Frequently Asked Questions
for new students - taught course Graduate students

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 International Relations Theory (IRT))
• Questions for first-year research students (MPhil/PhD)

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1. Who is in charge of my programme?
2. What is the format of graduate teaching?
3. What kind of supervision will I receive?
4. How will I sign up for my compulsory course?
5. How will I choose and sign up for my optional courses? Is there restricted access to any courses?
6. When and what is the Options Meeting? Who should attend it?
7. Are there any courses not running in 2008/9?
8. How do I find out when and where lectures and seminars are held?
9. What is the difference between the MSc IR and the MSc IR Research programmes? Is it possible to change from one to the other?
10. What is the difference between the MSc IPE and the MSc IPE Research programmes? Is it possible to change from one to the other?
11. What is the October Test?  Do I have to attend?
12. What guidance is provided on course reading?
13. Why are reading lists for IR Dept courses generally so long?
14. What is the method of assessment for MSc students in the IR Dept?
15. Why is there very little continuous assessment?
16. Can you tell me more about the 10,000 word dissertation?
17. Are there any rules regarding word-processing or handwriting essays?

Answers

1. Who is in charge of my programme?

Each graduate programme in the Department is overseen by a Programme Director, who is a full-time member of the IR Department. In 2008/9, these will be:

MSc IR/IR Research - Dr Peter WILSON
MSc IPE/IPE Research - Dr Robert FALKNER
SPDD - Dr Daphne JOSSELIN
MSc IRT - Dr George LAWSON

You are politely requested not to contact the Programme Director before your arrival. If you have an urgent enquiry which cannot wait until the induction meeting, where much will explained, you should instead email the relevant Programme Administrator as follows:

MSc IR/MSc IR Research:
Ms Barbara King (b.king@lse.ac.uk, tel 020 7955 7129)

MSc IPE/MSc IPE Research:
Ms Katharine Caun (k.s.caun@lse.ac.uk, tel 020 7955 7560)

LSE-Sci Po Double Degree:
Ms Katharine Caun (k.s.caun@lse.ac.uk, tel 020 7955 7560)

MSc IRT:
Ms Martina Langer (m.langer@lse.ac.uk, tel 020 7955 7561)

However, it would be appreciated if such enquiries could be kept to a minimum. Matters related to your registration/payment of fees should be directed to the Student Services Centre. [back to top]

2.  What is the format of graduate teaching?

Graduate students often ask about the intended role of lectures and seminars. The following provides a brief guide. 

Lectures:  Each course generally comprises a series of lectures which you are strongly advised to attend. Lectures, though important, are not compulsory. As graduate students, an important part of your learning will be done through reading the course literature and discussing the issues in and outside seminars. You should understand that you will be expected in your own written work to go considerably beyond the content and approach of lectures in your subjects.

Lectures are intended to fulfil various functions, but they are not a substitute for independent reading and thought. Lectures are intended to provide students with an overview of a particular subject-area, its related concepts and issues, and to introduce the most important relevant academic literature. This can mean that lectures will often not be able to achieve the depth of coverage that you will find in the relevant literature. Lectures also provide you with exposure to the individual styles and approaches of different teachers at LSE. We strongly encourage you to attend lectures both in your subjects and in other areas that interest you; we hope that you will find many of the lectures available in the Department and in the School interesting and stimulating. (Note: The recording of lectures requires the prior consent of the lecturer concerned. For students with disabilities, the Department will make 'reasonable adjustments' on a case-by-case basis.)

Seminars:  In addition to lectures, teaching is conducted in seminars. These are usually held weekly over the period of the course, with students allocated permanently to groups of, normally, ten to fifteen. Although each course has a 'Teacher Responsible' (also known as 'Course Coordinator') for its overall organisation (as indicated in the Graduate Course Guides in the online Graduate School Handbook), the academics involved in the teaching of courses are responsible for individual seminar groups. While lectures can attract large numbers of students, seminars are limited in size and provide an opportunity for students to give presentations and discuss issues raised in the academic literature. Students are expected to supplement formal contact hours by extensive unsupervised reading, preparation for seminars and essay-writing. Reading lists, and, in many cases, lecture handouts, are provided in hard copy and electronically. The former will be available from the beginning of the new session after you have been given email access (see FAQ General Question 11 and Question 12 below).

