Politics PhD
Awards: PhD
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Politics
The Politics and International Relations (PIR) department has an international reputation for research, with its academic staff having won numerous teaching, research and advising awards. PIR staff scholarship covers a diverse range of research areas on Scotland, Europe, and the world, and is published in highly-rated journals and books.
The department has a strong tradition of advising, informing and debating policy with key decision-makers at Scottish, UK, European and international levels, and has a notable concentration of political theorists. Research in Politics and International Relations explores the theory, practice, and ethics of politics and governance.
We cover a broad area of expertise, from local politics and policy to global governance, political theory to empirical studies, constructivism to rational choice approaches. Our staff also use a wide range of methods to gather and analyse data for a better understanding of various topics.
Interdisciplinary research focus
Our Politics & International Relations group has close links with cross-disciplinary and internationally recognised research centres.
Major focuses of research include:
- sub-state and supranational dimensions of politics and public policy
- British and territorial politics and the impact of devolution in the UK and elsewhere
- the constitution and governance of the European Union
international politics, including:
- changing relations
- the new security agenda
- transatlantic relations
- political economy
- migration politics
- feminist foreign policymaking
- global governance
- nationalism, democratic transition, civil society, and institution-building
- health, welfare, environment, competition, migrations and citizenship, and equal opportunities policies
- political theory, especially war ethics, environmental ethics, and theories of freedom
- conflict, peacebuilding, and security
gender and politics, including:
- feminist approaches to institutionalism, political economy, policymaking and political theory
- women’s movements
- gender-based violence
- intersectionality
Our intellectual community
PhD research in Politics and International Relations at Edinburgh is located in the School of Social and Political Science. The School benefits from the broader University of Edinburgh community of world-class researchers. A flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.
We have a large, vibrant, diverse, and international community of postgraduate students. We direct active research institutes, including:
- Europa Institute
- Centre on Constitutional Change
- Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy (SKAPE)
- Centre for Security Research (CeSeR)
- Centre for Ethics and Critical Thought (CRITIQUE)
Politics and International Relations postgraduate researchers significantly contribute to our academic community, productivity and acclaim. Our PhD students are involved in a range of initiatives within the University and beyond, including government and non-profit programmes.
Past and current cohorts of postgraduates have actively sought to publish their innovative research, drawn from their PhD studies, related work, and collaborative work with other academics and organisations. Our PhD students also attend workshops and conferences at universities and other events.
Our dedication to students
We are deeply committed to our students at all levels and offer individualised supervision, mentoring, and support at all stages of the doctoral programme. We warmly welcome postgraduate students to participate in our research, our working groups and centres and in the daily life of the department.
This programme will involve three to four years of full-time research.
You will follow an individual training programme designed with your supervisor and Postgraduate Adviser. Your programme is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
In the first year, you will acquire a wide range of research skills and formulate your research question and related design under the guidance of your supervisor(s).
At the end of the programme, you will submit a thesis and will be assessed in an oral examination, or 'viva voce', by two examiners, where one is usually internal to the University and the other is external.
Your thesis is a long piece of research on a topic of your particular interest, and should make an original contribution to the field of politics and international relations.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Politics | 3 Years | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
PhD | Politics | 6 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
The programme equips you with professional training to a high standard.
You will follow a programme of research training, drawn from both:
- the School of Social and Political Science's MSc by Research courses
- Politics and International Relations-specific training courses
Postgraduate researchers also have access to the University and College-wide programme of training in transferable skills and other aspects of professional development, including specialist careers advice.
The School of Social and Political Science provides research training courses recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). You can participate in core, intermediate and advanced research training courses tailored to the needs of your project. We may also encourage you to attend courses in other schools across the University or at other institutions, if this benefits your project or professional development.
The University’s Institute for Academic Development provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development.
As a PhD student at the School of Social and Political Science, you will have full access to a number of dedicated facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building, such as desk areas for quiet and collaborative study. You will also have access to the University’s outstanding research libraries and archive facilities, including the Main Library, one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,300 study spaces.
Other research facilities in the city centre include the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Records Office.
Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.
Politics and International Relations helps you gain a range of transferable skills above and beyond those required by your specific projects, such as:
- organising seminars and conferences
- learning how to apply for research jobs in and out of academia
- learning how to deliver professional seminar presentations
- learning how to build professional networks
After graduating you can expect to be a strong candidate for careers in a wide variety of contexts, including:
- academia
- the media
- private sector organisations
- public services
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Application fee
This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.
- £50
Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.
Living costs
You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Politics | 3 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
PhD | Politics | 6 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
- taking out a loan
- family support
- personal savings
- income from work
- employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Advisor, Dr Sarah Liu
- Contact: Sarah.Liu@ed.ac.uk
- Graduate School of Social & Political Science
- Chrystal Macmillan Building
- 15A George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LD
- Programme: Politics
- School: Social & Political Science
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Politics - 3 Years (Full-time)
PhD Politics - 6 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
8 September 2025 | 30 June 2025 |
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
You must submit a research proposal demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research, which will be closely scrutinised as part of the decision-making process. We request that PhD research proposals are no more than four A4 typed pages in Times New Roman, 12pt font. This includes charts and figures but does not include references or a bibliography.
We require PhD applicants in particular to contact potential supervisors before applying to discuss their research proposal so we can ensure there is adequate supervision.
Application fee
A non-refundable application fee of £50 must be paid after you submit your application. Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Advisor, Dr Sarah Liu
- Contact: Sarah.Liu@ed.ac.uk
- Graduate School of Social & Political Science
- Chrystal Macmillan Building
- 15A George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LD
- Programme: Politics
- School: Social & Political Science
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences