All applications for MPhil/PhD must be submitted by 14 January 2026. This includes applications for School scholarships and externally funded applications. However, early applications are strongly encouraged.
The Department of International Relations provides supervision across the discipline for research leading to a PhD degree. Applicants are required to have a master's degree in a subject relevant to their proposed research with a high merit (65% or above) including a high merit in the dissertation (65% or above). Applications which do not meet these criteria (or do not expect to do so on completion of any pending qualifications) are not considered eligible.
We encourage research projects which will expand and diversify the research profile of the Department. Please check our People page to see whether the Department has supervision capacity and expertise to take on your research project.
We welcome applications from high quality students from all geographic regions. We are especially interested in receiving applications from UK BAME students and encourage all self-identifying BAME applicants of UK nationality to participate in the (ACE PGR Initiative). By participating in this scheme, you will be entitled to a waiver of the application assessment fee. In addition, you will benefit from a contextualised admissions process, a 15-minute pre-interview session if you are invited to an interview, and tailored admissions feedback if your application is unsuccessful.
If you have questions about the provisions of the ACE PGR Initiative, please contact ir.research@lse.ac.uk.
Programme structure
In the first year, MPhil/PhD students are required to attend the Methods in International Relations Research Training Seminar (IR501) which explores the theoretical and practical problems associated with a piece of major research. Study concentrates on epistemological and theoretical issues, with special reference to the context and literature of international relations, and time is also devoted to problems arising from source materials, methodology and normative dilemmas. The aim is to train well-rounded academic professionals, who are able to comprehend, critically interrogate, and engage with scholarship employing diverse methodological toolkits.
Students are also required to take assessed courses to the combined value of one unit from the range of quantitative and qualitative research methods topics listed under Programme Content on the Graduate Prospectus page.
All MPhil/PhD students at LSE are initially registered with MPhil status. Continued re-registration and upgrade are dependent on satisfactory progress being made.
Progress will be reviewed in the first and second year by a Research Panel made up of members of academic staff, other than the supervisor. Students are normally upgraded to PhD status by the end of the first year, and no later than 18 months after initial registration. Students in their third year are required to submit an annual progress report with a timeline to completion.
The Department is able to offer supervision in a variety of specialist areas, and, with its research centres and over 30 current research students, provides a vibrant and rich research community.
Students will also find it beneficial to get involved and contribute to the operation of Millennium: Journal of International Studies, the highly-ranked postgraduate student-run journal. Millenniumis always open to new members, each editorial board meeting offers students the very rare opportunity to read a submitted manuscript and to hear what peer-reviewers have said about the piece. Millennium also runs a prestigious annual conference in mid/late October.
Undergraduate teaching is an integral part of the PhD training programme. IR PhD students are expected to undertake some paid teaching for one academic year during the four years of their PhD, typically in the second or third year. This includes leading undergraduate classes—usually two classes on a 1st- or 2nd-year course—grading assessments and holding office hours. The timing of this teaching should be discussed with your supervisor(s) during your first year to ensure it aligns with your academic progress. Teaching is a key component of the PhD training and provides valuable professional experience and skills that will support career development both within and beyond academia.
There are a number of opportunities to support the development of your teaching, both through Department and Eden Centre led induction sessions, and ongoing support and training courses delivered by the Eden Centre and the GTA Portal.
Please read the information below before you begin the online application so that you have all the necessary documents ready for consideration.
Completing your application
Your application must include:
a CV
a personal statement
details of academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications with transcripts)
2 academic references
sample of written work
a research proposal of maximum 4,000 words
Your research proposal should give:
details of the particular topic to be addressed
relevant literature and previous research in the field
the theoretical/conceptual framework to be adopted
the proposed research question(s)
the planned research methods to answer the research question(s)
This will enable the Department to make an informed decision about the proposal and, equally important, to establish if there is appropriate supervision within the Department. One lead supervisor is normally identified at this stage and a second supervisor will be confirmed by the end of the Autumn Term.
Application checklist
Use the correct application code
M1ZR MPhil/PhD in International Relations
OR
M1ER for Visiting Research Students (VRS) programme
Do you meet the minimum requirements?
The minimum entry requirements for this programme are a 2:1 bachelor’s degree, plus Master’s degree marks equivalent to an LSE high merit grade (+ 65%), preferably in International Relations or in a subject relevant to your proposed research, with an overall average of 65% (or equivalent) and 65 % in the dissertation (or equivalent). Applications which do not meet these criteria (or do not expect to do so on completion of any pending qualifications) are not considered eligible.
- scroll down for country-specific information
Do you meet the English language requirements?
Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not been taught entirely in English at degree level, are required to provide evidence of their English language ability. The most common qualifications are the IELTS or TOEFL tests.
Applicants do not need to have the required marks when they apply, but successful award of the qualification would form a condition of any offer issued and would have to be achieved before registration. For research level, candidates are expected to meet the research programmes requirement. See our .
Identifying supervisors
The Department welcomes applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff in the Department. We recommend that you investigate staff research interests and their availability before applying.
Please note:
Prospective candidates for the MPhil/PhD in International Relations are not expected to contact potential supervisors in advance of their application. Due to the high volume of enquiries, potential supervisors are unlikely to be able to provide feedback on enquiries and outline proposals.
