Politics

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The MPhil/PhD in Politics at Birkbeck offers advanced research training in various sub-fields, including social and political theory, public policy, and international relations. Students conduct original research under expert supervision, developing advanced research and scholarly writing skills for careers in academia or other fields requiring analytical and critical thinking. The program emphasizes a supportive and stimulating environment, with access to research seminars, conferences, and extensive library resources.

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Degree Overview:

(MPhil/PhD):

• An advanced postgraduate research degree requiring original research and a substantial dissertation (60,000-100,000 words).
• Initially registered as an MPhil, upgrading to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two.
• Requires finding a suitable Birkbeck supervisor with the relevant expertise.
• Focuses on conducting research under the guidance of an academic expert in your chosen field.
• Offers a wide range of research project supervision, from public policy to social and political theory.
• Aims to develop advanced research and scholarly writing skills for careers in research or furthering existing careers.

Outline:

(MPhil/PhD):

• Current research spans across various areas:
• Social and political theory
• Modern British politics and society
• Comparative public policy
• Civil society and the state
• Gender
• Public policy
• Nationalism and ethnicity
• Religion and politics
• International relations, international security and terrorism
• European politics
• Politics of development
• Theoretical approaches to armed conflict and international politics
• Politics and society in Russia, North America and the Middle East

Careers:

• Completion of the program prepares graduates for careers in research.
• Many graduates choose to pursue academic research careers.
• The program also equips graduates with skills valuable in various fields, including:
• Policy analysis
• Government
• Media
• Education
• Non-profit organizations

Other:

• Birkbeck emphasizes a supportive and stimulating environment for full- and part-time research students.
• Between 25 and 30 research students are enrolled in various sub-fields of politics, political science, political and social theory, and international relations.
• Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework with 83% of the research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

Assessment:

• MPhil:
Submission of a dissertation of approximately 60,000 words.
• PhD:
Submission of a dissertation of approximately 100,000 words.
• Regular meetings with your supervisor(s) to discuss your research progress.
• Potential for oral examinations depending on your research area.

Teaching:

• Individualized supervision by academic experts in your chosen field.
• Access to regular graduate research seminars and courses on research methodology.
• Participation in national and international research conferences and seminars.
• Regular seminars and conferences organized by the department.
• Extensive teaching collection of books and journals in politics and sociology at the Birkbeck Library.
• Access to a vast range of electronic resources, including bibliographic databases and over 17,000 electronic journals, most of which are accessible online 24/7.

Part-time home students: £2,539 per year Full-time home students: £4,786 per year Part-time international students: £7,525 per year Full-time international students: £14,885 per year Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. Fees and finance PhD students resident in England can apply for government loans of over £26,000 to cover the cost of tuition fees, maintenance and other study-related costs. We offer a range of studentships and funding options to support your research.