Executive MSc Political Economy of Europe (Modular)

This programme has been withdrawn from 2016/7 entry. You may wish to consider the full/part time equivalent.

About the MSc programme 

This programme is based in the European Institute and aims to provide a set of high-quality integrated courses. The programme is structured to equip students with an analytical understanding of the political-economic processes of integration and fragmentation in Europe. Specifically it provides:

• study in one of the most highly rated research centres in the subject area in the world, both for its research and its institutional links
• a modular course structure allowing students to take the programme whilst engaged in employment through attendance at eight one-week LSE-based intensive seminars
• the opportunity for individuals in, amongst others, the private sector, government, NGOs, and lobbying groups, to achieve a formal graduate qualification in the political economy of Europe even if they are unable to devote themselves to full-time study
• teaching by specialists who are at the forefront of political economy research in Europe
• a comparative, international and multidisciplinary environment with links to several specialist research groups based at LSE

The course offerings in this degree are designed to provide you with sophisticated analytical skills as well as detailed empirical knowledge. These will equip you to understand the key political-economic challenges facing Europe today, such as the crisis of monetary integration, with its possible spill-over into other areas of the European economies, to the reform of labour markets and welfare states in the old and new member-states. The aim of the Political Economy of Europe programme is to complement the specialist knowledge that you may already have in one or a limited number of areas in this broad field with an in-depth understanding of other areas and, where appropriate, their interrelations. Upon completion of the degree, you are likely to explore new career opportunities, either with your current employer, where you are certain to take on new responsibilities, or with a new employer; both will value your broad, analytical and integrated knowledge of different political-economic processes in Europe at a time of unknown political-economic challenges for the continent.

Applicants with a good first degree in any of the social sciences will be considered. Degrees in other areas will be individually evaluated, based on merit, experience and motivation.

You can supply one academic and one professional reference to be considered for this programme. It is in your interest to supply academic references wherever possible. If you graduated from your most recent academic study before January 2010 (or before 2011 for applicants for 2016 intake) and no academic references are available, you may supply two professional references.

Programme details

The Modular MSc comprises six half unit courses including the dissertation, and one full unit. Students will attend LSE for eight one-week sessions over the two-year period. Evaluations will consist of several formative and summative essays as well as written examinations throughout the programme.

A key component of the MSc is a dissertation of up to 6,000 words on a topic individually selected, to be prepared in conjunction with a personal supervisor. Special research training and supervision sessions in the fourth week-long seminar will guide students in this process.

Each course consists of a minimum of 20 hours of contact (40 for the full unit course). Over the course of the MSc, students will have 150 face-to-face contact hours alongside of additional meetings with their tutors and support while off-campus from faculty such as through online and Skype revision sessions.

Compulsory courses

(* half unit)

Year one:

• Key issues in the Political Economy of Europe is the core course for the degree. It starts with a review of the relation between state and economy in both Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe over the post-war period in light of the debates about the relative performance of post-war capitalism and socialism, and the demise of central planning and Keynesianism in the 1970s and 1980s. Discussions about market-making, market governance and institutional adjustment frame the debates about the nature of economic integration in Europe from the Rome Treaty until the crisis of EMU.
• Capitalism and Democracy in Central Europe* applies concepts of political economy, economics and political science to its investigation of Central and Eastern Europe’s evolution through post-communist transition to highly open, FDI-dependent emerging markets with ‘European’ expectations of welfare.
• European Capitalism(s) and the Global Economy* considers the varieties of capitalism literature, conducts a comparative analysis of the core issues in the political economy of contemporary capitalism and how capital, labour and product markets are structured.

Year two:

• Interest groups, markets and democracy* focuses on the representation of interests in Europe, and their role in economic policy-making.
• Economic Governance of EMU* analyses the process of European monetary integration and its implications for the institutions of economic governance in the EU.
• The Political Economy of Welfare State Reform* applies the concepts of economics and political economy to social policies in European welfare states.
• Dissertation*.

You can find the most up-to-date list of optional courses for Executive MSc Political Economy of Europe (Modular) in the Programme Regulations section of the current School Calendar.

You must note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, some circumstances may cause the School to subsequently change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to circumstances outside of its control. You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee places on its courses. You should visit the School's Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the Updated graduate course and programme information page.

Graduate destinations

Upon finishing this programme, graduates are expected to move up in the organisation where they are employed, taking on more and broader responsibilities, or find higher management positions elsewhere. Former graduates of the standard sister degree "MSc in Political Economy of Europe" pursue successful careers in politics, journalism, diplomacy, business and in international financial institutions.