The Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences

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The Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences is a Russian-British postgraduate higher education institution that offers Masters degrees to students of the Russian Federation and other countries. It is a research-led institution, undertaking research in the social sciences at the highest levels of international standing.

The idea of creating a unique Russian-British postgraduate university belongs to Teodor Shanin.

The original aim of creating a "new type of university" has transformed itself into the related aim of sharing the School's experience of drawing on the best features of Russian and Western education systems to benefit the wider education community. Furthermore, the Moscow School is now positioning itself as an organisation which supports innovation in the Russian education system by trying out and introducing programmes, technologies and methods of work which are new to Russia. All the work of the Moscow School will be a graphic and true example of how the principles laid down in the Bologna Process can really be put into practice in the development of Russian higher education establishments. The ideas behind this new area of emphasis in the Moscow School's mission are outlined under the plans for future developments.

The Moscow School provides opportunities for graduates and young professionals from across Russia and the CIS to obtain an international standard of education, to have exposure to international academic networks and to obtain Western, as well as Russian, qualifications. The Moscow School also welcomes postgraduate students and scholars from outside Russia and the CIS.

Both Russian and British qualifications are available for taught postgraduate programmes. The Moscow School is licensed to award Russian Diplomas of Professional Retraining, Russian Masters degrees and UK Masters degrees. All students may obtain both Russian and British postgraduate qualifications”.

Six programmes are currently validated by the University of Manchester (UK) and lead to Masters degrees of the University of Manchester:

Master of Laws (LLM)
MA in Sociology
MA in Cultural Management
MA in Counselling
MEd in Education Policy and Management
MEd in Communications, Education and Technology

In 2006, the Russian Ministry of Science and Education accredited the following Russian Masters programmes for delivery at MSSES:

080500 – Management (“Management in the Public/Social Sector” part-time programme, “Project Management” part-time programme)
030300 – Psychology” (“Counselling” programme)
040100 – Sociology (“Current Methods and Approaches to the Study of Societal Problems”)
030500 – Law (“Civil Law, Family Law, International Private Law, Business Law, Commercial Law” programmes)

The School offers its students programmes at the highest international standards of post-graduate education, combining the best aspects of British and Russian academic traditions and using the latest teaching methods and learning facilities. It is regarded as vital that the content of programmes is relevant to the Russian context but also reflects international developments in the appropriate subject.

Most of the staff of the Moscow School are eminent Russian scholars who have considerable experience in their fields and have undertaken special training in leading British universities. External examiners and academic advisors from UK universities play a key role in the development and monitoring of programmes.