PhD in Politics and International Studies
The application and funding portal for October 2026 entry is now closed. The portal will reopen in early September 2026 for Ocotber 2027 admittance.
Information for Prospective Students
The Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Cambridge is a leading centre for doctoral research. We provide a rigorous, multidisciplinary environment for scholars to engage with the world’s most complex political and international challenges.
Programme Overview
The PhD in Politics and International Studies is a research-intensive degree. While most candidates study full-time, the Department also supports part-time research.
- Duration: 3 to 4 years (9 to 12 university terms) for full-time students.
- Final Assessment: An 80,000-word dissertation followed by an oral examination (viva voce) with two senior academics, of whom at least one will be external.
- Commencement: All students must begin the programme in October to align with the mandatory induction and research training cycles.
Year 1: Research Foundation
The first year is spent in Cambridge and focuses on two major activities:
Developing the Research Topic
The development of the research topic often involves extensive reading into relevant literature, the identification of relevant information sources - such as archives or databases - and the formulation of research plans, including arrangements for fieldwork. This process is undertaken in collaboration with your primary supervisor, who discusses your progress and reviews your written work. You are also appointed a postgraduate advisor who remains available for additional guidance.
The Registration Exercise: The first year culminates in the production of a report, which serves as the basis for the registration exercise. Successful completion of this exercise is required to transition to official PhD registration. It is conducted through a meeting with your postgraduate advisor and an independent assessor to ensure that your research project is viable, that an appropriate methodology has been applied, and that the relevant literature has been sufficiently addressed.
Research Training
The second major focus of the first year is research training. All first-year PhD students attend a weekly seminar exploring the methodological and philosophical questions that underpin research in the contemporary social sciences. Alongside this, students select two additional courses to attend from a range of options, such as statistics, qualitative methods and languages.
Years 2 & 3: Fieldwork and Thesis Development
The second and third years are dedicated to primary research and writing. The content of the second and third years varies considerably depending on the type of research being conducted.
- Fieldwork: Many students spend significant portions of the second year away from Cambridge conducting fieldwork, while others are resident throughout.
- Teaching Opportunities: From the second year onwards, many doctoral students gain valuable experience by providing undergraduate supervisions (small-group teaching) or delivering guest lectures.
- Annual Reviews: To assist you in the development of your research, we schedule an annual meeting with your primary supervisor and advisor, for which you produce a report for discussion.
Supervision
Full-time candidates on the course are expected to devote themselves fully to their studies. Full-time students must spend at least three terms resident in Cambridge. Part-time students are required to attend Cambridge and undergo formal supervision with their supervisor at a frequency agreed upon between the supervisor and student and determined by the nature of the research project. Generally, we would expect part-time students to be resident in Cambridge for around 45 days per year, spread throughout the year, for supervision and training.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the PhD is highly competitive. The Department typically only offers places to applicants who meet the following academic criteria:
- Undergraduate Degree: A First Class honours degree from a UK university (or a GPA of at least 3.85 from a non-UK institution).
- Master’s Degree: A Distinction-level result (or GPA of 3.85) in a subject relevant to your PhD application.
- Academic Ranking: Successful applicants are generally in the top 20% of their graduating cohort.
- English Language: Applicants who are not native English speakers must meet the University's high proficiency standards (e.g., IELTS 7.5 overall with no element below 7.0).
For further enquiries, please contact the Department at: enquiries@polis.cam.ac.uk