Politics & International Relations PhD (3 years) (Research)

The University has extensive holdings in European politics and has a growing strength in transatlantic studies. It has one of the four Scottish European Documentation Centres. The department hosts 2 journals: Perspectives on European Politics and Society, and the Journal of Transatlantic Studies.

Types of PhD available for this programme are listed below,

Types of PhDs

3-year PhD
You may be offered a 3-year PhD if:

you have an existing MSc that included extensive research skills training
a well-developed research proposal
We may also take into account if you have any professional experience that you may have. Particularly if this includes significant research expertise.

3.5-year PhD
You may be offered a 3.5-year PhD with Research Training course if:

you have an existing MSc that included some research skills elements
you are transferring from another disciplinary area with different research skills
you are undertaking an interdisciplinary PhD with different skills needed
you need to further develop your proposal
These means that you need additional skills to undertake your PhD.

4-year PhD
You may be offered a 4-year PhD with Research Training course if:

you have an existing MSc that did not include research skills
you are moving from one discipline to another in social sciences. The other discipline may have had completely different research skill needs
you do not have a well-developed research proposal
An assessment of your application by School staff will determine which of the three pathways you may be offered.