
• MSc IR and MSc IR Research (The Philip Windsor Dissertation Prize): for the best 10,000 word MSc IR Dissertation.
• MSc IPE and MSc IPE Research (The Susan Strange Dissertation Prize): for the best 10,000 word MSc IPE Dissertation.
• MSc IRT Dissertation Prize: for the best 10,000 word MSc IRT Dissertation.

Those awarded prizes will be notified after the relevant Examination Board meetings.  [Back to top]

14.  How many hours a week are given over to lectures and classes/seminars? How is teaching distributed across the three terms?

For each examinable course that you will be taking, there will normally be a weekly 1-hour lecture and an accompanying 1-hour weekly class (for undergraduates) or 1.5 hour weekly seminar (for MSc students). These normally run during Michaelmas and Lent Terms with revision sessions in the early part of the Summer Term. Sometimes you will also be advised by the Course Coordinator to attend a complementary set of lectures. Details of the teaching arrangements for individual courses can be found in the relevant Undergraduate course guides and Postgraduate course guides. 

You can also view the online Sessional Timetable. This will tell you the terms in which teaching is held, ie. MT = Michaelmas Term, LT = Lent Term, ST = Summer Term, the week in which teaching for a given course begins, the room and any room changes that are due during the course of the year.

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15.  Can I tape lectures and access lecture notes?

The recording of lectures requires the prior consent of the lecturers, who may also distribute lecture notes and slides at their own discretion. The Department will make reasonable adjustments for the needs of students with disabilities.
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16. How often will I meet my tutor/supervisor?

This and other details of tutorial/supervisory provision can be found in the Code of Good Practice for Undergraduate Programmes: Teaching, Learning and Assessment and the Code of Good Practice for Taught Course Masters Programmes: Teaching, Learning and Assessment. [Back to top]

17.  Do students usually work to support themselves while studying, and what paid jobs are available within the School? Also, are internships arranged by the Department?

Some students do take on part-time work during their studies. However, as it is important not to over-commit yourself, it is advisable to speak to your tutor/supervisor about any such plans. Unfortunately, the School has relatively few part-time employment opportunities but you may find it helpful to ask the Library and your hall of residence if there are any vacancies. The Department does not arrange internships. However, if you are planning to pursue this yourself, it is advisable to speak to your tutor/supervisor beforehand to ensure that the time commitment involved will be compatible with your studies. Graduate students may be interested in the LSE Internship Scheme.[Back to top]

18.  When will the examinations be held and when will the examinationi timetable be available?

Examinations are held in the Summer Term, normally from week 4 for undergraduate students and week 6 for MSc students. The provisional examination timetable, which is organised by the School's Examinations Office not the IR Department, is normally published by the end of the preceding Lent Term and the timetable is finalised by the beginning of the Summer Term.[Back to top]

19.  What careers do most IR graduates move into?

Please see What do International Relations graduates do? (Career Information)and the Careers Service International Relations webpages for IR graduate career destinations.[Back to top]

20.  Is there anything I should read before starting in late September?

You will be sent a welcome letter from the IR Department in early summer which will include some suggested reading. [Back to top]

21.  Are there any social/study events in the IR Department? 

The IR Department holds a number of parties during the year and the Grimshaw Club offers a varied programme of both social and study events.

The IR Department also hosts a weekend conference during the session, though space is necessarily limited.   It is held at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park (to the west of London) in late November and provides an opportunity to discuss a particular topic in depth, and enable staff and students to mix informally in pleasant surroundings. Further details about signing up for the conference will be provided at the beginning of the session.

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This page last modified on July 8, 2008

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