Program Overview
Politics
Overview
Research and education in the School are driven by a concern to encourage innovative and critically incisive ways of thinking about a wide range of problems we encounter as citizens and as human beings.
The subjects we research in the School all contribute to the scholarly investigation of these challenges. The School is proud to be part of the driving force in Northern Ireland’s cultural, political and intellectual renaissance.
We pride ourselves on our global outlook within the School. This is reflected in our wide range of international partners and in the diverse nationalities represented across the staff and student bodies. The School hosts international visitors and speakers throughout each academic year and students benefit from the wide range of national and international topics being discussed and researched within the school.
About the Programme
The aim of the programme is to produce students who are fully-fledged independent researchers, and students are from the outset given encouragement to disseminate their work at seminars and conferences and by publishing in high-quality locations. The programme culminates in the submission of an 80,000-word dissertation.
Research Areas
- Political parties, elections, and deliberative democracy
- Governance and Public Policy, with a particular emphasis on European Union politics, international political economy, gender studies, governance
- Contemporary Irish Political History
- Security, Terrorism and International Relations
- Political Theory: contemporary republicanism, ethics of work, recognition, toleration, freedom of expression, Critical Theory, emotions and politics, green political thought
Scholarships
- NINE DTP – Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership
- Northern Bridge DTP – Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership
- DfE Studentship – Department for the Economy Postgraduate Studentship scheme
- LINAS Doctoral Training Programme
Research Resources
- The Political Theory/Philosophy weekly research workshop for staff and students
- The Political Studies and International Relations seminar for staff and students
Mode of Study/Duration
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).
Community
We provide a challenging intellectual atmosphere for our postgraduates. You’ll see our thriving research culture yourself, through visits and talks, conferences and workshops, reading groups and the staff seminar series.
Our PhD student body reflects a growing and diverse global community giving you near unrivalled opportunities to make new friends, debate aspects of your research with a substantial peer group, and begin making those networks that will stand you in good stead throughout you careers.
Careers
We are proud of the students who have graduated with their doctorates. Where possible we stay in touch so that the link and relationships remain long after a student has left the School.
Employability is at the heart of the Queen’s curriculum. Key to this is the delivery of a programme that fully equips all of its students to succeed in their careers and give them a competitive edge in the graduate job market. Social science graduates are in demand for their critical thinking skills as they are equipped to question received views and explore new approaches and solutions. Graduates of the School have found success in a wide range of careers including journalism, PR, marketing, policy research, social work, teaching, civil service and government posts.
Subject Summary
You’ll become part of our vibrant postgraduate research culture, focused on areas including:
- Political parties, elections, and deliberative democracy
- Governance and Public Policy, with a particular emphasis on European Union politics, international political economy, gender studies, governance
- Contemporary Irish Political History
- Security, Terrorism and International Relations
- Political Theory: contemporary republicanism, ethics of work, recognition, toleration, freedom of expression, Critical Theory, emotions and politics, green political thought
Politics Highlights
Industry Links
- With Queen’s being part of the ESRC Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (“NINE DTP”) and the AHRC Northern Bridge Consortium, there are opportunities for co-supervised doctoral work with staff across several universities across the north of England and Northern Ireland. Further international collaboration is facilitated via the wide range of institutions and partners across the world with whom members of staff and PhD students work.
Career Development
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).
Internationally Renowned Experts
- Ours is an excellent department in which to pursue a wide range of postgraduate research projects in close collaboration with academic supervisors, leading to the degree of PhD. Our postgraduate community comprises over 40 part time and full-time research students whose research is facilitated by a range of supportive research centres including:
- The Democracy Group
- Centre for Gender in Politics
- Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict
- Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action
- The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
Student Experience
- HAPP has a flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.
- Queen’s ranked 17 in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022).
- 16% of the Queen’s student population are international students (Queen’s Planning Office, 2023).
Key Facts
- HAPP has a flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.
- Politics was ranked joint 1st in the UK for Research Intensity (Complete University Guide 2021).
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 75 universities in Europe for Teaching Excellent (Times Higher Education, 2019).
- Queen’s is ranked 22nd in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2020).
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 140 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020).
Course Content
Research Information
Associated Research
- Contemporary Irish Political History
- Governance and Public Policy, with a particular emphasis on European Union politics, public opinion, gender studies, governance
- Security, Terrorism and International Relations
- Philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Applied Ethics, 19th Century European Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Epistemology, Political Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Religion
- Political Theory: contemporary republicanism, ethics of work, recognition, toleration, freedom of expression, Critical Theory, emotions and politics, green political thought
Career Prospects
Introduction
For further information on career development opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team.
People Teaching You
- Dr Keith Breen
- Reader and Director of Research
- HAPP
- Email: [insert email]
Course Structure
You’ll become part of our vibrant postgraduate research culture, focused on areas including:
- Political parties, elections, and deliberative democracy
- Governance and Public Policy, with a particular emphasis on European Union politics, international political economy, gender studies, governance
- Contemporary Irish Political History
- Security, Terrorism and International Relations
- Political Theory: contemporary republicanism, ethics of work, recognition, toleration, freedom of expression, Critical Theory, emotions and politics, green political thought
Learning and Teaching
Entrance Requirements
Graduate
- The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
International Students
- For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
- Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
Tuition Fees
- Northern Ireland (NI): £5,006
- Republic of Ireland (ROI): £5,006
- England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £5,006
- EU Other: £20,500
- International: £20,500
Additional Course Costs
- There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Bench Fees
- Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.
Funding and Scholarships
- The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.
How to Apply
- Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a Supervisor
- If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
- To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
- You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.