warwick phd international relations

Study Postgraduate

Phd in politics and international studies (2022 entry), find out more about our phd in politics and international studies..

The University of Warwick's Politics department offers the PhD in Politics and International Studies. Gain the unique opportunity to undertake a research project one of the UK's largest Politics and International Studies departments.

Course code

3 October 2022

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

Politics and International Studies

University of Warwick

About this research graduate course

Course overview.

PAIS has a vibrant PhD community, and our doctoral research have a very broad range of research interest. The programme is structured around achieving distinct milestones centred on your progress. In your first year, you will be required to attend the PAIS first-year training module PO961: Doctoral Thesis Writing in Politics and International Studies.

As you progress through the course, you are also expected to attend a series of advanced training workshops throughout the programme. Additional research training and personal and professional development are available through the department, the Graduate School, IT Services, and the Careers and Skills Office.

PAIS has a keen interest in fostering networking between doctoral researchers of all stages as well as between PhD students and staff, and we therefore hold regular social events.

Teaching and learning

• PO961: Doctoral Thesis Writing in Politics and International Studies
• Advanced Training Workshops

Visiting PhD students

If you are currently a PhD student at another university anywhere in the world, it is possible to attend Warwick as a visiting researcher for up to one year. PAIS welcomes applications from students already undertaking postgraduate research at another institution, who wish to join us in a visiting capacity in order to participate in, and benefit from, the research culture and resources of the department and the university.

We recommend that you contact us prior to submitting an application in order to discuss your needs; the best starting point is to approach academic staff Link opens in a new window researching in your area to discuss your visit dates and research plans, whilst at Warwick. Please note that although members of the department’s academic staff are happy to arrange meetings with visiting students to discuss research and offer advice and suggestions, you would not be formally supervised during your visit.

Should you wish to submit an application, you will need to do this through the University's online postgraduate application system . Your application must include:

• The proposed start and end dates of your visit
• The name of the academic staff who will oversee your visit in the department
• A reference from your current supervisor which confirms your current student status and suitability for undertaking research at Warwick as a visiting student
• A brief outline of the research you intend to undertake while you are with us.

You will also need to meet PAIS’s English language requirements (IELTS 7.0); however, if you only plan to stay for a short period, a test waiver may be available. In that case, please go to our Postgraduate Enquiries page in the first instance.

Before you submit your application, you should also consult the Doctoral College's information about visiting as a research student; their pages contain further information about fees, links to visa information if required, and a link to the relevant application form.

Part-time study

The PhD programme in PAIS is designed to be taken on a full-time basis. However, for a small number of candidates, studying part-time offers a way to balance life and study commitments.

Learn more about part-time study. Link opens in a new window

Postgraduate FAQs (PAIS specific) Postgraduate FAQs (general)

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

A Master’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum degree classification of merit/2:i in a relevant subject area; a strong research proposal; explicit support from potential PAIS supervisor(s).

Read our department specific advice on applying to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page .

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Our research

Areas for phd supervision, by research groups:.

• International Political Economy
• International Relations and Security
• Comparative Politics and Democratisation
• Political Theory.
• Development
• Performance and Politics
• Cyber Security
• Intelligence
• Food Security
• US/EU/UK Foreign Policy
• Democratisation
• Political Spaces
• Environmental Policy
• North-South Relations
• International Finance
• Global Governance
• Terrorism and Counter-terrorism

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Politics and International Studies Staff Directory where you will be able to filter by research cluster, region or topic.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Taught course fees   Research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad. Information about department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our  Module Catalogue  (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

PAIS Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Politics and International Studies at Warwick

Join an innovative, creative and passionate department with a lively and interactive culture. Stretch and challenge yourself with the support of friendly staff and your peers.

Find out more about us on our website.

