Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Government

Shortlist

# =32QS Subject Rankings

24 monthsProgram duration

PoliticsMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Politics

Study Level

PHD

Students are expected to acquire a thorough knowledge of the discipline, including substantial theoretical, conceptual, and substantive competence in a major subject; to provide a clear demonstration of the methodological, linguistic, and other skills needed to conduct original scholarly research; and to acquire at least one semester's experience as a teaching assistant. Students who have not had equivalent course work are expected to take three of the four field seminars in the major subjects. Numerous interdisciplinary programs are available, and include the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research, the Peace Studies Program, the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and various area programs. Early in their first semester, doctoral students meet with the director of graduate studies and several faculty members to discuss the first year's program. At the end of the first year, students form their Special Committee, which guides and supervises subsequent academic preparation and dissertation research. By the end of the third year of residence, or sooner if possible, students are expected to have taken the Admission to Candidacy examination. The exam is given in three parts: a written exam in the student's major and minor subjects; an extended research paper in the student's specialized field of interest; and an oral exam conducted by the Special Committee. The written exam is normally taken before the end of the second year; the oral exam, at the beginning of the third. At the oral exam, the student presents a thesis proposal outlining the hypothesis, data, methods, and resources needed to carry out the dissertation research.

Program overview

Main Subject

Politics

Study Level

PHD

IELTS

Students must have a Honor's Level BA; Honor's Level BSc.

Program Duration

2 Years

Starting Month(s)

Jan-2000

Tuition fee and scholarships

Tuition Fee
Scholarships

Domestic Students

Tuition Fee/year

0 USD

Tuition Fee (Out of State)

International Students

Tuition Fee/year

0 USD

Other Expenses

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

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How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

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More programs from the university

Cornell University offers 80 undergraduate majors and 122 minors; a few of which are interdisciplinary or dual degree programs. To give you a sense of the type of programs Cornell University offers, here’s a selection of a few of their programs:

Feminist, gender and sexuality studies
Environmental engineering
Fiber science and apparel design
Global and public health sciences
Government
Policy analysis and management
Urban and regional studies.

All students, including internationals, are required to sit the SATs (that is, even if they’ve taken A levels or the International Baccalaureate). To apply, you would also need to submit English proficiency test results. Aim to score at least 100 in the internet-based exam, or 600 in the paper based exam in your TOEFL or at least 7 in the IELTS.

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Cornell University offers a wide range of interesting graduate fields of study, including:

Asian literature, religion and culture
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Film and video studies
Medieval studies
Operations research and information engineering
Peace studies and peace sciences.

At graduate level, cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, book and supplies and room and board, ranges between US$ 29,500 and US$ 102,652. That being said, 97% of PhD students at Cornell University living on-campus receive funding covering their tuition, fees, health insurance and a stipend from the university.