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.
A. Claire Cutler
Professor International relations theory, international law and organization
Amy Verdun
Professor & Chair Academic Women's Caucus Comparative politics, European integration, political economy
Andrew Wender
Associate Teaching Professor and 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
Feng Xu
Associate Professor and 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 and 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)
Matt James
Associate Professor Reparations, social memory, social movements, transitional justice
Michelle Bonner
Professor and Undergraduate Advisor Comparative politics, democracy, human rights, Global South (Latin America)
Oliver Schmidtke
Professor and Director, Centre for Global Studies Citizenship and immigration, European integration
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 and Undergraduate Director Political theory, international relations theory, theories of the state
Will Greaves
Assistant Professor Global Security, International Relations, Arctic Politics, Canadian Foreign Policy, Environmental Politics
Show me program details
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Faculties & departments
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Need help?
Contact Rachel Richmond at poligrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-7486.