Faculty of Political Science

Dean: Prof. Andrey Yu. Shutov

The tradition of education in the field of political science was set up in Russia in 1755, when the department of political science was founded by M.V. Lomonosov together with the first ten departments of Moscow University. In the early nineteenth century there was a faculty of ethical and political sciences at Moscow University which trained students in various areas: political science, diplomacy, political economy etc.

Modern political science has been taught at MSU since 1989, when it was introduced to the Russian universities’ register of specializations and the Department of Political Science was opened at the Faculty of Philosophy.

The Faculty of Political Science was founded in 2008 in accordance with the decision of MSU Academic Council.

The mission of the faculty is to train specialists on the basis of the classical university traditions combining them with modern international expertise and innovative research in the field of practical politics.

Our graduates are highly-qualified specialists majoring in various specific subjects that a degree in Political Science embraces.

Currently, the Faculty of Political Science has 7 departments:

• Department of history and theory of politics;
• Department of Russian politics;
• Department of history of socio-political doctrines;
• Department of sociology and psychology of politics;
• Department of comparative politics;
• Department of state politics;
• Department of international relations and integration processes.

The Faculty of Political Science successfully implements the entire range of educational programs: bachelor's, master's, postgraduate and doctoral studies, advanced training and preparatory courses for school students.

Our graduates are highly-qualified specialists majoring in various specific subjects that a degree in Political Science embraces. Our students specialize in the History and Theory of Politics, the History of Political Doctrines, Political Analysis and Forecasting, Comparative Politics, Political Conflictology, Political Sociology and Psychology, State Policy and Administration, World Politics, International Policy and Geopolitics, Political Processes in Russia, Electoral Systems and Election Processes, Political Informatics and Research and Information Analysis, Global Studies, Ecological Political Science.

Our curriculum includes the following blocks of disciplines:

• The Liberal Arts and Socioeconomic disciplines: Foreign Languages, Logic, Basics of Economics, Law, Theory and Practice of Argumentation, Microeconomics, Macroeconomic, etc. A course of one foreign language (English, German, or French) is obligatory, additional courses in other European languages and the English language in the sphere of professional communication are optional. Students may take up an optional course in translation: “English in the sphere of politics”, “Political Rhetoric: translation problems”, “Professional translation for politologists”.
• Science: Informatics and Basics of Programming, Mathematical Methods for Social Sciences and Humanities etc. Special stress is laid on methods and technologies of information processing.
• General professional disciplines: Theory of Politics, History of Political Doctrines, Political History of Russia, Political Relations and Processes in modern Russia, Political Analysis and Forecasting, Comparative Politics, World Politics and International Relations, Political Philosophy, Political psychology, Political Sociology, etc.
• Special professional disciplines: State Policy and Administration, Political Conflictology, Political Area Studies, Etnopolitology, etc.

We widely use innovative educational technologies, such as master classes of the leading specialists in the sphere of applied political science, business games, round-table discussions, students’ research projects and applications of modern interactive and multimedia technologies.

Senior students gain practical experience during their work placements and externships in the Presidential Administration, the RF Government, the State Duma, the Council of Federation, the Federal Assembly of RF, regional and local governmental institutions, offices of political parties and non-governmental organizations, information, analytical and PR-departments of leading Russian business corporations, political and consulting agencies, mass media, international organizations.

Our programs

Bachelor degree programs (in Russian) – 4 years:

• Political science
• Political management and public relations
• Political communication studies
• Economic policy of modern states
• Conflict management

Master degree programs – 2 years:

• Political science (in Russian)
• Conflict management (in Russian)
• Global Order: Transformations and Challenges (in English, in collaboration with MGIMO University)
• Post Soviet Public Policy (in English, in collaboration with MGIMO University)

Entrance exams

International applicants have to take the following entrance exams:

For bachelor degree programs:

• Russian as a foreign language (oral exam)
• History of Russia (oral exam)

For master degree programs:

• Political Science (oral/written exam)

Examination questions for admission to the 2020 master’s program in Political Science

Tuition free

Bachelor degree programs in 2020-21 RUR 417 020;

Master degree programs in 2020-21 RUR 426 220.

Admission