Fully Funded PhD Programs in Political Science

phd scholarship for political science

Last updated March 30, 2022

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your PhD , here is a list of universities that offer full funding for a Ph.D. in Political Science. These programs are designed to produce exceptional researchers and scholars in the fields of American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, Political Science Research Methodology, Constitutional Studies, and more. Graduates from these programs typically go on to work at top universities, think tanks, consulting firms, and government and non-government organizations (NGOs), both domestically and abroad. With the  average cost of a doctorate degree exceeding $100,000, gaining acceptance to a program with full funding is ideal.

“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full-time Ph.D. students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which is usually 3-6 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their doctoral students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

The  ProFellow database  for graduate and doctoral study also spotlights external funding opportunities for graduate school, including dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, and summer work experiences.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

1. University of Chicago

(Chicago, IL): The University of Chicago provides full funding to all admitted doctoral students to its Ph.D. in Political Science Program. The funding package includes full tuition, an annual stipend, and health insurance, and is guaranteed for the duration of a student’s studies provided they remain in good academic standing.

2. George Washington University

(Washington, D.C.): The George Washington University Ph.D. in Political Science program provides five years of guaranteed funding. The program is designed to produce outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and government institutions. Ph.D. students choose one major study: American Politics, International Relations, or Comparative Politics, and one minor study: Political Theory, Public Policy, or Research Methods.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(Cambridge, MA): The MIT Ph.D. in Political Science program aims to provide merit-based funding to all incoming doctoral students. The funding package is for five consecutive years with full tuition, health insurance, and a 9-month stipend. The program aims to produce new scholarly insights that improve the way governments and societies function and requires preparation in two of these major fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Models and Methods, Political Economy, and Security Studies.

4. University of Minnesota

(Minneapolis, MN): The University of Minnesota Ph.D. in Political Science program offers full funding to all incoming doctoral students. The funding provides five years of guaranteed financial support through fellowships, research and teaching assistantships, or graduate instructorships. Research specialties of the program include American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Methodology, Political Psychology (minor), Political Theory, and Political Economy.

5. New York University

(New York, NY): The NYU Ph.D. in Politics program offers full funding to all incoming students through MacCracken fellowships that guarantee five years of support, including tuition and a stipend. The program views teaching as a vital part of the doctoral degree, therefore students who participate in the teaching program are provided additional compensation for each teaching opportunity. There are no department-wide course requirements, but students must take at least three courses in each of at least two of these fields: American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, and Methodology.

6. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

(Chapel Hill, NC): The UNC Ph.D. in Political Science program offers most students fellowships and assistantships to fund their academic studies and living expenses. These awards require ten to fifteen hours per week of service duties, which may include teaching, conducting recitation sections, or assisting a faculty member in research and/or teaching. After the first year, graduate students must demonstrate the ability to teach in English in order to be eligible for further financial support. The program’s focus is to prepare students for professional careers in political science at academic institutions, government agencies, and NGOs.

7. University of Notre Dame

(Notre Dame, IN): The University of Notre Dame Department of Political Science provides guaranteed financial support to admitted students for five years. The funding package includes full tuition and a fellowship stipend. Additional funding is also available for students to pursue research and professional development, including covering costs associated with conference travel. The program also offers a joint Ph.D. in Political Science and Peace Studies that provides a full tuition scholarship, generous stipend, health insurance, and additional funding for research and travel.

8. Stanford University

(Stanford, CA): The Stanford Ph.D. in Political Science program offers a fully funded financial package for doctoral students for up to five years. The funding package covers the full cost of tuition and an additional amount for living expenses during the academic year. The latter amount comes in the form of a stipend during the first year and a combination of teaching and research assistantships during years 2-5.  The Department also provides students with annual funds for professional development, health insurance fees, and a living stipend for the first two summers. The aim of Stanford’s Political Science Ph.D. program is to produce scholars, most of which go on to conduct research and teach at universities.

9. Vanderbilt University

(Nashville, TN): The Vanderbilt Ph.D. in Political Science program provides full funding to all doctoral students for five years of study. The financial package includes a university tuition scholarship – a service-free award that covers all tuition costs, and a graduate award consisting of either a university fellowship, graduate teaching assistantship, graduate research assistantship, traineeships, or teacher training award. The program encourages individuals from diverse, under-represented populations to apply and aims to bring the most diverse, talented, and innovative students in the world to Nashville to study political science.

10. Washington University in St. Louis

(St. Louis, MO): Washington University’s Ph.D. program in Political Science provides full funding to all incoming students. The funding package includes full tuition and a stipend for living expenses. The Political Science program is designed to prepare students for careers in academia and prides itself in successfully placing graduates in academic jobs.  The program places about 90 percent of its Ph.D. graduates in jobs, most of them tenure-track positions.

Next step: Narrowing down the list of universities to apply to is important, and a critical factor in your decision should be your potential Ph.D. advisor. As a next step, we recommend that you learn how to find your ideal Ph.D. advisor .

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

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Top 56 Political Science Scholarships for Students in August 2024

Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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There’s no doubt about it: politics is an exciting field to be in. Whether you are right, left, or center, political science can be a great major to consider if you aspire to work in the political arena. Political science can open up many doors, whether you want to go to law school, run for office, work in media, or conduct research in a think tank. It’s no surprise that political science is a very popular major among students. 

If you are a current or prospective political science major, you are probably also thinking about how to pay for your degree! Luckily, there are a number of scholarships to help you fund your political science degree. Scroll down to find money for your education!

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If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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Are you a U.S. high school student with a love for U.S. history? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards up to $10,000 to winning applicants who submit a 700 - 1,000-word essay following the year’s prompt. Each year's prompt relates to U.S. history, with this year’s being: “Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. ” The scholarship is offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. If you love U.S. history and want to put your writing skills and history knowledge to the test, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

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Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Applied Public Policy (Democratic Resilience) (funded by Flinders University)

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Fulbright-National Science Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award in Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure

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Fulbright-Schuman Postdoctoral Award at the European University Institute (Florence, Italy)

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Fulbright-Uppsala University Distinguished Scholar Award in American Studies

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Laszlo Orszagh Distinguished Award in American Studies

Laszlo Orszagh Distinguished Award in American Studies

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Arts, Education, Humanities, Professional Fields and Social Sciences (Postdoctoral Scholar Award)

Arts, Education, Humanities, Professional Fields and Social Sciences (Postdoctoral Scholar Award)

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The "Postdoctoral Scholar Award" is open to Ph.D. and Terminal Degree holders interested in both conducting research and assisting faculty and students in the arts, education, humanities, geology, or the social sciences at Taiwanese universities. As part of the research requirement, selected scholars may expect to collaborate with Taiwanese faculty, and present lectures, seminars, and workshops as arranged by the host institution. To apply, interested students should obtain a letter of invitation from their potential host institution. Applicants without an invitation letter may indicate preferred affiliations, but Fulbright Taiwan will arrange and finalize all affiliations in consultation with potential hosts. If you're a doctorate or terminal degree holder wanting to work at an educational institution in Taiwan, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship

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Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies

Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies

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Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences at the American Studies Center, University of Warsaw

Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences at the American Studies Center, University of Warsaw

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The "Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences" is open to Ph.D. or Terminal Degree holders looking to conduct research in the Humanities or Social Sciences at the American Studies Center (ASC), University of Warsaw. Candidates are expected to have at least 10 years of teaching experience. Selected scholars will be required to teach one graduate course per semester on a topic of their choosing. They will also be expected to give public lectures, advise graduate students, and generally engage in the academic life of the ASC. To apply, you must submit a Project Statement, a CV or Resume, and two Letters of Recommendation. For more information on the scholarship, keep on reading! Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

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Offered by Christian Connector

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Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowship

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Offered by Blakemore Foundation

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Are you a bachelor's degree holder pursuing a career that involves the use of an East or Southeast Asian language? If so, consider applying for the Blakemore Freeman Fellowship! The Blakemore Freeman Fellowship is open to college graduates pursuing a professional, business, or academic career that will require the regular use of East or Southeast Asian languages. Applicants should have already formally studied their target language for at least three years and be willing to partake in extensive language study in an eligible program during the term of the grant. The scholarship is offered by the Blakemore Foundation, a Washington-based charitable trust dedicated to encouraging the use of Asian languages and increasing the understanding of Asian art within the United States. Every year, the fellowship covers tuition, and awards a stipend for related educational expenses, and basic living and transportation costs for the language programs of each of the winning applicants. If you’re looking for some help to pay off your East or Southeast Asian language program, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

StudentCam Scholarship

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Are you an aspiring filmmaker with an interest in American politics? If so, consider applying for the StudentCam scholarship! The StudentCam Scholarship is open to students in grades 6-12 who create a short 5-6 minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the year’s competition theme. The 2025 Competition Theme is: "What issue is most important to you or your community? Examine your selected topic from multiple perspectives and assess what action(s) the president should take after Inauguration Day." The scholarship is offered by Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN), a non-profit organization that televises many proceedings of the United States federal government, as well as other public affairs programming all without editing, commentary, or analysis. Each year, the scholarship awards cash prizes totaling $100,000 to the top 150 student documentaries. If you’re a middle or high school student passionate about filmmaking and American Politics, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

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How to win political science scholarships

Resources for political science students, frequently asked questions about political science scholarships, explore these other scholarship categories.

If you’re on the hunt for political science scholarships, fortunately there are a couple things you can do to boost your chances of receiving a congratulations letter.

Write a strong essay

Writing a knockout essay is one of the best ways to get noticed by scholarship committees. Grades and test scores are important, of course, but essays are an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you aim to achieve. Because scholarship committees go through so many applications, it’s crucial to write an essay that stands out from the crowd. For tips on how to write a great scholarship essay, check out the following resources:

  • How to write a 250 word essay
  • How to write a 500 word essay
  • How to write an essay about yourself
  • Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
  • How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
  • How to write a winning scholarship essay
  • How to end a scholarship essay

Search for local scholarships

Don’t overlook your local community during your scholarship search. While they may take some more digging to discover, local scholarships are great because they’re typically less competitive and easier to win! Check out our guide on how to win local scholarships to learn more. 

American Political Science Association

This website offers political science majors a wealth of resources, including internships, career advice, publications, and opportunities to connect with other students. Bookmark this one!

International Political Science Association

For students looking to contextualize their view of legal systems within the frame of the larger world, this is a great resource. It’s especially for students interested in international law or politics.