Individual academic members of staff are not able to make commitments to supervise prospective students outside of the formal application process. Selection goes through an internal PhD Sub-Committee review before any offer of place can be agreed.
You should name academics who have research interests which fit with yours in your personal statement so that they can be asked to consider your research proposal.
Part-time study
LSE allows part-time PhD study under limited circumstances. If you wish to study part-time, you should mention this (and the reasons for it) in your statement of academic purpose, and discuss it at interview if you're shortlisted.
Application and funding deadlines
Application will open in early October 2025 and close on 14 January 2026.
There are no separate applications for funding/scholarships. There is only one for the MPhil/PhD in International Relations: 14 January 2026. Selection for funding is based on receipt of a complete application (including all supporting documents: transcripts and references) by the deadline. We are not able to accept any materials that arrive after the deadline; only complete applications supplied with all the required supporting information by 14 January 2026 will be considered. Given the volume of applications received every year, we strongly encourage our applicants to apply early: early applications have a greater chance of being successful and of meeting financial support/scholarship and visa deadlines.
Funding is allocated by nomination and you will automatically be considered for the award you are eligible for alongside all applications received by the deadline.
When will I hear the outcome of the application?
We aim to process all complete applications in a timely manner, however the application process for research programmes can take up to three months. This is to enable the Department to make an informed decision about your proposal and, equally important, to establish if there is appropriate supervision available for your research. All applications are reviewed by our PhD Sub-Committee which normally meets to review applications at the end of February once interviews have been carried out.
Interviews
The Department interviews all shortlisted applicants before any offer of a place is made. Interviews normally take place online across two weeks in February.
Programme start
Please note that students may only start their studies in the Department at the beginning of the Autumn Term (September). This is so that they can attend the compulsory research training courses and follow the programme cycle in their first year.
1. Where can I check the equivalence of my non-UK qualifications?
The Student Recruitment Office provides information aimed at prospective applicants coming from outside the UK. It includes information on , just scroll down and click on the country of your choice.
2. Should I contact potential supervisors before I apply?
Before applying you should ensure that your research area can be supervised in the Department. Our People webpage and individual staff profiles clearly outline the research interests of faculty, and whether they are able to take on PhD students.
You are welcome to contact prospective supervisors, but because of the high volume of enquiries, we cannot guarantee an answer.
If you feel that one of the academics in the Department has interests that fit with yours, you should name them in your application and they would normally be asked to consider your research proposal. You should indicate if you have discussed your proposed research with any member of faculty and give the name of that person so they are automatically consulted.
3. Do you offer distance learning?
Our programme requires regular attendance at the LSE during the course of your programme, to attend courses, supervisory meetings and research cluster seminars, so we cannot offer distance learning. In exceptional circumstances, students may be granted permission to reside outside the UK while continuing their research programme but this is usually not granted before the final year.
4. Can I apply for an MPhil programme rather than a PhD?
There is no separate MPhil programme. The MPhil/PhD International Relations is intended for students wishing to complete a PhD. All students are initially registered as MPhil students and are upgraded to PhD status upon meeting the upgrade requirements at the end of the first year.
Students who do not wish to complete their PhDs or whose work is not of PhD standard, may elect to submit an MPhil thesis instead.
5. Can I still be considered for funding if I listed the PhD in IR as my 2nd choice?
It will depend when we receive your application. Programme choices are considered in order, so if you are successful for your first choice, you will not be considered for your second choice. Consequently, we can only guarantee your application will be considered for funding if you submit it by the funding deadline and list our programme as your first-choice.
The MPhil/PhD International Relations is part of the group of accredited programmes for ESRC funding and the Department can normally nominate one candidate for an ESRC 3.5 award each year (see eligibility and prior training requirements ). Please note that ESRC awards are normally targeted at HUK students and only very few are awarded to OS/HEU students, for which specific requirements will apply.
The programme is also eligible for .
administers a variety of studentships and award schemes for which different deadlines apply. There are also other funding opportunities available through organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate the options listed on our External Funding Sources document [PDF]. The LSE Financial Support Office also provides a list of external funding providers and additional scholarships.
Visiting Research Student (VRS) scheme allows research students registered at an overseas university to spend up to 3 terms in the Department of International Relations to undertake some aspect of their research in the UK.
Because of its emphasis on independent research, the VRS scheme is better suited to students who are at an advanced stage in their doctoral training and research.
How to apply to the VRS programme
The procedure and requirements are the same as for the MPhil/PhD. Please refer to the 'How to Apply' section above. Please ensure you use the correct code: M1ER- Visiting Research International Relations.
What does a career in Research in International Relations look like?
Hear from PhD Alumni about the diverse range of careers that research studies in the field of International Relations (IR) can lead to:
Dr Victor Bojbov is Head of Cooperation in the Delegation of the European Union in Azerbaijan:
Dr Kiran Phull is Assistant Professor in IR, Department of War studies at King’s College, London:
Dr Giovanni Angioni is Head of Government Social Research Strategy at the HM Treasury:
Dr Marnie Howlett is Lecturer in Politics, Oxford:
