Czech Republic visa restrictions for Russian and Belarusian nationals
Due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic has placed restrictions on visa services for nationals of Russia and Belarus.
Russian and Belarusian nationals who wish to apply for the IMSISS programme should be aware that, unless they are subject to an exemption listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, they will be refused entry to the Czech Republic for the mobility period at Charles University Prague.
We ask any Russian and Belarusian prospective applicants to familiarise themselves with Czech visa regulations and any announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Please consider these restrictions before applying to participate in the IMSISS programme.
For more information on the restrictions in place and any exemptions to these, please see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
International Women's Day - Inspiring Alumni From Each Of Our Partners
Yesterday was International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8 every year.
There is much to celebrate about women’s achievements, and yet there is still more we can all do, women and allies alike, to #EmbraceEquity and ensure that we build a world for those that come after us that is evermore diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
We’ve compiled a list of successful women in various fields who’ve graduated from each of our partner universities below.
Marion Gilchrist, University of Glasgow
Marion Gilchrist was the first woman to graduate from the University of Glasgow in 1894, and the first woman in Scotland to graduate with a medical degree, despite medicine being considered an ‘unfeminine’ subject at the time.
She worked as a GP in Glasgow, specialising in eye diseases, and was also an early motoring enthusiast, having a garage on Ashton Lane. She was also a leading figure in the UK suffragette movement, but change took time: it would be 34 years after Marion graduate that women were finally granted full voting rights.
Angela Nagle, Dublin City University
An alumna of Dublin City University, Angela Nagle is an American-born Irish academic and non-fiction writer who was written for numerous publications including The Baffler and Jacobin. She authored the book “Kill All Normies”, published in 2017, which discusses the role of the internet in the rise of the alt-right and incel movements. Nagle describes the alt-right as a dangerous movement, but she also criticizes aspects of the left that have, she says, contributed to the alt-right’s rise. She completed her PhD at DCU with a thesis titled ‘An investigation into contemporary online anti-feminist movements’
Rosy Bindi, University of Trento
Maria Rosaria Bindi, best known as Rosy Bindi, is an Italian politician and the former President of the Antimafia Commission. From 1984 to 1989, she was Vice-President of Azione Cattolica, the most popular Catholic lay association Italy, before joining the Christian Democracy Party. After that part’s dissolution, she joined the Italian People’s Party and became a leading figure in Romano Prodi’s left-to-centre ‘Olive Tree’ coalition. Following that coalition’s election victory, she served as Minister of Health for four years in successive governments.
Eliška Krásnohorská, Charles University
An alumna of Charles University, Eliška Krásnohorská was a Czech feminist author and the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Charles University in 1922. She wrote works of literary criticism, children’s literature and translations, and numerous libretti (texts written for opera performances). She wrote for four operas by Bedřich Smetana: The Kiss, The Secret, The Devil’s Wall and Viola. In 1873, she founded the women’s magazine ‘Ženské listy’, which she led until 1912. She also established the first Czech grammar school for girls in 1890.
DCU Students Attend EuroSim in Wales
Last month, IMSISS students Karolin Vanessa Rippich and Coraline Patars represented IMSISS and Dublin City University (DCU) at 2023’s EuroSim taking place in Newport, Wales. Read below to hear about their experience.
“It was a great honour to represent IMSISS and Dublin City University (DCU) at 2023’s EuroSim taking place in Newport, Wales, in my role as Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan.
Negotiating regulations to cushion the emerging burdens of increased EU climate action on vulnerable households across Europe as part of the “amending” of the legislative proposal for the European Social Climate Fund was a challenging yet educational endeavour.
As someone not coming from a political science or international relations background, participating in one of the world’s largest simulations of decision-making processes in the European Union was particularly insightful. Not only did I improve my knowledge of the inner workings of the EU but got to (partially) experience and shape them myself.
I also very much enjoyed the opportunity to not only gain hands-on experience in terms of the preparatory nature of such conferences and official meetings but also the diplomatic tools required to make things happen. Apart from enhancing our oral communication skills through debate, negotiation, and compromise with other participants, we also had the chance to practice our research and organisational skills.
Engaging with numerous talented people from around the world was particularly interesting when discussing EU political and climate issues. Our diverse cultural and academic backgrounds unquestionably expanded the scope of our debates and had us look at the issues at hand from different perspectives. Getting to know Wales and being introduced to Welsh history and culture as a part of this experience was equally enriching.
Thus, I would, once again, like to extend my gratitude to the team at DCU for inviting/enabling us to participate in this year’s EuroSim.”
Karolin Vanessa Rippich
“In January I had the privilege to participate and contribute to the Wales EuroSim 2023 event as a representative of the Dublin City University. Bringing together over two hundred students from Europe and North America, this annual European Union simulation is a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a decision-maker.
In my role as Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, I negotiated within a simulated European Council. It was fun, sometimes stressful as you want to engage and be prepared but, honestly, a great experience. The key topics of this year’s negotiation were energy security, financing, affordability of domestic sourcing and foreign policy coordination. We had insightful discussions on specific policies such as the REPowerEU Plan and the European Green Deal.