Note that attendance at seminars is compulsory and that it is not possible to choose the group to which you are allocated. Participation in a seminar represents a commitment to the seminar leader and your fellow students. [Back to top]

3.  What kind of supervision will I receive?

A supervisor will be allocated to you on the first or second day of the session.  An appointment will be made for you to meet your supervisor before teaching begins (on Monday 6 October 2008) so please keep your diary free of other engagements between 10am and 5pm on 2nd and 3rd October 2008.  Further details will be provided at your induction meeting (see FAQ General Question 6).  Please note that it is not permitted to ask for a particular supervisor.

Your supervisor will mark and give feedback on the October Test, maintain an overview of your progress and offer initial advice on the writing of the 10,000-word Dissertation.

Arrangements for meeting your supervisor on a regular basis will be explained at your first meeting with him/her. Although you may not request a particular supervisor, if the relationship proves unsatisfactory, it is entirely proper for you to approach the relevant Programme Director (or, if your supervisor is the Programme Director, the Head of the Department) to request a transfer. In seeking such a transfer, requests for a specific supervisor are not permitted. [Back to top]

4.  How will I sign up for my compulsory course/s?

As you will have noted from the Graduate Prospectus when you applied to the School, you will be required to take the following compulsory courses:

MSc IR:  IR410 - International Politics

MSc IR Research: IR436 Theories of International Relations and MI4M1/MI4M2 Foundations of Social Research, (Quantitative Analysis, Fundamentals of Research Design, Qualitative Research: Interview, Text and Image).

MSc IPE and MSc IPE Research:  IR450 - International Political Economy

MSc IPE Research: IR460 - Comparative Political Economy, MI4M1/MI4M2 Foundations of Social Research, (Quantitative Analysis, Fundamentals of Research Design, Qualitative Research: Interview, Text and Image).

Sciences Po-LSE Double Degree in Affaires Internationales and IR/IPE (SPDD): Students will select either the MSc IR or MSc IPE for their second year of study.

MSc IRT: IR436 Theories of International Relations

Allocations to seminar groups for IR410, IR436 and IR450 will be made by mid-afternoon on Friday, 3 October 2008 and the details posted on the 6th floor of the IR Department and sent to you by email. Teaching for these courses will begin in week one of Michaelmas Term, i.e. week commencing 6 October 2008. You will be notified of arrangements for the other courses at your induction meeting (see FAQ General Question 6).

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5.  How will I choose and sign up for my optional courses? Is there restricted access to any courses?

If you have not made up your mind about your option choices by the time you arrive, you can sample lectures during weeks 1 and 2 of Michaelmas Term, i.e. from week commencing Monday 6 October 2008, to help you decide.

Some courses within and outside the International Relations Department are CAPPED. If you wish to take a capped course, you should follow the instructions, which will be issued by the Student Services Centre and/or the International Relations Department at the beginning of the session, on how to register.

For UNCAPPED courses, you should do two things: (1) Sign up for the course on LSE for You. Your supervisor, who will be allocated at the beginning of the session, will have access to your option choices and will approve them, subject to your choices falling within the degree regulations. (2) Sign up for a seminar group. (NB Most International Relations Department seminars for optional subjects begin in week 3 of Michaelmas Term, so do not delay.)

Course Coordinators in the International Relations Department adopt a variety of procedures for students to sign up for seminars, e.g. signing up on lists pinned outside office doors, after lectures and/or at the IR MSc Options Meeting (see FAQ 6). Alternatively, some Course Coordinators may decide to use new online seminar sign-up software which will be piloted in a few departments in the School, including the International Relations Department, from the beginning of 2008/9. Announcements will be made at lectures regarding sign-up arrangements. .

Please see Question 7 below to see which courses will NOT be on offer in 2008/9.

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6. When and what is the Options Meeting? Who should attend it?

An Option Choices Meeting is held each year for MSc IR, MSc IR Research, MSc IPE, MSc IPE Research and SPDD students to assist them in choosing which options to take. It is usually held in a lunch hour during the first or second week of term, a few days before students have to register their choices formally with the Student Services Centre. The exact location and date will be announced in due course. At the meeting, handouts are available for all the options on offer that year, and Course Coordinators are on hand to discuss their courses with students. They also inform students of the arrangements they have made for students to sign up for their courses. [Back to top]

7.  Are there any courses not running in 2008/9?

IR408 Systemic Change: The Origins and Nature of the Cold War IR427 International Politics of Africa
IR421 Concepts and Methods in International Relations
IR433 The International Politics of EU Enlargement
IR441 International Society and World Society: English School Theory
IR459 History of Ideas in International Political Economy (non-examinable)

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8.  How do I find out when and where lectures and seminars are held?

