Mădălina Dobrescu European Institute, LSE 1 May 2013

 Created in 1991 to be a primary focus for the inter-disciplinary study of processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe  Unrivalled disciplinary range: members of staff drawn from the fields of politics, economics, geography, history, political economy, law, philosophy, and international relations.  Four themes: EU governance; EU ideas and identities; European political economy; the future of Europe beyond the EU  Seven Masters programmes and an extensive doctoral programme

 MPA European Public and Economic Policy  MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities  LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in European Studies  MSc European Studies (Research)  MSc Political Economy of Europe  MSc Politics and Government in the European Union  Executive MSc in Political Economy of Europe

 Research Themes:  The future of governance and democracy in Europe  The future of European society  The future of the economy in Europe  The future of Europe beyond the EU

 The MPhil and PhD are different research qualifications:  An MPhil thesis is required to be ‘a record of original work or an ordered and critical exposition of existing knowledge in any field’. It must not exceed 50,000 words and should reflect the work reasonably to be expected of a student working for two years full-time or three years part-time.  A PhD thesis should be a distinct contribution to knowledge of the subject and ‘should afford evidence of originality, shown either by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical power’. It must not exceed 100,000 words and should reflect the work reasonably to be expected of a student working for three to four years full-time or five to six years part-time.

 Targets:  Year 1 : Standard thesis: research proposal (2,500 words) and abstract of the whole thesis; a sample chapter (8,000 words); and a timetable for completion. Thesis as a series of publishable papers: a research proposal (2,500 words) and an abstract covering the three prospective papers; a full draft of the introduction (8,000 words); and a timetable for completion.  Year 2 : Standard thesis: at least two further substantive chapters (5,000- 7,000 words each). Thesis as a series of publishable papers: at least one fully written paper (10,000 words); and outlines of the other two papers (2,000 words).  Year 3 : Standard thesis: a full draft of all core chapters and agreed timetable for completion. Thesis as a series of publishable papers: full drafts of all three papers and agreed timetable for completion of the thesis.

 Annual Reporting: all Supervisors submit an Annual Progress Report Form to the Doctoral Programme Director at the end of July  Review panels:  held to evaluate work that has been submitted and to explore the directions of future work  composed of the Supervisors and one Assessor (to be appointed by the Doctoral Programme Committee in consultation with the Supervisors) and the Doctoral Programme Director (or any other member of the Doctoral Programme Committee)  their role is to monitor the progress of the student and his/her participation in Seminars and Workshops

 At the end of Year 1, students will be required to submit to their Supervisors, Assessor and MPhil/PhD Administrator the following:  A sample chapter (8,000 words) and a research proposal (2,500 words)  An abstract of the whole thesis (one page)  A chapter synopsis and timetable for completion (2 pages)  In the event of failure to pass the upgrade, the Review Panel can be reconvened only ONCE and the assessment following such extension will be FINAL

 At the end of the third year, students are to present their work to a panel consisting of a collective of doctoral supervisors  In preparation for the PUPP, students are required to submit: an abstract of the thesis, introduction, core chapter(s) of their thesis, and an annotated table of contents (including a timetable for expected completion of chapters)  Attendance to this workshop is limited to the third year (and four year, where relevant) students, their doctoral supervisors and interested European Institute staff  Each student is allocated minutes to present their work, followed by 15 minutes Q&A  This review is not a formal assessment; rather, its aim is to provide broader feedback to research students entering the final phase of their doctoral studies with a view to encourage the timely completion of the thesis

 Research methods and design training:  Research Methods and Design in European Studies (mandatory for 1 st year students)  Research Workshop in European Studies (mandatory for 2 nd and 3 rd year students)  Field seminars tailored to the needs of each individual student:  i.e. Concepts in Political Economy for all research students in the Political Economy stream; Political Economy and Public Policy Workshop for students with research interests in public policy and political economy  Relevant courses in the Library, Computer Centre and the Department of Methodology (i.e. Introduction to Quantitative Analysis; Qualitative Research Methods; Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher)  Workshops and seminars organised by the Teaching and Learning Centre (i.e. Getting published: Developing a publishing strategy; Getting published: Book publishing panel proposals review; Developing your academic writing

 The Doctoral Programme Committee (DPC)  The MPhil/PhD Staff Student Liaison Committee  It is chaired by an academic member of staff and includes student representatives from each cohort  The agenda is determined by the students  The Committee’s remit is to make recommendations where necessary to the DPC, or the Head of Institute, on any matters of general concern to the research students on the programme  The European Institute Research Committee  Membership is made up of Institute staff members and a representative of the doctoral students  Among its tasks are: organise and disseminate information regarding research and funding opportunities; Facilitate research on EI related issues and support its dissemination; Monitor and record the collective research activities of the EI; Facilitate the closer integration of research students within the EI research community; Be a focal point for dialogue about the EI’s research identity and any future research; Review and approve request for Visiting Fellowships within the EI

 Support and training for PhD students who teach:  Compulsory programme for new graduate teaching assistants  The ‘LSE Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education’ (PGCertHE)  Careers Adviser for PhD Students  Research Seminar:  Monthly interdepartmental research seminar jointly organised by the Government Department, the International Relations Department and the European Institute  Intends to provide a School wide forum for research on Europe, beyond the borders of the European Union and in all disciplines  European Institute Lunchtime Seminars (EILS) :  It serves to promote the exchange of ideas and arguments between research students and departmental staff regarding their work in progress in an informal setting  both staff members and research students can either present their work or act as a discussant for a topic related to their own research