Midwest Political Science Association

For students studying or hoping to focus on the Midwest, this is a great resource. It’ll help familiarize you with research and changes in law in Midwestern states and could help you connect with political scientists in the area. You could find the co-author of your first book through this organization!

Is political science a good major for law school?

Political science is a great major to prepare you for law school! CUNY cites two reasons why political science helps prepare students for law school. The first is that it helps develop students’ analytical and research abilities in a way that compliments the study of law. The second is that it helps familiarize you with “the context in which law is practiced.”

However, political science is not the only major that you can use to go to law school. Law school is a common grad school destination for students across the social sciences and humanities spectrums. Don’t feel like you have to major in political science to go to law school!

Can I earn political science scholarships if I major in something else?

The answer to this question varies on a scholarship-by-scholarship basis. Generally, political science-oriented scholarships for high schoolers do not require that you go on to major in the field. But oftentimes, political science scholarships for current college students will require that you major or minor in the field.

Ultimately, you should make sure to read the terms and conditions of any scholarship opportunity very carefully before applying. It never hurts to reach out to the organization to be sure that you are eligible. In fact, making this contact with an organization might even help your chances by demonstrating your interest in the scholarship.

What does the political science major entail?

Good question! Political science covers a very wide range of topics, pertaining to the distribution of power, how governments and laws work, and how we function as a society. Our political science major overview can go into more detail about your classwork and future prospects as a political science major.

Do my political views affect my chances of winning a political science scholarship?

Yes and no! There are many political science scholarships out there that do not have an explicit political leaning. They will probably make their choices strictly based on students’ demonstrated analytical and argumentative skills. In this way, they are like any other scholarship.

However, some scholarships, such as those offered by institutes with an explicit political standpoint, might only cater to students who advance specific political beliefs. For example, the libertarian think-tank called the Cato Institute in DC offers a scholarship to “identify and educate the future minds of the liberty movement.” In this case, you will need to have similar views to qualify.

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Department of Political Science | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

PhD in Political Science

A student speaks with Professor Bruce Dickson

The Ph.D. in Political Science program  prepares students  to be outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and U.S. and international institutions. Working in small classes and with experienced faculty mentors, doctoral students construct a program around a major and minor field of study.

Recent dissertation topics have spanned women's organizations and the partisan gender gap, judicial politics in the Middle East, media freedom in Turkey, social justice in the corporate world, and coercive kidnappings in violent political organizations. Our students present their research at conferences around the country, earn awards and prestigious research grants for their scholarship, and publish articles in major journals, such as International Security, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, and Journal of Politics.

Funding is guaranteed for five years, conditional on adequate progress.

Admissions & Requirements

Policies and Resources

PhD Job Placement Data

The deadline for our MA program is April 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 admission. Our next PhD application deadline is Dec. 15, 2024, for Fall 2025 admission. If you have questions, please contact the Department Administrator by email: [email protected] .

Major and Minor Fields

Doctoral students choose both a major and minor field of study. Any of the major fields is also an option for a minor.

Major Fields

  • American Politics
  • International Relations
  • Comparative Politics

Minor Fields

  • Political Theory
  • Public Policy
  • Research Methods

Learn About Research by Field

Course Requirements 

Course List
Code Title Credits
Required
PSC 8101Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis
PSC 8108Craft of Political Inquiry
PSC 8109Dissertation Development Workshop
Five major field courses, including a field seminar, if applicable.
Four minor field courses, including a field seminar, if applicable.

Additional requirements

In addition to required coursework, program requirements consists of two comprehensive examinations covering a primary and supporting field, an original research paper, and a dissertation demonstrating the capacity to undertake original and significant research. The research paper, to be completed by the second year in the program, must reflect the student's ability to conduct original research. Students prepare for the comprehensive exams by taking at least five courses in their primary field and at least four courses in their supporting field, selected according to departmental guidelines. Three primary fields are available: American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. In addition, political theory, public policy, and research methodology are available as supporting fields. Petitions for a self-designed minor field (e.g., political communications) composed primarily of courses not offered by the established fields can be jointly proposed by students and faculty. All students must complete a sequence of courses in research methodology comprising PSC 8101 , PSC 8108 , and PSC 8109 . 

A recommendation to the Dean for Admissions to candidacy, or the dissertation research stage, will be considered upon satisfactory completion of all coursework, research paper, field examinations, and successful defense of the dissertation prospectus. Students must pass their primary field examination with a satisfactory pass or above and must pass their supporting field examination with a bare pass or above in order to be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy. Admission to candidacy is permitted only if the student’s performance on the examinations and in the coursework gives a good indication of success in the second unit. Passing the field examinations does not in itself ensure admission to candidacy.

The dissertation prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, which all faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend. The full dissertation must be similarly defended. A dual degree program enables students to earn the master of public policy along with the PhD in the field of political science.

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PhD Economic and Political integration in the Roman Empire (1.0 FTE)

Applications are invited for a fully-funded four-year PhD position in the field of Roman History and Archaeology. The prevised project focuses on wealth concentration and political integration

PhD Economic and Political integration in the Roman Empire (1.0 FTE) (V24.0393) « Back to the overview Job description Applications are invited for a fully-funded four-year PhD position in the field

PhD / Doctorate •

Degree Dr rer pol Teaching language English Languages The medium of instruction is English. Full-time / part-time full-time Programme duration 9 semesters or more Beginning Summer semester

2024 HDR Scholarship - Integrating Traditional Knowledge with Western restoration science

approaches to integrating Traditional Knowledge and western science in restoration initiatives. Specific PhD topics may be negotiable but must align clearly with the noted grant aim. Preference will be given

PhD position: Global History/Violence Studies with a regional focus on South America

life within the broader framework of colonial subjugation and its politics of difference.

Dark Political Communication (PhD scholarship)

significant research component from a recognised institution and in a cognate discipline (e.g. journalism, political communication, digital media) have a strong interest in the global political media landscape

International PhD Program in Earth System Modelling

a Master’s degree (with written thesis) in physics, geophysical sciences (incl. meteorology and oceanography), ecology, mathematics, computer science , engineering, economics , or political science

PhD on Infrastructural Imperialism

Are you interested in how people perceive foreign-funded megaprojects that change the spaces where they live and their everyday lives and how such projects shape and influence (geo) politics

PhD Position in the Political Economy of Housing, Financial Policy and Climate Adaptation

will be interdisciplinary, being embedded in both the Department of Political Science and the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies. The physical impact of climate

Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in History: From Crusade to Magna Carta: The Crusades and Political Life and Thought in Medieval England

the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They will also explore how personal experiences and family traditions of crusading impacted political action in the period, making use of approaches from Network Science

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Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

Our doctoral students are advancing political science as a discipline. They explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that improve the way governments and societies function. As a result, MIT Political Science graduates are sought after for top teaching and research positions in the U.S. and abroad. Read where program alumni are working around the world.

How the PhD program works

The MIT PhD in Political Science requires preparation in two of these major fields:

  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Models and Methods
  • Political Economy
  • Security Studies

We recommend that you take a broad array of courses across your two major fields. In some cases, a single course may overlap across the subject matter of both fields. You may not use more than one such course to "double count" for the course distribution requirement. Keep in mind that specific fields may have additional requirements.

You are free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools.

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

You will need two full academic years of work to prepare for the general examinations and to meet other pre-dissertation requirements. Typically, a minimum of eight graduate subjects are required for a PhD.

2. Scope and Methods

This required one-semester seminar for first-year students introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.
You must successfully complete at least one class in empirical research methods.

5. Philosophy

You must successfully complete at least one class in political philosophy.

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

You must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by successfully completing two semesters of intermediate-level coursework or an exam in that language, or you must demonstrate your knowledge of advanced statistics by successfully completing three semesters of coursework in advanced statistics. International students whose native language is not English are not subject to the language requirement.

7. Field research

We encourage you to conduct field research and to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

You must complete an article-length research paper and related workshop in the spring semester of the second year. The second-year paper often develops into a dissertation project.

9. Two examinations

In each of your two elected fields, you must take a general written and oral examination. To prepare for these examinations, you should take at least three courses in each of the two fields, including the field seminar.

10. Doctoral thesis

As a rule, the doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection. Writing the dissertation usually takes a substantially longer time. The thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense. Be sure to consult the MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation as well as the MIT Political Science Thesis Guidelines . Consult the MIT academic calendar to learn the due date for final submission of your defended, signed thesis.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

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Grants, Fellowships, and Funding in the Discipline

The American Political Science Association awards grants, fellowships, and scholarships with the aim of advancing education and research in political science. These include grants to support scholarly research, grants to support civic engagement programming, collaborative projects on teaching political science, and research projects aimed at having real-world impact on pressing issues, and more. 

The information below represents a selection of grants, fellowships, and other opportunities sponsored by APSA.  APSA also maintains a listing of open grants, awards and fellowship opportunities submitted by outside organizations here .   

Research Grants

Spring Centennial Center Research Grants  —  Applications due April 15th of each year. The APSA Small Research Grant Program supports research in all fields of political science. The intent of these grants is to provide funding opportunities for research conducted by political scientists not employed at PhD-granting departments in the field, or who are in non-tenure track or contingent positions ineligible for departmental funding. Summer Centennial Center Research Grants  —  Applications due June 15th of each year. The Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs offers over $100,000 per year in research funding to APSA members. Centennial Center Research Grants assist with the costs of research, including travel, interviews, access to datasets, auxiliary devices or services necessary for scholars with disabilities to conduct their research, and access to archives.

Fund for Latino Scholarship The primary purpose of the Fund for Latino Scholarship is to encourage and support the recruitment, retention and promotion of political science students and scholars who study and research Latina/o politics (especially students and tenure track junior faculty).

Grants for Collaborative Projects  

Special Projects Fund grants support collaborative, member-led projects aimed at advancing the political science discipline and/or a tackling a challenge facing the discipline. Projects must be evidence-based and provide wider benefits for the profession and the discipline. Projects must be collaborative and can be focused on any area of disciplinary work, inclusive of teaching, research, service, and public engagement. Proposals can work to contribute to or advance a research area but should not focus on traditional scholarly project (e.g. production of a single author book or journal article). For examples of past funded proposals see the above link. Special Projects Fund calls for applications are not issued in pre-determined cycles but are scheduled based on availability of funding.

