The International Masters in Russian, Central & East European Studies offers you the unique opportunity to combine a year of study in Glasgow with a year studying overseas (in English) at one of our renowned partner institutions and leads to the award of a double degree or a single degree. The double degree version of IMRCEES has been awarded Erasmus Mundus recognition by the European Commission.

Programme overview

• International Masters (Double degree/single degree): 24 months full-time;

This challenging and innovative programme enables you to understand the history of communism and why it collapsed. You gain an informed knowledge of the process of economic and political transformation in the former communist states.

We want to develop world class researchers specialising in one or more of the following critical geopolitical areas: Central Asia; the Caucasus & Caspian Sea Basin; Russia; Central and Eastern Europe, including the Baltic Sea Region. This should support bodies like the European Union to address the myriad of socio-economic, political and security challenges of the 21st century. Flexible and high quality language training is an essential part of the programme.

You will get international experience in at least two countries, develop your skills in area research and acquire a range of key employability skills through our well-developed placements with associate partners from the business, public policy and third sector communities. You will also participate in conferences, workshops and other socio-cultural events, making the experience truly rewarding.

You will study at the University of Glasgow in the first year.  The second year is spent at another Erasmus Mundus double degree partner university or single degree exchange university (listed previously) where you will follow one or more distinct study tracks (eg Central Asia Studies; The Caucasus/Caspian Sea Basin Studies; Baltic Sea Region Studies; Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies; and Central European Studies) in semester one, followed by a 20,000-25,000 word dissertation.

Career prospects

The Erasmus Mundus International Masters degree will prepare you for careers in policy-making in government, foreign ministries, the EU, Intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. Other career opportunities include higher education and business.

Academic entry requirements

Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject.

Applicants from other subject backgrounds, however, will be considered.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

Apply now