نظرة عامة على البرنامج

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PhD in International Politics

The PhD in International Politics is a 4-year program designed for professionals who intend to foster research about the actors, processes, intersections, and complexities of the global arena in an interdisciplinary manner.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

The program is offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Pécs.

Program Details

• Degree: PhD in Political Science
• Duration of Training: 4 years (8 semesters)
• Language: English
• Intake: Fall
• Deadline of Application: 06/30/2026
• Next Starting Date: 09/01/2026
• Fees:
  • Tuition fee: EUR 3,500 / semester
  • Application fee: EUR 140

Description of the Program

The aim of the doctoral program is to offer a wide variety of topics for the study of the actors, processes, intersections, and complexities of International Politics to those committed minds and talents who wish to foster research in any of the major relevant sub-fields in an interdisciplinary manner. The instructors and thesis supervisors of the program represent an extensive pool of expertise embracing Political Science, International Relations, International Law, Regional/Area Studies, therefore, provide substantial support to students both from methodological and theoretical perspectives.

Examples of Subjects During the Studies

Core courses in the first 4 semesters:

• Contemporary Theories of IR
• The Political Economy of Inequalities
• Critical Geopolitics and Globalization
• Comparative Civil Society
• Societies and Regimes in Transition
• Governance in Theory and Practice
• Old Themes, New Challenges in Political Theory
• International Public Policy Studies
• Contemporary International Law
• Cases of Development Policy Across the Globe
• Comparative Security Policy
• Research Design in IR

Each module: 5 credits except for Research Design, which is 15 credits worth.

In the Individual Research and Dissertation Writing phase (between the 2nd and 8th semesters), there are other subjects such as:

• Dissertation Consultations
• Journal Club Debates
• Literature review/Book review
• Paper Presentation at Summer School/Participation at Debate Academy
• Research Project at the department or individual
• Teaching Project/Department Scientific Activity Project at the department
• Contribution to Conference/Outreach Project
• Area Studies Research and Methods

A total of 240 credits needs to be accomplished.

Discipline and Academic Level

• Discipline: Human and Social Sciences
• Academic Level/Type: PhD

Application Procedure

For a successful application, please follow the steps below:

1. Register on the application site, fill the application form, upload the necessary documents and submit your application.
2. After you have submitted your application, you are going to receive information on the further steps.
3. If we received your application fee, we are going to start the evaluation of your application.

Application Requirements

• General Entry Requirements: For the general entry requirements, please note that an MA/MSc Degree in International Relations is preferred, but other degrees can also be accepted if they include relevant disciplines.
• Documents to be submitted:
  • MA/MSc Degree certificate and transcript of records
  • List of publications (if any) and other scientific or related professional activities
  • Preliminary Research Proposal
  • CV in English
  • Motivation letter
  • Copy of valid passport or national ID
  • Medical certificate
  • Transfer receipt of the application fee
  • Acceptable online language exams
  • Supporting letters from two instructor-researchers
  • Letter of acceptance from your future research leader at the Doctoral School
  • Entrance Exam (personally or via MS Teams)

Professors and Their Research Areas

• Dr. Zoltán Bretter: social philosophy; political philosophy; political culture; history of political thought; public policy
• Dr. Viktor Glied: civil society, history, migration, sustainability
• Prof. Dr. László Kákai: Local Government, local politics, non-profit organisation, civil society, political culture
• Dr. Péter Kacziba: International relations in Southeastern Europe and the Middle East, The network paradigm of International Relations
• Prof. Dr. Ilona Pálné Kovács: local governments, regional policy, public administration, local and regional policy, cohesion policy of the European Union, multi-level governance, development policy
• Dr. Andrea Schmidt: Comparative political science, Central and Eastern Europe, Poland, political systems, international political economy, geoeconomics, geopolitics
• Prof. Dr. István Tarrósy: African politics, Afro-Asian relations, Chinese Africa-policy, Hungary-Africa relations, geopolitics, international mobilities and migrations, global African migrations and diaspora, comparative political cultures
• Dr. Zoltán Vörös: Foreign policy and strategies of PR China Challenges of PR China Security Studies - Asia Geography of Elections
• Dr. Petra Hamerli: Hungarian-Italian Diplomatic, Cultural and Economic Relations and their Regional Influence; Vatican's Diplomacy, International relations in the 20th and 21st centuries, Italy's history and political development; Fascism and other right-wing ideologies

Examples of Subjects During the Studies by Semester

1st semester:

• Contemporary Theories of IR
• The Political Economy of Inequalities
• Critical Geopolitics and Globalization
• Research Design in IR

2nd semester:

• Societies and Regimes in Transition
• Comparative Civil Society
• Governance in Theory and Practice

3rd semester:

• Old Themes, New Challenges in Political Theory
• Cases of Development Policy Across the Globe
• Contemporary International Law

4th semester:

• International Public Policy Studies
• Comparative Security Policy

5th semester:

• Dissertation Consultation
• Paper Presentation at Summer School/Participation at Debate Academy
• Conference Paper
• Contribution to Conference/Outreach Project

6th semester:

• Dissertation Consultation
• Dissertation Chapter
• Presentation 1 about the doctoral research

7th semester:

• Dissertation Consultation
• Publication in peer-reviewed journal or edited volume
• Presentation 2 about the doctoral research

8th semester:

• Internal Debate about the dissertation