Welcome to the LSE IR Department

• Teaching IR since 1927• One of the few free standing IR departments• Ranked 1st in the REF 2014• 41 Faculty, 200 UG students, 220 PG students, 60 PhD students• Diverse range of theoretical and empirical research and teaching

Welcome to university

• Independent study required…but you’re not alone!• Clarifications

• Programme (e.g. BSc International Relations)• Courses (e.g. IR100, IR200, etc.)• Terms: Michaelmas Term (Autumn), Lent Term (Spring),

Summer Term. • Units: full unit (MT+LT) or half unit courses (either MT or

LT)

Structure of your 1st Year

• IR100 International Relations: Theories, Concepts and Debates• IR101 Contemporary Issues in International Affairs• IR102 Thinking Internationally (non assessed)• One from:

• HY116 International History • HY113 From Empire to Independence: Extra European World

• One from: list of outside options (incl. language course)• LSE100 The Causes of Things (Lent Term)

Your Outside Option

• It can be the other HY course (HY113 or HY116)

• Or any of the courses included in the list of outside options for Year 1 (e.g. GV101, EH101, etc.)

• Or you can select a language degree course.

Note on Language courses

• You can take a degree language course (as an outside option and as part of your degree/transcripts). • If you pass one degree course each year on the same language at

consecutively harder levels, you can receive a language specialism (e.g. BSc in International Relations with French).

• Or you can take a non-degree language course (not part of your degree/transcripts). The IR Department offers a bursary to all BSc IR and BSc Politics & IR students to cover 50% of the costs of one non-degree language course (BSc IR and History need to apply via the IH Dept)

Course Selection

• To find more about the various courses, please check the official Course Guides on the LSE Calendar and the information on Moodle.

• Select your courses on LSE for You (LfY) by 5pm on 14 October 2019

• You will automatically be assigned to classes. Check Timetables for times and locations of lectures and classes. Personal timetable on LfY

Study & Learning

Format of Teaching

• Normally 1 lecture and 1 class per week for each course • Attendance at class is compulsory• Participation in class discussion• Class activities and other requirements (e.g. presentations)• Beyond the classroom: independent study, office hours &

meetings with the academic mentor

Format of Teaching

• Independent study is essential• You must read widely to be able to participate in class

discussions, write essays, and prepare for exams• Moodle website for each course

• Lecture and class topics, including notes and PowerPoint• Required and further readings• Essay topics

• Library: course collection and main collection

Coursework and Feedback

• Class participation and presentations • Formative essays: required but do not count towards your final

mark• Office hours• LSE for You: class reports

Assessment

• Assessed or summative coursework counts towards your final mark

• In some cases, class participation and presentations are assessed (e.g. IR101)

• Assessed essays • End of year exams

Support & Opportunities

Key Rules and Policies (important!)

• Can be found on both Moodle (IR BSc Programme Information) and on the LSE IR Department website (Current Students)

• IR Department approach to teaching and rules on assessment• Role of formative and summative assessment• Relevant rules, including rules on plagiarism, extensions, etc.• BSc marking criteria• Guidance on essay writing, exam tips

Academic Mentor (also important!)• Follows your overall academic progress, provides advice on and

approves course choices• Support on non-academic issues • More information on the Academic Mentoring Portal (link)• Meet at least twice a term (book appointments via Student Hub)• To break the ice, there will be two meetings in week 0-1 MT:

• A group meeting, together with the other first-year students assigned to that AM (‘academic mentoring group’)

• A 1:1 meeting during office hours (book via Student Hub)

Peer Study Groups (PSGs)

• Composed of 5-6 first-year students assigned to the same Academic Mentoring Group

• We encourage you to use PSGs to help you in these first weeks, to study and discuss course-related issues during the year.

• In Year 2, your PSG will undertake a project.• You will receive an email with more information

Other Academic and Pastoral SupportDisability and Wellbeing Office• Inclusion plans; confidential counselling

LSE LIFE• Study skills support; 1-2-1 qualitative & quantitative support

Language Centre (e.g. English language support)

Other students!• Peer Supporters Scheme (student wellbeing) • SAMs: Student Academic Mentors (coordinated by LSE Life)• Student Union (SU)

Opportunities in the Department

• Events: public lectures, Sphere of Influence, Wednesday Night Live!, book club, film screenings, Cumberland Lodge (away weekend)

• Grimshaw Club (the LSE’s IR society) and Millennium• Career support, e.g. internships• Want to know more? Make sure to attend the ‘Expanding Your Studies’

session on Friday

Comms and Information

• Email: please check your email regularly• Note: beware of phishing attempts; report anything you're not

sure about to LSE IT (Imt.infosec@lse.ac.uk)• Student Hub – download the app, search ‘International Relations’ • Student Handbook• IR Department Current Students webpage• Student WIRE – weekly student newsletter• Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Your voice

• Comments, compliments, and concerns• UG Student Experience Survey (Year 1 and 2)• National Student Survey (NSS) in Year 3• Town Halls• SSLC: Elections in Week 2, IR100 lecture

And finally……Collect your welcome pack • IR Dept, CBG Building, room 8.16• This week: Wednesday (3-4pm);

Thursday (4-5pm); Friday (1-2.30pm)

…IR Welcome Party!• Staff Common Room (5th Floor, Old

Building), Friday 27th September, 6.30pm. We hope to see you there!

Questions?