Program Description
The PhD in Political Science offered by the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts聽is a聽research-intensive program that emphasizes demanding and intellectually stimulating learning opportunities. Students complete 9-13 graduate-level seminars over the course of four terms, take comprehensive doctoral exams in two fields and write a doctoral thesis. The program鈥檚 objective is to equip students with advanced conceptual and analytical skills, advanced social scientific methods, strong writing and presentation skills, and intellectual independence to pursue professional opportunities in academia or in other private or public-sector employment.
The program may also be taken with the Gender and Women's Studies option which incorporates coursework and research on gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. The dissertation must be on a topic that significantly engages with issues of gender, sexuality, or feminism. For more information about Gender and Women's Studies, visit the Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF) website.
Keywords: Canadian politics, Comparative politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Methods, qualitative research, quantitative research, interpretive research, institutions, government, power, political behaviour, political philosophy, history of political thought, gender, race.
Unique Program Features
- Students specialize in two fields, drawn from Canadian Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, or Methods;
- The two-field model promotes intellectual breadth and interdisciplinary thinking, while maintaining strong disciplinary foundations;
- The department鈥檚 faculty is composed of dynamic teachers, and internationally-renowned scholars;
- The department鈥檚 theoretical and methodological pluralism means that faculty members and graduate students employ multiple and diverse methods, from interpretive, historical, and experimental approaches to statistical and formal modeling; students are encouraged to tailor their methods to the questions they ask;
- Faculty members and graduate students are affiliated with various research groups and centres that host regular colloquia, working groups, and visiting speakers, such as the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies, the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, the Jean Monnet Centre, the 黑料社 Institute for the Study of Canada, the 黑料社 Refugee Studies Group, the Qu茅bec Studies Program, the Groupe de recherche inter-universitaire en philosophie politique, the Centre de recherche en 茅thique, the Yan P. Lin Centre, the Research Group on Constitutional Studies, the Research Group on Global Justice;
- A structured PhD program with two years of coursework, comprehensive exams in two fields, and a dissertation, supported by strong mentorship for steady progress.
- PhD students engage early in research, conferences, publishing, and grant writing, with opportunities for Teaching Assistantships and instructor roles.
University-Level Admission Requirements
- An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
- English-language proficiency
Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.
Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.
Program Website
PhD in Political Science website
Department Contact
Graduate Program graduate.polisci [at] mcgill.ca (email)
Available Intakes
Fall
Application Deadlines
| Intake | Applications Open | Application Deadline - International | Application Deadline - Domestic (Canadian, Permanent Resident of Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FALL | September 15 | December 15 | December 15 |
| WINTER | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SUMMER | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Note: Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.