Admission requirements
This compulsory course is only available for students in the MA Russian and Eurasian Studies.
Description
The research in Russian and Eurasian Studies carried out at Leiden University reflects a variety of disciplines, each which their own methodologies - sometimes overlapping, sometimes contrasting. The aim of this compulsory MARES course is to present all students with an overview of the fields of Russian and Eurasian studies in which specialists at Leiden work, which can include politics and economics, international relations, history, literature, culture and linguistics.
These disciplines will each be introduced in their own dedicated seminar by a leading Leiden scholar in the relevant field during the first block of the course. Presenting scholars will pay particular attention to current debates in the Russian and Eurasian context, the sources that are available to conduct research in the region, and the methodologies that can be applied. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on these methodologies and consider which may be best suited for their own thesis projects.
In the second block of the semester, students will choose one of the disciplinary fields presented for a further three workshops with the relevant scholar(s), in order to plan the research necessary for their own MA thesis. In these workshops, they will discuss in more detail the approaches and method(s) that can be used in empirical research in relation to the key debates in their chosen field. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to conduct research for their MA thesis in Russian and Eurasian Studies.
Course objectives
The purpose of the course is to prepare students academically to engage in scholarly research in Russian and Eurasian Studies. After successfully completing this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
A multidisciplinary understanding of current issues and debates in the main disciplines of Russian and Eurasian Studies (politics and economics, international relations, history, literature, culture and linguistics.);
The ability to operate a scientific conceptual apparatus and to employ relevant and appropriate modern research methods in the field of Russian and Eurasian Studies;
The ability to critically reflect on differing opinions and hypotheses as well as on one’s own research, taking into account and weighing alternative arguments;
The ability to communicate the scientific knowledge and skills that are characteristic of graduates of the master’s degree programme Russian and Eurasian Studies.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lectures and discussion seminars.
Assessment method
25% written Research Proposal (1000 words)
75% written Literature Review (4000 words)
Both of these assignments are intended to serve as the basis for a student’s MA thesis, which will be written in the second semester of the MARES programme.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
If both the grade for the Literature Review and the final weighted grade are below satisfactory (i.e., below 5.5), then the Literature Review may be rewritten and resubmitted as a ‘resit’ for reevaluation. Students have two weeks from the date of receipt of an insufficiently marked Literature Review to resubmit for reevaluation and regrading.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
To be announced in the course syllabus.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturers listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).