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Course Structure

The Polis consists of nine units, comprising seven taught units, a thesis and a graduation seminar. The course extends over twelve calendar months during which time students will study together at each of the four universities. The course begins in Brussels at the end of August and moves to Tilburg mid-October. Students study in Manchester from January until the end of March and then continue their studies in Helsinki from April until the end of June.

An induction programme is held in Brussels at the beginning of the course in which students will have the opportunity to meet staff from each of the institutions. The induction programme will cover all aspects of the student experience including the relationship between each block of academic study, evaluation and assessment procedures. A presentation of the thesis requirement will be made and the relationship between the individual student's thesis and the thesis project work will be outlined. Additionally the induction programme will introduce the arrangements made for the student's pastoral care, personal tutor system, welfare and accommodation arrangements.

Each of these four periods of study is identified as a study block. Students will take taught programmes in each of the study blocks and are assessed at the end of each block. An important component of blocks two, three and four is the cumulative and comparative analysis of the project research, also assessed at the end of each block. Such work will form an important part of the final thesis project which is completed after the fourth block of study. The graduation seminar is held in Brussels at the end of the programme.

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