Beyond strengthening my knowledge of international law and the EU decision-making process, participating in this conference allowed me to enhance several soft skills such as cooperating, debating, speaking in public and problem solving. EuroSim was also a great opportunity to get to know students from across the world, with very diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.
I want to thank the University of South Wales for welcoming and introducing us to the history and culture of their country, as well as the Dublin City University for giving me this amazing opportunity. It was nice to be part of such an international, passionate and ambitious group of students. If asked: “Would you do it again?” – the answer is definitely YES.”
Coraline Patars
2020-2022 Cohort Graduation Ceilidh
At the end of November the 2020-2022 IMSISS Graduates had a ceilidh to celebrate their achievements a day after their graduation ceremony. It was great to have so many of them here in Glasgow to celebrate. Ceilidhs are traditional Scottish social gatherings that involve dancing and Gaelic folk music and a great time was had by all of us.
You should all be so proud of your achievements, particularly the resilience you all displayed in completing your studies and supporting each other through a pandemic.
Congratulations again to every one of you on this wonderful achievement and we wish you all the very best in whatever you do next.
We’d like to thank Jack Donaghy Photography for the excellent photos from the night. You can view all the photos below.
Click to watch our video from the night
Applications for 2023 entry
Applications for entry to the IMSISS programme in September 2023 and Erasmus Mundus scholarship competition will open on Saturday, 1 October 2022.
Erasmus Mundus scholarship applications closed on Friday, 13th January 2023. The application deadlines for self-funded students are as follows:
International/EU applications: 26th July 2023
Home (UK) applications: 31st August 2023
We look forward to receiving more top-quality applications this year. All details on how to apply can be found on our website – see the Apply section and the Scholarships & Fees section.
IMSISS Teams Competed at Cyber 9/12 Geneva Strategy Challenge
The Cyber 9/12 Geneva Strategy Challenge is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the policy challenges associated with an escalating cyber incident and potential cyber conflict.
This year the competition was held online over two days, with two IMSISS teams competing: Cyberians and HTTP418 . The teams were formed by students from the 2018/2020 and the 2019/2021 cohorts. DCU Lecturer, Dr Erika Biagini, coached the teams.
Team HTTP418 were successful in advancing to the second round of the competition.
This was an experience cherished by our students, who work successfully as a team and explore the challenges of cyber security.
More Information
For more information on the competition, follow the Geneva Centre for Security and Policy on Twitter and check out their website. IMSISS is committed to coaching and presenting teams to the Cyber 9/12 competitions each year (although participation is not guaranteed). There is no fee to compete in the competition, but IMSISS aims to help a select number of students participate in this competition each year. This year we also submitted teams to the UK competition.
UofG Alumni Discount
The University of Glasgow has announced a 20% discount (previously 10%) on full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni enrolled on a programme for September 2020 entry.
This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow.
The discount applies to the IMSISS Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree, with the 20% discount of the fees being applied both for Year 1 and Year 2 of the programme. This discount can be awarded alongside other University scholarships.
To be eligible, students must:
- Have graduated from the University of Glasgow OR
- Completed a Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow
- Be enrolled on the IMSISS Programme
- Be self funded.
The discount is applied at registration. No additional application is required.
See more information on the University of Glasgow website.
Obituary - Mohamed Dabo (IMSISS Student)
The IMSISS Consortium, including the School of Social and Political Sciences (University of Glasgow), the School of Law and Government (Dublin City University) and the Department of Security Studies (Charles University in Prague) are very sorry to hear of the death of Mo (Mohamed) Dabo, who was a student on the International Masters in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (IMSISS). Our sadness is shared by colleagues and students across the programme, including associated partners.
Mo was from Sierra Leone and was the first student from there to study on the IMSISS programme. He was due to graduate from the degree this summer (2020) and since returning home earlier this year had been working for the Sierra Leone government in the Disaster Management Department, advising members of parliament on the establishment of a National Disaster Management Agency. He had most recently been working on the national response to COVID19, building on his knowledge of the national response to the previous Ebola outbreak, which had been the subject matter of his degree dissertation.
Mo listed his interests as African Security, Energy Security, Migration, Public Health Emergency, ICTs, Disaster Risk Management and Security Sector Reform. These clearly informed his engagement with his studies and the opportunities he pursued as part of his degree. His account of his time at the 2018 Geneva Summer School on Global and Regional Migration Governance can be read at the IMSISS website. During the summer of 2019 Mo attended events at Chatham House, about which he was interviewed, and in autumn also participated in the first AU-EU African Students and Alumni Forum in Ghana.
