Program Overview

Politics and International Relations

Overview

As one of the top departments in the UK, Politics at Exeter provides an ideal place to undertake a MPhil/PhD in Politics and International Relations, Security, Conflict and Human Rights, or Strategy and Security. There are opportunities at both the Streatham Campus in Exeter and at the Penryn Campus near Falmouth.

Research Overview

Our research is structured around University and Department research centres which focus on research themes and provide additional institutional structures for facilitating research.

• The Elections Centre
• Centre for European Studies
• Centre of Advanced International Studies
• Centre for Political Thought
• Public Policy and Governance Group (PPGG)
• Strategy and Security Institute (SSI)
• Q-Step Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2)
• Centre for Middle East Politics (C-MEP)

How to Apply

You should have a good first degree either in Politics or another subject that could prepare you for a research project within the Department. You should have a good first degree, and a Master's degree with Merit or equivalent either in Politics or another subject that could prepare you for a research project within the Department. We also consider applications from candidates who can demonstrate professional or other relevant experience that would make them suited to undertake an MPhil/PhD with us.

Requirements for International Students

If you are an international student, please visit our international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile E.

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees per Year 2025/26

• Home: £5,006 full-time; £pro-rata part-time
• International: £23,500 full-time

Current Funding Opportunities

Our Postgraduate Funding webpage provides links to further information. If you are considering a PhD in the future, in addition to University of Exeter funding, we have been successful at securing postgraduate funding for PhD research through our Funded centres.

Supervision

You can expect:

• High-quality research supervision to develop and nurture your potential
• A tailored supervision approach to help best suit your requirements
• Accessible supervisors who are enthusiastic about working directly with postgraduate research students
• Regular timetabled meetings with your supervisor
• 'Open door' policy to all postgraduate students - instant access to world-leading researchers who will share their expertise and ideas with you
• Regular meetings with your supervisory team, other members of your research group, and mentors

Careers

Below are some examples of initial jobs undertaken by Politics and International Relations postgraduates who studied with us in recent years.

• Assistant Professor
• Associate lecturer
• Associate Teaching and Research Assistant
• Author
• CEO Social Enterprise
• Chief Inspector (Operations)- Police Officer
• Civil Servant (Director)
• Communications Officer
• Consultant
• Cover Supervisor
• Creative Kernow
• Desk Officer
• Environmental and institutional economist
• Head of Unit and Research Fellow
• Lecturer
• Lecturer in International Relations
• Lecturer in Political Theory
• Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
• Legislative Researcher
• Migration consultant
• Policy Officer
• Politics Lecturer
• Politics Lecturer
• Postdoctoral Fellow
• Post-doctoral research associate
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
• Programme Manager
• Research Fellow
• Research Fellow
• Senior Lecturer; Research Coordinator
• Senior Political Affairs Officer
• Senior Researcher
• Teaching Fellow
• Teaching Fellow
• University Teaching and Research Fellow

Why Exeter?

• Research topics and degrees
• Fees and funding
• How to apply
• Our campuses
• Student life
• International students
• Visit us
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Campuses

• Streatham Campus
• St Luke's Campus
• Penryn Campus
• Truro Campus

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