Research Partnerships on Critical Issues APSA’s Research Partnerships on Critical Issues program provides grants to political scientists for collaborative, research-based projects aimed at advancing the public good. The Research Partnerships on Critical Issues program has two central goals:

  • To demonstrate the value of political science to the public to policymakers and to the broader community through publicly-engaged research.
  • To bring higher ed-based political scientists into conversation with practitioners and policy-oriented scholars across ideological and geographic lines.

Pedagogical Partnerships Pedagogical Partnership grants support projects that will bring together political science faculty from different institutions in the same geographic area to share expertise and produce cutting-edge teaching resources. PI’s will lead the organization of a series of meetings that will bring a larger group of local faculty together, allow for the sharing of best practices and innovations, and produce new teaching materials and new ties between faculty in the area. All Pedagogical Partnerships proposals must include at least one PI from a community college and one organizer from a research-intensive institution. Pedagogical partnership proposals are typically due in early January of each year.

Growing Democracy Growing Democracy grants support community-based programming led by political scientists that aims to bridge the boundaries between academia and community and break down the barriers between residents and governing institutions. Growing Democracy grants provide funding for collaborations between political scientists and their local communities aimed at supporting informed, engaged, and effective citizens. Proposed work should be community-centered and developed with an awareness of community needs and recognize the expertise held by faculty and community members. Growing democracy proposals are typically due in early January of each year.

Travel Grants

Travel Grants Standard Travel Grant:  

APSA is pleased to provide travel grants to qualified applicants for attendance at association events, specifically the Teaching and Learning Conference and the APSA Annual Meeting. Qualified applicants include: U.S. graduate students, international graduate students studying in the U.S., unemployed members, international scholars, community college faculty, contingent faculty, unemployed faculty, APSA Status Committee members, and any faculty member who has been furloughed or experienced a reduction in available research funds from their college or university. Travel grants can cover costs such as mileage for attendees who travel to association events by car or plane tickets for attendees who arrive by air. Grants can also cover hotels, meals, and conference related cab fares. First time attendees and those on the job market or tenure track will receive priority consideration. All grant recipients will be reimbursed for expenses after the conclusion of the relevant association event.

The APSA Committee on the Status of LGBT Individuals in the Profession is sponsoring travel and accessibility grants to support attendance at the 2023 APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition. The grants are intended to support participation opportunities for historically excluded groups and those at institutions with limited resources. Travel grants will support individuals who will travel to Los Angeles, California for the Annual Meeting. Accessibility grants will be awarded to support indirect costs of participating in the meeting. Grants will not exceed $300 per awardee. Priority will be given to applicants with accepted poster and paper presentations, or individuals attending APSA to engage in service on LGBT-related committees/sections.

Learn more about the grant and submit your application! The application deadline is July 1, 2023.

The Lee Ann Fujii Travel Grant supports APSA Diversity Fellows’ (formerly Minority Fellows) participation in the APSA Annual Meeting to encourage engagement with research, professional development, mentoring, and collaboration. Among other factors, priority is given to individuals whose research, teaching, or mentoring focuses in the areas of political violence, ethnicity and race, African politics, racial violence in the US South, comparative politics, international relations, conflict processes, research ethics, or qualitative and interpretive methods. The APSA Lee Ann Fujii DFP Travel Grant is made possible by the generous contributions of the Fujii Family and Dr. Fujii’s colleagues and friends. The grant is meant to support APSA Diversity Fellows’ participation in the APSA annual meeting to engage in research, professional development, mentoring and collaboration. Applications for the 2023 Lee Ann Fujii DFP Travel Grant will open May 22, 2023. Recipients will be announced in July 2023. Click here for more information.

In 2015, the APSA Council approved a new standing Committee on First-Generation Higher Education Scholars in the Profession, parallel to the existing APSA status committees. The goal and mission of this committee is to bring focused attention to the ways that class, economic inequality, and mobility can affect political scientists’ ability to thrive educationally and professionally throughout their careers. The Committee is delighted to offer travel and accessibility grants up to the amount of $250 to support First Generation Higher Education Scholars in the Profession who attend the APSA Annual Meeting. We anticipate opening the 2024 cycle this year on September 18, 2023, with a deadline of October 3, 2023. Click here to read more about the program.

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Ph.D. Funding

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Research Assistantships (RA)

Summer funding, funding after the first year, funding renewal after the first year, washington state residency, student loans.

Applicants who are admitted to the Political Science Graduate Program are considered for merit-based funding. No funding application is required. Our funding offers are aimed at supporting full-time graduate study with intensive research and teaching experiences. The strongest applicants are offered five years of funding from the department, provided satisfactory progress is maintained. We draw on fellowship, research assistantship, teaching assistantship, and summer funding resources in making competitive funding offers.

Full-funding awards, regardless of the categories of funding, amount to over $50,000 for the 2019-2020 academic year. This consists of a 3-quarter tuition waiver; a quarterly stipend of $7164 per quarter ($21,492 per year with three quarters of funding) ; and health insurance http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/benefits/insure/gaip/index.html with medical, dental, and vision coverage for each quarter of fellowship or employment as an RA or TA. The stipends increase as one moves through the graduate program in reaching the MA and PhC milestones. As well, students benefit from union-negotiated salary increases.

Students are responsible for paying approximately $322 in quarterly student fees.

Departmentally-Awarded Fellowships

The department awards several prestigious fellowships for first year students. Named for a prominent professor of Political Science and a past Dean of the UW Graduate School, the J.Allen Smith Fellowship provides several new students with an opportunity to pursue their own research. In addition the admissions committee draws from the Donald R. Matthews Fellowship in American Politics, the Helen E. Christopherson Fellowship, and the Paul Speyer Scholarship and Fellowship to award additional promising graduate applicants fellowship support. Fellowship recipients are matched with a faculty mentor for the duration of the fellowship.

UW and External Fellowships

There are also a number of other UW and external fellowships for which prospective students may apply. Administered by the University of Washington's Jackson School of International: the Foreign Language and Area Study Fellowship (FLAS) for intermediate or advanced study of approved foreign languages is available to prospective domestic students. The deadline is in January. For information and application materials please contact: http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/flas/ . Information on other Jackson International and Area Fellowships for current and some prospective students can be found at the same site.

China Studies and other Jackson Programs require nomination by our department. Many of the fellowships are renewable for two or three years and we currently have first year and advanced students with fellowships in China Studies, Korean Studies, Russian Studies and REECAS (Russia, East Europe and Central Asia).

Additionally, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies offers the Martha H. Duggan Fellowship , providing tuition and support for living or educational expenses for graduate students whose work focuses on labor. Preference for the award is given to students committed to researching or serving those who provided caring labor, or who themselves have provided caring labor or assisted partners or other family members in gaining advanced education.

Other non-UW external fellowships and awards for current graduate students can be found at this Graduate School site: http://grad.uw.edu/graduate-student-funding/for-students .

The University of Washington values the intellectual and social enrichment provided by those with varied personal experiences or who are from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds and it designates financial resources to support these students. The Political Science department has been successful nominating under-represented applicants for the merit-based Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) awards. These awards are for Research Assistantships and for Graduate Diversity Fellowships. Several of the later are two-year fellowships. These fellowships are only available to US citizens and permanent residents.

Teaching Assistantships (TA)

Teaching assistantships provide graduate students with a combination of employment and professional training in the teaching of political science. Teaching assistants are assigned to large undergraduate courses, usually in their major fields of interest, and are provided with office space. Duties include attending lecture, teaching quiz sections (subgroups of the large lecture), and grading papers and assignments. Political Science teaching assistants are also employed by the Department of English's Interdisciplinary Writing Program. These TAs teach writing skills to Political Science undergraduates. The time commitment is 20 hours per week.

In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences and the department provide funding to hire advanced Political Science TAs for positions as Lead TA, Director of the Writing Center and Computor Lab Assistant. The writing center Director works 20 hours per week in the Political Science Advising Office.

Research assistantships provide a combination of employment and professional training in research. No application is required for a RA position as applicants will be considered for these opportunities as part of the admissions process and as openings arise. Students with research assistantships gain the valuable experience of working with faculty on a faculty research project or in an affiliated research center. Examples of centers directed by Political Science faculty are: the Center for American Politics and Public Policy, the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement, the Washington Institute for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, and the Center for Labor Studies . The time commitment for research assistants is a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Continuing students who are on campus during the summer are typically engaged in a variety of activities that provide financial support: on fellowship; as Research Assistants with faculty and research centers; in department hourly positions such as in the advising office; or in language study on FLAS or other foreign language fellowships. More advanced students are often abroad on language and dissertation grants and are studying or conducting fieldwork. Many of our graduate students who have reached Candidacy teach independently in the Political Science department summer programs.

Funding from the department after the first year is usually in the form of TAships. A number of continuing students have opportunities as RAs or in special assignments as described above or statistical consulting. Continuing students are eligible to apply for department graduate research awards, travel grants, and compete for graduate paper prizes and teaching awards.

The department has also been successful in funding advanced graduate students who are beyond eligibility for TAships and many graduate students find Teaching Assistant positions in areas related to their research in other social science departments. Almost all advanced students teach at least one independent class before leaving this degree program. (With a number of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the area, many graduate students find part-time employment teaching classes outside the University of Washington as well.) Moreover, students are encouraged to compete for dissertation fellowships that are offered both by the department and by the UW Graduate School.

Students frequently engage in the entrepreneurial work required of scholars by applying for funding outside the department . Many Political Science comparativists with an area studies interest have been awarded Foreign Language and Area Study Fellowships (FLAS) for advanced language study and research. Political Science graduate students also regularly receive prestigious national fellowships, such as those offered by the Fulbright Commission, Social Science Research Council, and National Science Foundation.

During the first five years of funding eligibility all Graduate students must reapply annually for the renewal of their eligibility. Funding applications are reviewed by the department's Financial Aid Committee, which is comprised of four faculty. Students who maintain satisfactory progress will retain their funding eligibility. ( see “Political Science Department Policies Governing TA and other Department Funding Eligibility Renewal” in the Graduate Student Guide ).

Students beyond their fifth year of funding may apply and will be considered for positions based on availability and a number of factors including past TA performance, academic performance, and year in the program.

Although the university provides out-of-state students who are employed in graduate assistant positions with waivers of non-resident tuition, the department strongly encourages all US citizens, permanent residents, and those with Refugee status or holding eligible visas to begin the process of establishing Washington residency upon their arrival in the state. Having residency can be critical in the event of unfunded quarters as Washington state residents pay almost 60% less in tuition than their out-of-state counterparts. Residency for tuition purposes is unavailable to those holding F or J visas.