During his final year, Mo also visited New York City as part of his studies to intern with the United Nations’ Office for Information and Communication Technology, which was important to his concerns to improve security in Africa as he believed that “technology will play a great role in liberating Africa and empowering youth”. Going the UN and attending the General Assembly were considered by Mo to be among his lifetime achievements. His work there included contributing to Sierra Leone’s mission at the Assembly, as well as working on the UN’s Reboot the Earth campaign, and learning about supply chain for peacekeepers in Africa. Omar Mohsine, his supervisor at the UN, wrote that “We are very saddened by his sudden passing. He was so full of life, such an amazing spirit. We will deeply missed him and his contagiously good mood and smiles. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. We are very thankful that we had the opportunity to work with Mo and meet him.” At he end of his internship in New York, Mo also met the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, which he described as a “golden opportunity” and a photo of which he pinned on his Twitter feed.
It was a pleasure to meet with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on his THANK YOU tour #UNOICT #UNDP #SierraLeone #UNTIL #AfricanUnion #ECOWAS #ErasmusPlus #UoG #ErasmusIMSISS pic.twitter.com/ow2DHtEWnv
— Mo (@Dabomed) October 2, 2019
Mo will be remembered by his teachers and student peers as an individual who was enthusiastic and unabashedly friendly, with genuine ambition to return home and play a role supporting the future development of Sierra Leone. It is with great sadness that he will be unable to continue with that ambition, but hopefully he will become an inspiration to others who will follow in his footsteps.
We wish to pass on our condolences to Mo’s family and friends.
Dr Eamonn Butler McIntosh (University of Glasgow)
Dr James Fitzgerald (DCU)
Dr Vít Střítecký (Charles University)
Update on English Language Requirements for 2020 Entry
As English language testing centres in different countries are currently closed, there has been concern around the ability to demonstrate that the English language requirement has been met.
The Consortium has agreed to offer some flexibility which we hope will reassure offer holders and new applicants of their ability to meet these requirements.
IELTS
- Where an offer holder has taken two IELTS tests within 6 months of each other, and through a combination of these tests has met the English language requirements, the University will accept the combined scores.
- The validity of an IELTS test will be extended from 2 years and 5 months prior to the date of entry to 4 years 5 months.
- We are currently reviewing the new Indicative Test offered by IELTS and will update on this in due course.
TOEFL
- The University of Glasgow will accept the TOEFL At Home test at our usual TOEFL scores.
- We will also accept TOEFL MyBest.
- The validity of a TOEFL test will be extended from 2 years and 5 months prior to the date of entry to 4 years 5 months.
Duolingo
Duolingo will be accepted for entry to our Pre-Sessional English and degree level programmes with standard English language requirements with the following scores:
- 115 – direct entry to degree programme
- 105 – direct entry to degree programme with compulsory in-sessional English support
- 100 – entry to the 5 week online Pre-Sessional English course
- 95 – entry to the 10 week online Pre-Sessional English course
Other qualifications
- We already accept BALEAP-accredited online and offline Pre-Sessional programmes at other UK institutions.
- Where an offer holder has studied at least two years of an undergraduate degree in English in a country which speaks English as a primary language or at an institution in their home country on a Trans-National Education opportunity, and has successfully passed that degree, no further evidence of English language will be required.
- Where an offer holder has studied a postgraduate degree taught fully in English at an overseas institution based in their home country, and has successfully passed that degree, no further evidence of English language will be required.
- In some cases, we will accept an English language qualification taken in the applicant’s home country; e.g. WAEC, Indian CSE. For further information on whether we will accept a specific qualification please contact the International Recruitment Officer for that region. You can find details of named contacts through the University of Glasgow country pages.
Where an offer holder is unsure whether their English language meets the entry requirements, they are encouraged to contact the Admissions Team with evidence of their existing achievement for assessment at pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk
The above measures are in response to the issues around the Coronavirus epidemic and the difficulties it has brought, and are not intended to reflect a change in admissions policies generally. These measures will be applicable for autumn 2020 entry only, and will be reviewed for Autumn 2021 entry.
Full information at English Language for 2020 Entry
See English Language proficiency level for programme entry on the Entry Requirements section.
New book by Prof. Pejman Abdolmohammadi (University of Trento)
We are glad to announce the new book Contemporary Domestic and Foreign Policies of Iran by Prof. Pejman Abdolmohammadi (University of Trento), co-authored with Prof. Giampiero Cama (University of Genova). The book has been published by Palgrave-Mcmillan, as part of the Middle East Today book series.
Dr Pejman Abdolmohammadi
This book is a comprehensive analysis of the domestic and foreign politics of Iran, focusing on its complex nature from political, social and cultural perspectives. It has adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining comparative politics and intellectual and modern history with international relations. It analyses the institutional structure of the Islamic Republic, the main political and social actors and alliances, as well as Iranian opposition forces both inside and outside the country. The book tries to simplify the seemingly intractable complexity of the Islamic Republic by demystifying it and using political science methods to prove that it is a peculiar hybrid regime.
Dr Pejman Abdolmohammadi is a Senior Assistant Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at the School of International Studies, leading the Causes of Conflict Pathway at the University of Trento.