The programme provides professional training for students in the fields of socio-political development and governance in contemporary states, as well as international cooperation of governmental, non-governmental and business organizations. Students obtain up-to-date knowledge of socio-political processes in the world, as well as relevant skills in research, analytics and governance.

Advantages of the programme are based on its following unique features.

First, the programme provides enhanced language training. Courses are conducted in English (some elements of the curriculum can be studied in Russian at a student’s choice – Economic Theory, Mathematics and Statistics, Minors, Projects, Educational and Work Experience Internships, Term Papers and the Graduation Thesis). Students also learn the second foreign language: Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, intakes since 2022 – also Spanish.

Secondly, the programme is based on the complex analysis of contemporary global politics and society, which includes internal and international aspects. In this regard, the study plan contains both disciplines in Political Science and World Politics and International Relations.

Thirdly, students of the programme may choose the region they will concentrate on:

1. Europe and the European Union
2. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), intakes since 2022 – China
3. Post-Soviet Countries

The regional track implies that senior students may choose disciplines, devoted to the peculiarities of political, economic and social development in the selected region, as well as learn the second foreign language.

Fourthly, the programme combines professional training in Political Science and World Politics with the applied skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as in socio-political projects development and governance at the local, regional, national and international levels.

For intakes since 2020

Professional competencies (planned educational programme development results) are specific to the alumni of the programme. They are defined on the basis of the relevant professional standards, labor market analysis, best international practices, as well as consultations with potential employers.

Graduates of HSE University also acquire universal competencies (defined in the HSE University Educational Standard) and general professional competencies (defined in the Annex to the HSE University Educational Standard for the related field of studies).

The development of all universal (UC), general professional (GPC) and professional competencies (PC) ensures the ability of the graduates to carry out professional activities in at least one area or field of professional activity or solve professional tasks of at least one type specified in the Educational Standard.

Professional Competencies:

• PC-1: Able to apply theories, methodologies and concepts of Political Science to solving professional tasks in government and public administration, non-governmental and international organizations, political organizations, business companies, and the media.

• PC-2: Able to analyze and interpret global and international political, social and economic processes in order to facilitate decision-making and develop analytical materials, including materials for the mass media.

• PC-3: Able to conduct a comparative analysis of political, organizational and administrative processes, as well as public policies, to determine the peculiarities of their functioning and to formulate proposals for their transformation.

• PC-4: Able to determine features and trends of the socio-political development of regions and countries, and to take them into account when solving professional tasks.

• PC-5: Able to apply the methods of mathematical and game-theoretic modeling, economic analysis to the study of socio-political and economic processes.

• PC-6: Able to perform professional tasks, related to research and analytics, using relevant data collection and analysis methods.

The Major includes the Core Professional Block and the Elective Professional Block. The Core Professional Block incudes the key compulsory courses on Political Science, International Relations, History, Methods of Political and Social Research, Sociology, Economic and Mathematics.

Elective Professional Block includes the Research Seminar (for intakes since 2023 - also Project Seminar), the Second Foreign Language, chosen by a student from the following options: Chinese, German, French, Portuguese, for intakes since 2022 – also Spanish, as well as the elective disciplines, divided into several blocks:

• Regional Track: courses, devoted to the peculiarities of political, social and economic development of one of the three political and geographical regions: Europe and the EU, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and Post-Soviet Space.
• Comparative Policy Studies: courses devoted to the selected aspects of socio-political processes in Russia and foreign countries, as well as the selected public policy areas in a comparative perspective.
• World Politics: courses, devoted to the selected topics and issues in International Relations and World Politics.

For intakes since 2022 student may choose electives within the following blocks:

• Regional Track: courses, devoted to the peculiarities of political, social and economic development of one of the three political and geographical regions: Europe and the EU, China and Post-Soviet Space.
• Comparative Politics: courses devoted to the selected aspects of socio-political processes in Russia and foreign countries.
• Public Policy: courses on the selected public policy areas in a comparative perspective.
• Research Methods and Decision-Making: disciplines, aimed at developing research skills in particular techniques of data collection and analysis within Political Science, as well as decision-making in Politics and Governance.
• World Politics: courses, devoted to the selected topics and issues in International Relations and World Politics.

Internships include Professional Internship, Project Internship and Research Internship.

Professional Internship includes Educational Internship (3^rd year of study) and Work Experience Internship (4^th year of study). Project Internship includes projects.

Research Internship includes Research Term Papers on the second and third years of study, and Graduation Thesis preparation (4^th year of study).

General Courses include the following disciplines

• Intake 2020: Law, Philosophy, Economics, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training
• Intake 2021: Communications and Media Competencies, Law, Philosophy, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training
• Intake 2022: Communications and Media Competencies, Law, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training, one optional general course
• Intake 2023: Communications and Media Competencies, Law, Philosophy, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training, Foundation of Russian Statehood

Minor is a package of disciplines or four disciplines out of the list offered by the HSE University. The selection is carried out by students according to the rules, established in the University.

The English language module includes optional courses on English and Academic English Writing, as well as Independent English Exam, English Language Integrative Exam and Project Proposal.

Data Culture includes the course on the basics of programming in Python, from intake 2022 – also Independent Programming Test, Independent Data Science Test and Independent Digital Literacy Test.

Final State Certification includes Presenting of Graduation Thesis and the State Exam of the Field of Study.

This degree programme of HSE University is adapted for students with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. There is a specially designed Physical Education course available for such students (Syllabus of the adapted Physical Education course). Special assistive technology and teaching aids are used for collective and individual learning of students with SEN and disabilities. The specific adaptive features of the programme are listed in each subject's full syllabus and are available to students through the online Learning Management System.

All documents of the degree programme are stored electronically on this website. Curricula, calendar plans, and syllabi are developed and approved electronically in corporate information systems. Their current versions are automatically published on the website of the degree programme. Up-to-date teaching and learning guides, assessment tools, and other relevant documents are stored on the website of the degree programme in accordance with the local regulatory acts of HSE University.

I hereby confirm that the degree programme documents posted on this website are fully up-to-date.

Vice Rector Sergey Yu. Roshchin

Summary of Degree Programme 'Political Science and World Politics'