Students who have additional financial need may apply for student loans or work-study . The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available from college Financial Aid Offices (including from UW) or may be completed and submitted online. For priority consideration, your FAFSA must be dated as received by the federal application processor according to the current deadline.

  •   Newsletter

For Prospective Graduate Students

Front of building on campus

The Department of Government. Calling all researchers, leaders, and changemakers.  

When you join Harvard University’s Department of Government, you become part of a highly-recognized intellectual community of scholars, researchers, visionaries, leaders, and changemakers. Our strength in teaching and research in all fields of political science is reflected in both our faculty and our curriculum. 

Harvard University’s Department of Government is a world leader in the study and scholarship in political science. Our programs of study include:

  • American Government
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Political Methodology/Formal Theory
  • Political Philosophy and Its History

Our innovative curriculum reflects a diverse range of fields and methodologies. The vibrant graduate student body receives hands-on training by conducting supervised dissertation research and working with our faculty in research projects and undergraduate teaching. 

Here, scholars have access to unparalleled resources.  They have the opportunity to define and formulate their own research questions and to apply a variety of research methodologies. 

  • Graduate students research is greatly facilitated by the exceptional resources offered by the Department of Government and the University.
  • Harvard has the  largest university library in the world .
  • Harvard expansive network of research centers and top international studies centers bring together scholars and researchers from around the globe.

Scholars can also take advantage of Harvard’s generous financial aid program.  In addition, there is just no match to the energy and excitement that accompanies student life in the Cambridge/Boston area.  

Harvard University does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classificiation.

PhD Requirements

Candidates for the PhD in Government are expected to complete the required coursework during their first two years of graduate study and take the General Examination at the end of the second year. A typical schedule consists of these two years, followed by three or four years of work on a dissertation, combined with supervised teaching.

Admissions 

The graduate program of the Department of Government is designed to train students for careers in university teaching and advanced research in political science. The department does not offer an independent master’s program, the master of arts in political science being reserved for PhD candidates on the way to their final degrees.  Click here  to visit the Graduate School of Arts and Science’s page on admission to the Government Department to learn more about the application process. 

Application for Admission

The application for admissions is available at  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply .

The application fee is $105. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility.

Application information and instructions are available at  www.gsas.harvard.edu . Applicants with admissions questions should call 617-496-6100 from 2-5pm EST or email  [email protected] .  Applicants with financial aid questions should call 617-495-5396 or email  [email protected] .

Financial Aid and Fellowship Opportunities 

Financial aid is administered under the direction of the  Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) .  The department intends that all graduate students should have support adequate to enable them to complete their studies while enrolled full-time. Prospective students apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission and are also required to submit a Statement of Financial Resources.  The financial aid package for government students typically includes tuition and fees plus a stipend and a summer research grant for the first two years; tuition and fees plus guaranteed teaching fellowships and a summer research grant for years three and four; tuition and fees in year five; and tuition and fees plus a stipend for the completion year.

In addition to  funding from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences , graduate students are encouraged to apply for outside fellowships and grants. Please visit the  website of the GSAS Fellowships Office  for more information.  

UC Department of Political Science Logo

Graduate Study

  • Graduate Degree Requirements
  • Travel/Dissertation Funding Opportunities

Photo of UChicago Political Science students engaged in a course

The University of Chicago leads the world in the study of political science. Its faculty and students are engaged in critical inquiry on a wide range of topics, from American elections to the origins of the modern state. Chicago values this breadth of scholarship. You will also find emphasis on the profound questions of political life, from the sources of war, to the meaning of justice, to the development of representative democracy. It is this commitment to understanding fundamental issues that distinguishes the University of Chicago and its graduate program.

To foster such scholarship, the department has developed a sophisticated and flexible program of graduate training, built around seminars with leading scholars. Students can select courses of considerable diversity, supplemented by guest lecturers and special seminars throughout the year.

Students distribute their coursework among at least two of the five fields of the discipline. They may choose from political theory, American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and methodology. In the process, all students can sample a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and develop essential research skills.

Doctoral research is the culmination of graduate study. This marks the transition from taking courses to becoming an independent scholar who conducts original and significant work. As scholars, they join faculty and fellow graduate students in advanced workshops, which meet throughout the year to consider new research. Active participation in workshops is one of the University of Chicago’s greatest strengths. Such involvement shapes their own research programs and grants opportunities to discuss and present their ideas.

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Georgetown University.

College of Arts & Sciences

Georgetown University.

Ph.D in Government

Please explore further each of our fields of expertise:

  • American Government
  • Comparative Government
  • International Relations
  • Political Theory

Course scheduling and course information is available on the Schedule of Classes . Graduate Students should select a Term. Then “Government” as the Subject and choose “Advanced Search” and select “MN or MC Graduate” for Level.

The mission of the Government Department Ph.D. program is to provide students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge needed to both generate and evaluate research in political science, preparing them for careers at the highest levels of scholarship and teaching. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government signifies theoretical, methodological, and substantive expertise in various topics of political significance, as well as the research and communication skills necessary for productive scholarship.

The degree indicates that the recipient has acquired extensive knowledge in at least two fields, both typically drawn from the four major subfields of political science, but which may also include related fields such as history, security studies, or public policy. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government is granted only to students who have demonstrated the ability to synthesize large quantities of information and rigorously evaluate the merits of competing theoretical and empirical arguments. The degree indicates that its holder has obtained the analytical and methodological skills to design and conduct original research of the highest quality. It further certifies that its holder has the written and oral communication skills necessary to engage with debates at the leading edge of the field. Individuals holding a Georgetown Ph.D. in Government are also equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach political science at the university level in both survey courses and specialized seminars.

Doctoral-level seminars taken during coursework are designed to familiarize students with the scholarly literature in at least two fields of study. Students gain a broad understanding of the development and major topics of research within these fields, as well as expertise in several more specialized areas. Students learn to evaluate and engage with the major scholarly debates in their fields of study, both in classroom discussion and in written work. All students learn the methodological skills needed to carry out original research in their respective fields.

Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in one major. The purpose of comprehensive examinations is to demonstrate a student’s broad familiarity with the literature in his or her fields of study. This prepares students both as professional members of a scholarly community and as future teachers at the university level. Our doctoral students write dissertations that consist of rigorous original research that contribute to our understanding of a topic of empirical importance and theoretical significance to the field of political science. Once a dissertation of high quality is complete, there is a dissertation defense at which the student presents the results of his or her research and is questioned about the implications of the work for the field of political science by the dissertation committee.

In addition to the formal requirements of the doctoral program, students are encouraged and expected to participate in opportunities for professional socialization and development. All four subfields of the department organize speaker series to host scholars from other universities and promote intellectual exchange. Doctoral students are also encouraged to attend our seminars on various aspects of the academic profession, including teaching, publishing, and the job market.

Students acquire teaching skills in a number of settings. Many serve as teaching assistants for the larger undergraduate courses offered by the department, while others may have the opportunity to teach their own undergraduate-level seminars. Students may also take advantage of training seminars offered by the department, as well as the certification offered through the  Apprenticeship in Teaching Program  run by the  Center for New Designs in Teaching and Learning .

Doctoral students engage with the political science community outside of Georgetown by attending specialized seminars and presenting their research at academic conferences.

For students admitted with a Fellowship, we provide tuition and a stipend of $38,000. Typically students in their first year are assigned a service-free fellowship and will work on coursework and related research. In their second year, students normally are assigned service assistantships and and will typically serve as TA’s in GOVT courses or on other assignments. Students in their fourth year are assigned service assistantships and typically serve as an RA for a professor or some other assignment. In the fifth year, students usually also are service-free conditional on having successfully defended their dissertation prospectus and advanced to ABD status.

Our Ph.D. graduates have tenure-track jobs at many excellent institutions, including:

  • American University
  • Cornell University
  • University of Wisconsin at Madison
  • LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin
  • George Washington University
  • George Mason University
  • University of California at Riverside
  • University of Michigan
  • Villanova University
  • Carleton University

In addition, our Ph.D.s have been winning prestigious fellowships, including ones from Harvard, Princeton and Brookings.

Part of our placement success is due to our strong record of working closely with students, including producing jointly authored articles.

All inquiries should be sent to [email protected] .

FREE TRAINING: How I Secured 6-Figures in Scholarships & Graduated Debt-Free

The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

The Ultimate List of Political Science Scholarships

Scholarships & Financial Aid

political science scholarships

Updated on May 20th, 2024

If your student is interested in politics and government, political science scholarships might help them explore their passion without having to break the bank. In some cases, students who want to pursue careers in journalism or move on to law school also start by majoring in political science. Studying political science gives them insights into how communities and federal and state governments operate and how power is distributed in a society. Additionally, students often gain historical insights that can serve them professionally.

At times, figuring out how to cover the cost of their college education is challenging. Fortunately, students interested in public service, international affairs, and other political science-oriented careers can take advantage of scholarships to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.

If you and your student want to learn more about finding political science scholarships,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Take a trip over to  https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar  to reserve your spot today.

Political science scholarships are surprisingly plentiful, and everyone has options, including high school seniors, current college students, and grad students. If your student plans to major in political science, here’s what you need to know.

phd scholarship for political science

  • 1.1 Undergraduate Political Science Scholarships
  • 1.2 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FEMALE POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS
  • 1.3 POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MINORITIES
  • 1.4 Scholarships for Political Science Graduate Students
  • 1.5 INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS
  • 2 International Relations Scholarships
  • 3 Best Political Science Schools
  • 4 Applying for Political Science Scholarship Opportunities

Political Science Scholarships

Political science scholarships help students pursuing related degrees cover the cost of their education without debt. As a result, they’re an excellent way to fund a student’s education, reducing their need for debt-based solutions like student loans.

In most cases, opportunities in this category are limited to scholarships for political science majors. However, some are also open to students studying related subjects (such as government, law enforcement, and pre-law) or those who have decided to minor in political science but pursue another major. Additionally, political science majors often qualify for scholarships open to social science majors and general scholarships available to students studying a wide array of disciplines.

As with all scholarships, the awarding organization determines the qualifications for its scholarships. This means many political science scholarships aren’t open to every student who selects that major. Additionally, the requirements for one can vary dramatically from one political science program to another.

Political science scholarships are surprisingly plentiful. If your student plans to major in the subject, here’s what you need to know.

