Program Overview

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Russian & Eurasian Studies PhD

Key information

Award: PhD

Study mode: Full time, Part time

Campus: Strand Campus

Duration: MPhil two years full-time (four years part-time); PhD expected three years full-time (six years part-time)

Overview

The programme is open to applications pursuing a broad range of social science research questions focusing on contemporary and recent historical developments in Russia and Eurasia. Russia and Eurasia present a range of compelling empirical and theoretical puzzles, emerging from the dislocations of economic, social and political transition, the history of policy responses thereto, and the challenges of integration and re-integration into a shifting global landscape. These puzzles demand both a thorough knowledge of the countries in question and sensitivity to methods that cut across geographic, cultural and disciplinary boundaries. The programme thus welcomes students who challenge received empirical, theoretical and methodological wisdom.

Russia Institute staff members and affiliated scholars approach the field from the disciplines of political science, political economy, sociology, political sociology and international relations, in addition to law and history.

Course Detail

The PhD Russian & Eurasian Studies is designed to encourage, support and concentrate cutting-edge research at King’s into Russia and Eurasia, with a focus on the social sciences and contemporary humanities. The course offers an opportunity unique at King’s to study Russia and the region from an interdisciplinary perspective and in the collegial company of other researchers coming from various fields and employing various methodologies, as well as those pursuing similar questions in other country cases.

In addition to the Institute’s own Russia-focused staff, the programme will draw on the community of scholars at King’s who are already providing or are able to provide supervision on Russia and Eurasia-related research, in the departments of War Studies, Political Economy, European & International Studies, History, Theology & Religious Studies and Management, as well as in The Dickson Poon School of Law.

Research students in Russian & Eurasian Studies will join a dynamic research culture at King’s, a major research-led university, with a significant number of research students in social science and public policy, as well as in arts and humanities. The King's Doctoral College provides facilities and runs research training courses. Students will receive training through the London Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (LISS DTP), in a programme designed individually to support their research projects and impart broad methodological competencies, alongside their colleagues from other departments and the other Global Institutes. The Russia Institute will run its own research seminars focusing on relevant current research at King’s and elsewhere, and students will have access to concurrent seminars at other departments and institutes.

Head of group/division

Dr Samuel Greene

How to apply

1. Application Procedure

• Personal statement and supporting information:
  • Personal Statement: A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Your personal statement should outline your reasons for pursuing further research.
  • Research Proposal: The proposal (3 - 5 pages) should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the how to apply page.
  • Previous Academic Study: A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
  • References: One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
  • Other: You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

2. Course Intake

Not fixed.

3. Application Closing Date

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.

The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2026 soon after the same intake has passed in 2025.

• February 2025 entry – 20 October 2024 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2024 for Home fee status
• June 2025 entry – 20 March 2025 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2025 for Home fee status
• October 2025 entry – 25 July 2025 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2025 for Home fee status
• February 2026 entry – 20 October 2025 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2025 for Home fee status
• June 2026 entry – 20 March 2026 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2026 for Home fee status

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.

Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £6,936 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £28,000 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £14,000 per year

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Study environment

Base campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Entry requirements

UK requirements

• A Master's degree or, in exceptional circumstances only, a Bachelor's degree with 1st class or high 2:1 honours.
• Fluency in Russian language – either through formal language training, or time spent in Russia – is strongly recommended, and will be of benefit to the majority of applicants. If invited to interview, the appropriate level of fluency for your intended research project will be discussed and assessed.

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a country to view equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

English language band: B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.