The International Master's in Economy, State and Society is a unique, innovative, dynamic yet firmly established postgraduate programme offered by a consortium of leading European universities. It leads to the award of a highly prestigious double degree. All students will spend their first year at UCL SSEES and their second year at a partner university of their choice. The programme combines rigorous research methods training, discipline-based and area studies training and intensive language tuition. Students develop cultural and linguistic knowledge of Eastern and Western Europe, and acquire the skills to identify and critically analyse key factors shaping the economies, states and societies of the expanding European region. All students will spend their first year at UCL SSEES and their second year at a partner university of their choice.

Graduates of this programme are qualified to progress to doctoral research in the European area; others may advance to careers in governmental or international organisations, and may specialise in finance, commerce, analysis or consultancy. Other destinations include careers in diplomacy, journalism, or in non-governmental organisations. Indeed, the scope of IMESS is broad and so too, correspondingly, are the post-IMESS possibilities.

Graduates of the programme have taken leadership positions in distinguished private and public sector organisations (including the IMF, EBRD, OSCE, NATO, United Nations, in risk control, banks and financial institutions, diplomacy and media, and the civil service) and many have also continued to doctoral studies. Scholarships, internship opportunities and excellent links with other universities in the region provide further benefits.