Undergraduate Political Science Scholarships

Many scholarships aim their financial aid specifically at undergraduate students. Some are available to incoming freshmen, while others are limited to college sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Additionally, specific scholarships are renewable, meaning students can receive them yearly if they maintain the outlined academic standards and continue meeting stated requirements. Others are one-time awards or may require students to reapply annually.

As with all scholarships, students need to review the rules carefully. Along with ensuring they’re eligible, that allows them to gain a full understanding of the process before committing time and energy toward applying.

Here is a list of undergraduate scholarships for students interested in political science that are open to nearly everyone who wants to major in the political science field:

  • Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship
  • Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) Scholarship
  • Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship
  • Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship
  • GWCF Scholarship Program
  • LAHC Scholarship Program
  • TKE Foundation Bruce B. Melchert Scholarship
  • Wayne V. Black Scholarship

find political science scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FEMALE POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS

Female political science majors also have access to additional scholarships. In many cases, these are worth pursuing for students who qualify. The rules inherently limit the applicant pool, leading to less competition. In turn, students may have a higher chance of getting selected.

Here are some political science scholarships that limit applicants to women and girls:

  • Betty Rendel Scholarship
  • National Pathfinder Scholarship
  • Women in Defense HORIZONS Scholarship

POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MINORITIES

In some cases, a political science scholarship opportunity is only open to certain minority students. Eligibility could be based on heritage or another demographic.

Ultimately, these options are worth checking for students who qualify. The restricted applicant pool leads to reduced competition, which could increase a student’s chances of securing funding for their education.

Here are a few political science minority scholarships:

  • Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship Program
  • Islamic Scholarship Fund
  • Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship
  • Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

graduating as a political science major

Scholarships for Political Science Graduate Students

Pursuing a graduate degree studying political science can be incredibly expensive. Luckily, there are scholarships for political science graduate students, allowing those who wish to go beyond a bachelor’s degree to do so without breaking the bank.

A benefit here is that the scholarships are targeted specifically toward grad students. As a result, they aren’t competing with undergraduates during the selection process due to the smaller applicant pool.

Here is a list of scholarships for political science graduate students:

  • American Political Science Association Minority Fellowship Program
  • Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship
  • Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship
  • The Beinecke Scholarship Program

INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS

Many colleges and universities have scholarship programs. Only students enrolled at that specific school can apply, suggesting they have chosen an eligible major.

Again, exploring these awards is wise because the applicant pool is inherently smaller. Attending the school is a requirement, so students only go up against other members of that college’s student body.

Here is a list of institutional scholarships for political science majors:

  • Aquinas College Political Science Scholarships
  • Austin Peay State University Political Science Scholarships
  • University of California, Berkeley – Travers Undergraduate Scholarship in Ethics and Politics
  • University of California, Los Angeles – Congressman Brad Sherman Scholarship
  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst Political Science Scholarships
  • University of Michigan Political Science Scholarships
  • University of Montana Political Science Scholarships
  • University of Washington Political Science Scholarships
  • Washington State University Undergrad Scholarships

best colleges for a political science degree

International Relations Scholarships

International relations is a subset of the political science major focusing on global politics, foreign affairs, and national security. Since it’s a somewhat specialized major, fewer students typically qualify. In turn, international relations majors will have less competition here than they do if they apply for general political science scholarships, which often works in their favor.

Here are just some of the international relations scholarships that are available:

  • Army Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Scholarship
  • Lee and Byun International Relations and Cultural Awareness Scholarship
  • Jim & Anna Hyonjoo Lint Scholarship
  • The McGaughey Family Scholarship

Best Political Science Schools

A political science degree is a widely available major. Most colleges and universities that offer diverse educational options have political science, international relations, or something similar available.

However, not all schools are as renowned for their political science programs as others. While it’s important to remember that every student’s needs are different (which may influence which college is ultimately right for them), knowing which schools have strong political science programs might help narrow their college search.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Here’s a list of some of the best political science schools based on their reputations:

  • Brown University
  • Bowdoin College
  • Columbia University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Duke University
  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Northwestern University
  • Ohio State University
  • Princeton University
  • Rice University
  • Stanford University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Yale University

While this list is filled with schools that can meet the needs of many political science students, it isn’t exhaustive. A slew of other schools offer political science as an available major.

Additionally, the colleges above may not be ideal for every student. Each has a unique culture. Additionally, the admissions requirements and program designs can vary. The availability of financial aid also differs.

As a result, students should deviate from the list above if those schools aren’t the right fit. Ultimately, finding the best possible match for them should always be their priority, ensuring their educational experience is precisely what they need to thrive.

political science students

Applying for Political Science Scholarship Opportunities

If your undergraduate student or grad student is going to win any political science scholarships, they’ll usually need to apply. Typically, the only exception involves some – but not all – institutional awards.

With institutional awards, a college may determine a student’s eligibility for a scholarship based on their college application. Data from a student’s FAFSA is sometimes part of the equation, particularly if an award is need-based, though this isn’t always the case.

However, some institutional awards and essentially all non-institutional scholarships require students to submit an application. Before they begin, it’s wise to create a process that makes it easy for them to  organize scholarship materials to save time . That way, they can keep track of their applications and materials along the way.

Learning about  writing scholarship essays  is also smart. Almost every legitimate scholarship requires an essay. If your student spends some time reviewing a few  essays that won money  for high school students, they can get some insights into how to impress scholarship committees as well.

writing scholarship essays

In many cases, it’s also wise for students to gather specific materials in advance. Getting copies of relevant transcripts is helpful. Additionally, gathering letters of recommendation beforehand can streamline the application process.

Many students would also benefit from gathering scholarship interview tips and practicing answers to common scholarship interview questions as soon as possible. Familiarity with what committee members will likely ask – as well as what scholarship committees look for – makes the process less stressful. Plus, it allows students to increase their comfort level, ensuring they can deliver their answers seamlessly.

Ultimately, preparation can be the key to success. Ensuring students gather critical materials in advance and organize properly to streamline the process helps them become familiar with the steps they’ll need to take. In turn, they’ll have an easier time navigating scholarship applications and potentially get better results.

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phd scholarship for political science

  • Political Science

Fully funded Political Science Scholarships in 2024 - 2025

20+ best scholarships for political science students.

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The Best Political Science Scholarships in 2024

The Best Political Science Scholarships with Upcoming Deadlines

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Texas Women Empowerment Scholarship

Eligibility criteria:.

  • Education Level : High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
  • State : Texas
  • Gender : Woman
  • GPA : 3.0 or higher
  • Major : Pre-law, political science, public health, medicine, or related fields

Natalie Joy Poremski Scholarship

  • Field of Study : Law, medicine, or political science
  • Religion : Christian
  • Beliefs : Pro-life
  • Education Level : Undergraduate or graduate student

Creative Expression Scholarship

Capcut meme master scholarship, love island fan scholarship, creative. inspired. happy mid-career writing scholarship.

  • Field of Study : Writing
  • Background : Experience in the workforce

Carlos F. Garcia Muentes Scholarship

  • Immigration status : First or second-generation immigrant
  • Legacy Status : First-generation college student

Bear Fan Scholarship

Nyt connections fan scholarship, “the office” obsessed fan scholarship, “stranger things” fanatic scholarship, once upon a #booktok scholarship, billie eilish fan scholarship, nintendo super fan scholarship, minecraft forever fan scholarship, guts- olivia rodrigo fan scholarship, ryan t. herich memorial scholarship.

  • Field of Study : Political science, cultural anthropology, geography, or history
  • Education Level : High school senior or 2 or 4-year undergraduate

North Star Dreamers Memorial Scholarship

  • Education Level : High school junior or senior
  • Desired Career Field : Science, Invention, Entrepreneurship

Intrigue Global Affairs Scholarship

Advocates and allies in law scholarship.

  • Desired Major : Pre-law, political science, or a related field

Go Blue America Thought Leadership Scholarship

  • Education Status : College freshman

Advancing Social Justice for Asians Scholarship

Feltus impact fund scholarship.

  • Gender : Female
  • Field of Study : STEM, political science, social science

Middle Eastern Scholarship for Political Science

  • Education Level : High school or undergraduate student
  • Gender : Female-identifying
  • Background : Middle Eastern descent (applicants from Pakistan preferred)

Manuela Calles Scholarship for Women

  • Field of Study : Pursuing mental health or business
  • GPA : 2.5 or greater

Johnnie M. Parris Public Service Scholarship

  • Field of Study : Education, Political Science, Social Justice, Law
  • Ethnicity : African American
  • Education Level : Undergraduates

Akila Couloumbis Memorial Scholarship for Social Justice

  • Education Level : Graduate student
  • Field of Study : Law, political science, sociology, forensics, or related fields
  • Undergraduate Degree Focus: : Sociology, political science, economics, African American studies, or liberal arts
  • GPA : 3.25 or higher

Youth Civic Engagement Scholarship

  • Background : Financial need
  • State : Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C.
  • Experience : Advocacy for a specific cause or has worked as a volunteer in politics

Rev. Leroy & Naomi Baker Memorial Scholarship

  • Education Level : Undergraduate student
  • Race : Black
  • Field of Study : Criminal justice, political science, public service
  • Background : Active volunteer in their community
  • States : AR, AL, MS, LA, NC, SC, MO

GWU Future Political Leaders Scholarship

  • Major of Interest : Political Science, Law, Gov, or any related field
  • Education : Junior or senior undergraduate, college graduate, or adult learner

About political science scholarships

Political science is a social science, and political science students will usually spend their college years studying government. Most programs focus on political theory, international relations, and comparative politics, among other topics.

By majoring in political science, college students have the potential to enter the workforce in a variety of different positions. Students interested in government can work at the local, state, and federal levels. However, students aren't limited to working in government and can go on to become diplomats, consultants, reporters, public relations managers, market researchers, and more. Once done with a bachelor's degree, students can also go on to become graduate students.

In the 2019-2020 school year, political science programs nationwide awarded 4.1% more degrees than they had the year before. Between 2016 and 2026 the field is projected to have 8% growth.

The number of women obtaining a political science degree gradually rose starting in 2015 and has recently seen a significant increase following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the number of female professors of political science is still small, with women making up only around one-third of the faculty. This proportion, though still low, is up from 2010 when only 26% of full-time faculty were women.

Compared to other social science programs, political science tends to be a more diverse major. In 2009, among minority students majoring in social science programs, 44.8% of Latino students, 39.9% of African American students, and 32.3% of Asian/Pacific Islanders students were in a political science major program.