Timetabling is undertaken by the School rather than by Departments and the Module Timetable is available on-line shortly before teaching begins (see LSE Teaching and Timetabling). Timetable clashes are kept to a minimum but are sometimes inevitable because of the number of optional courses offered across the School. You are therefore advised to make your final course selection only after having checked carefully the scheduling of relevant lectures and seminars in the Module Timetable.

See also FAQ General Question 14

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9.  What is the difference between the MSc IR and the MSc IR Research programmes? Is it possible to change from one to the other?

There are two MSc programmes. The MSc International Relations Research is designed as a preparation for research work and includes Methodology courses. The MSc International Relations is an advanced, academic study of the subject. It is suitable if you plan to progress to a career that might have an international focus.

The majority of students will be taking the MSc International Relations programme, comprising a compulsory paper in International Politics, a compulsory 10,000-word Dissertation and two papers which can be chosen from a number of subjects, details of which are listed in the MSc IR section of the Graduate Prospectus and in the School's online Graduate Handbook (see MSc International Relations Programme Regulations).

Students taking the MSc International Relations Research programme will be required to take the following subjects: International Politics, Foundations of Social Research (Quantitative Analysis, Fundamentals of Research Design , Qualitative Research), one paper which can be chosen from a number of subjects, details of which are listed in the MSc IR section of the Graduate Prospectus and in the School's online Graduate Handbook (see MSc International Relations (Research) Programme Regulations) and a compulsory 10,000-word Dissertation.

It may be possible, depending on your choice of options, to change programmes up to the end of the first term of the course.

Transfers from either of the two versions of the MSc IR to either of the two versions of the MSc International Political Economy (IPE) at the beginning of the session are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

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10.  What is the difference between the MSc IPE and the MSc IPE Research programmes? Is it possible to change from one to the other?

There are two MSc programmes. The International Political Economy (IPE) Research is designed as a preparation for research work if you are entering the field from another related discipline. The MSc International Political Economy (IPE) is an advanced academic study of the subject and would be suitable if you plan to progress to a career that might have an international focus.

The majority of students will be taking the MSc IPE programme comprising a compulsory paper in International Political Economy, a compulsory Dissertation and two papers which can be chosen from a number of subjects, details of which are listed in the MSc IPE section of the Graduate Prospectus and on the Programme Regulations webpage. In addition, there are other courses offered in the School especially by the Departments of Economics, Economic History and Law, which may appeal to you and for which you may be considered eligible by your supervisor and the Department concerned.

Students taking the MSc IPE Research programme will be required to take the following subjects: International Political Economy, Comparative Political Economy, Foundations of Social Research (Quantitative Analysis, Fundamentals of Research Design, Qualitative Research) and the Dissertation - see the Programme Regulations webpage.

It may be possible, depending on your choice of options, to change programmes up to the end of the first term of the course.

Transfers from either of the two versions of the MSc IPE to either of the two versions of the MSc International Relations (IR) at the beginning of the session are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

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11.  What is the October Test?  Do I have to attend?

All MSc IR, MSc IR Research, MSc IPE and MSc IPE Research students are required to take a test in International Politics (MSc IR) or International Political Economy (MSc IPE) on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 October 2008 as follows:

• MSc IR and MSc IR Research:
  Time and venue to be confirmed.
• MSc IPE and MSc IPE Research:
  Time and venue to be confirmed.
• MSc IRT:
  Time and venue to be confirmed.

The October Tests do not count towards the awarding of the degrees. The purpose of these Tests, which are marked by your supervisor, is to identify the problems you are likely to face and ascertain the kind of guidance you will need during the course. In other words, they assist both student and supervisor in identifying strengths and weaknesses so as to ensure appropriate supervision. Special preparation for the Test, beyond the readings suggested in the letter that the Department will be sending you, is NOT expected.  

On the basis of the Test and the essays written for compulsory course seminar leaders, supervisors may strongly advise students to extend their registration for a second academic year, although in practice this is a rare occurrence.

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12. What guidance is provided on course reading?

Each course has its own detailed reading list, which is available in the IRD public folders. Some teachers make additional course materials available in the public folder for specific courses, or on Moodle, which is a web-based location bringing together a range of resources, including course information and reading lists, discussion boards and online quizzes. Moodle is being used for a growing number of IR courses, details of which are provided at the beginning of each session.

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13. Why are reading lists for IRD courses generally so long?

The IRD's teaching philosophy places great emphasis on independent study and student initiative. The reading lists provided by course teachers are intended as guides only: teachers will not normally tell you that you must read particular readings every week (although some courses will flag 'required readings'). Instead, they will highlight recommended reading (works that they themselves consider to be of use or interest with respect to a particular topic) but you are responsible for ensuring that you have read widely and deeply enough to be able to contribute to seminar discussions and to write essays. You are thus free to choose readings from the reading list and your own research which you judge to be appropriate for the topic at hand.

