Program Overview

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MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society)

The MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society) is an advanced graduate degree providing training in research techniques and methodology, enabling students to acquire substantive knowledge in this sub-area of the discipline. This course is a standalone degree but is also suitable for those intending to embark later upon doctoral research.

About the Course

The MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society) is taught by a group of scholars who specialize in all aspects of European politics, including European integration, comparative European government, Europes external relations, and the political systems of individual European countries. The course will provide students with training and skills suitable for a wide range of careers, including academic, professional, commercial, diplomatic, and governmental positions.

Course Structure

• An overview of the course structure is provided below.
• Details of the compulsory and optional elements of the course are provided in the Course Components section.
• As part of this course, students must complete core classes and tutorials, undertake a program of research methods training, and write a thesis.
• Students are also expected to complete two specialist option papers.
• The approach to teaching comprises intensive and interactive work between the student and their supervisor and course teachers, combined with a carefully planned program of classes, seminars, and lectures, as well as directed self-study.

Attendance

• The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford.
• Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to Support Study

• As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services.
• The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK, including the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, with over 13 million printed items and access to e-journals.
• The University's IT Services is available to support students with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities.

Supervision

• The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Politics and International Relations.
• Supervisors are usually selected from the academic staff within the Department of Politics and International Relations.
• Under exceptional circumstances, a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Politics and International Relations.
• Students can expect to meet with their supervisor around three times each term.

Assessment

• Progression to the second year is conditional on passing examinations and/or coursework in research methods as well as the core course.
• At the end of the course, students will complete two option papers of their choice, assessed by examination or coursework, and submit a thesis.

Graduate Destinations

• Graduate work in politics will prepare students for an academic career in the field, either in Oxford or elsewhere.
• The Department of Politics and International Relations also celebrates the substantial number of its graduates working in government, in diplomatic services, and in senior positions in the private sector.

Course Components

Compulsory Study

• Complete core classes and tutorials in European Governance in Year 1.
• Undertake a program of research methods training, which includes writing a research design proposal in preparation for the MPhil thesis.
• Write a thesis in Year 2.

Options

• Complete two research methods options covering statistics and research design in Year 1.
• Complete two specialist option papers in Year 2, with options including:
  • The Political Sociology of Post-Communist Societies.
  • Comparative Political Economy of Advanced Democracies.
  • Advances Themes in European Politics.
  • The Politics of Coalitions in Parliamentary Democracies.
  • Political Economy of Inequality and Democracy.
  • Political Myth.

Entry Requirements

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

• Applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in political science or international relations, or in a related discipline.
• Entrance is very competitive, and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

Degree-Level Qualifications

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in political science or international relations, or in a related discipline.
• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test Scores

• No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other Qualifications, Evidence of Excellence, and Relevant Experience

• A working or good reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, or Spanish is desirable but not essential.
• Research or working experience that is relevant to the proposed study may provide further evidence of academic potential.
• Publications are not expected, but a demonstrably peer-reviewed publication in political science or an allied discipline may be taken as prima facie evidence of aptitude for research.

English Language Proficiency

• This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.
• If the first language is not English, evidence that meets this requirement must be provided.

Funding

• For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.
• If you apply by the January deadline and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

• The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• For the academic year, the annual course fees are:
  • Home: Ł24,430.
  • Overseas: Ł37,100.

Additional Costs

• There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs.
• However, as part of the course requirements, students may need to choose a dissertation, a project, or a thesis topic, which may incur additional expenses.

Living Costs

• In addition to course fees and any additional course-specific costs, students will need to ensure they have adequate funds to support their living costs for the duration of the course.
• The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

College Preference

• Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college.
• The following colleges accept students on the MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society):
  • Balliol College.
  • Blackfriars.
  • Brasenose College.
  • Campion Hall.
  • Christ Church.
  • Corpus Christi College.
  • Exeter College.
  • Green Templeton College.
  • Harris Manchester College.
  • Hertford College.
  • Jesus College.
  • Keble College.
  • Kellogg College.
  • Lady Margaret Hall.
  • Linacre College.
  • Lincoln College.
  • Magdalen College.
  • Mansfield College.
  • Merton College.
  • New College.
  • Nuffield College.
  • Pembroke College.
  • The Queen's College.
  • Regent's Park College.
  • Reuben College.
  • St Anne's College.
  • St Antony's College.
  • St Catherine's College.
  • St Cross College.
  • St Edmund Hall.
  • St Hilda's College.
  • St Hugh's College.
  • St John's College.
  • St Peter's College.
  • Somerville College.
  • Trinity College.
  • University College.
  • Wadham College.
  • Wolfson College.
  • Worcester College.
  • Wycliffe Hall.

How to Apply

Before You Apply

• Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application.
• If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline, we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance.

Application Fee Waivers

• An application fee of Ł75 is payable for each application to this course.
• Application fee waivers are available for applicants from low-income countries, refugees and displaced persons, UK applicants from low-income backgrounds, and applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

Completing Your Application

• You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.
• For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé.
• You should not upload a separate document; if a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application.

Proposed Field and Title of Research Project

• Under the 'Field and title of research project,' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known.
• If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

Proposed Supervisor

• If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name,' enter the name of the academic(s) whom you would like to supervise your research.
• Otherwise, leave this field blank.

Referees

• Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete.
• Your application must be supported by academic references, i.e., each referee should be able to testify to your academic abilities, achievements, and motivation.

Official Transcript(s)

• Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.
• You should only upload official documents issued by your institution, and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

Statement of Purpose

• Your statement should be in English and focus on the following criteria:
  • Your academic motivation for applying for this course at Oxford.
  • Your relevant academic experience (including field work) and education.
  • Your understanding of the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialize in for your research project.
• If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Written Work

• You should submit academic essays on any subject or theme within the discipline of politics but preferably ones that relate to your proposed field of study.
• The essays may be written specially for the application or may have been produced for other purposes.
• All written work should be in English, and the word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

Admission Status

• Open to applications for entry in the academic year.

Deadlines

• 12:00 midday UK time on:
  • Friday, 9 January 2026: Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships and the final application deadline for entry in the academic year.

Key Facts

• Course code: TP_PL6B1.
• Expected length: 21 months.
• Places in: c. 13.
• Applications/year: 54 (three-year average).
• Expected start: 5 October 2026.
• English language: Higher level required.