MPhil & PhD in Politics
We accept research students into the Department on the basis of a match between your proposed research and the current research interests of a potential supervisor as well as an assessment of qualifications and suitability for a research degree. Initial discussions about supervision are therefore on the basis of a brief research proposal prepared by prospective students before a formal application is made.
Elizabeth, PhD in Politics
3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time.
Find out more about applying
You should normally have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area. If your first language is not English, please check our English Language requirements.
The Department of Politics offers a number of postgraduate bursaries each year.
Details of fees and funding for MPhil/PhD study.
We also offer a Research studentship funded by the London Borough of Lewisham. Research students have successfully applied for AHRC studentships.
Central and local government; management and personnel work; finance; the media; teaching, lecturing and research; health service administration. Many of our graduates undertake professional training in law, accountancy, journalism, business administration, teaching, social work or nursing.
Critical awareness of social and political issues and processes; originality in engagement with the discipline of political science; communication and presentation skills.
Please see Tuition fees.
Please see Staff research interests.
Contact Dr James Martin
If you would like to come and discuss your research with the Director of Postgraduate Studies and/or with a potential supervisor, please contact the Departmental Secretary to make an appointment
Registration and study
Initially, you register for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme to train you in the research methods necessary to complete a PhD. You can apply to upgrade to PhD registration when you have satisfactorily completed an agreed part of the research and training programme; this usually happens before 18 months if you are studying full-time, or before 36 months if part-time.
You should aim to complete and submit your PhD thesis within an agreed period, usually three to four years for full-time students, and four to six years for part-time. If you decide not to upgrade to PhD registration, you can submit your thesis for an MPhil after two years if you are studying full-time, or after three years if part-time. With the agreement of your supervisor, you can change your registration from full to part-time or vice versa.
North American applicants especially should note that the British system does not include preparatory taught classes or examinations as part of the MPhil/PhD programme, except for an initial course in research methods.
Research supervision
You are assigned members of staff qualified to supervise your research throughout your period of registration. Please see staff interests for details of the teaching staff and their research interests. You usually have a single supervisor, although in some cases joint supervision is agreed, and two members of staff are involved in the supervision. Supervision involves regular meetings throughout the period of study, and ideally involves the development of an intensive intellectual relationship between you and your supervisor, from which both parties gain.
Research training
All research students who have not completed an MRes or MPhil degree will have to attend courses on quantitative and qualitative research methods held in their first year of study. A College-wide programme of research training is also provided, which involves an induction course (which all students should attend), introduction to information technologies and the use of library and bibliographic resources, basic training in quantitative research methods, and sessions on research planning, presentation skills and ethics.
Optional elements
There are seminars held within the Department, which you can attend. Also, you may, after consultation with your supervisor, audit the appropriate postgraduate options from any of the taught MA/MRes programmes offered in the Department. This involves participating in seminar discussions and/or writing coursework, but not being formally assessed for the course.
Assessment
Examination of the MPhil and PhD is by a longer thesis (60,000 words maximum for an MPhil and 100,000 words maximum for a PhD) and a viva voce.
Facilities
You have access to Goldsmiths’ Graduate School based in the Whitehead Building there are PCs and Macs, a kitchen space and a quiet work space. The School also hosts a series of seminars and other activities during the year, which are open to all postgraduate research students and staff in the College.
Also based in the Whitehead Building is the Graduate School Office, whose staff oversee research students’ progress and well-being and co-ordinate the generic training courses for postgraduate research students.
Register your interest
If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information. If you subsequently decide to apply for this programme you will be able to use the same login details to apply.
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