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14. What is the method of assessment for MSc students in the IRD?

Examinations are the primary method of assessment. In most MSc courses in the IRD you are assessed on the basis of a final exam in the Summer Term. The mark for that exam will constitute 100% of your mark in the course unit. In all courses, you must write short essays (normally maximum 2,000 words in length) as part of your preparation for the exam. These essays are marked by seminar teachers, but the essay marks do not count towards your final mark (except in IR408 below). Note: Students may substitute the third essay for a timed, hand-written answer to a past examination question as long as it is submitted by the essay 3 deadline.

The one exception is IR408 Systemic Change: The Origins and Nature of the Cold War System and its End which has a 3-hour unseen written examination which accounts for 75% of the final result, and two essays including a 1-hour timed essay done in class with notes which accounts for 20%. A further 5% is based on student contributions producing ideas and questions and responding to issues arising from their reading via the posting board on Moodle.

In addition, all MSc students must write a 10,000-word Dissertation. A core part of the Department's academic philosophy at the Master's level is that the Dissertation is to be researched and written by you, working independently and unaided. This means that supervisors and other LSE staff must not read drafts of your work. However, they provide initial guidance regarding the selection of a suitable topic and provide verbal comments on short outlines of 4-5 pages and to respond to reasonable enquiries related to your Dissertation. Further information about the Dissertation is provided at a meeting during the Michaelmas Term.

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15. Why is there very little continuous assessment?

The Department generally adheres strongly to the pedagogical philosophy that final examinations are the fairest and most effective means of assessing student learning. Continuous assessment (via essays and mid-term examinations) has various drawbacks: grading essays can disincentivise students to experiment and to take risks in writing essays; there is much greater risk of plagiarism in essays; and the LSE's double-marking requirements make essay grading a very costly process. Final examinations also have the advantage of testing students after their knowledge and understanding has matured over the course of the academic year.

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16.  Can you tell me more about the 10,000-word Dissertation? 

The Dissertation is a 10,000 word long piece of independent work that makes a contribution to ongoing debates in the study of international political economy (MSc IPE/ MSc IPE Research), international relations (MSc IR/MSc IR Research) or international relations theory (MSc IRT). Within the dissertation, students apply the knowledge they have acquired in their taught courses to the investigation of a particular problem or question in depth. The Dissertation need not necessarily be an account of primary fieldwork or archival research. It may draw on either primary or secondary source material. However, it must demonstrate:

• an ability to formulate a clear research question or topic and to organize it in a coherent, logical and clear way within the constraints of the 10,000 word limit and the submission deadline.
• an ability to employ relevant theoretical literature in a critical and sophisticated manner and to show how the argument of the Dissertation relates to this literature;
• an ability to marshal evidence, of a logical-theoretical and/or an empirical kind, in support of the arguments of the Dissertation;
• an ability to produce work of a scholarly standard as to literary presentation, clarity, accuracy in point of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Producing the dissertation is a process with various stages.

• The first part of the process is the identification and refinement of your research problem or question. This involves surveying relevant literature and working out, in discussion with your supervisor (or other relevant experts in the department), how to turn what may be a rather broad interest into a manageable topic. The topic and scope of the Dissertation is subject to the approval of the student's supervisor, and you will be given an opportunity to meet with your supervisor specifically to discuss this once the session has got underway.
• The second part of the process, about which you should also consult with your supervisor (or other relevant experts in the department), involves mapping out the relevant sources on which you are going to draw (primary or secondary) and planning your research accordingly.
• The third part of the process involves doing the research.
• And the fourth part of the process, which proceeds in parallel with the third, involves working out your argument, on the basis of your research, and writing it up as a finished piece of work.

A core part of the Department’s academic philosophy at the Master’s level is that the Dissertation is to be researched and written (the third and fourth parts of the process) by you, working independently and unaided. This means that supervisors and other LSE staff must not read drafts of your work.

However, you will be given detailed guidance on preparing and writing your Dissertation during Michaelmas Term 2008. You are politely requested to wait until that time to pursue any questions you may have related to this matter.

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17.  Are there any rules regarding word-processing or handwriting essays? 

Although essays during the year should be word-processed, the October Test and final examinations are hand-written. Legibility is, of course, vitally important. Your supervisor may also recommend that you undertake additional study in writing English, using the facilities of the School's Language Centre. 

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This page last modified on May 20, 2008

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