Political science programs exist around the country at both public and private institutions. The cost of different programs can vary greatly, from an average of $10,560 for public in-state tuition to an average of $37,650 for private schools. To help students studying political science pay for college, we've listed several scholarships that provide excellent opportunities to reduce college costs. These scholarships are exclusive to Bold.org , and cannot be found anywhere else. Begin applying by clicking on any of our featured scholarships!

What is a political science scholarship?

Political science scholarships are scholarships intended for college students studying political science. Some scholarships are exclusively for political science majors, while others are open to all students involved in social science programs. There are also scholarships that are open to all students, including political science majors.

Further, there are opportunities that are open to undergraduate students, graduate students, or even high school students interested in the political science field.

Some scholarships are easy, no-essay scholarships, while others require an essay. Essays are not always about political science, and sometimes ask students to relay information about hobbies and other life experiences.

Can you get a scholarship for political science?

Anyone can make an account with Bold.org and begin applying for scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements. To increase your chances of winning a scholarship, make sure to apply early and to apply for multiple scholarships. Additionally, make sure each essay answers the prompt given, and follow Bold.org 's tips for writing a great essay, which you can find here !

How to apply for political science scholarships

With a Bold.org profile, you can browse and apply to the many scholarships you are eligible for. Search scholarships and use the filters to find political science scholarships, and use any other categories that you fit in, to find scholarships to apply to. Be sure to check all the eligibility requirements and the description of the scholarship to make sure you qualify.

How to get a political science scholarship

In order to be the best candidate possible, there are several ways you can craft your applications. When you put time and effort in, the people reviewing your applications can tell and will appreciate your passion.

Be in a political science program

The first and most important requirement for many political science scholarships is to be a political science major or be planning on majoring in political science in college.

Check scholarship requirements

Some scholarships have many eligibility requirements, such as GPA, gender, education level, extracurriculars, etc. Applying to scholarships that have several requirements makes your chances of winning greater because fewer people can apply.

When to apply

It is never too early to start applying for scholarships! There are even scholarships available to high school seniors. The earlier you start planning for the cost of college the better prepared you will be. It's also never too late, there are scholarships available to current students and even graduate students.

Tips for winning political science scholarships

Make the most of your profile.

Your profile on Bold.org is a great way to supplement your application. Make sure your profile is polished, free of errors, and shows off all the great things about you! Also, make sure to start collecting bold points so your profile stands out.

Apply early and often

The more scholarships you apply for the more chances you will have to win! Donors also often note the first few applicants, so applying early is a great way to catch some attention.

Put time and effort into your applications

You can make your application stand out from others by following Bold.org 's writing tips.

First, grab your readers from the first sentence and make your essay a personal story so it's memorable.

Second, stay focused on the prompt. Even a great essay won't be a winner if it doesn't answer the question(s) the donors asked.

Third, write your essay in separate paragraphs. Readers will be able to more easily focus if your writing is broken up into bite-sized chunks rather than a wall of text.

Finally, be sure to use correct grammar! Proofread your application before submitting it in order to put your best foot forward.

Best scholarships for political science majors

Amount: $7,000, 7 winners, $1,000 each.

For: Undergraduate or graduate students who are women from Texas and are studying political science, social science, or STEM.

This scholarship awards 7 women who have a passion to help the world using their passion, education, and experience.

Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care

Amount: $1,000, 2 winners, $500 each

For: High school seniors or undergraduate students who are low-income and interested in healthcare, social work, government, education, or a related field

This scholarship exists to support two students who are passionate about helping the world by supporting those in need with their future careers.

WiseGeek Community Service No-Essay Scholarship

Amount: $500

For: Everyone

This easy application no-essay scholarship will award one student who participates in community service.

Political science undergraduate scholarships

Jacob daniel dumas memorial scholarship.

Amount: $3,000, 2 winners, $1,500 each

For: High school seniors or undergraduates living in North Carolina who are pursuing STEM

In order to apply to this scholarship, write about why you were inspired to pursue your desired STEM field.

DejSlays SlayBabe Scholarship

Amount: $1,500, 2 winners, $750 each

For: High school seniors or undergraduate students who are women, living in Louisiana or Texas, and have experience with non-profits, volunteering, or community service.

This scholarship will award two students who want to make a difference in the world through their careers.

Political science graduate scholarships

Earl pascua filipino-american heritage scholarship.

Amount: $1,500, 3 winners, $500 each

For: Graduate students who are Filipino-American and studying STEM

This scholarship will award three students who are pursuing a STEM degree and hope to pay it forward to more Filipino-Americans in the future.

HRCap Next-Gen Leadership Scholarship

Amount: $5,000, 6 winners, $833 each

For: Undergraduate or graduate students who are AAPI and/or pursuing Asian American studies or language courses

This scholarship aims to support someone who is AAPI and/or interested in Asian American studies, and also demonstrates the qualities of a strong leader within their communities.

Scholarships for women in political science

Minority/women in stem scholarship.

Amount: $5,425, 5 winners, $1,085 each

For: High school senior or undergraduate students who are BIPOC and/or female students who are first-generation low-income and interested in STEM

This scholarship is for students who have overcome challenges while pursuing their education and hope to benefit the world through their education and career.

Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

For: High school senior or undergraduate student who is a woman, pursuing STEM, and attending college in Fall 2022

This scholarship seeks to support a woman in STEM who shares the biggest influence in her life and how it has shaped her career aspirations.

Empowering Women Through Education Scholarship

For: High school or undergraduate student who is a woman and low income

To apply for this scholarship, share why your education is so important to you.

Frequently asked questions about Political science scholarships

How to find political science scholarships, when can i start applying.

It is never too early to start applying for scholarships! There are many scholarships available to high school seniors and there are even scholarships available to high school freshmen. The earlier you start planning for the cost of college, the better prepared you will be. However, it's also never too late to begin. There are scholarships available to current students and even graduate students. Apply early and apply often to increase your chances of winning.

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Bold.org lists eligibility requirements on the scholarship page. Check for education level requirements, as well as any other requirements such as gender, desired major or career field, and background or hobby experience that the donor has listed in the description of the scholarship.

What do I have to do to apply?

Create an account on Bold.org , click on any of the links to the featured scholarships in this article to find the prompts, and start writing! Once your essay is done and polished, just copy and paste it into the application and click submit. It's that easy!

Are scholarships counted as income?

Generally, scholarships are not considered income. Scholarship money is generally not taxable unless you use it to pay for room and board or other unqualified expenses. As long as the amount received is less than or equal to your costs and is used for tuition, books, and/or course fees, it likely won't be taxable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate Program Funding

Department funding.

The Department intends that all graduate students (both domestic and international) should have adequate  support to enable them to complete their studies while enrolled full-time. The standard financial package offered to admitted students covers the full cost of tuition and an additional amount for living expenses during the academic year. The latter amount comes in the form of a stipend during the first year and a combination of teaching and research assistantships during years 2-5. The Department also provides students with annual funds for professional development, health insurance fees, and a living stipend for the first two summers. The Department provides five years of support for Ph.D. students who are making sufficient progress towards degree.  Current information regarding tuition, fees, and l iving expenses.

Additional Sources of Funding

Students in all stages of the program are encouraged to apply for funding from outsides sources. In addition to the fellowship and grant opportunities administered by the  School of Humanities and Sciences , there are numerous awards offered by area studies programs within Stanford, private foundations, and the federal government. Such awards can provide important funding for students to undertake fieldwork or language study, or to complete dissertation writing after departmental funding is no longer available.

Awards range from one-time grants of a few thousand dollars to multi-year fellowships that provide tuition and stipend. In cases where a student in years 1-5 wins such a comprehensive award (such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship), the Department may “top-up” the award with funds already allocated to that student, thereby providing the student with even more funding. Regardless of the size of the award, fellowships and grants are always notable additions to one’s CV. Students interested in applying for outside awards should discuss their plans with the Graduate Administrator.

Click on an award below to learn more about the application requirements.

  • African Studies
  • Center for East Asian Studies
  • Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
  • Center for International Security and Cooperation
  • Stanford Humanities Dissertation Fellowships
  • Freeman Spogli Institute Fellowships
  • Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law
  • Clayman Institute for Gender Studies
  • School of Humanities and Sciences Funding Opportunities
  • Knight-Hennessy Scholars
  • Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program (FLAS)
  • American Association of University Women, American Dissertation Fellowship
  • Andrew W. Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
  • Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships
  • Morris Abrams Award in International Relations
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program
  • Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association
  • Social Science Research Council-Mellon Mays Predoctoral Research Grants
  • Smith Richardson Foundation Domestic Public Policy
  • Smith Richardson Foundation International Security and Foreign Policy
  • U.S. Institute of Peace Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship

PhD program

Waterloo’s PhD in Political Science is the most innovative program of its kind in Canada, offering students considerable flexibility in core research activities, formal professional development for both academic and non-academic career paths, an experiential option (including access to the world’s largest co-op program of its kind, or other internship/placement experiences) and a teaching option (including mentored teaching experiences and formal pedagogical training).

Students will have the opportunity to work with internationally and nationally-renowned scholars in the discipline.

Students have the option of choosing from three major fields: Canadian Politics , International Relations , and Political Economy . For their secondary field, students may choose either a second major field or create their own ‘custom concentration’ based on coursework in a designated area of the discipline (for example: comparative politics, democratic theory, public policy, gender and politics) or from a subfield of their major field (for example: security, rights, etc.).

The program includes one year of coursework featuring a mandatory, team-taught methodology course, two courses in the student’s major field, two courses in the student's second major field or custom concentration, and one elective. Students must also complete the PhD Professional Development Seminar , a series of half-day seminars offered by the Department and additional workshops delivered by campus units like the Writing and Communications Centre , Centre for Career Development , or Centre for Teaching Excellence . Professional Development training gears students to both academic and non-academic job markets, fostering skills enhancements in research methods, communications to non-academic audiences, fieldwork, conferencing best practices, and career planning.

The capstone research project (the PhD thesis) requires students to complete and defend a thesis proposal. Students may choose a traditional dissertation (ranging from 200-350 page in length), or a ‘publication model’ consisting of at least three sole-authored (submitted, in press, or published) works and including an original introduction, conclusion and any necessary bridging chapters to reflect a coherent project. In rare cases, and with the approval of the student’s supervisor and the Department Graduate Committee, students may opt for a non-traditional thesis formal that meets the standards of an original doctoral-level contribution to knowledge but in a different form (for example, a documentary). The Department is especially cognizant of the potential for alternative approaches to knowledge generation and dissemination, such as Indigenous approaches to knowledge, as something to be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of format, the completed thesis will be subject to an oral defence before a committee, including the supervisor(s), two other political science faculty members, an internal-external examiner from another department/program at Waterloo, and an external examiner.

