Masters Degree in the Social Sciences
Transformation in the South Caucasus
Call for Applications In Partnership with OSI and Tbilisi State University, the Centre for Social Sciences requests applications for their cross-regional English language masters degree Transformation in the South Caucasus.
Study regional and international politics and the social sciences in an international and cross-disciplinary setting.
Obtain a Masters degree from one of the most progressive teaching centres in the region affiliated to Tbilisi State University.
Gain knowledge and professional skills vital for work in government, the NGO sector and research.
Students from Armenia and Azerbaijan are provided with finances to cover accommodation, living expenses and travel.
Degree Offered The degree requires 120 ECTS credits and will take one and half calendar years (Sept 2006 to January 2007). The first year will be spent studying taught courses of regional relevance intended to develop the analytical, evaluative and presentational skills necessary for working in the government, the NGO sector or in the research community.
Classes will be small (less than 20 students) and will include lectures and seminars given by international staff who have considerable academic and practical experience working in the University, in NGOs, think tanks and Government. Teaching will be collaborative, student-centred and skill-based.
The program involves a mandatory course in Academic Writing and Research Methods. In addition the students can choose from courses on International Relations, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies, Nationalism, Foreign Policy Analysis, Transitional Economics, Public Policy, International Political Economy and Post-Soviet History.
Following the summer exams the students will have six months to complete a dissertation and a two month internship.
The Centre for Social Sciences The first year of the course will be taught at the Centre of Social Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. This is one of the key focal points of higher educational reform in Georgia. Based in the centre of the city it has state-of-the- art facilities available to students including:
a lecture theatre equipped with computer projector and electronic white board
a library with over five thousand volumes of academic literature in the social sciences, history and philosophy
a computer room with 10 DSL networked computers (one for every six students)
photocopy and printing facilities
Costs and Financial Support Available Students from Georgia no fees
Students from Armenia, Azerbaijan and the other regions of the Caucasus will be charged no fees and will receive the following funds for 10 months study in Tbilisi
Accommodation $150 per month
Living stipend $200 per month
travel to/from Tbilisi $80 per person per year
Other International Students: 4500 Lari approx $2500
Requirements for Applicants
All nationalities will be considered, particularly those from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as those in the disputed territories of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the social sciences or humanities. This would include applied subjects like law, journalism, business or economics as well as the obvious categories of sociology, political science, international relations, public policy, history, cultural studies etc.
A very good understanding of English, both written and spoken.
Personal Qualities Given the makeup of the student body possibly the most important characteristic of potential applicants is a willingness to consider points of view that are different to their own.
We would encourage applicants to seriously reflect upon whether they would be happy to calmly discuss highly sensitive political issues with students from states and ethnic groups with whom they may consider themselves opposed.
Application Materials 1. Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae
2. A personal statement of not more than 400 words detailing
your reasons for wanting to take part in this course what you feel you would get from the course personally and professionally
what the course will allow you to contribute to your country’s development
3. Copies of applicant’s academic degree documents (copies of diplomas and transcripts) . If application is sent electronically, these documents can be provided at Interview.
Timetable for Applications The deadline for this first round of applications is the 15th September 2006 with an
expectation that applicants will be examined between 18-22 September.
Further Information On the Centre for Social Sciences and the program can be found at www.ucss.ge
Initial queries can also be made directly to the Director of Academic Programmes Giorgi Khelashvili at gkhelashvili@ ucss.ge Tel: (995 32) 252781
Applications can be sent to: George Khelashvili, Director of Academic Programmes, Centre for Social Sciences, 10, Chovelidze St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia. Or electronically to gkhelashvili@ ucss.ge
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