PEP is a young programme. It breathes, it lives, it changes. It changes with students and for students

Evgeny Ivanov, Alumnus 2017, post-graduate student, junior staff scientist of the Laboratory for Monitoring the Risks of Socio-Political Destabilization shares his impressions about the PEP programme.

Hello! My name is Evgeny Ivanov. This year I graduated from the master's programme 'Politics. Economics. Philosophy'. And I want to share my experience with those who are interested in the programme but have not decided yet whether they are on the right way.

Personally, I can’t say should one choose PEP or not. I can only explain motivation which induced me two years ago. If you will exhale lightly when you finish reading this opus then PEP is your programme. So, why?

Firstly, PEP implies interdisciplinarity. During your studies you will hear this word more than once or twice. In addition to strictly academic interdisciplinarity, there is an old good self-improvement in various fields. Professor Ilyin calls it ‘polymath’.Of course, you may ask me: "what is the difference between PEP and Political Science MA? My answer is "PEP provides an opportunity to try myself in something new." After 4 years of the hilarious "Political Science" bachelor's life I wanted to diversify my knowledge without losing my major. The special adaptation classes will be a good shake-up at the beginning of studying.

Secondly, "PEP" is a young programme. It breathes, it  lives, it  changes. It changes with students and for students.

Thirdly, English, English and, as Lenin wrote, English once again. In the modern world the speaking this lingua franca is not that competitive advantage as the basic necessity of any specialist.

Fourthly, PEP is open to the world. In my group there were guys from Africa, Europe and Asia. I’ve never met so bright, so close-knit and friendly collectives.

Of course, everyone is eager to know about career prospects? How will these two years of investment in knowledge pay off? I guess that many of you already know about David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Benazir Bhutto, Tony Abbott, Malala Yousafzai and other outstanding graduates of the PEPprogrammes. They managed to achieve such professional heights not only due to their education but thanks to their personal qualities too. Actually, PEP like any serious academic programme will not give you ready fish but will equip with first-class spinning.