MRes/PhD Political Science

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to the field of political science. You will begin on the MRes, and will need to meet certain requirements to progress to the PhD.

The Department of Government at LSE is one of the largest political science departments in the UK and covers almost all areas of politics. We cover a broad array of academic sub-fields from political theory, political economy, public policy, nationalism, conflict studies, and comparative politics to the history of institutions and policy. We also have area expertise on Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

We welcome applications to undertake research that complements the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate staff research interests before applying and approach prospective supervisors to gauge their interest.

The MRes/PhD Political Science provides world-leading methods training, participation in a lively and open research culture, and the opportunity to be part of one of the best departments in political science and political studies in the world. You will join a small and highly selective entering class, of about 6-10 students, who come from a wide range of universities around the world. Together you will embark on the MRes portion of the programme, which is a structured route to the PhD.

MRes

In the first year, you'll take a series of courses and prepare a Research Prospectus. You'll be trained in research design and research methods and also take courses from a broad range of graduate specialisms in our department and across LSE.

You'll study with acknowledged leaders in their fields and learn what political scientists know (and don’t know), what the key debates have been and where the discipline is going.

PhD

Subject to satisfactory performance, you'll be upgraded to the PhD programme and will implement your research plan, for example through fieldwork, data collection and analysis, theoretical work, or a combination of several approaches. You'll participate and present your work in doctoral workshops with faculty and fellow researchers (at least one each year), and you'll start to attend and present papers at international conferences.

You'll also be invited to apply to help teach undergraduate courses in the department.

In your second year, you have the option of taking Political Economy (permission to attend is at the discretion of the course convenor.)

PhD

Subject to satisfactory performance, you'll be upgraded to the PhD programme and will implement your research plan, for example through fieldwork, data collection and analysis, theoretical work, or a combination of several approaches. You'll participate and present your work in doctoral workshops with faculty and fellow researchers (at least one each year), and you'll start to attend and present papers at international conferences.

You'll also be invited to apply to help teach undergraduate courses in the department.

PhD

Subject to satisfactory performance, you'll be upgraded to the PhD programme and will implement your research plan, for example through fieldwork, data collection and analysis, theoretical work, or a combination of several approaches. You'll participate and present your work in doctoral workshops with faculty and fellow researchers (at least one each year), and you'll start to attend and present papers at international conferences.

You'll also be invited to apply to help teach undergraduate courses in the department.

The Department of Government is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.

Within our department, we have 850 undergraduates, postgraduates and research students and more than 40 faculty staff – who come from 80 countries.

Our research focuses on six main areas:

• comparative politics
• conflict studies
• political behaviour and political psychology
• political economy and institutional analysis
• political theory
• public policy and public administration.

The department’s work covers national, sub-national and global politics – with a strong emphasis on public-facing research.

Teaching within the department draws on these strengths and our central role in a prestigious social science institution. As a student, you’ll learn from internationally renowned academics and study in the heart of London, close to the UK’s political heartland in Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.

Our students gain the knowledge and skills to become sharp-minded critical thinkers who apply diverse analytical perspectives to political issues and conflicts around the globe. We encourage students to reflect on what it means to be responsible for addressing urgent public problems and engage in these issues in practical ways to prepare for their future careers. Our graduates find fulfilling roles in government, financial and professional services, teaching and research.

Learn more about our programmes, research, public events and people.

Department of Government

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of our staff at LSE. For this reason, we recommend that you take a look at our staff research interests before applying.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications)
• statement of academic purpose*
• references
• CV
• outline research proposal
• sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

MPhil/PhD Sociology (CRICA): funding pathway only

We'll take an intersectional approach to equity, diversity and inclusion to ensure that applications from candidates with diverse identities and experiences are considered. Applications from scholars and artists with disabilities are particularly encouraged. Experience in the performing and participatory arts, and/or improving accessibility and inclusion, will also be accounted for in reviewing applications.

As applications are only released to your second-choice programme after they're rejected by your first choice, and we don't control other programmes' admissions processes and timescales, we can only guarantee to consider your application if you apply to CRICA either:

1. as your first-choice programme, and this is released to CRICA before 10 December 2025, or
2. as your second-choice programme, and you're rejected by your first-choice programme, and your application is released to CRICA before 15 January 2026.

*Statement of academic purpose: specific requirements for CRICA applicants only

If you're applying to the CRICA pathway, please provide evidence of your academic suitability and motivation in your statement of academic purpose, and explain how you can contribute academically to the programme.

The primary research theme of the CRICA pathway is the intersection of disability and the creative economy, specifically the performing and participatory arts (PPA) sectors. As a postgraduate student, you'll address in your research systemic obstacles to the academic, creative, economic and social benefits of this knowledge, such as ableist informed timelines, environments, labour value and aesthetics.

With the supervision of the LSE Department of Sociology academics and a training programme designed in partnership with the University of Roehampton and our partners from the PPA industry, you'll explore how inclusive cultural practices and spaces are created and experienced, and how these can inform broader societal and economic changes.

Please address the guidelines when writing your statement of academic purpose.

Part-time study

Please note that LSE allows part-time PhD study only 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.

For students awarded a Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) studentship, the structure and duration of the studentship offered, including part-time study, will depend on a candidate's previous academic experience, and social research training and experience. ESRC studentships are applicable to both full-time and part-time study. We can discuss part-time options with you if you're interested in applying. International students requiring a student visa should also see the student visas information in the GOV.UK website and the LSE visa advice for more details.

Our early application deadline is 10 December 2025 and our final application deadline is 14 January 2026.

We strongly encourage you to submit your application and supporting documents by the early deadline for guaranteed consideration for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding.

The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with fee levels recommended by the Research Councils.

Learn more about fee status classification.

The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, four per cent each year).

Learn more about fee status classification.

Progression and assessment

At the end of the first year you'll complete the assessments for your courses and finalise your Research Prospectus, the provisional research plan for your PhD. You'll defend the Prospectus at a committee of relevant faculty in September at the end the first year. If you meet the assessment requirements and successfully defend the Prospectus you'll be upgraded to the PhD part of the programme.

Your final award of the PhD will be determined by the completion of an original research thesis and a viva oral examination.

Learn more about the progress review and upgrade process

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career. Recent graduates have also gone on to careers in investment banking, auditing, consultancy and public sector and government.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.