Compare 27 Politics/International Relations PhD Programs in the UK

Grad School Navigator tracks 27 Politics/International Relations PhD programs in the UK across 16 universities. Most programs take about 72 months, while published annual tuition ranges from $19,712 to $48,436. Start with the ranked programs below, then use Explorer to compare the details that matter to your shortlist.

Top Programs

Sorted by Grad School Navigator University Rank. Each row also shows QS, Times Higher Education, U.S. News, or Academic Ranking of World Universities positions when available.

  1. 1

    University of Oxford

    DPhil in International Relations

    Application deadline
    Jan 9
    Annual tuition
    $42,189
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  2. 2

    University of Cambridge

    PhD in Politics and International Studies

    Application deadline
    Dec 2
    Annual tuition
    $48,436
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  3. 3

    London School of Economics and Political Science

    Mphil|PhD Social Policy

    Application deadline
    Jan 14
    Annual tuition
    $31,232
    Program duration
    48 months
  4. 4

    University College London

    Political Science PhD

    Application deadline
    Dec 5 +1
    Annual tuition
    $25,818
    Program duration
    36 months
  5. 5

    University of Edinburgh

    Politics & International Relations PhD

    Application deadline
    Jun 29
    Annual tuition
    $37,120
    Program duration
    3 years full-time
  6. 6

    University of Bristol

    PhD in Social Policy

    Application deadline
    Dec 1
    Annual tuition
    $28,032
    Program duration
    96 months
  7. 7

    University of Warwick

    PhD in Politics and International Studies

    Application deadline
    Aug 2 +1
    Annual tuition
    $33,178
    Program duration
    3–4 years full-time
  8. 8

    University of Birmingham

    Political Science and International Studies PhD|MPhil

    Application deadline
    Jun 1
    Program duration
    3 years full-time
  9. 9

    University of Exeter

    PhD European Politics

    Application deadline
    Oct 1 +2
    Annual tuition
    $30,080
    Program duration
    4 years full-time
  10. 10

    University of Liverpool

    Politics PhD

    Application deadline
    Rolling
    Annual tuition
    $32,448
    Program duration
    72 months

Use detailed filters for tuition, deadlines, duration, admission requirements, and rankings in Programs Explorer. Compare programs and create your application shortlist.

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Popular Criteria

See programs that match these criteria.

No Graduate Record Examination required13Lower annual tuition4Application fee waived10

Complete Program List27 programs

The complete list of Politics/International Relations PhD Programs, ranked by their global university rank first.

First programs in this cohort
RankUniversityProgramDuration
#5University of OxfordDPhil in International Relations3–4 years full-time
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Politics3–4 years full-time
#5University of OxfordDPhil in Social Policy3–4 years full-time
#7University of CambridgePhD in Politics and International Studies3–4 years full-time
#29London School of Economics and Political ScienceMPhil|PhD International Relations48 months
#29London School of Economics and Political ScienceMphil|PhD Social Policy48 months
#29London School of Economics and Political ScienceMRes|PhD Political Science60 months
#37University College LondonPolitical Science PhD36 months
#50University of EdinburghPolitics & International Relations PhD3 years full-time
#50University of EdinburghSocial Policy PhD3 years full-time
#94University of BristolPhD in Social Policy96 months
#97University of WarwickPhD in Politics and International Studies3–4 years full-time
#132University of BirminghamPolitical Science and International Studies PhD|MPhil3 years full-time
#132University of BirminghamSocial Policy PhD|MPhil3 years full-time
#133University of ExeterPhD European Politics4 years full-time
#133University of ExeterPhD Politics48 months
#133University of ExeterPhD Strategy and Security48 months
#136University of LiverpoolPolitics PhD72 months
#164University of YorkEnvironment and Politics PhD3–4 years full-time
#164University of YorkPolitics PhD3–4 years full-time
#192Newcastle UniversityPolitics PhD3 years full-time
#201–250Cardiff UniversityPolitics and International Relations PhD3 years full-time
#201–250Lancaster UniversityInternational Relations: PhD84 months
#201–250Lancaster UniversityPolitics: PhD84 months
#251–300Loughborough UniversityPolitics and International Studies PhD72 months
#251–300Loughborough UniversitySocial and Policy Studies PhD
#301–400University of East AngliaPolitics Postgraduate Research - PhDs and Studentships48 months

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