Political Science and International Studies PhD

Achieve your professional ambitions with us. Our PhD in Political Sciences and International Studies will shape your future by developing deep expertise and versatile skills such as critical analysis, advanced research techniques, and effective communication. Prepare for impactful careers in academia, government, international organisations, and beyond.

Benefit from tailored research training and a personalised development plan while engaging with leading academics and diverse research groups. You can study for a PhD full-time, part-time or by distance learning.

• Engage in cutting-edge research within a globally recognised and inclusive academic environment.
• Receive guidance from leading scholars across diverse areas, from Political Economy to International Relations and Security.
• Enhance your skills with extensive research training modules and tailored development plans, preparing you for a range of career settings.
• Pursue your PhD on a full-time or part-time basis, accommodating your various personal and professional needs.

Our Department of Political Science and International Studies is part of the School of Government, one of the leading UK and international centres for governance, politics, international studies. As one of the largest in the UK, the School is home to more than 80 full-time academic staff, 1,200 undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, and 70 doctoral researchers.

• Projects - Academic projects typically require you to conduct research, analyse data, and draw conclusions based on your discoveries. You may also be expected to work in a team, present your work to an audience, and defend your findings.
• 1:1 Supervision - Supervisors are expected to support, encourage and guide those students who are their tutees’ so that they are supported in maximising their academic potential, personal development, and professional and employability skills acquisition throughout their time at the University.
• Research support – you can use the University’s libraries on campus and also online. We also offer grants towards conferences, printing and photocopying.
• Publishing your work – build your reputation and make your research public, by working with your supervisors to publish articles.
• Memberships - you’ll be a member of our Graduate School and Graduate Social Centre. You can also join the College of Social Sciences Doctoral Training programme, which has ESRC recognition.
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If you want to pursue your own research project, you can apply to our research programmes to propose this. This is self-funded, although scholarships are available.

Find a supervisor

If you’d rather propose your own research, the first step is to find your supervisor. We encourage you to browse the biographies of faculty members to familiarise yourself with the research going on in your preferred areas. Each of these contains detailed information on research interests, current projects and recent publications.

When you apply, you can suggest one or two potential supervisors, who you think might be a good fit for you. However, this is not essential. If you know what you want to work on, but are unsure on supervisors, you can indicate this in your application and the PhD programme co-directors will study your proposal in detail, and judge who is best suited to be your supervisory team.

View the research profiles of academic members of staff belonging to the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS).

Find an Advertised PhD

Find a PhD project that suits your interests by using our FindAPhD tool.

Research proposal

If you are proposing your own research topic, you will need to submit a research proposal. It’s a key part of your application, so take your time. Your potential supervisors will use it to decide if your research is something they can support.

Your proposal should be a clear and concise summary of your research. It generally consists of an outline of your proposed research project, including your main research questions and the methods you intend to use.

You should also comment on the potential impact and importance of your intended research and on how your work would interact with current trends in your academic field. It should illustrate the relevance of your topic to the research interests and expertise of the staff within your chosen department.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

Funding options

Apply for a PhD that already has funding attached

These are most common in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) subjects, but they can sometimes be available for pre-defined research projects in the arts, humanities or social sciences. These may be advertised as fully funded (with fees and a stipend) or competition funded, meaning the projects compete against other projects at each institution.

Self-fund, or search for funding or a studentship

You devise your own PhD topic, find and consult with a potential supervisor, explore funding opportunities, write a research proposal and apply to the relevant programme. Our Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding database lists all available funding.

If you are applying to an ‘advertised PhD’, please check the details of the specific research project for application deadlines.

If you are submitting your own research proposal, applications are accepted all year round. However, if you wish to start in September, we would encourage you to apply by 1 June. Whilst you are still welcome to apply after this date, it is important to allow time for us to review your application.

If you are seeking funding, please be aware that the majority of funding opportunities have deadlines in early spring so we would encourage you to apply as early as possible.

We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Careers Network

At Birmingham, we prepare our researchers to make an impact across every sector of society. Our PhD graduates are global change-makers: advancing knowledge, shaping policy, leading industries, and educating future generations.

You'll benefit from dedicated careers support tailored to your unique paths. Our expert team of Careers Advisers, including a dedicated postgraduate research adviser, offer one-to-one guidance to help researchers navigate career decisions both within and beyond academia.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one to one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters.

We also offer subject specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.