General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

A Master’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum degree classification of Merit/2:1 in a relevant subject area; a strong research proposal; explicit support from at least one potential PAIS supervisor.

Read our department specific advice on applyingLink opens in a new window to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Our research

Areas for PhD supervision

By research groups:

• International Political Economy
• International Relations and Security
• Comparative Politics and Democratisation
• Political Theory.

By theme:

• Development
• Gender
• Cyber Security
• Climate Change
• Intelligence
• Justice
• Democratic Theory
• US/EU/UK Foreign Policy
• East Asia
• South Asia
• Europe
• Africa
• Middle East
• Latin America
• US
• Democratisation
• Elections
• Political Institutions
• Environmental Policy
• Ethics
• International Finance
• Global Governance
• Trade
• Borders and Migration
• Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
• War Studies
• Conflict studies
• Peace keeping
• Religion

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Politics and International Studies Staff Directory where you will be able to filter by research cluster, region or topic.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

Research proposals

The research proposal is arguably the most important element of your PhD application. You need to submit a fully specified research proposal when you submit your application form.

While we fully acknowledge that your project will evolve as you conduct your research, you must submit a convincing proposal, worked up in full, which is sufficiently rigorous and of sufficient quality before you will be allowed entry onto our programme.

The type of robust research proposal that is required to attract supervisory commitment and an offer will address the points outlined in our Department GuidanceLink opens in a new window.

Typical proposals are 2,000-3,000 words long; however, this is only a guideline. The emphasis will be on the quality of the proposal and whether or not it fits with a particular supervisor’s research interests, not on the word count.

Find out more about our research proposal requirements on our websiteLink opens in a new window.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Fieldwork costs
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Politics and International Studies at Warwick

Join an innovative, creative and passionate department with a lively and interactive culture. Stretch and challenge yourself with the support of friendly staff and your peers.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate courses

• International Development (MA)
• International Political Economy (MA)
• International Politics and East Asia (MA)
• International Relations (MA)
• International Security (MA)
• Politics and International Studies (PhD)
• Political and Legal Theory (MA)
• Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods (MA)
• Politics of Climate Change (MA)
• Public Policy (MA)

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.     

Applications for the programme close on 31 May 2025 for an Autumn 2025 start.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course