In this programme, you will complete two full academic years, one at each university. This includes a Policy Incubator project at LSE, and a dissertation at Fudan.
First year, at LSE
The first year is spent at LSE, studying the MSc in the Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Fudan). You will take one unit of semi-compulsory courses and choose from a range of options up to the value of two units. In addition, you will complete a Policy Incubator project as part of your first-year studies.
(* denotes a half unit)
Two from the three options below:
Political Economy in Theory and History*
Explores how the relation between state and economy in both Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe has evolved over the post-war period and how historical political-economic development and theories of the political economy have interacted throughout that period.
Political Economy of Integration and Fragmentation in Europe*
Considers key contemporary questions for the political economy of Europe, especially in relation to recent and past crises of economic and political integration and the attempts to complete and reform the existing union.
Concepts in Political Economy*
Examines historical and current debates about the nature of political economy, the role of institutions and the pros and cons of different methodological approaches taken by political economists.
Additionally
Courses to the value of two units from a range of options
Policy Incubator
You will undertake a group project (in teams usually of 3 to 5 people) relating to a policy problem faced by an external organisation. Such organisations might be public sector bodies, companies operating in the public management or public policy sector, international organisations, think tanks and NGOs. You will then, individually, submit a full policy report in which you will discuss alternative policy options and evaluate your suggested policy solutions.
How do we know? An introduction to research design and methods in political economy (unassessed)
This course raises awareness for ontological and epistemological challenges in political economy and offers guidance on how to develop research questions. It further introduces students to the logic of case study research, most similar and most dissimilar research designs and offers an introduction into the logic of quantitative methods and notably regression analysis.
Engaging with Europe: Professional Skills (unassessed)
This is a programme of guest lectures from distinguished outside speakers, including business leaders and policy-makers and is designed for your professional development.
Mandarin language course
Students on this programme who are not native Mandarin-speakers are eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of taking a Mandarin language course via the LSE Language Centre’s non-degree language standard course offering. Mandarin courses are offered to help non-native speakers in their second year of the programme. Students may not take an alternative language (e.g. French, German, Arabic, etc.) in place of Mandarin.
For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.
You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that 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 events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.
You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. 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.
Second year, at Fudan
You will join the Master of Management Science in Public Policy, and be expected to write and orally defend your thesis during the second year.
Note, the below course listings are for indicative purposes only, and subject to change.
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Category
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Title
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Credits
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Basic courses (7 credits)
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Chinese Government and Governance
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3
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Chinese language I and II
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4 (2+2)
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Core courses (12 credits required, with the option of transferring 3 credits from LSE)
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International Relations of China
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3
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Chinese Public Policy
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3
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Policy and Program Evaluation
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3
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Global Public Policy
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3
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Practical Research Methods in Public Policy
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3
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Elective courses (12 credits) – (Option to transfer some credits for these courses from LSE)
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Environmental Policy in China
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2
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Institutions and Public Policy
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3
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Public Economics
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3
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Global Political Economy
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3
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Political Economy of China
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3
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Digital Government in China
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2
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Corruption and Governance in Comparative Perspective
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2
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Global Sustainable Development
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2
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Health and Social Policy
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3
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Social Problems and Social Innovations
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3
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Urban Society and Public Policy
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3
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Chinese Society and Social Policy
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3
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Academic Activities (2 credits)
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Academic activities
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2
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Social Practices (1 credits)
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Social practice
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1
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Basic and Core course details
Chinese Government and Governance (3 credits)
This course is designed to enhance the students' understanding of the history, context, and current issues of public administration in China, with a focus on changes since 1978. Core issues of China's public sector, such as party-state relation, reform path since 1978, developmental state phenomenon, intergovernmental relations, government-business relation, government-society relation, civil service reform, corruption/anti-corruption, and China's engagement in global governance, will be discussed. Besides obtaining knowledge of China's public sector, students are expected to develop capacities to analytically write and debate China's governance issues.
Chinese language I and II (2+2 credits)
Students need to elect two Chinese language courses from among courses at basic, intermediate, and/or advanced levels. (Exemption provided for native speakers, who are PRC nationals)
International Relations of China (3 credits)
This course will examine the causes of China's changes in its foreign policy goals, values, and strategies and how these changes have reshaped China's foreign policies and international relations. Beyond these general analyses, the course will discuss important themes and topics in China's international relations such as Sino-US relation, China's relation with Zhoubian countries, decision making and implementation systems, global economic and environmental strategies, etc. The course intends to explore as a global player how China has exercised its comprehensive powers in ways to achieve its goals.
Chinese Public Policy (3 credits)
The course is designed to develop student's skills to analyze complex policy problems in the modern Chinese contexts. Students are trained to critically think the necessity, appropriate forms, and effects of governmental intervention into public issues; to apply analytical methods and techniques to specific policy problems; and to understand the multiple factors that affect Chinese government's decision making, implementation, and evaluation. The course will expose students to policy analysis issues contingent on contextual factors.
Policy and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
This course will provide students with an introduction on theories of program evaluation, evaluation design, and a variety of methods used to assess public programs and policies. Students in the course will learn how to distinguish high quality from low quality evaluations. They will also learn how to conduct and design evaluations, and how to employ tools to measure whether programs and policies have achieved their objectives. Much emphasis of this course will be on basic program theories, designing evaluative research, and specific analytical tools, both quantitative and qualitative.
Global Public Policy (3 credits)
This course is designed to examine general trends of public policy with a comparative and global perspective. The course intends to disclose the commonalities, differences, competition, and cooperation in global policy practices. Consequently, the course will examine policy learning and diffusion, regional and global policy cooperation, global policy actors and institutions, global civil service, agenda setting and policy making, and comparative policies, etc. The course will do case studies in areas like international environmental regime, crime-control cooperation, social policy, and industrial policy, etc.
Practical Research Methods in Public Policy (3 credits)
This course provides a hands-on introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods in social sciences, especially in Public Policy. This course is composed of three modules, an introduction to quantitative research methods, that to qualitative research methods and thesis writing. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the major approaches in Public Policy to the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and the specification and testing of hypotheses. The course covers the logic of scientific inquiry and various research techniques. Multiple research tools used to conduct empirical analyses in Public Policy would be introduced, such as STATA.