Course details

Summary

Are you interested in making a difference to the world around you? Human rights? The future of New Zealand or other communities? International affairs? Critical policy issues such as health, the environment, or peace? How social change happens and how power and resources are allocated in society? Do you want to think about these questions and pursue a career based on your interest? If so, you should study Political Science and International Relations.

Political Science is often called the study of who gets what, where, how and why. It is the independent and informed study of our communities and how we make decisions collectively as governments, why we behave as we do as citizens, and how we make public policy choices for the future. Political scientists use a variety of ideas and tools to examine local, national, regional, and global processes, institutions and relationships and to consider how we ought to live as political communities and how we can create change.

The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities.

A PhD involves extensive, sustained and original research and study in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.

The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two years and the maximum period four years; most PhD students take between three and three-and-a-half years.

Career opportunities

Political Science and International Relations students gain a versatile set of skills that can be applied in a wide range of exciting careers both within politics (international, national and local political institutions eg, the UN, humanitarian inter-governmental organisations, parliaments, city councils) and in more diverse areas such as law, business, education and journalism.

Recent graduates have been employed in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence, and Justice as well as the Treasury, Te Puni Kokiri, Parliament and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Government Communications Security Bureau, Security Intelligence Service, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, and the Red Cross.

Political Science and International Relations specialists fare well in roles that value a questioning mind, superb communication skills and a strong understanding of systems and social issues such as the news media, trade unions, teaching and the finance industry (eg, banking and investment).

A number of our senior students have also gone on to further study and to teach at prestigious overseas universities.

Entry criteria

Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master's degree at first-class or second-class division 1 level (or equivalent qualifications). Applicants with qualifications from outside New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.