For further details on the program, please visit the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar .

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  • Scholarships & funding

School of Social and Political Sciences PhD Scholarships

The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is one of Scotland’s ancient universities and the 4 th  oldest university in the English-speaking world. Today, the University’s School of Social and Political Sciences (SPS) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan centre for world-leading social scientific scholarship, recognized by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework as having 90% or more of its research as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in terms of its originality, significance and rigour. The School is a leading centre of interdisciplinary social science, bringing together research, innovation and student education to tackle the key social and political challenges of our time.

Further information can be found  here

The scholarships are open to anyone who, by September 2024, will hold an honours degree in the social sciences. A Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent) may be an advantage but not essential.  

Applicants must have a minimum of an upper second-class honours undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent), which should include evidence of at least some performance at first-class level (or overseas equivalent). Applicants without a Master’s degree (completed or in progress) must either have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) a first-class honours (or ‘distinction’) degree classification in their undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent).  

Please note that all applicants must also meet the eligibility criteria of the Research Opportunity they intend to undertake. Research Opportunity eligibility information can be found here:  https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/  

Number of Scholarships

Eligible countries/regions.

  • Afghanistan
  • Burkina Faso
  • Central African Republic
  • Congo Democratic Republic of
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • El Salvador
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Northern Ireland
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Sierra Leone
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Sudan

Eligible programmes

  • Advanced Quantitative Methods [PhD]
  • Central & East European Studies [PhD]
  • Criminology [PhD/MRes]
  • Economic & Social History [PhD]
  • Politics & International Relations [PhD]
  • Social & Public Health (Social Sciences) [PhD]
  • Sociology [PhD]
  • Urban Studies [PhD]

The scholarships will provide funding for 3.5 years of research towards a PhD at the School of Social and Political Sciences. The programme will commence in  October 2024.  The full scholarship package includes:  

  • An annual stipend at the  UKRI rate  
  • Fees  at the standard home rate  
  • Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year  
  • Commencement Bursary (single payment at the start of the PhD)  

How to apply

All materials required for the applications process are outlined here . 

For more information contact: Professor Naomi Head ([email protected])

Department of Political Science

  • PhD Programme

PhD Programme

PhD Planner

Phd statute, contact the phd administration, for phd students, supervisors and administrators.

Information for enrolled PhD students, supervisors and administrators via the UCPH Intranet (KUnet).

For applicants

PhD scholarships at the Department of Political Science are advertised once a year with a closing date for applications around the 1 st of March.

Awarded PhD degrees by year (the list is only available in Danish)

The PhD programme is a three-year research program, financed or partly financed by external funds or by the Department.

The PhD programme qualifies the student to independently carry out research, development and teaching assignments at an international level within the discipline of political science.

If you wish to apply for a PhD scholarship, at the Department of Political Science, please read more about the program on the pages below:

Teaching and publications

Information about teaching activities and publications, which are important aspects of a PhD course

Internal seminars

Four times a year our students have to participate in internal seminars based on presentations of papers

Supervision

An important part of the PhD programme is the individual supervision

PhD courses

Read about our courses in general, course dates, registration and payment

Find guidance on how to apply for funding/subsidies for fieldwork and research stays

Studying abroad

What to think about when planning a study tour abroad in connection with a PhD

School of Social and Political Science

School of social and political science phd scholarship.

The scholarship application system for academic year 2024/25 closed at 23:59 (GMT) on Thursday, 1st February 2024. Scholarship availability for academic year 2025/26 will be advised here in November 2024.

As a guide to competition levels, in the 2023/24 cycle 123 applicants (future students) applied for 2 scholarships, and 17 applicants (current students) applied for 1 scholarship. The number of available awards may change each year. For 2024/25 we offered a minimum of 1 School of SPS PhD Scholarship to future students, and 1 School of SPS PhD Scholarship to current students. 

This award will support you to be part of the next generation of social science thought leaders. It is available to students researching any area within the School of Social and Political Science.

Please note these scholarships are only for PhD study, not for MSc by Research study.

These awards are available both to students intending to begin PhD study in the next academic year and to students currently in Year 1 (full-time equivalent) of their PhD in the School (if successful this will be a two-year award, full-time equivalent).

These awards are available to all areas of research within the School of Social and Political Science.

When making decisions, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • the applicant's academic achievements
  • research proposal
  • research potential
  • any publications made
  • any relevant non-academic experience
  • the degree of support provided by references

Financial status and nationality are not taken into account.

Please ensure you read the self-assessment  section to ensure you meet all the criteria as the application process is very competitive.

The award covers:

  • Full tuition fees (UK, EU or Overseas level)
  • The stipend will be set to the UKRI level for 2024/25. The UKRI level for 2023/24 is currently £18,622 for full-time students, or the pro rata equivalent for part-time students.

Awards for new students are made for one year in the first instance and are renewable for up to a further two years (pro-rata for part-time students), subject to satisfactory academic progress. 

PhD students in the School of Social and Political Science can apply to the  PGR Research Support Fund  for help with fieldwork and other research-related costs throughout their period of study, providing they meet the fund's eligibility criteria. SPS PhD scholars may apply for this fund.

In order to gain access to the scholarship application system, applicants must have applied for admission to the University of Edinburgh.  Applicants must submit two separate applications by the deadline:

  • Application for admission to a PhD degree in the School of Social and Political Science (must be submitted at least 5 working days before the scholarship deadline )
  • School of Social and Political Science PhD Scholarship application

Updated or additional documents or information for your PhD programme application cannot be accepted after you have received an offer for the programme. Before then, any updated or additional documents must be uploaded directly to your PhD application via your MyEd account.

Updated or additional documents or information for your scholarship application cannot be accepted after you have submitted your scholarship application.

Late applications cannot be accepted.

Ensure you visit the Important Information and Recommendations section before you apply. We consider this section to be essential reading.

The scholarship award application process involves two main applications:

  • Apply for your chosen PhD degree programme
  • Apply for your chosen scholarship

Application for admission to a PhD degree

Please note: you will only be able to apply for a scholarship after you have submitted an application for a PhD programme.  

The application to study is made via the University's online applications system EUCLID.

You must submit a full application by the deadline, including:

  • final or interim official undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts (note - PhD Social Anthropology applications require undergraduate only)
  • name of proposed supervisor

References and research proposal for the application to study are also used for the scholarship application and will be automatically pulled through to the scholarship system.

The application to study must be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the scholarship application deadline. This allows your University Username (UUN eg s1234567) to be activated in time for you to submit your scholarship application before its deadline.

You do not need to wait to receive an offer to study before applying for the 'SPS PhD Scholarship' - but you must submit a complete application to study by the deadline or your 'SPS PhD Scholarship' application will not be considered.

Please note that the 'SPS PhD Scholarship' application is extremely competitive, and every year demand far outstrips supply. 

For further information on PhD study please see our  PhD Programmes  webpage.

For further information on the application process, please see our  how to apply  page.

Application for SPS PhD Scholarship

Once you have submitted your application for study, you can then submit your funding application(s). You must submit a separate application for each individual funding scheme you are applying to.

Application to the SPS PhD Scholarship for future students is via the University's online scholarships application form located within the EUCLID applicant hub.

After submitting your application for your programme of study, you will receive a University Username (UUN) and access to MyEd where you can reach the scholarship application system.

Before applying, please read the  self-assessment page , which provides helpful information about the factors that help make a successful application.

Please note that applications for the 'SPS PhD Scholarship' are extremely competitive, and every year demand far outstrips supply. 

Supporting documents

The supporting documents submitted with your application to study (research proposal, academic transcripts and references etc.) will be used to assess your funding application.

Research proposal

We recommend you follow the guidance on writing research proposals.

Personal statement

The scholarship application system will ask you to provide a personal statement (up to 500 words/3,500 characters including spaces).

We are interested in you as a whole person, not just academically. Please tell us about your preparedness to undertake and complete a PhD and to flourish as a result of PhD funding, and how you will contribute to a positive and diverse PhD community within the School. This could include diversity of identity, experience, or viewpoint. 

Conditional offers

If you are in receipt of conditional offer (including conditional on English language), you are still eligible to apply for the 'SPS PhD Scholarship'.

Should you receive an award, but not meet the conditions of your offer, they would not be able to take up the award.

Help and guidance

Information on the Student Systems website may help you with guidance on the scholarship application system.

Applying for a postgraduate scholarship

Technical support and guidance

You can also view our applying for scholarships frequently asked questions: 

Frequently asked questions - applying for scholarships in the MyEd portal

Postgraduate Advisors and supporting Subject Area academics assess scholarship applications for their Subject Areas.

Scholarship applicants are then ranked and the top candidates are put forward to the next stage. Applicants not progressing to Stage Two will be notified by the end of April.

A   panel of assessors, comprising of the Director and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research Programmes and at least one other senior School academic, assess all ranked scholarship applicants and rank them individually.

The ranks are then collated, and agreement on awards, reserves, and unsuccessful applicants are documented, with notifications emailed to applicants. Awardees are given 7 calendar days to respond to the scholarship offer. If no response is received by the given date, the offer will be rescinded and awarded to the next reserve candidate.

Assessors will use the  SGSSS Marking Framework for their ranking process in both stages.

The School selection panel will meet in the Spring, and results will be communicated to candidates by email shortly thereafter.

Note that we also hold a reserve list; in the event that a successful candidate later declines their award, for example because they obtain different funding. In this case, the award will be offered to the top candidate on the reserve list. 

We aim to have contacted all SPS PhD Scholarship candidates to let them know the outcome of their application by the end of May.

Due to the volume of applications we receive and the lengthy assessment and ranking process, we are unable to answer individual responses until then.

This funding form is also used for several other awards, including:

  • Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships - SPS
  • 'CAHSS Research Award - SPS'
  • Alice Brown PhD Scholarship
  • Chrystal Macmillan PhD Scholarship
  • Macqueen Scholarship

Important - please ensure you check each scholarship deadline as they may differ.

You must enter a separate scholarship application for each award you wish to be considered for.

If you are applying for more than one PhD programme, you must also submit separate scholarship applications for each programme.

Year 1 full-time PhD students already at the School of Social and Political Science would, if successful, receive two years' funding to the end of the Prescribed Period of Study.

