Political Science MPhil/PhD 36 months PHD Programme By UCL |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# 22QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

36 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

29,800 GBPTuition Fee/year

Main Subject Area

PoliticsMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Politics

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

UCL's PhD programme in political science is one of the most competitive in Europe. Small cohorts receive extensive training to prepare for senior positions in research, teaching, or applied work in government, international organisations, private firms, and the third sector.

The department welcomes research in all the major sub-fields of political science. This includes international relations, political economy, public policy and management, legal and political theory, comparative politics, and data analysis. 

Academic staff have a strong record of research and publication within all the main subfields of politics, including:

  • British politics: constitutional and parliamentary reform; devolution; electoral participation; alternative electoral systems.
  • Comparative politics and government: democratisation; the politics of ethnicity; political campaigns and electoral behaviour; comparative urban, rural, and local politics; public opinion.
  • EU politics and public policy: decision-making and institutions; regulation and delegation; lobbying; constitutionalism; citizenship and democracy.
  • Human rights: human rights and globalisation; theories of human rights and justice; adjudication and interpretation; democracy, religion and human rights; global poverty and human rights; militias, non-state actors.
  • International relations: international peace and security; globalisation and global governance; international migration; international finance; international trade and investment.
  • Political economy: distributive politics in welfare states; political economy of development. 
  • Public policy: business-government relations; executive and bureaucratic politics; public ethics.
  • Political theory: the history of modern political thought; multiculturalism, toleration and citizenship; democracy and constitutionalism; contemporary political philosophy.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Politics

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

UCL's PhD programme in political science is one of the most competitive in Europe. Small cohorts receive extensive training to prepare for senior positions in research, teaching, or applied work in government, international organisations, private firms, and the third sector.

The department welcomes research in all the major sub-fields of political science. This includes international relations, political economy, public policy and management, legal and political theory, comparative politics, and data analysis. 

Academic staff have a strong record of research and publication within all the main subfields of politics, including:

  • British politics: constitutional and parliamentary reform; devolution; electoral participation; alternative electoral systems.
  • Comparative politics and government: democratisation; the politics of ethnicity; political campaigns and electoral behaviour; comparative urban, rural, and local politics; public opinion.
  • EU politics and public policy: decision-making and institutions; regulation and delegation; lobbying; constitutionalism; citizenship and democracy.
  • Human rights: human rights and globalisation; theories of human rights and justice; adjudication and interpretation; democracy, religion and human rights; global poverty and human rights; militias, non-state actors.
  • International relations: international peace and security; globalisation and global governance; international migration; international finance; international trade and investment.
  • Political economy: distributive politics in welfare states; political economy of development. 
  • Public policy: business-government relations; executive and bureaucratic politics; public ethics.
  • Political theory: the history of modern political thought; multiculturalism, toleration and citizenship; democracy and constitutionalism; contemporary political philosophy.

Admission Requirements

75+
7.5+
109+
3.3+
191+
The minimum academic requirements are an upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) and merit (or equivalent) in a recognised Master’s degree programme and a minimum 65% mark on the Master’s degree dissertation. At least one of the three has to be a first class/distinction (or equivalent). Students applying for the 1+3 without a Master’s degree will need to have a first-class Honours degree (or equivalent).

3 Years
Sep

Tuition fees

Domestic
6,215 GBP
International
29,800 GBP

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

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