IMESS – International Masters in Economy, State and Society

IMESS (International Masters in Economy, State and Society) is the leading two-year double degree programme in comparative area studies, that helps you develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Baltics and Russia.

In the first year of the programme, you will be studying in London at UCL (University College London), where you will have the opportunity to choose from 4 tracks out of which 3 (Economics and Business, Politics and the International Economy, Politics and Security) are also being taught at Corvinus University. An integral part of the programme is studying a language of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region of which at Corvinus you can choose between Hungarian and Russian.

The recommendation is that prospective students choose the Economics and Business (EB) track who are interested in the application of economic methods to cases from Central and Eastern Europe. For instance, analysing the determinants of why Foreign Direct Investment moves into the CEE region. We recommend that you choose the Politics and the International Economy (PIE) track if you are more interested in issues, which are connected to political economy, such as the impact of the Belt and Road initiative on CEE countries. Our third track, Politics and Security (PS), we recommend to students who wish to understand the political and security situation in the CEE region. For instance, investigating causes of war and peace, or the lives of minorities in CEE countries.

The teaching curricula at Corvinus is delivered mainly by two departments (Department of World Economy and Department of International Relations): those who choose the EB and the PIE track will receive a degree of “MSc in International Economy and Business”, while those who choose the PS track will receive a degree of “MA in International Relations”.

Please read below a sample of courses which are offered in the second year at Corvinus University.

TRACK: ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

• Comparative and Institutional Economics
• Competitiveness and Capital Flows in the World Economy
• Development and Crises in East Central Europe
• Development Economics II – Institutions and Development
• Economics of Global and European Integration
• Financial Institutions and Markets in Developing Countries 3
• Global Development and Growth
• Global Development Institutions and Aid Policies
• Global Political Economy
• Globalization and inequality
• International Business Economics
• International Trade Policy
• Regional Economics
• World Economics
• World Economics II.
• + 1elective for 6 ECTS or two electives for 3 ECTS

Compulsory modules:

• Dissertation Seminar 1, 2, and
• Research Design and Methods for World Economics and
• Research Design for International Economic Analysis

+ Thesis (30 ECTS)

Those completing the track will receive an “MSc in International Economy and Business”

TRACK: POLITICS AND SECURITY

• History of European Political Thought
• International Conflicts and Crises in the Post-Bipolar World
• Theory of International Relations
• Non-State Actors of World Politics
• Human rights
• Sustainability and Green Geopolitics
• Foreign Policy of China
• US Studies
• Middle Eastern Political Systems
• International Organisations and Multilateral Diplomacy
• Public Policy
• Peace, Security and Conflict Studies
• Diplomacy in practice
• European Union Studies
• Crisis in Europe
• + 1 elective for 6 ECTS or two electives for 3 ECTS

Compulsory modules:

• Depending on the first-year modules completed at UCL, you may be asked to complete one or all of the courses below:
  • Comparative Foreign Policy
  • International Development and Assistance
  • International Law in Practice I
  • International Law in Practice II
  • Global Challenges
• Plus:
  • Dissertation Seminar 1, 2, and
  • Research Design and Methods for World Economics and
  • Research Design for International Economic Analysis and
  • Academic Writing and Communication

+ Thesis (30 ECTS)

Those completing the track will receive an “MA in International Relations”

 The research design and academic writing classes can be validated if you have completed something similar during your Bachelor studies.

TRACK: POLITICS AND THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY                                               

• Business Strategies in CEE
• Central and Eastern Europe from a Global Perspective
• Comparative and Institutional Economics
• Competitiveness and Capital Flows in the World Economy
• Current issues of Emerging and Developing Economies
• Data Analysis for World Economics
• Development and Crises in East Central Europe
• Development Economics II – Institutions and Development
• Economic, Political and Social Processes in Latin-America
• Economics of Global and European Integration
• Financial Institutions and Markets in Developing Countries
• Global Development and Growth
• Global Development Institutions and Aid Policies
• Global Political Economy
• Globalization and inequality
• International Business Economics
• International Trade Policy
• Migration Studies
• Quantitative methods in World Economy
• Regional Economics
• Strategic Directions in International and Emerging Markets
• World Economics
• World Economics II.
• + 1 elective for 6 ECTS or 2 electives for 3 ECTS

Compulsory modules:

• Dissertation Seminar 1, 2, and
• Research Design and Methods for World Economics and
• Research Design for International Economic Analysis

+ Thesis (30 ECTS)

Those completing the track will receive an “MSc in International Economy and Business”

 The research design classes can be validated if you have completed something similar during your Bachelor studies.

Please note that all classes are subject to change and availability.