Part-time current PhD students would receive the pro-rata amount to the end of their Prescribed Period of Study.

Application is via your  MyEd account . The scholarship application section for current students is via the MyEd 'Student Self-Service' channel.

Details on how to find the scholarship section can be found on the Student Systems website.

Applying for a scholarship through MyEd Student Self-Service channel

Academic references

The default position is that we will look at the two references and your original research proposal provided on your EUCLID application for PhD study.

However, we would recommend that current Year 1 (full-time equivalent) students request assistance from their supervisors, who can comment on your progress to date, to provide updated references (maximum of 2 new references). 

These can be emailed to the PGR Support team ( [email protected] ) by either yourself or your referee no later than the scholarship closing date. Guidance for referees can be found in our request for an academic or non-academic reference document .

Please ensure you name the scholarship you are applying for and provide your UUN in the email.

We also strongly advise that you update your  research proposal  (three to four pages). These must be emailed (from your University account) to the PGR Support team ( [email protected] ) no later than the scholarship closing date.

The scholarship application system will ask you to provide a personal statement (up to 500 words/3500 characters including spaces).

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Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

The Department of Political Science has an excellent reputation for dynamic teaching and research that reflects wide-ranging ideological and intellectual diversity among our faculty. Our competitive graduate program thrives under the national and global profile of our distinguished faculty members with expertise in indigenous politics, gender and politics, Canadian politics, international security, global political economy, and the history of political thought.

Political Science faculty members publish extensively in the top Canadian and international journals and have been instrumental in shaping many of the central debates in contemporary politics in Canada and around the world.

In this program, students will be challenged to grapple with and contribute to debates spanning all major fields of study in political science.

We have an exceptional record of placing our doctoral students in academics, government, the public sector, business and law.

Completing this program

Courses:  Topics may include sexual ethics, history of political thought, political theory, Canadian political process, foreign policy and more.

Candidacy:  Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.

Research Methods: Students demonstrate knowledge of research methods or complete a course on quantitative analysis in political science.

Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research dissertation.

University instructor, government policy analyst, researcher, consultant, non-governmental organizations, international organizations.

A PhD in political science is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Four courses in a primary field and two courses in a secondary field

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time; six years maximum

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

Gavin Cameron

Gavin Cameron

Rob Huebert

Rob Huebert

Jack Lucas

Roberta Rice

Anthony Sayers

Anthony Sayers

Melanee Thomas

Melanee Thomas

Lisa Young

Admission Requirements

A minimum of 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A Master of Arts in Political Science or a strong background in Political Science.

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted.

Additional supervisors to those listed above may be found on the  Political Science  Research page. Contact the  Political Science Graduate Program Office  for more information. 

  • A statement of research interests
  • Email confirmation from a potential supervisor who is interested in supervising your work

Work samples

Sample of written work, preferably a paper submitted for a Political Science course.

Reference letters

Test scores, english language proficiency.

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt)  score of 105.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 7.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section)
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
  • Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)  
  • Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  score of A- in each course.
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 200.

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Jan. 15 application deadline
  • International students: Jan. 15 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of political science.

Social Sciences Building, Room 756 618 Campus Place NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Thesis-based MA

Course-based MA

Military, Security and Strategic Studies

Thesis-based MSS

Course-based MSS

Thesis-based PhD

Curious about the University of Calgary?

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

Home

The Voice of Political Science around the World

Doctoral Scholarship in Political Science

University of Cologne

Deadline: Wed, 01 Mar 2023

Contact: [email protected]

phd scholarship for political science

The Cologne Graduate School in Management, Economics and Social Sciences (CGS) at the University of Cologne (UoC) offers a three-year doctoral scholarship to outstanding students holding a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, or Statistics/Methods.

The graduate student will join the Political Economy lab ( Prof. Dr. Michael M. Bechtel ) in the Department of Political Science and European Affairs and the Cluster of Excellence “ECONtribute Markets and Public Policy”.

Your Profile

  • A strong interest in improving our scientific understanding of environmental and economic policy problems
  • Analytical skills combined with a thorough understanding of modern political science theories
  • Strong research design and quantitative methods skills
  • Ideally, proficiency in one or several of the following: experiments/causal inference techniques, survey methods, time-series analysis, quantitative text analysis
  • Pursuing independent and collaborative political science research in one of the above areas
  • Participating in graduate-level courses, summer schools, conferences, and other academic activities within and outside of the department.
  • Successful completion of the graduate program. Coursework starts in October 2023
  • a tax-free stipend of 1,515 € per month and an annual research account of 1,000 € for up to three years
  • a commitment to academic training and advising leading to a doctoral degree in Political Science
  • an environment that supports and rewards excellence
  • International academic collaboration and publishing
  • flexible work arrangements
  • a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Application Procedure

Application is online and in English only. The submission deadline is March 1st, 2023. For further information about the CGS, please visit the School’s website. For more information on the application process and application documents, please visit the section on the scholarship application.

Contact: Dr. Vera Benninghoven ( [email protected] ), Office Prof. Bechtel ( [email protected] ).

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  • Research Guides
  • Vanderbilt University Libraries
  • Central Library

Political Science Graduate Student Orientation: Fall 2024

  • Where Do I Start?
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Your Library Account
  • Map to Locate Central Library
  • Google Scholar (with VU Settings)
  • Finding Articles and Journals
  • Finding Books
  • Government Information
  • Think Tanks and Other Gray Literature
  • Social and Demographic Data
  • Key Vanderbilt Political Science Journal Subscriptions

Available Online

This is a very brief example list of the many online reference resources available for political science researchers through the library catalog.

Cover Art

Why Should I Start With These Resources?

Good question — here are a few reasons:

  • Get an overview of a new or complex topic
  • Find authoritative information
  • Find out the names of key players in a given area
  • Locate terms that you can use in your research
  • Help narrow (or expand) your topic
  • Locate a bibliography of sources to help you start your research.

Available in Print

Cover Art

Call Numbers for Political Science

For print books on political science, you'll need to search on the 5th floor of Central Library. Many political science materials are in the J section, with a general breakdown of the subject areas as follows:

  • J General legislative and executive papers
  • JA Political science (General)
  • JC Political theory
  • JF Political institutions and public administration
  • JJ Political institutions and public administration (North America)
  • JK Political institutions and public administration (United States)
  • JL Political institutions and public administration (Canada, Latin America, etc.)
  • JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
  • JQ Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.)
  • JS Local government. Municipal government
  • JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
  • JZ International relations 
  • << Previous: Your Library Account
  • Next: Map to Locate Central Library >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 20, 2024 10:42 AM
  • URL: https://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/c.php?g=1418541

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  • United Kingdom
  • Swansea University
  • Posted on: 19 August 2024

Computer Science: Fully Funded EPSRC DTP PhD Scholarship: Vertical Multi-Purpose Farming Robotic System

Job information, offer description.

Funding provider(s):   

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering

Subject area(s): Intelligent Robotics 

Project start date(s) :  

1 April 2025 

1 July 2025 

Supervisors:   

Primary Supervisor : Dr. Daniele Cafolla

Secondary Supervisor: Professor Xianghua Xie  

Aligned programme of study:   PhD in Computer Science 

Mode of study : Full-time 

Project description:   

Swansea University, an internationally recognised academic institution with strong commitments to research and technological innovation, seeks applications for a PhD scholarship funded position to join our rapidly developing Intelligent Robotics Group at the Computer Science Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering. The development of Intelligent Robotics for real-world applications, cutting across the domains of assisted living and modern agriculture, is one of our research group’s goals. An exciting opportunity awaits in our ambitious project “HARVEST”, where we seek to transform global food production systems in the face of impending challenges.

At its heart, the project is about developing Vertical Multi-Purpose Farming Systems. From providing cost-effective, year-round agriculture to creating disease-resistant crops and yield prediction using computer vision, the technologies you develop have the potential to shape the future of farming. It may become the path to devising new vertical agricultural techniques, paving the way for sustainable methodologies in the agriculture sector. Join us and participate in this exciting project. At Swansea University you will do more than just research; you will be positively impacting people’s lives and the environment. 

Where to apply

Requirements.

Candidates must hold a UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline. 

Or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline;

Or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University)  – see  country specific qualifications  

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only , as defined by  UKCISA regulations . 

Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

Additional Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.

Work Location(s)

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    The graduate program of the Department of Government is designed to train students for careers in university teaching and advanced research in political science. The department does not offer an independent master's program, the master of arts in political science being reserved for PhD candidates on the way to their final degrees.

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    Graduate Study. The University of Chicago leads the world in the study of political science. Its faculty and students are engaged in critical inquiry on a wide range of topics, from American elections to the origins of the modern state. Chicago values this breadth of scholarship. You will also find emphasis on the profound questions of ...

  12. Ph.D in Government

    The mission of the Government Department Ph.D. program is to provide students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge needed to both generate and evaluate research in political science, preparing them for careers at the highest levels of scholarship and teaching. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government signifies theoretical, methodological, and substantive expertise in various topics […]

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    Here is a list of undergraduate scholarships for students interested in political science that are open to nearly everyone who wants to major in the political science field: Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship. Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) Scholarship. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship.

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    09/30/2024. Learn More. This is a Bachelor, Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Indonesia. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Sebelas Maret University Indonesia UMS Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded). Expires in 73 Days.

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    Political science graduate scholarships Earl Pascua Filipino-American Heritage Scholarship. Amount: $1,500, 3 winners, $500 each. For: Graduate students who are Filipino-American and studying STEM. This scholarship will award three students who are pursuing a STEM degree and hope to pay it forward to more Filipino-Americans in the future.

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    Successful completion of the graduate program. Coursework starts in October 2023. We Offer. a tax-free stipend of 1,515 € per month and an annual research account of 1,000 € for up to three years. a commitment to academic training and advising leading to a doctoral degree in Political Science. an environment that supports and rewards ...

  24. Political Science Graduate Student Orientation: Fall 2024

    Tags: political science VU Libraries ResearchGuides is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . You may republish or adapt this guide for educational purposes, as long as proper credit is given.

  25. Political Science Graduate Student Orientation: Fall 2024

    For print books on political science, you'll need to search on the 5th floor of Central Library. Many political science materials are in the J section, with a general breakdown of the subject areas as follows: J General legislative and executive papers; JA Political science (General) JC Political theory; JF Political institutions and public ...

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  27. Computer Science: Fully Funded EPSRC DTP PhD Scholarship: Vertical

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