Guidance for prospective MPhil/PhD students

Birkbeck's Department of Politics offers a supportive and stimulating environment for MPhil/PhD researchers.

Building on nearly two centuries of radical thinking, we will encourage you to push the frontiers of politics, both as an academic discipline and as an arena for public engagement. Our full-time and part-time MPhil/PhD researchers are working in multiple areas, including the politics of gender, British politics, comparative politics, European politics, international relations, public policy and political theory.

Our graduates excel in a variety of careers, including academic positions in leading universities in Europe and North America and in roles in government, international organisations and NGOs.

The department offers a range of funding opportunities for postgraduate research students. It is part of the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership, which offers Economic and Social Research Council funding, and the CHASE Doctoral Training Partnership, which offers Arts and Humanities Research Council funding.

The deadline for applying to the Department of Politics for ESRC 1+3 and +3 funding for 2021/2022 entry is 14 December 2020.

If you have any queries, please contact the Department’s Chair for Postgraduate Research, Professor Alex Colas.

Our MPhil/PhD degrees

MPhil/PhD Politics

Start your research journey

Thinking of doing an MPhil/PhD? Check the following to find out more about studying in our department and making an application.

Research in our Department

Find out more about the vibrant, intellectually challenging research culture in the Department of Politics.

MPhil/PhD research funding

Find out about sources of funding, including government loans and Research Council studentships.

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply to an MPhil/PhD degree in Birkbeck's Department of Politics.

Find a supervisor

Browse our staff pages to find out more about our interests, research projects and areas of supervision.

How the supervisory relationship works

Your relationship with your MPhil/PhD supervisor will be vital to your success - find out more about how it all works.

Birkbeck Graduate Research School (BGRS)

The Birkbeck Graduate Research School (BGRS) provides support and training to all MPhil/PhD research students at Birkbeck.

Training and careers

Find out more about training and careers support available to MPhil/PhD research students at Birkbeck.

Libraries and research resources

As well as Birkbeck Library, you can access a wealth of unparalleled libraries and research resources in central London.

Completed PhD theses

Browse our electronic depository to view PhD theses completed in the department since 2012.

Free events

We offer free events throughout the year, where you can find out more about our research and meet our staff.

Book an Open Evening

Ethics procedures and guidance

If you do research with people, you will need to comply with our ethics policies and guidelines.