Our Postgraduate courses

• International Development (MA)
• International Political Economy (MA)
• International Politics and East Asia (MA)
• International Politics and Europe (MA)
• International Relations (MA)
• International Security (MA)
• Politics and International Studies (PhD)
• Political and Legal Theory (MA)
• Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods (MA)
• Public Policy (MA)
• United States Foreign Policy (MA)

Double Degrees

Our Double Degree programmes allow you to study a Warwick MA programme for one year as well as a Masters programme at a partner university.

Learn more about our Double Degrees.

Taught course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for taught postgraduate courses at Warwick.

Research course applications

Here is our checklist on how to apply for research postgraduate degrees at the University of Warwick.

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Postgraduate Open Day

Postgraduate fairs.

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in the UK. These events give you the chance to learn about our Master's and PhD study routes, and the wider context of postgraduate study.

Find out more

Every week, you can connect directly with representatives from Warwick, who will be answering your questions on applying to and studying postgraduate studies at Warwick.

Sign up for Live Chats

Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

Connect with us

Want to hear more about postgraduate study at Warwick? Register your interest and find out more.

Learn more about Postgraduate study at the University of Warwick.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

6th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2022) Link opens in a new window

64th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023) Link opens in a new window

6th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers Link opens in a new window

(The Graduate Market in 2022, High Fliers Research Ltd. Link opens in a new window )

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2022 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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Politics and International Studies PhD

University of warwick, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

International Studies International Politics

Course type

Gain the unique opportunity to undertake a research project one of the UK's largest Politics and International Studies departments.

Course Overview

PAIS has a vibrant PhD community and our doctoral research have a very broad range of research interest. The programme is structured around achieving distinct milestones centred on your progress. In your first year you will be required to attend the PAIS first-year training module PO961: Doctoral Thesis Writing in Politics and International Studies.

As you progress through the course you are also expected to attend a series of tailored two-day workshops in year one two and three of the programme. Additional research training and personal and professional development are available through the department the Graduate School IT Services and the Careers & Skills Office.

PAIS has a keen interest in fostering networking between doctoral researchers of all stages as well as between PhD students and staff and we therefore hold regular social events.

Research Themes

Areas for PhD supervision

By research groups:

International Political Economy; International Relations and Security; Comparative Politics & Democratisation; Political Theory.

Development; Gender; Performance and Politics; Cyber Security; Intelligence; Food Security; Justice; US/EU/UK Foreign Policy; East Asia; Europe; Democratisation; Political Spaces; Environmental Policy; North-South Relations; Ethics; International Finance; Global Governance; Migration; Terrorism and Counter-terrorism.

Teaching and Learning

• PO961: Doctoral Thesis Writing in Politics and International Studies
• Advanced Training Workshops

UK fees Course fees for UK students

Contact University and ask about this fee

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

Entry requirements A Master’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum degree classification of merit/2:1 in a relevant subject area; a strong research proposal; explicit support from potential PAIS supervisor(s).

Health in Humanitarian Crises by Distance Learning MSc

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Report a problem

Thank you, your report has been submitted. We will deal with the issue as soon as possible. If you have any other questions, please send an email to [email protected] .

Your Programmes

Phd ma by research politics and international studies.

2 in 5 applicants to this programme received an offer.

Data shown above is for entry in academic year 2018/19 (sources) .

Previous Years

Leave a comment, data source.

• FOI Request by KAI CHEN. May 2019.

The acceptance rate , or offer rate, represents the fraction of applicants who received an offer. Note that this will be generally lower the acceptances rates (acceptances divided by applicants) published by many other sources. This article explains it in more detail. The acceptances generally indicate the number of offer holders who accepted the offer and fulfilled its conditions. For some universities, however, it denotes the number of applicants who accepted the offer, regardless of whether they subsequently met its conditions.

Data Reliability

Unless otherwise noted, the data presented comes from the universities and is generally reliable. However, some of the differences between years and/or courses may be due to different counting methodologies or data gathering errors. This may especially be the case if there is a sharp difference from year to year. If the data does not look right, click the "Report" button located near the top of the page.

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