Politics Postgraduate Research

We have a long history of international research excellence and offer first class supervision from internationally recognized experts working across four main areas of political science. We have an excellent record of attracting external research funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Leverhulme Trust, the Nuffield Foundation, and the British Academy.

The research environment

The Postgraduate Colloquium is a forum for students to present their own research and to learn from research experience of colleagues. Postgraduate students also participate in research seminars given by members of staff and visiting speakers. In addition to our research training programmes, we also support participation in specialist research training programmes such as the European Consortium for Political Research Summer School.

We attach particular importance to developing career skills and experience. Research students are encouraged to participate in the professional associations of which we are members. Our research postgraduates have teaching opportunities which provide an additional source of income, as well as developing teaching skills. The Postgraduate Assistant Scheme enables students to work alongside colleagues on a range of academic tasks from managing research projects to conference organisation.

Research expertise

Elections and Representation

We have has a particular strength in the study of voting behaviour, political attitudes, political parties and parliaments, and is one of the leading centres of quantitative political science in the UK. Staff conducted the 2007 Scottish Election Survey as well as the definitive study of the membership of the Scottish National Party. The Centre for Elections and Representation Studies was established in 2008 as a showcase for the our expertise and attracts scholars from Europe and North America to its conferences. In 2009 we hosted the annual conference of the Political Studies Association’s Elections and Public Opinion group.

Public Policy

Our expertise includes all the main area of public policy, with a particular focus on the politics of crisis management, the conditions that contribute to policy success, policy learning and transfer, European Union policy, public policy in post-devolution Scotland, and environment and energy policy, and health policy.

Governance and Institutions

Staff have international reputations in the study of parliaments in Scotland, the UK, and Europe. There is also a concentration of expertise in multi-level governance, with a particular focus on relations between Scotland and Europe. We have a distinctive profile in this area of the discipline, with a strong emphasis on institutionalist approaches to governance.  

International Politics

In recent years we have developed our strengths in international politics. We have particular expertise in international public policy, the role of NGOs in international relations, the politics of the anti-globalisation movement, constructivist theories of security and ‘securitisation’, and feminist perspectives on international relations.

Funding your research

A full list of studentship opportunities is available, but the main sources of funding are as follows;

ESRC 1+3 and +3 Studentships  We select candidates to enter into ESRC Open Competition.

University Studentships Open competition between nominated candidates for a pool of awards administered by the Faculty of Law Arts and Social Science.

Overseas Research Students Award Scheme (ORSAS) Open competition between nominated candidates for a pool of awards administered by the University.

Details of these awards varies from year to year; please enquire for current details. Application for nomination for competition is by submitting a one page research proposal along with a full curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of two academic referees. We are always ready to discuss research proposals with applicants and to give advice on their scope and focus.