Program Overview

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Postgraduate Research

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• King's Doctoral College

Political Economy Research/ option of joint PhD with NUS MPhil/PhD

Key information

• Award: MPhil, PhD
• Study mode: Full time, Part time
• Campus: Strand Campus
• Duration: MPhil: two years full-time, three years part-time. PhD: three years full-time, four to six years part-time.

Overview

We are the only dedicated Department of Political Economy in the UK. Situated within the broader Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, we see the disciplines of Politics and Economics as inextricably linked. Undertaking a PhD in Political Economy with us places you within a unique institution in which you will be part of a vibrant and growing set of world-leading scholars, who are committed to understanding the intertwining of politics and economics and applying those insights to solving local, national and global problems.

We have an open and inclusive research culture that encourages debate between the contesting theories, approaches and ideologies. Our vision of what political economy is lends itself to an interdisciplinary approach, and there is a wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches used across the department. This provides a stimulating environment for PhD research that fosters open-minded and critical scholarship.

Examples of research projects

For examples of current staff research projects and PhD projects see academic profiles and PhD student profiles. We also have a variety of research groups that each lead some specific research activities.

Partner organisations

DPE works with a number of partner organisations both within KCL and outside, helping to bring together scholars interested in a particular theme. These include Inside King’s: Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Centre for Conflict Security and Development (CSD), the Social Care Workforce Research Unit (SCWRU), and the King's Centre for Risk Management (KCRM). Outside King’s: Centre for the Study of Science Policy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong University.

Information is current, but staff members can change.

Course Detail

All students on the doctoral programme are initially registered for an MPhil. At the beginning of the programme you will work with your supervisors to assess your individual training needs. You will use this to develop a personalised training schedule that draws on foundational and advanced courses made available to you through the King’s Doctoral College, the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS-DTP) and the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network. These courses will hone your academic skills and prepare you for the demands of your specific research project.

After around 12 months (or the part time equivalent, you will demonstrate that you are ready for formal upgrade to the PhD programme. This involves the examination of a substantial document that shows (i) you have identified an original and interesting research problem and (ii) you have the skills and expertise to tackle it within the time available.

You will be supported throughout your PhD by two academic supervisors, who will provide expert advice and guidance on your progress and your project. Your project will culminate in the submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words in length. Full-time students must submit their thesis within four years of the start of their registration. Part-time students must submit within seven years.

Head of group/division

The Post-Graduate Research Director is Dr Rubén Ruiz Rufino, who can be contacted for specific enquiries. General questions about the application process should be directed to the Postgraduate Admissions Team.

How to apply

1. Application Procedure

Our minimum requirement for entry is a good master’s degree in a relevant subject or practical experience in the field of study. (These are only minimum requirements: competition for places is intense.)

When you have a draft research proposal, please look at our academic staff members on the department's members page and contact ONE OR TWO academics at most, to ask if this is a topic they might be interested in supervising; please email them your CV and your draft proposal too. Having the support from one academic willing to supervise you is a necessary condition for being accepted. When you are ready, please apply via the Portal.

If you want a PhD scholarship, note that the applications to the main funding scheme (LISS DPT) is at the end of January. You are encouraged to contact potential supervisors well in advance of the deadline – ideally by end of November.

2. Personal Statement and Supporting Information

See all supervisors - Please see here the updated list of supervisors available and their areas of interest

Applicants are encouraged to approach potential supervisors prior to application. To identify a supervisor please look at our academic staff members on the department's members page.

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Political Economy Research Checklist

• Personal Statement: Yes, 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).
• Research Proposal: Yes, The proposal (up to 3,000 words plus references) 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 research courses page.
• Previous Academic Study: Yes, 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: Yes, Two references are required with at least one academic. Professional references will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
• Writing Sample: Yes, A sample of relevant written work, in English (e.g MA dissertation).
• Travel Plan: Yes (joint programme only), If applying for the joint programme, please include the names of your supervisors from both institutions and include a completed travel plan form.
• Other: Required, You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

3. Course Intake

No set number.

4. 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
• 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

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 (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy), £6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)
• Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy), £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)
• Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy), £7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)
• Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £28,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy), £28,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)
• Part time tuition fees: £14,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

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.

Study Environment

Each student has two supervisors and meets regularly with both, though typically more frequently with the primary supervisor. The department provides office space and computer equipment on the Strand campus. The department runs seminars for PhD students on topics such as publication strategy, and to discuss actual research. PhD students are also encouraged to attend research seminars in DPE and related departments, and are required to present at one such seminar in their time at King's. Sharing your research in this way is an important way of contributing to the departmental research community, of which PhD students are a crucial element. In addition, learning how to present your research clearly and succinctly is a key transferable skill of the PhD programme.

Postgraduate Training

Students have full access to training opportunities at King’s via the King’s Doctoral College and the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership, depending on their needs. These cover research training, research methods and wider issues such as publication strategy.

Student Destinations

Our PhD students typically move into academic employment or careers in public policy both governmental and non-governmental.

Entry requirements

UK requirements

• Masters degree with at least a Merit including a dissertation mark of no less than 65% (UK marking scheme)

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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.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.