Facts Harvardharvardlogo.gif St. Andrews Universitystandrewslogo.gif London School of Economicsstandrewslogo.gif Cambridge Universitycambridge-logo.gif
Degree Master in Regional Studies (Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia). Master in International Relations M.Sc. European Political Economy MPhil in International Relations
Department Graduate School of Arts and Sciences - Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies School of International Relations European Institute International Relations
Length 2 years 1 year 1 year 1 year
Description Integrates various academic disciplines, established in 1948 , over 550 alumni have pursued careers in government, academia, business, and non-governmental organizations. Between 16 and 20 students are enrolled in the program at any one time. The M.Res in International Relations is based on a new initiative in the Social Sciences to provide interdisciplinary training in the social sciences plus advanced research training in International Relations. It is intended to provide the research and professional skills that are required to perform doctoral research successfully. This allows students to pursue a subsequent 3-year Ph.D. after obtaining the M.Res (this is described as a "1+3" programme). In the degree students focus on the main theories and models of political economy relevant to the process of European integration and of transition in Central and Eastern Europe, and on major trends in the economic and political development of contemporary Europe. The M.Phil. in International Relations is designed to meet the needs both of those who intend to embark upon an academic career in the field and of current or future practitioners as well as those who wish to enhance their understanding of IR at a graduate level. The course seeks to provide participants with a critical understanding of the international system in all its complexity, and of the means and methods that have been devised to study and understand it better.
Degree-Requirements 16 Courses, Thesis, Language Certificate 180 credits are sub-divided into three major components or blocks of equal credit rating (60 credits) In the MSc European Political Economy, students take three year-long courses (two half-year courses may replace one year-long course) and write a 10,000 word essay on an approved topic. These four elements must be chosen from at least two disciplines.
Courses 16 semester courses (4 per semester)
  • 2 half-courses in 4 of the following disciplines (with at least 2 of the 4 disciplines in social sciences): Economics, Government (Political Science), History, Upper-level Russian, Any level non-Russian language of the region, Linguistics, Literature
  • One half-course addressing questions of national identity and state structure of the region (this course may also count toward a discipline requirement, where appropriate)
  • Approved electives to bring total credits to 16 half-courses
 60 credits for each block (Total 10 courses):

Compulsory courses (*=half unit)

One of the following

Two of the following

In the first half of the academic year, candidates follow four series of lectures and associated seminars, chosen from the options on offer such as:

  1. International Relations Theory
  2. International Security
  3. International History (Cold War)
  4. International Economics
  5. International Constitutional Law
  6. International Politics*:
    1. China in the International System
    2. The International Relations of Latin America
    3. The Middle East and North Africa
    4. The Politics of European Integration
* Candidates may take up to two Politics options among their four options.
Thesis Master's Thesis - Supervised by a Harvard faculty member and is based to a significant extent on sources in one or more languages of the region. Many students conduct in-country thesis research between program years with the help of a research travel grant from the Davis Center. The thesis carries a letter grade and counts as two half-courses. A dissertation applying an individually selected range of research methods in the discussion of a subject-specific issue or problem (IR5699), which counts for 60 credits. Supervision by an individually assigned supervisor throughout the academic year will assist students to prepare their dissertation projects with regard to topic and method. MSc European Political Economy students are required to write a 10,000-word Dissertation (including footnotes and Appendices) on a topic within the field of European political economy/European politics approved by the student’s supervisor. The thesis is a very substantial element of the M.Phil, and the examination process and criteria for assessment of the thesis are accordingly rather more stringent than on many Master's programmes. In particular, there is a requirement for originality, which must be met either by research using primary sources (documents, interviews, official publications, or the like) or else by developing an original approach to an existing debate or literature. This all supports the general aim of the dissertation, which is to develop advanced skills of research and expression.
Other Russian Language Qualifying Exam - 3-hour exam translating excerpts from the Russian press and scholarly journals into English using a dictionary In order that students have some practice in general essay writing and specifically in each of their course options, they are required to write four essays of 2000 words each (one for each of the course options chosen) prior to the Compulsory Essay Examination.
Phd-Opportunities Does not have its own Ph.D. degree program, but offers several kinds of support for graduate students at the doctoral level. Below is a list of Ph.D. programs at Harvard that allow a research focus in Russian or Eurasian studies:
  • Anthropology
  • Comparative Literature
  • Economics
  • Government
  • History
  • History of Art and Architecture
  • Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
  • Slavic Languages and Literatures
  • Sociology
 For students who have ESRC-funded studentships for four years, successful completion of the M.Res. allows automatic entry into our Ph.D. programme. For other students, a good grade in the M.Res. may allow progress to the Ph.D. programme if an appropriate supervisor and research project has been agreed. In most cases, Ph.D. research will continue under the guidance of the M.Res. supervisor and the project will be a natural extension of the M.Res. research. Possible.
Specials Possibility to take classes from the Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Ukrainian Research Institute, and the Center for European Studies, as well as from the Harvard Professional Schools (Business School, Kennedy School of Government, Law School) and the Non-Harvard Schools (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy). Large Choice of Research Seminars
Costs per year Tuition: 34,500 USD (= 26.000 Euros)
Costs of Living: 27,000 USD (=20.000 Euros)		 Tuition: 4150 GBP (= 6100 Euros)
Costs of Living: at least 5000 GBP (= 7400 Euros)		 Tuition: 12,936 GBP (= 19,000 Euros)
Cost of Living: 12.000 GBP(=18.000 Euro)		 University Composition Fee:£3,250(=4750 Euro)
College Fee:£2,043(=3000 Euro)
Settling-In Figure:£325(= 475 Euro)
Maintenance:£8,764(=12825 Euro)
Total:£14,389 (=21.000 Euro)
Funding Loans Loans, Application for Scholarship at Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (covers up to 10.000 Euros)