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Politics PhD

Join our international research community for your PhD. You'll benefit from a supportive, stimulating and challenging research environment.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:


Start date(s):

  • September 2025
  • January 2026
Is PG right for me? Join our webinar. Wednesday 23 October, 14:00-15:00 BST

Overview

Our broad range of research means you can specialise in topics including:

  • political philosophy
  • comparative institutions or behaviour
  • British politics
  • international relations
  • race and ethnicity
  • gender

You'll receive training on how to become an independent researcher. You'll be supported by a supervisory team of at least two members of our research staff who will guide you through the research process. Your supervisors will also play a key role in helping you develop a thesis project that will open job opportunities in academia or outside of academia depending on your goals.

Meet our Politics research students and read more about their research

You will be able to take part in the Researcher Education and Development. This is an advanced and interdisciplinary research training and researcher development programme created by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

You'll also have the opportunity to enrol in the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Training. This provides a broader knowledge of different research methodologies. It equips you with the skills to carry out advanced research in your area of interest.

We're committed to theoretical and methodological pluralism. We also support PhD students who want to pursue an interdisciplinary research agenda.

Our academic researchers are published in top-ranked academic journals and work in close collaboration with over 3,000 non-academic partners locally and around the world.

Our programme is international, with students coming from 27 countries in the last six years.

We welcome research projects devoted to politics subjects, as well as interdisciplinary work that attracts engagement from other departments and universities.

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Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

How you'll learn

Find out more about our staff and their specialisms

Your development

We offer you excellent supervision for your Politics PhD in a vibrant and supportive research environment.

The PhD students form part of the Politics Postgraduate Society, which organises:

  • the 'New Voices' seminar series, with both internal and external presenters
  • roundtable discussions on topical issues
  • professional development workshops led by politics staff or experts from other universities, if needed.

You are encouraged to attend conferences to present papers, partial funding for this is available from the Geography, Politics and Sociology School.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

  • perform better as a researcher
  • boost your career prospects
  • broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

  • techniques for effective research
  • methods for better collaborative working
  • essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

  • Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
  • Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

  • they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
  • you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
  • they’re often interdisciplinary
  • your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership
Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

How to apply


Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


Apply Online  

Open days and events

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Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

School of Geography Politics and Sociology
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3921 
Email: Politicsadmissions@newcastle.ac.uk

Online

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Live chat

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

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