Politics

Entry requirements

Admission to the PhD programme is normally based on a good performance at undergraduate level (usually a 2:1 or a First) and a Masters degree with a minimum 60% award mark; at least one of these will be in a social science-related subject. In exceptional cases, the Department may consider students from non-social science backgrounds, where the student can clearly demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge and this is supported by academic references.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The Department of Politics and International Relations is home to a prestigious, lively and international research community. Our staff are committed to both research of the highest standards and to applying their knowledge to contemporary issues.

Your research should align with the expertise of a particular member of staff. We welcome PhD applications in any of our current research clusters.

Our vibrant community of academic staff, research staff and PhD students is organised across five research clusters. These research clusters provide disciplinary focus. They also encourage a high level of collaboration across areas in which we have outstanding strength. Our research clusters include:

• Comparative Politics
• International Studies
• Political Economy & Development
• Political Theory
• Public Policy

You'll be integrated into the Department of Politics and International Relations as a research collaborator and colleague. PhD students are active participants in one or more of our research clusters, which bring together staff and research student PhD students also regularly get involved in our cross-disciplinary research centres.

Expert supervisors will support you throughout the PhD, providing one-to-one academic advice, mentoring and guidance. You'll also benefit from the advice and support of other academic staff in department who will be involved in your Thesis Advisory Panel and in overseeing your progression through the PhD.

The focus of your work will be an independent, original research project. You'll work towards a monograph-style thesis or a thesis-by-papers. You'll also complete an oral viva examination after submitting your thesis.