Political Science (PhD)
The PhD in political science program is a research-intensive program dedicated to completing a dissertation. We’ll consider applicants with a research interest in one of the following areas:
- Canadian politics
- comparative public policy and governance
- contemporary political theory
- cultural, social and political thought
- democratic constitutionalism
- Indigenous nationhood
- international and transnational politics
- politics in the global south
We encourage interdisciplinary approaches. Our connections with units and centres such as the Faculty of Law and Centre for Global Studies can be hugely beneficial to your research.
You have the option of combining this program with the interdisciplinary Cultural, Social and Political Thought PhD or the graduate certificate in Indigenous Nationhood.
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years | Yes | Yes |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Graduates with a PhD in Political Science will:
- have developed a critical understanding of the scholarship related to a field of study
- have demonstrated original thinking and the capacity to push existing research traditions in novel directions
- have shown their familiarity with standards of ethical conduct in research
- have shown they are capable of engaging with colleagues and the wider community as a political scientist with specialist skills in their subfields
- have demonstrated their ability to make a significant and original scholarly contribution within the discipline of political science and more widely
- pursue careers in academia, but also in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private and third sectors
Find a supervisor
All graduate students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- you are advised to list a potential supervisor on your application
- one faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you've found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Amy Verdun
Professor, FRSC; undergraduate director Comparative politics, European integration, political economy
Andrew Wender
Associate teaching professor; undergraduate advisor; director, Religion, Culture and Society Program Political theory, politics and religion, politics of the Middle East
Avigail Eisenberg
Professor Democratic theory, normative political theory, history of ideas (19th-20thC), pluralism, identity politics
Claire Cutler
Professor International relations theory, international law and organization
Feng Xu
Associate professor; graduate director Comparative politics, gender, migration and citizenship, Global South (East Asia)
Jamie Lawson
Associate professor Canadian politics, political economy, environmental politics
Justin Leifso
Assistant professor Canadian politics, Canadian public policy, neoliberalism
Kelly Aguirre
Assistant professor Indigenous politics, decolonial and critical theory
Lois Harder
Professor & dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Citizenship law, social policy, regulation of intimate life
Mara Marin
Assistant professor Political theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, critiques of capitalism
Marlea Clarke
Associate professor Comparative politics, political economy of development, Global South (Africa), workers’ rights in commodity chains
Matt James
Associate professor Reparations, social memory, social movements, transitional justice
Michelle Bonner
Professor Comparative politics, democracy, human rights, global south (Latin America)
Rita Dhamoon
Associate professor Feminist and gender theory, critical race politics, anti-colonial and decolonial theory, Canadian politics
Sarah E. Sharma
Assistant professor International political economy, global environmental governance, global north-global south relations
Scott Watson
Associate professor and chair International relations theory, securitization, migration
Simon Glezos
Associate professor Political theory, international relations theory, theories of the state
Will Greaves
Associate professor Global security, international relations, Arctic politics, Canadian foreign policy, environmental politics
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
You must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in political science.
As part of your application, you must submit:
- a 2-5 page statement of intent which:
- includes a brief summary of your prior education and experience
- includes details about your specific research and dissertation interests
- relates those interests to at least one of our areas of specialization
- proposes a suitable supervisor
- explains how your proposed research relates to your long-term goals
- a recently written academic paper (please translate into English if necessary)
- two reference names and their email addresses
- post-secondary transcripts
Program specific requirements
You must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in political science.
As part of your application, you must submit:
- a 2-5 page statement of intent which:
- includes a brief summary of your prior education and experience
- includes details about your specific research and dissertation interests
- relates those interests to at least one of our areas of specialization
- proposes a suitable supervisor
- explains how your proposed research relates to your long-term goals
- a recently written academic paper (please translate into English if necessary)
- two reference names and their email addresses
- post-secondary transcripts
Completion requirements
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
Funding & aid
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Related programs
Need help?
Contact Rachel Richmond at poligrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-7486.